NC White tail

Reaper · Oct 23, 2008

How big are the white tail in North Carolina? I will be moving there soon and would like to start my home work. Any info would be great!

completesportsman · Oct 23, 2008

Here's one posted earlier this year in the archery forum.

http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID23/2280.html

I hunt Ashe & Alleghany Counties. Lots of deer but small. If you get a 100" deer each year you've done good. Some bucks around every year in the 120-130" range and tops are usually around 150" but those are few and far between. I think our state record typical is in the 180's. A mature buck probably weighs 150-180lbs.

If your here in March you can go to the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh. That will give you a good idea of what is around and where you need to go hunt.

Seasons run from first of sept. to almost the end of Dec. We have 6-7 weeks of archery, 1 week of muzzleloader, and 4 weeks of rifle in the northwest part of the state.

Where you moving from?
Where you moving to?

Reaper · Oct 23, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Oct-23-08 AT 01:44PM (MST)[p]When I first get there I will live in the Warrenton area. But end up in the Raleigh area, I am coming from AZ.
Wow that is going to be a big differance from the deer I am used to. No wonder you can take 6 in one season. I was hopeing to have a chance at one of those huge white tail I see on tv. I guess I will have to plan on hunting in another state for a big one every year. Your deer ane like our Coues.
That buck in the picture is not too bad!! I guess you got lucky?

completesportsman · Oct 23, 2008

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news,
That's not my buck, its another member called buxanddiverdux and it is a good one. I'd say our deer are a little better on average size wise than your coues.

You can take only two bucks and unlimited does now, so you can take more than six deer. They just started the unlimited doe thing this season.

You may still get a good one, there are some around just not as many as other places.

You'll probably be better off in the piedmont than in the mtns anyway, lots of crop land down there to help grow antlers. There's nothing but christmas tree farms up here and they don't do squat for antler growth. Plus the tree farmers get damage permits and spotlight and daytime hunt and kill deer all year round. They're only supposed to shoot does but everyone knows they are also shooting every big buck they see too. And the ones I know don't like to let anyone hunt. They want the deer shot but they don't want to let hunters on to hunt.

Good luck with your move.

Buxndiverdux · Oct 24, 2008

Some of NC's best deer are in the urban areas of Raleigh. Snagging a spot to hunt might be the hardest thing to come by. There are some very nice bucks killed within a reasonable driving distance from Raleigh. The biggest difference for you is going to be the fact that most all of our land is private. There is no such thing as BLM here. There is some public land available and some of it is overlooked if you are willing to get away from the roads. I've hunted the desert in AZ a couple times for mule deer and it was a blast, but nothing like the hunting we do here. You will need to adapt like a coyote. Some guys even chase deer with hounds and it's perfectly legal. It's not all bad, we just don't have mule deer and elk. Look at the bright side, all your tags will be over the counter, and you won't have to draw for a single thing. My son shot these 3 bucks this week. They are a fairly accurate representation of what we have to offer east of Raleigh. My archery buck posted in the link above, is my best ever from NC. The 10 pointer my son shot is very rare for our area too, but they are here in pockets where they get left alone. Good Luck!

Reaper · Oct 26, 2008

Nice pictures. I know it is allot differant. I have been talking with people there and it breaks my heart to leave mule deer country but there is no break in hunting spirit!! If that is what is there to hunt then I will be there with bells on. The whole over the counter thing is nice, but I always hunt with bow if rifle falls through. Thanks for the pictures and info.

completesportsman · Oct 27, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-08 AT 06:46AM (MST)[p]It would hurt me worse to leave elk country! I was out with my wife to flagstaff and the grand canyon in August of this year and the elk hunting around flagstaff looked awesome.

I hate having to drive 30+ hours every year to hunt elk!

buxndiverdux,
Tell your son congrats looks like he's having a great season!

cowhorn · Oct 29, 2008

You will find land to hunt on in Warrenton and around that area.I live near Kerr Lake and you can hunt around almost the whole lake. Some deer get big there because they are hard to get to.You can also cross the line easily and hunt Virginia.There season for gun is shorter so the bucks get bigger.There are quite a few 150 class deer killed on the border so you are not in a bad spot. Good luck.