Help With Georgia Hunting

metz3601 · Member Joined: Oct 31, 2008 Posts: 81

Im pretty new to this site, there are a lot of experienced hunters here, and i need some help. Most of my hunting experience is in Southern Oregon hunting mulies and roosevelt elk, been to Idaho a few times hunting rockey moutian elk, and whitetail. Im moving to Georgia in a couple months, and intedend to do quite a bit of hunting there. Lots of whitetail, although they are a lot smaller than any deer Im used to, and much, much thicker brush.... I usually use a 7mm remington mag out here in the west, but am afraid that might be too much gun for the size of deer, and the relitave close quarters I will be hunting in. I was considering using my winchester '94 30-30. Know a lot of people back there that swear by the 30-30. Any advice would be greatly appriciated. Thanks

Vince · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 6:00 am Post subject: Re: Help With Georgia Hunting

Gidday metz3601.

I'd say its time to start honing your stalking skills mate. That 'ol "jack handle" you got will serve you well...nothin' better than a Mod 94 in 30.30... although there are those that will argue in favour of the Marlin. Bushy is the officiando of the Mod 94 around here, so I reckon he will most like be along shortly with some sage advice. Very Happy

If you are hell bent on a new rifle, then a good .243 would most like fill the bill nicely.

Cheers, Vince

Grumulkin · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Help With Georgia Hunting

I wouldn't agonize over the specific cartridge you use. I would use anything from 22 Hornet to 460 Weatherby Magnum. If you want to slow things down in your 7mm Remington Magnum, use heavier bullets.

As you can see, my 458 Lott worked just fine on a rabbit; I didn't need the head anyway.

Bushmaster · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 8:34 am Post subject: Re: Help With Georgia Hunting

metz3601...First...Welcome to this fine site. Have you grabbed a beer and pulled up a stump? Good.

I'm from Oregon and Washington's west coast. If you have ever hunted Blacktail deer of the coastal range and Cascades you will have a good idea of the hunting and the size of the deer in the southern mid west. And the ranges. There are two differences here though. One...The forests are made up of mostly hardwoods. Some mature, but mostly spinly tall trees trying to get to the sun. Two. These people here in the sourthern midwest ambush from tree stands rather then hunt on the ground. Consider that when wondering through the forests...Your .30-30 is more then capable as a hunting tool here.

SwampFox · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:20 am Post subject: Re: Help With Georgia Hunting

North and Central Georgia as well as North and Central Alabama have some bigger whitetail deer, in the 150 to 200 pound average range. South Georgia, South Alabama and North Florida have smaller deer, in the 100 to 150 pound range.

The 30-30 gained its reputation in the east as a deer slayer par excellence. It is a fine cartridge for the whitetail and in the 94 it is a classic deer rifle. I know several famalies that hunt with the 243 in the areas of smaller deer. The 243 family members swear by the cartridge for deer.

In swampy/thick areas quite a few folks around these parts hunt with the 444 Marlin, 45-70 Marlin or one of the 32-35 cal guns (35 Remington, etc.).

The high velocity smoke poles are just fine if you have some bean/peanut fields or clear cut to hunt. I hunt with what matches the area I hunt in on any given day. I prefer the 260 over the 243, just cause, and I like the 45-70 a bit better than my 444. However, I have never seen a deer yet that knows the difference after being shot. I hunted for years with a 10" Merrill and 10" Contender in 30-30.
Best,
Ed

metz3601 · Member Joined: Oct 31, 2008 Posts: 81

Thanks for all the help so far, should i worry about getting a deer call?? never really needed one out west, whats good out there? im pretty handy with an elk call, but just never had the need to do anything for deer.... I will probably be hunting in the richmond hill area near savannah. if anyone knows the area any tips would be greatly appriciated.. Thanks again guys.

SwampFox · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject: Re: Help With Georgia Hunting

Most folks that use calls have one or two calls, the grunt call and old antlers to rattle during the rut. I do not use a call myself, prefering to just sit and watch. If you do not have fields to hunt that deer consider food them most folks plant food plots of various deer food plants with rye grass and oats being staples. Usually the guys also use feeders with corn or deer feed depending on local laws.

I prefer free standing shooting houses on my place but most folks use a tree stand of some type, either a ladder stand or climbing stand. My 200 yard range is planted in millet and sweet sorgum. About 30 minutes prior to dark every evening I have at least one heard on the range munching surgum like a bunch of cows.

Someone about the site must have experiance near Savanah, I have not hunted the area myself.
Best,
Ed

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 11:18 pm Post subject: Re: Help With Georgia Hunting

Metz, the .30-30 is a fine cartridge for deer in the woods. I hunt with a .260 Rem, .280 Rem or .45-70 (just for fun). This year I plan to use a .35 Whelen and .44 Mag pistol too. Don't forget a .50 smokepole.

I've been using the "can" calls with some success. I've even rattled a couple in with fake antlers or a "rattle bag". I'm hunting in the NC piedmont area.

I also use API aluminum climbing stands and have had deer walk right under me.

hvy barrel · Rookie Member Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 8

I hunt the north Georgia area with a Rem 700 Mtn Rifle in 7mm08 & I have no complaints at all about that combination. The best thing you can do to improve your chances is to do a little scouting. Depending on where you are hunting in Georgia the laws are very straight forward & simple to follow. The deer population is rather large so your chances are very good of having a good season.

popgun · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:28 pm Post subject: Re: Help With Georgia Hunting

Vince wrote:

Gidday metz3601.
I'd say its time to start honing your stalking skills mate.
Cheers, Vince

Sorry Vince but that is bad bad advice for Georgia hunting. Walking around during the deer season will get you killed here. Everyone else is either in a tree stand or a ground blind keeping perfectly still and anything that moves could be mistaken for a deer and could get shot at!

Metz,
Your 7 mag is just fine for Georgia hunting and so is your thuty-thuty. You either need to locate some public land to hunt (Listed in the Game Regulation Magazine available at any license outlet (Walmart, hardware stores, sporting good stores, etc. or join a hunting club. Go to www.gon.com/ and register in the forum there and you can post in the "Lease" section that you are looking for a club. Many clubs also post openings there. There is also much Georgia specific hunting information there too.

Yes our deer have small body sizes but the scores are right up there and starting to get higher every year now that the state has imposed some antler restrictions. Check the score books for the different scoring organizations and you will see that Georgia holds it own in the record books. With the limit of two bucks and ten does per year the population has been brought down in size allowing for larger racks and improved body weights. Of course the many food plots added to deer country the last few years have helped too.

Welcome to Hunting Nut and to Georgia. PM me if you need any further information or help.

Safe shooting,
Chris

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

popgun wrote:

Walking around during the deer season will get you killed here. Everyone else is either in a tree stand or a ground blind keeping perfectly still and anything that moves could be mistaken for a deer and could get shot at!

We suffer from the same problem here. Shocked

Dimitri

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:36 pm Post subject: Re: Help With Georgia Hunting

Dimitri wrote:

popgun wrote:

Walking around during the deer season will get you killed here. Everyone else is either in a tree stand or a ground blind keeping perfectly still and anything that moves could be mistaken for a deer and could get shot at!

We suffer from the same problem here. Shocked

Dimitri

It's preferred here to be up off the ground on opening day. Get to a stand and stay there. With the # of hunters pouring out here from the city, best to stay put all day. Good for us though, most of the "city" hunters head back home after opening day. 'Cept that the deer are scared S#*$less, but that makes it more rewarding to kill one later in the week.

Vince · Last edited by Vince on Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:05 am; edited 1 time in total

Popgun wrote:

Sorry Vince but that is bad bad advice for Georgia hunting. Walking around during the deer season will get you killed here. Everyone else is either in a tree stand or a ground blind keeping perfectly still and anything that moves could be mistaken for a deer and could get shot at!

Fair call Chris. My apologies Metz.

That is not a problem we suffer with out here in Australia. No doubt there are some areas that you would be wise to avoid at different times, but as a general rule overcrowding of hunting areas just does not happen. Reason for that is, most, if not 99% of hunting takes place on private property and hunters just do not venture onto property that they do not have permission to hunt.

Cheers, Vince

popgun · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: Help With Georgia Hunting

Hi Vince,
Love ya man! We are covered up numnuts in our Georgia deer woods. No fault of yours at all as we managed to raise them ourselves. Even the best hunter safety course will not make someone use good common sense and judgement when hunting.
If you would care to flog all we send to you we could fill a ship today and send it your way but I am afraid that you would have tendonitis very quickly.
We love out deer hunting here but we do take our safety into our own hands every time we hit the woods. Full body armor comes to mind.
Years ago when deer hunting was not all that popular I did enjoy the stalk here but after a round barely missed me I was forced to stop the practice. That is why we have mandatory hunter orange to be worn above the waist. You would think the orange would be effective against numnuts but not so. We still have hunters every year that take a hit while wearing hunter orange.
Have a great day and safe shooting!
Chris

Vince · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:11 am Post subject: Re: Help With Georgia Hunting

Thanks Chris.

No doubt things may get that bad in days to come...but at this stage we have a population of around 21 million in a country similar in size to the USA, so there are nowhere near as many hunters as you guys have in the US.

I really cannot understand a hunter that busts a cap on a target of he is not 110% certain. One would imagine that the slightest hint of blaze orange would be enough to make a hunter take his finger off the trigger. I keep using the term "hunter"...but I would have to say any hunter worth his salt would not be unsafe...it is those that are not really hunters, but shooters.

Cheers, Vince