used to have quite the get together opening morning

 

Any season other than regular fire arms is pretty light. We hunt north of Roby (not far from the fort) and the numbers have been declining pretty steadily. 15 years ago the forestry road we camp on had 8 groups camped on it during firearms season. This year just ours and one other. After opening weekend there really isnt much pressure at all. You will find pockets of high pressure of course.

 

So Archery and durring the week I should be good?

oneshot
The Big Grin knows he is never Good.

 

i to hunt near roby off bald knob i really havent seen ne decline in deer numbers just hunters. seen a few nice bucks this year connected with one. lots of deer with no pressure early bow season.

 

Even opening weekend isnt bad. Where I hunt I usually dont see any other hunters all weekend. You have to walk a ways because of ATV traffic but you can get away. Slayer, I thought deer numbers were good this year. Everyone in camp saw deer. When you hunt the "Big Woods" that's saying something. While bow hunting I played peek-a-boo with a nice buck on three different occasions. He won.

 

we hunt near Devils Elbow, and there are several groups that camp the same spots for gun deer every year, but other than that no problems with other hunters. maybe some screaming atvs or a crowd at the Big Piney access, esp after the weather warms a bit.

 

one of the few public places ive been too that I thought had light pressure. There are areas that are so thick and secluded, even if it was crowded you wouldnt find people back in that stuff. I was there a couple weekends ago hog hunting and came across shed from last year that was pretty chewed up but the base was in good shape and it had some serious mass

 

Mark Twain National Forest is 1.5 million acres so there are probably a lot of places with very little pressure.