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Post by bushwacker on Nov 20, 2016 21:36:35 GMT -5
New to the lake and would like to come down and hunt a little. Does anyone hunt the AEP land around like? How is the hunting? What is the best way to access it? Thanks for all the help.
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Post by Shadslinger on Nov 20, 2016 22:02:51 GMT -5
You can access it by road on Rt. 608 (tolers ferry rd) on the Bedford county side. The Franklin / Pittsylvania county side has some access along Rt 778 (jasmine rd). I know folks do hunt it but not sure the amount of pressure it actually recieves. Some real steep land in there. Seen some big deer traveling them roads back up in there over the years. Always said I'd like to hunt it just never have.
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johnr
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Post by johnr on Nov 21, 2016 6:01:04 GMT -5
The only aep land open to hunt is the mountain. Smith mountain cooperative wma, which is what Shadslinger described.
I've hunted it a bunch, even seen and killed some fine deer there. I've been hunting it fairly consistently since 2011. Some years see more pressure than others. In 2012, I was the only person on it. This year, it's another story.
It's a tough place to hunt, in my opinion. The deer are few and far between, and you gotta go places that you really don't want to go to get to them. This year it ain't many deer. They cycle with the acorns and the last 2-3 years haven't been good acorn years down there. So the deer population ( and turkeys, squirrels, and bears) will lag until a good year of acorns like this one. Next year they should have lots of babies after having lots of food this fall.
If you like an adventure, it's a great place to hunt. If you like filling tags quickly, I'd hunt elsewhere. Lol.
Funny story. In 2012, I was hiking into my muzzleloader stand when I noticed some reflective eyes on trees. After I shot my deer that morning, I went back to follow those eyes. So I walk and walk and walk, through some nasty thick brush, up steep rocky faces, through narrow and steep gulches etc. definitely not the easiest path to anywhere. So while I'm going in there all I can think is how crazy this hunter must be that laid this trail and that it must be worth it. Finally I run out of reflective markers in this small brushy opening. It was steep, Too steep for a deer I thought. Turns out, it was a perfect spot for a deer! At least it was all downhill from there.
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Post by Shadslinger on Nov 21, 2016 9:06:21 GMT -5
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Post by bushwacker on Nov 21, 2016 13:36:33 GMT -5
I have done a little research on the area. I have a trailer in penhook so the jasmin access will be closest it's only a couple min. Down the road. Does anyone access the mountain by boat. Doesn't look to be as steep down by the lake in some areas.
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johnr
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Post by johnr on Nov 21, 2016 14:16:51 GMT -5
That's how I get there, by boat.
Typically you gotta get up into the steepest parts before you start seeing anything. It is less steep down near the water, but even that's plenty steep.
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Post by 8spikebear on Aug 20, 2017 22:24:37 GMT -5
For a 2nd year Hunter, I've done pretty well here. I got charged by a spike and took him at 4 yards and shot a bear up top. Probably one of the best days of my life
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Post by choochoo on Sept 19, 2017 19:41:47 GMT -5
Are you guys hunting the Franklin/Pittsylvania side or the Bedford side of the AEP land? I did a little snooping around on the Bedford side this evening. Tons of acorns falling. A few deer tracks.
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johnr
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Posts: 1,297
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Post by johnr on Sept 20, 2017 6:25:24 GMT -5
I've hunted both sides and killed deer, squirrels, and turkey on both sides. They're similar, but the Bedford side is a bit flatter overall.
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Post by choochoo on Sept 20, 2017 14:51:02 GMT -5
I'll probably hunt it a bit. Plus it borders some private land I hunt.
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