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This morning’s post is brought to you by Mountain Junkies Frozen Toe 10 K, a really fun trail race that has been on my mind because, well, my toes are frozen. I need some better heavy boots.
I am finally in a stand I have been saving for good weather. I have seen seven deer so far. Five yearling bucks and two does. I just watched a spike kick a tiny sapling’s butt. Pretty funny. Now just have to hope a big boy shows up.
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While growing up in rural Southern Oregon, Mark Taylor developed a passion for the outdoors while he and his younger brother tagged along with their father on fishing, hunting and camping adventures.
Graduating from Northwestern University in 1988, Taylor spent four years as an officer in the U.S. Navy based in Norfolk before moving into journalism.
After five years writing about the military for a Norfolk-based publishing company, he became the outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times in 1998. He lives in Roanoke with his wife and twin daughters.
It was cold this morning! Could only hunt until 8:30, but saw nothing. Bucks still moving thru where one of my stands is, saw two fresh scrapes while walking out. Good luck!
My favorite hunting spot has been turned into a clear cut and the adjacent property now bears no hunting signs. My other hunting area now have a road leading straight through it with a posted sign on the nearby trees.
So I went to yet another area which had at least 8 vehicles parked on the nearby road so I walked in about 200 yds only to encounter 4 hunters.
in short hunting in Jefferson Nation has going down the drain.
Meant to say….
Hunting in Jefferson Nation Forrest is going down the drain.
I hunted with cold toes for more years than I care to admit. Then I found Smartwool socks and started buying my insulated boots 1 full size bigger than my regular shoes. I wear an 11…my boots are 12′s. Don’t wear any sock liners. Just the Smartwools. More socks makes it worse. Once in the stand, loosen the boots,especially around the ankles. My boots are 1200 gram, but the ones I had before were only 600. It still works as long as the boots are big enough to allow good circulation. Also, keep your legs warm. That way the blood going into your feet is warm and the loosened boots allow it circulate back out. This really works for me.
National Forest hunting is what you make it. I hunt National forest exclusively in Alleghany/Craig/Botetourt counties and have had much success. When you encounter hunters, go farther, hunt harder, outthink the competition. Put yourself where other hunters won’t, you can bet the deer are doing it.
@Alleghany Ridge Runner
Actually I’m new to hunting. Yet after hunting with other hunters and take other hunters advice with no success. So I like to call myself the Amatuer with the spelling incorrect with intent rather I’m an “Unconventional Hunter” hunting out side of the box and got good at it. With limited time I found several spots that I knew hunters wouldn’t go because of the harshness of the areas.
Now those areas have been altered, and let me tell you I’ve been farther in National Forest land and I’ve seen my fair share to down right bizarre characters on Public Land.
With the still unsolved murders of those Kids not far from one of my better hunting areas, I’m just hesitate to go far into the forest area.
One year as I detailed some twisted fool smeared what seemed to been human fecal matter over my vehicle in a racial slur.
With all that said nothing deters me from the hunt and I will be back out there as time permit. I don’t ask people can I hunt on their property because it’s a waste of time.
I haven’t harvested an animal in the past 2 seasons, but one thing is certain I’m getting better and better every year. Public Land here in Montgomery County do suck….
But I’ll make the best of it. Just wanted to past on info of What’s happening in Jefferson National Forrest.