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Let's Talk Catoosa

tree_ghost said:
I haven't hunted there but I have looked it over on a map countless times. On paper it seems to have huge potential but then I'll see threads like this which are definitely discouraging. However the number one factor in keeping me from hunting there is there lack of access and timing of the hunts because they don't lend themselves to a bow hunter actually being able to locate a mature animal and hunt him down. I'm not opposed to killing a random buck that walks through heck I like to get lucky every once in a while. I much more prefer to form a plan and execute it on a buck and Catoosa just doesn't offer me that opportunity IMO
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You can scout practically year round to formulate a plan. But, you are absolutely 💯 correct on hunt dates for hunting.
 
tree_ghost said:
I haven't hunted there but I have looked it over on a map countless times. On paper it seems to have huge potential but then I'll see threads like this which are definitely discouraging. However the number one factor in keeping me from hunting there is there lack of access and timing of the hunts because they don't lend themselves to a bow hunter actually being able to locate a mature animal and hunt him down. I'm not opposed to killing a random buck that walks through heck I like to get lucky every once in a while. I much more prefer to form a plan and execute it on a buck and Catoosa just doesn't offer me that opportunity IMO
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The only reason is because they are only 3 day hunts as far as the quota hunts go. If you lived close you could and most likely would be able to execute a plan to kill a hammer. But I live 2.5 hours away so it makes it difficult. It's a huge area. So with the short time I'm there I can only concentrate on a small area. Yes the place has huge potential. All you read is complaints but come time to hunt. The place is full of campers and tents.
 
I've hunted Catoosa several times, been several years since I've have hunted it, haven't taken a deer there yet, seen several bucks but they were small. I also wish they would back off on the amount of permits there. I believe it would help.
I always liked hunting Chuck Swan and have taken 4 bucks from there, but it's been 10-12 years since I've been there.
 
killingtime 41 said:
The only reason is because they are only 3 day hunts as far as the quota hunts go. If you lived close you could and most likely would be able to execute a plan to kill a hammer. But I live 2.5 hours away so it makes it difficult. It's a huge area. So with the short time I'm there I can only concentrate on a small area. Yes the place has huge potential. All you read is complaints but come time to hunt. The place is full of campers and tents.
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I'm not that far away, maybe an hour. I have no doubt that I could scout and locate a shooter in there during preseason. Now getting him killed in a 3 day window I'm not confident in, especially when I don't get to choose what days I can hunt him… if there was an option for a seasonal pass or even a hunt that lasted a week I would probably give it a go. However, until that happens there are too many variables out of my control to invest my hunting time there. I'm more interested in killing big bucks than taking pictures of them……
 
mike243 said:
Why would a bow hunter deserve more time there? they already get a month more than gun hunters, they already have a bow only hunt there. I say make it 1 season use the weapon you want., f a bunch of bow hunters that think they deserve more of the resources than anybody else.
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A month more huh? More like they get 10 days of open bow and gun hunters get four 3 day hunts so actually if you can do simple math its 10 days of bow vs 12 days of gun LOL
 
tree_ghost said:
I'm not that far away, maybe an hour. I have no doubt that I could scout and locate a shooter in there during preseason. Now getting him killed in a 3 day window I'm not confident in, especially when I don't get to choose what days I can hunt him… if there was an option for a seasonal pass or even a hunt that lasted a week I would probably give it a go. However, until that happens there are too many variables out of my control to invest my hunting time there. I'm more interested in killing big bucks than taking pictures of them……
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Completely agree man, what you are saying is exactly what has happened 2 years in a row to me.
 
East TN Bowhunter said:
2 out of the 3 8 pointers I had on a camera, were on the Catoosa fb page this weekend LOL just not my luck this year!
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I've only seen pictures of 3-4 nicer bucks so far. I hope that means there's plenty of bigger ones left, since it looks like most guys blasted the first legal buck they saw.

That's fine with me if they wanna do that, punch their tag and go home, Byeee, as the kiddos say nowadays.
😆
 
mike243 said:
Why would a bow hunter deserve more time there? they already get a month more than gun hunters, they already have a bow only hunt there. I say make it 1 season use the weapon you want., f a bunch of bow hunters that think they deserve more of the resources than anybody else.
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i'll play.

Because it is immensely more difficult to do.
 
mike243 said:
So you would take over Catoosa and make it bow hunting only?
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No, but I would give bowhunters an opportunity during the rut and I think the best option as stated from Tree_Ghost would be to sell like a 2 week to 1 month long seasonal pass for bowhunters to take a doe and a buck and that could make additional $$$ to fix the bridge, plant food plots, etc, similar to LBL. And make it so you only get one buck and one doe tag period for the whole year no matter how many hunts you go on there.
 
CrossVolle said:
You might wanna tag me if you want a reply. Are you familiar with a straw man argument? Because that is what you just did.
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wasn't speaking of you necessarily
East TN Bowhunter said:
I would pay $100 for a permit to hunt it all season. It is tough to connect on the early bow hunt with a good buck bc they just aren't moving much at all during daylight and other than that we currently have 3 really crowded gun/muzz hunts and as a bow hunter, there is not a really well timed, good hunt. Having all season to hunt, I think guys would be more selective as well and hold out for better bucks. When you only have a couple weekends a season there most people are going to shoot the first legal buck they see. If they won't do this, at least add a bow quota hunt the first couple weeks of November for guys that only bow hunt and want a better chance during the rut.
 
mike243 said:
wasn't speaking of you necessarily
East TN Bowhunter said:
I would pay $100 for a permit to hunt it all season. It is tough to connect on the early bow hunt with a good buck bc they just aren't moving much at all during daylight and other than that we currently have 3 really crowded gun/muzz hunts and as a bow hunter, there is not a really well timed, good hunt. Having all season to hunt, I think guys would be more selective as well and hold out for better bucks. When you only have a couple weekends a season there most people are going to shoot the first legal buck they see. If they won't do this, at least add a bow quota hunt the first couple weeks of November for guys that only bow hunt and want a better chance during the rut.
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I guess i just do not understand the issue in what he is saying. It would not effect any of the gun hunts that are currently in place and would provide money for improvements if the money was allocated accordingly.
 

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