North Georgia

[Bill_Crooks]

Anyone here from N. Ga? I am looking to do my first backpack hunt in the Cohutta Wilderness this fall and any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

 

[FLAK]

Been wanting to get back up there for a Bear hunt but life keeps getting in the way.
Beautiful country, lived up there for a while.

 

[OldGrayJB]

I live about an hour and a half from there but I've never hunted it. I know the deer population is struggling there. So much that the state would not allow antlerless harvest last season. Bears seem to be doing great though.

 

[Bill_Crooks]

I live about an hour and a half from there but I've never hunted it. I know the deer population is struggling there. So much that the state would not allow antlerless harvest last season. Bears seem to be doing great though.

I’ve hunted there for a few years now but out of a base camp. Seen lots of bears last archery season and killed a 130” buck on the December hunt a few years ago. I figured backpacking it would open a lot more options and get me away from most folks.

 

[OldGrayJB]

GA law says you can't remove a deer's head until it's ready to process. Would you be able to quarter and pack out? I'm not sure how they define process.

 

[Bill_Crooks]

I’ve yet to back pack it but I think you can quarter it out but you have to keep the head until it is checked in. I will definitely have to look into this. I do know some folks that have done it though.

 

[OldGrayJB]

Sounds like fun. 130" is a monster in this area. Maybe there's some still in there.

 

[Bill_Crooks]

Been wanting to get back up there for a Bear hunt but life keeps getting in the way.
Beautiful country, lived up there for a while.

When you get ready look me up I’m game.

 

[Bill_Crooks]

Sounds like fun. 130" is a monster in this area. Maybe there's some still in there.

He was rough getting out but he’s my biggest to date. They kill some nice ones up there every year.

 

[Gobbler36]

Awesome place
I’m originally from nw Ga and live in Idaho now blew me away how steep it was backpacked it once for BlackBears and never saw another soul, lots of bear sign but could never be in the right place at the right time. I was looking for white oaks on ridge tops

 

[mmcneil]

Never done it but I’d be game to give it a try. I’m about 1.5 hours south of Cohutta.

 

[Bill_Crooks]

Never done it but I’d be game to give it a try. I’m about 1.5 hours south of Cohutta.

I live in Rome and try to make it up there for a week at least once a year but this will be my first backpack hunt up there or anywhere for that matter.

 

[Bill_Crooks]

Awesome place
I’m originally from nw Ga and live in Idaho now blew me away how steep it was backpacked it once for BlackBears and never saw another soul, lots of bear sign but could never be in the right place at the right time. I was looking for white oaks on ridge tops

That’s where I seen them last year just alway out of bow range.

 

[rayporter]

quartered and left on the bone
i had to check it in and they weighed what i had and said it was a big one,,,, ok.
the appy trail was a couple hundred yards from camp.

 

[Bill_Crooks]

quartered and left on the bone
i had to check it in and they weighed what i had and said it was a big one,,,, ok.
the appy trail was a couple hundred yards from camp.

Nice buck I know folks who have done it so I figured it was legal. I did reach out to DNR just to verify. I’m pretty excited about packing in for a week and getting away from all the hunting pressure near the roads.

 

[rayporter]

stop and talk to the wardens -they bent over backwards to help.

 

[pk_]

I love what’s happening in this thread. Please keep it updated. I am trying to make a trip like this happen one of these years...

 

[Bill_Crooks]

stop and talk to the wardens -they bent over backwards to help.

Yea I figured if they didn’t reply to the message I sent them then I would just ask at the check station. I just want to make sure I’m 100%legal.

 

[Gobbler36]

I’m from Calhoun, I’ll go back to my onX and see what trailhead it was I went in on, I’d love to make it back and shoot a big Bruin in my home state

 

[Bill_Crooks]

I was thinking the jack river trail, pitch camp off the river a bit that way there is plenty of water and those ridges are loaded with oak and hickory