Archery Only Counties?
Whitetail Deer
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Here in Montana we have several bow only zones
TravisScott's Link
I just watched this video a couple of days ago. It would be interesting if you had a small parcel in and around a bunch of these small permissions.
Canadian provinces sure do. We have them here in Manitoba, I know Alberta has the Edmonton bow zone. These may sound like urban areas to someone from the US, but they really aren't. Here close to Winnipeg our bow zone extends for like 30 miles to the east and quite a ways north and south. The human population is quite low in these areas, but the deer can be pretty impressive.
Isn't that where the zaft buck came from :)
Some Florida WMAs have archery only zones
In Michigan's southern lower peninsula the Oakland County Park system allows bow hunting only in some of there parks. There's another park in Livingston County that does the same but no tree stands of any kind are allowed in that park. We have other parks around that could do the same but wont. They hire professional hunters instead.
Alaska has one 10 miles wide by 375+ miles long. Sheep, Moose, Caribou, Black Bear, Grizzly bear, wolf, wolverine and even a snowy owl season :)
Grayson County, Texas. Some really good deer in that county too. It's on the border of Tex-Ok. There was a 176" (I think) killed there last year, but technically it was poached. I think the guy shot it legally, but followed it up with a .22 and finished it off. That might not be all of it, or even real accurate, but doesn't diminish the buck, only the "hunter". Someone else might rember the whole of the story.
NY is screwed up I’ll give you that but your talking northern zone basically north of Adirondack state park....southern zone almost 2 month season
West Virginia archery only county buck. Dang!
Partner up with Don Jr. buy up a few hundred thousand acres wherever you want and instant bow only Zone.
Here in Illinois we have Cook, Lake, DuPage, and Kane (east of route 47).
We have a few archery only units in Montana . The one close to me has 5 doe tags and 2 buck tags if you draw the extra tag. Plus elk bear wolf and lions.
Hunt Man I remember the time you took a break from goat hunting to sit in a treestand for deer. Haha
I'm surprised bow only areas haven't been shut down by the participation trophy generation. I have suggested trying a few archery only public parcels here in WI many times. The DNR always responds that it would exclude too many.
Pat, you in NY or CT? NY Southern zone is 7 weeks bow. Northern zone is 3 weeks bow. You can also use your bow the very last week of the season.
What is your intention, owning private land to manage and hunt or you looking for a place that offers bow only on public?
Yes Pat, Buffalo county in WI is Bow only (crossbow too) for all but a 9 day rifle season and a few day muzzy season each year. It ain't what it used to be.
I'd buy a place in Wiseman Alaska and hunt 3,750 sq miles of bowhunting only/public land for all sorts of critters than another deer spot...
Why count on some silly gov't designation? Get qmda or one of those like-minded orgs into the easement business. Retirement communities for hunters. Hire some lawyers. Find a group of like-minded geezers and create your own food plot and corn pile utopia.
APauls X2
Calgary also has quite a bit of bow only areas around, though the city is big it doesn’t take long to get real rural.
Heck, you can lose cell coverage 20 minutes outside the city in certain areas.
Of course, the land prices are outrageously high, so ....
WV has 4 bow only counties. Deer have a chance to get some age on them. These counties are pretty rugged terrain too.
Nick-we also have a youth gun season in Oct. Buffalo county is the same as every other county in WI if I'm not mistaken. It's way over priced IMO. There are just as good of areas with cheaper prices in WI.
Pat, see above. Illinois has Cook, Lake, DuPage, and half of Kane. That's right where you want to be!
Ha!
Ya Pat, move to Cook County and run for mayor. In 4 years you could be governor and if you can stay out of the “big house” maybe President. You’ve got a future in Illinois.
I wouldn't restric to archery only.....you just need a state that does not have such liberal gun seasons and definitely not in the rut. There are several.....Ohio does a good job but the state is way too populated and you would be hard pressed to find an affordable large (300+ac) property.
WI does not have any archery only zones outside of urban areas. IMO Buffalo county is still good but more big farms have broken up into 40s and 80s so you have more pressure on the herd. We do have a slew of counties that have the soil, nutrients, and hills like Buffalo that grow huge bucks. Anything in the southern half of the state and particularly the western portion can be great. Look into Sauk, or Richland counties. Trust me, big deer grow there.
WI has the October youth hunt, 7 day disabled hunt, the 9 day gun season, 11 day muzzleloader season, 4 day antlerless hunt in December, and the Holiday hunt in some counties.
The Wasatch front in Utah is archery only. No Whitetails, but lots of nice Mule deer and if your lucky, some elk to be had also
WV's bow only area is the Largest in the lower 48. 4 contiguous county's that form a block in the south western part of the state. Been bow only for a long time. Like 35 years roughly. A lot of company land and some private ownership.
There is a guy on here called sportsoutfitter who owns a pretty big piece down that caters to hunters. And, that pic Mule showed is the current state record typical. Green scored like 196 or something close. But there are bigger here. The pic I posted is from a friend. It came from this area. Its a pic of a pic on a phone. Best he could do. This is the best kept secret in whitetail hunting. But, the land is rough. You have got to be in shape. Elk and goat hunting shape. It is steep, big, and will beat you up. The deer are old and you are definitely playing on their home turf. But, once in a lifetime deer reside here. You just gotta be there when they come through.
If this is legit, I could not verify but, he says there is no reason to doubt it. I do not know if it is or not. I just know he is BIG. And, i see enough trail cam pics of similar deer I know to be legit that live here.
Colorado has some (Deer WT & Mule Deer) Elk, Black Bear, Turkey, Mt Goat, Sheep.
If you're strictly whitetail-focused in your retirement plans, Iowa is probably the place to buy. If you're willing to become a resident there.
Hey Pat how about Albany County ;)
Pat, join an equity club in the Deep South and you’ll have all the great bowhunting you ever dreamed of, regardless of county rules. You’ll also have a place to stay while you’re there.
https://www.sartainsheritage.com/equity-interest-float-road-hunting-club-grenada-county-ms/
Westchester County NY is bow only. no guns allowed for deer at all. bow season runs 10/1 - 12/31.
Huh, did not know Westchester County NY was bow only... I understand its NYC urban area, but heck I've been there before and you'd figure there'd be a least a few bowhunters around arrowing a few suburban bucks, and be willing to bet there's some big ones there, yet never hear about or see any hero pictures from there...
Used to hunt Westchester regularly, but many years ago. TONS of pressure, but killed a few good ones there....
Imagine the bowhunting woods filled with guys that look and sound like Joe Pesci in Goodfellas.....thats who bow hunts Westchester! Vinny Baggadonuts, Uncle Nunzio and Grandpa Gagglione were officers in my WC hunt club. "You killa my deer, I breaka you leg", Grandpa would always say......I hope the limp goes away with time....
The NYS Record Bow Buck (Typical) was killed in Westchester. Tough to get access on private land spots. Monsters are killed every year though.
We get some brutes in the WV bow onlies :)
How many cabins do you have available now?
That is a brute. Big body too
Parts of Albany County in NY are now only. Land cost is high and although there is potential the management sucks and the road hunters kill a lot of bucks at 3.5 when they are only about 110-115"s. I have 135 acres to hunt in 4j and have hunted it since 92 and I am guilty of shooting quite a few 110-120" bucks cause I worry some night hunting slob will shoot them. There has been a 220" buck poached a half mile from my property and several 140 to 150 bucks as well so they are there just tough to kill with a bow before the slobs kill them. Shawn
XbowfromNY - "Monsters are killed every year though."
Would not doubt that one bit...
Pat head to MO we have bow season from Sept 15 to Jan 15 with only a 9 day break in Nov you are surrounded by 3 great states and have pretty good deer here. Oh, and by the way, I could be your camera man!
Have 5 under construction now Justin. 2 are done, 1 ia a couple weeks out and 2 more dried in. Should be wide open by the time riding season comes back around in March.
DON'T come to MS.
we have 90 days of firearm season. no tags, Very liberal Limits -3 bucks and 5 does. and more rednecks per county than any state in the union. they allow allow Dog hunting during the Rut... always a blast to see a buck chasing a doe, then a dog chasing a buck.......
There is a 125,000 acre WMA close to me. its flooded with hunters, sounds like world war 2, and they checked in 21 deer last year... probably killed 1000
If you have the $$$ and can buy land in the right spot, inside the MS river levee, or near the big black river - you can kill multiple 140+ each year....
Texas has 4 counties. In addition to Grayson County, Dallas, Collin and Rockwall Counties are archery only for whitetails.
You don't need a bow only county. You need a bow only November.
Welcome to Iowa.