|
Post by windingwinds on Aug 4, 2015 14:56:28 GMT -5
So farmer sold land in Kosciusko County and I've been wanting to enter a draw hunt for a long time. (We still have the home twenty acres I normally hunt) Its very likely this will be our last deer season in Indiana, so it's now or never. (Relocating) Which available hunt is less "busy"? I am leaning towards Fort Harrison because I would prefer to bow hunt (if my neck/shoulder behaves) but if it's overfilled with hunters I'd rather not. So which location is best to try for?
|
|
|
Post by duff on Aug 5, 2015 13:20:58 GMT -5
I have not even looked at the list. I have hunted a few in the past, no desire to go back. It was busy and I would venture to say all of them will be busy.
I would pick a close park and play it by ear, unless you want to go for a destination/ small get away vacation. You may consider Big Oaks, they used to have no show draws for archery and it used to be a given. Not sure any more.
HNF offers open hunting too.
|
|
|
Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Aug 5, 2015 13:46:10 GMT -5
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/sp-DeerRMRR.pdf
Here's last year's summary if you want to look at the stats. Some of the properties have changed for this year though.
The report says they try to get 1 hunter per 15-20 acres for firearms hunts, and 1 hunter per 7-10 acres for archery. So unless the archery hunts are under-subscribed, sounds like they are actually more crowded.
I've not been drawn for a state park hunt yet. I only apply for the ones close to home. I did apply for the primitive muzzleloader hunt at Big Oaks this year, one would think that would be an easier draw. Also applied to Big Oaks firearms hunt, and will apply for a state park once BIL gets his license bought.
|
|
|
Post by jimstc on Aug 5, 2015 16:49:05 GMT -5
So farmer sold land in Kosciusko County and I've been wanting to enter a draw hunt for a long time. (We still have the home twenty acres I normally hunt) Its very likely this will be our last deer season in Indiana, so it's now or never. (Relocating) Which available hunt is less "busy"? I am leaning towards Fort Harrison because I would prefer to bow hunt (if my neck/shoulder behaves) but if it's overfilled with hunters I'd rather not. So which location is best to try for? Marion County is a waste of your time. 434 deer taken last year. Easily puts the county in the bottom 10% of Indiana counties. I have a friend who has been drawn for that hunt the last several years. Never saw a deer. Busy = Marion County. Lots of city dwelling hunters looking for a short travel hunt.
|
|
|
Post by span870 on Aug 6, 2015 7:06:34 GMT -5
Fort Harrison is a joke. That hunt brings out the worst of the worst. Complete over crowded, stealing deer, guys hunting on top of jungle gyms. It's a complete joke. There is always someone in sight of you. Been on it once. Never again. I used to drive through there for work during the hunt. There would literally be 5-6 guys on one ridge. Looked like every ten yards a guy would be in a tree.
|
|
mulsas
Junior Member
Posts: 42
|
Post by mulsas on Aug 6, 2015 15:20:53 GMT -5
I was watching this thread with interest. Was thinking about signing up to take my son, but come to find out, all participants have to be over 18, so that's a no go. I wondered if Fort Harrison would be a little lighter since it is archery only. But given that is pretty much the only option around here if you don't have access to land somewhere else, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
|
|
|
Post by windingwinds on Aug 8, 2015 15:47:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the input everyone, still have a couple weeks to think about it. I know that if the weather sucks the crowds will dwindle anywhere. There are a couple hunts fairly close to me, just one seems small for firearms.
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Aug 8, 2015 16:14:05 GMT -5
I would sign up for every hunt. I've never been drawn, so I took the hunter safety course. Still didn't get the dove hunt.
|
|