looking for someone who has hunted or hunts north georgia wma's? maybe blue ridge. We are thinking about a deer hunt in sept and looking for info on the area.
I live, hunt and guide for deer, bear and hogs in that area. If I can help you with information on your hunt just give me a call. It is a beautiful area. Get in shape. Some sections of Blue Ridge WMA can be very steep. You will love it.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I applaud your gumption but your odds of seeing anything but bear and hogs in the NE GA wma's is pretty low. Beautiful dirt and those hills will heal the soul, but there are better places if deer are your main quarry.
I spend a few thousand hours a year in the NE ga mtns but bears are where my heart truly lies.
Has this area of Georgia always suffered from a low deer count?
haven't ever hunted deer there, but i once shot a BIG black bear in the butt with a slingshot and a piece of ice, hahaha!
true story.
he was in the trash, and that was all i had on hand. we were renting a cabin there, and i was up on the deck above him. he roared, and tore out of there!
Only Johnny :laughing:
I agree with Etter. I hunted Blue ridge a couple of years ago and have seen no place more beautiful. But the deer hunting there is very poor compared to farther south.
If it is anything like the deer herd up here I would go somewhere flatter. I love hunting in the southern Appalachians but numbers are low and you gotta put in the time scouting to be successful. It took me an entire season last year to figure out the deer in a new game land. There is awesome squirrel hunting in these hills though!
Steve, when RC speaks, it is a good idea to listen. He is one of the best and most successful hunters in Georgia. Head a little further south in the state, and your chances of success will greatly increase. There is lots of public land with large deer populations. Hunter density is not so great that you can't find a remote place to hunt without too many other people around. Good luck!
The north ga mtns used to be covered with deer but a complete lack of early successional habitat and the extremely large bear and coyote population has taken its toll. I regularly see between 20 and 90 bears per year up there but maybe only 10 or so deer.
Due to some horrendous tornado damage in a few areas, the deer do seem to be on the rise a little and there are some giant bucks to be had way back in those hills. Ive got plenty of sheds to prove it.
Gentleman I really do appreciate the return on this post. You have been very helpful.
Yep...what they said.
I hunt Cohutta in Sept for Bears...I see more hogs than bears, and more bears than deer while hunting.
I do see more deer DRIVING to Chohutta and in the lowlands of the WMA than in the Mountain. If you see a buck there, there's a good chance he's a bruiser. I remember one I saw...22 inch spread classic 10 point, with an 8 and a 6 pointer....but again, deer sightings are rare. Lots and Lots of poaching went on in years past and decimated the population in the Mts here....I guess if happened elsewhere....but there's a reason we have such high limits here in GA....there is no shortage in deer over all...and that too is for sure.
we do plan on getting a bear tag also.. This positive info on the bears is exciting. My bud really wants a bear more than a dear. I in it for the fun. Got a new hammock from warbonnet and cant wait to try it out. thanks again..oh yes we chase them hogs down here for past time. I got to where i can stalk up close to them.. Lots of fun..
I did 13 miles of climbing up there today. Bear sign galore. I saw 3 buck rubs the whole way and one pile of deer scat.
There are a pile of acorns this year. From what I have seen, whites and reds have produced heavily from 2200-3900 feet at least. Gonna make it tough to pattern them this year.
Etter, was that in the blue ridge area?
Terry do you hunt the Cohutta wma or the wilderness area?
Glad I saw this thread.
I recently moved to the Lawrenceville, GA area and this is my first hunting season in GA. Ill be hunting the North GA WMA's. Not sure where just yet but Ill figure something out. I have seen several bears up hiking there but no hogs. I think Ill just throw up a stand on opener and go from there and scout through the season.
Let me know what you find and maybe we can hunt together sometime!
Cheers
Not in blue ridge, but north ga basically has the same weather patterns which promote the same mast crops. Id be happy to provide you with tips on bears through private messages, but areas themselves are hidden like my tax returns. I work very very hard for bears. In the blue ridge area, your best bet for bears is cohutta for sure. Id look at topo maps and search for long, narrow, and flat ridges from 2600-3900 feet. Id look for ones that are a long way from the roads. My favorite bear places are usually 2-6 miles from the truck, have a thick enough understory for stalking but not too thick that you make a lot of noise while slipping. We do sit some on good trees but our main strategy is slip hunting and listening for bears up in trees. Sneak up and wait for them to climb down and shoot when they get close to the deck.
Oh, and I wear light hikers because of the miles we do, but there are a lot of timber rattlers and coppers in north ga so be cognizant.
Thanks a bunch Etter.
QuoteOriginally posted by STEVE R.:
Terry do you hunt the Cohutta wma or the wilderness area?
Both since one is contained inside the other...
and what etter said
Steve, I am a NR bowhunter who loves hunting in GA. One of the best things you can do is join the Traditional Bowhunters of Georgia. Here is their web site.
http://www.tradbowgeorgia.com/news-and-updates/
They have great member hunts in the various regions and usually have their northern zone member hunt in late September. Those guys are serious bowhunters and excellent woodsmen. I have been on several member/regional hunts and enjoyed every one. I have been wanting to join that northern zone hunt for years (I LOVE bear hunting, with hogs being a close second) but I am always out west at that time of year, chasing elk and mule deer. Same "problem" this year, I'll be in Wyoming then. By joining the TBG and attending their member hunts, you automatically meet some fellow trad bowhunters and get to learn a new area. Usually the meals are outstanding, unless Matt Shuster is there and he can't cook.
Check out their newsletter on the website - there are several articles that should be of great interest regarding the area you are interested in.
Do you guys know what the high and low temperatures are like up there on the wma for both day and night time in early sept? Been having a tough time finding temps online.
High could be 70 to 90...
low could be 40 to 70...
And it might rain a little or it might rain a lot. Frog drowning gully washing monsoony rain. Do not believe the extended weather forecast, it is an evil trick.
NE ga (because of the suddent elevation rise) definitely gets more rain than anywhere else in the state. Judging by dnr clover food plots up there it has been raining almost daily all summer.
So what youre saying is dont worry about cold weather gear and bring ponchos and rain fly's!
-How are the roads through the Blue Ridge WMA and others after a heavy rain? 4x4 with all terrain tires be ok or would something more like a big lift and super swampers be necessary?
Most roads Ive driven on NE ga wmas are very well maintained. Shouldnt have too many issues with mud. Id bring some permanone. Ticks have been awful this year.
I always bring emergency gear with me when way off the road. Vaseline and cotton fire starters and some garbage bags and extra batteries for lights. There is water everywhere and dry kindling can easily be broken off white pines and hemlocks.
Not to still the thunder from the original poster, but me and my family just moved to Canton, GA area 5 months ago.
I haven't had much time to scout the area WMA's due to my new job. I've been looking hard at hunting the more "gentle" rolling hills around Carter's Lake (Coosawattee WMA Archery area). Those hills in Cohutta, Blue Ridge, Rich Mnt are pretty and I'm sure to venture up there...but coming from Central Florida...to hunting in those steep hills is a little daunting.
I'm getting my emergency kit ready like Etter recommends just incase I have to spend a night alone on a mountain due to unforeseen reasons.
Looking forward to hunting in North Georgia.