mayberryrick
Well-Known Member
This ^^^^
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Help Support TNDeer:
Oak Ridge Didn't want to Hijack
- Thread starter Bone Collector
- Start date
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
The perimeter of the OR WMA is more heavily hunted than most may be thinking. There are also some private inholdings (and/or areas where the WMA borders on 2 or 3 sides) that are heavily hunted. This may be the main reason the deer density is now as low as it is on the WMA.
While the WMA is stated as 37,000 acres, it is somewhat fragmented, with relatively few of those acres not within a mile or less of private property being hunted, some of it heavily. Put that in the context of rutting bucks frequently roaming 2-plus linear miles on their nightly/daily excursions.
The Clinch River borders much of the WMA to the west. It's not wide enough to prevent rutting bucks from frequently crossing, and onto heavily hunted areas.
Most area residents who hunt can easily find a friend with a few bordering acres they can deer hunt the entire deer season. Granted, many of these situations are 2 to 20 acres, and it is more "urban" deer hunting than farmland or wilderness. But that can also be said about the entire OR WMA.
I'm not saying OR WMA is not a worthy choice to consider, as it's deer density is higher than what may be found on the Cherokee National Forest. But other WMAs have a higher deer density and a lot more scouting & hunting opportunities. Some even provide the opportunity to hunt in a more "wilderness" type environment, free from highway and industrial "city" noises.
Also, some of the archery-only areas are high-fenced. While that might keep those bucks from roaming off the area, that fence also negates the "fair chase" rules of many "record" books such as the Pope & Young. Not sure about the TN Deer Registry.
Otherwise, the best prospects for a big buck may be mainly only available to employees of the OR National Lab (since a higher security clearance is required to hunt these areas). If I worked there, I'd sure take advantage of this opportunity, which also includes a greater opportunity for year-round "scouting".
While the WMA is stated as 37,000 acres, it is somewhat fragmented, with relatively few of those acres not within a mile or less of private property being hunted, some of it heavily. Put that in the context of rutting bucks frequently roaming 2-plus linear miles on their nightly/daily excursions.
The Clinch River borders much of the WMA to the west. It's not wide enough to prevent rutting bucks from frequently crossing, and onto heavily hunted areas.
Most area residents who hunt can easily find a friend with a few bordering acres they can deer hunt the entire deer season. Granted, many of these situations are 2 to 20 acres, and it is more "urban" deer hunting than farmland or wilderness. But that can also be said about the entire OR WMA.
I'm not saying OR WMA is not a worthy choice to consider, as it's deer density is higher than what may be found on the Cherokee National Forest. But other WMAs have a higher deer density and a lot more scouting & hunting opportunities. Some even provide the opportunity to hunt in a more "wilderness" type environment, free from highway and industrial "city" noises.
Also, some of the archery-only areas are high-fenced. While that might keep those bucks from roaming off the area, that fence also negates the "fair chase" rules of many "record" books such as the Pope & Young. Not sure about the TN Deer Registry.
Otherwise, the best prospects for a big buck may be mainly only available to employees of the OR National Lab (since a higher security clearance is required to hunt these areas). If I worked there, I'd sure take advantage of this opportunity, which also includes a greater opportunity for year-round "scouting".
