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BSK - Cherokee Nat Forest Deer Numbers?

timberjack86 said:
I pass a lot of deer just for the simple fact it will be hell to get one out of some of the areas I hunt. I do have some easy to get to areas that produce consistent deer sightings.
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Do you ever break one down and pack it out, Western-style? Gambrel and pulley certainly makes it easier.

I marvel at some guys who talk about dragging deer for 4-8 hours out of Southern mountainous WMAs. As if breaking one down is more intimidating than a mile or more drag over rough terrain.
If ever it was against the law to break one down, it isn't any longer.
 
From my hunting up around Cow Camp and down from Whig Lead I finally killed a spike so I quit hunting up there . There is things they could do to help the deer but it cost money so it's not happening. There are logging roads throughout the mountains and if TWRA would plant those and any open areas in something that would last year round it would be much better. I've hunting ridge tops that you couldn't walk five feet without seeing a scrape or a rub but hunt it and you'll see no buck . Hunt Giles Co. and if I see a scrape or a rub I get excited. One year especially I seen I guess a dozen different bucks ftom my stand but there was just one little sapling rub in that saddle. I come to the conclusion that with the low deer density bucks in those mountains had to really show out with sign hoping to intice a doe and those in Giles was just too busy breeding to make sign !
 
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younggun308 said:
Do you ever break one down and pack it out, Western-style? Gambrel and pulley certainly makes it easier.

I marvel at some guys who talk about dragging deer for 4-8 hours out of Southern mountainous WMAs. As if breaking one down is more intimidating than a mile or more drag over rough terrain.
If ever it was against the law to break one down, it isn't any longer.
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Yes and it is alot of work . I carry the tools needed to do it in my frame pack. I also carry enough to stay the night, that's happened a few times as it's a lot easier to do the work in the daylight.
 
younggun308 said:
Do you ever break one down and pack it out, Western-style? Gambrel and pulley certainly makes it easier.

I marvel at some guys who talk about dragging deer for 4-8 hours out of Southern mountainous WMAs. As if breaking one down is more intimidating than a mile or more drag over rough terrain.
If ever it was against the law to break one down, it isn't any longer.
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Its so much easier to break one down and pack it out vs dragging, with the mtns and valleys we hunt here dragging without having a heart attack is almost impossible
 
Snake said:
I've hunting ridge tops that you couldn't walk five feet without seeing a scrape or a rub but hunt it and you'll see no buck . Hunt Giles Co. and if I see a scrape or a rub I get excited. One year especially I seen I guess a dozen different bucks ftom my stand but there was just one little sapling rub in that saddle. I come to the conclusion that with the low deer density bucks in those mountains had to really show out with sign hoping to intice a doe and those in Giles was just too busy breeding to make sign !
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I hunt lots of mountain areas and what you describe sounds pretty normal. Doe groups cover huge circuits covering many miles. They may only be in one "area" for a day or two then they're gone again and might not be back all season. Bucks lay down that sign when the does are in the area and they leave when the does leave. If you hunt the sign you might never see a deer. But if you're there when that sign is being made, you'd be seeing plenty deer. There would be does and bucks plenty. It's all about timing.

I believe that might be why folks get frustrated with areas like that. We expect deer to follow some sort of pattern day to day, especially doe groups. In most places if you see does today you can see them again tomorrow and next day, and bucks during rut will cruise them. In the mountains if you see does today they might be 3 miles away tomorrow and if you sit same spot you probably won't see a deer again for quite a awhile. That's just mountain hunting. It can be frustrating.
 
Ski said:
I hunt lots of mountain areas and what you describe sounds pretty normal. Doe groups cover huge circuits covering many miles. They may only be in one "area" for a day or two then they're gone again and might not be back all season. Bucks lay down that sign when the does are in the area and they leave when the does leave. If you hunt the sign you might never see a deer. But if you're there when that sign is being made, you'd be seeing plenty deer. There would be does and bucks plenty. It's all about timing.

I believe that might be why folks get frustrated with areas like that. We expect deer to follow some sort of pattern day to day, especially doe groups. In most places if you see does today you can see them again tomorrow and next day, and bucks during rut will cruise them. In the mountains if you see does today they might be 3 miles away tomorrow and if you sit same spot you probably won't see a deer again for quite a awhile. That's just mountain hunting. It can be frustrating.
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Definitely they have no set patterns im these mountains, people tickle me talking about hunting bedding areas, no such thing here they get tired they lay down than move on😂
 
knightrider said:
Its so much easier to break one down and pack it out vs dragging, with the mtns and valleys we hunt here dragging without having a heart attack is almost impossible
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I've been using a jet sled for about 6 years now and it makes it so much easier to drag one out up and over all the ridges and hollers. Slicker"n a minner they are! :D
 
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I got this 9pt off South Cherokee in Monroe County back in 1998 on the early muzzleloader hunt. I've killed a few other deer from other WMA's including some 10 points and an 11 point and this deer still beats them all. I've had trail cameras out on South Cherokee over the years and have some on camera that are even bigger than this one. Although the deer population is low there are good deer on South Cherokee but like every one has said they have such a wide range that it maybe days later before the deer come back through. You can find the right area but it is a game of luck when they may come back through that area.
 
Jbbivens said:
View attachment 206860
I got this 9pt off South Cherokee in Monroe County back in 1998 on the early muzzleloader hunt. I've killed a few other deer from other WMA's including some 10 points and an 11 point and this deer still beats them all. I've had trail cameras out on South Cherokee over the years and have some on camera that are even bigger than this one. Although the deer population is low there are good deer on South Cherokee but like every one has said they have such a wide range that it maybe days later before the deer come back through. You can find the right area but it is a game of luck when they may come back through that area.
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Yes Sir, that's a solid deer right there.
 
I have been in the mtns around washington and unicoi county's 5 times so far. Mon thru Thursday opening week of rifle and today.Seen 4 bears and a coyote. Found some really big rubs but all of the sign was a couple weeks old. Talked to one guy that said 2 big bucks were killed in the area the first week of muzzleloader. From my experience it seems that muzzleloader season is the time to hunt there.
 

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