David K Nelson Demopolis hunting

Guys I am out of Florida and I want to take a trip to Demopolis to hunt the David k Nelson WMA. I would like to know how bad the river is? Can I park at the civic center and paddle across in a canoe? Or is that too dangerous? Are there good numbers of deer? Remember I am from Florida so if there are more than 2 deer with 2 points or better that is prime hunting. I would like to bow hunt. I may bring a shotgun just in case. I like to use my climber so I can cover more ground. In Florida we can only shoot does in archery season and doe weekend. You guys have a very liberal doe harvest system. Any information is greatly appreciated.

Yes, we have a very liberal doe harvest and that is exactly why the hunting sucks around there now. I’ve hunted around there for a long time, and the only reason i still hunt it occasionally is because i like the area and there’s some pigs to hunt. I haven’t been there this year so I couldn’t tell you about the pigs. It’s a beautiful place. I don’t shoot many deer these days but i at least like to see some when i hunt. I’ve witnessed some absolute slaughter fests during some gun hunts, but hey its legal so oh well. Good luck.

Hate to hear the place has gone down hill. Hunted it until 15 years ago. Beautiful woods at the time. Probably contributed to the population decline. The gun hunts used to be a circus!!!!

Yes you can paddle across but not sure I would recommend in the dead of winter alone in a canoe. Depends on the water level also. I use to hunt corps land by myself in that area out of a 17 foot center console. Several times that was hairy being alone. The bank is slicker than owl chit most places. Damn good bow hunting that corps land early season. I have never hunted the WMA just corps land. Just be damn careful and wear a life jacket. Like I said o don’t really know anything about the WMA but grew up on that river. Pm me I can probably tell you a few Corp areas close by accessible by canoe that would probably be better better hunting for you

I am sorry to hear about the decline of the property. I imagined that your state had so much private land that you woman's were barely used. Our private land is very expensive. If you dont get drawn for a quota it can be quite chaotic. On top of that we have few deer and very few quality deer. I fell in love with Alabama when I went to the monroe academy deer hunt. The people and the land were great.

If you decide too go, shoot me a pm and phone number and I’ll point you in the right direction for using a canoe.

Put in at Belmont and hunt the Spidle lake areas

That place use to be covered up in deer years ago.

Thank you for your suggestions.

When are you going? I hunted the corps land down there pretty regularly when I was in school at UWA and still hunt down there some now just not as often, and if we are in the woods at the same time I can point out a couple of spots on the map that I have done well in. If we are in the woods at the same time, I would be happy to run you across in my boat, I cant recommend crossing the river at the city landing in a canoe. It is wider when you see it than it looks on a map. and it runs pretty quick after a rain.

If you are going to go the canoe route, I would suggest Spidle lake as well. There you can paddle around the slough much easier than the main river channel.

Feel free to PM me

So I have decided to go. I will drive up on the 10th and hunt all week. I dont know how to tell the boundary lines of the property. I cant see any fences in google maps. I have been looking at spike lake like nightwachtmen suggested. I own a 20ft pontoon i just figured that was overkill. This is gonna be quite an adventure.

I hope you center pinch one.

Sorry Spidle lake not spike. Dang auto correct. Whild Bill I am not sure what you mean by center pinch one?

Pinch = punch

It means i hope you pinch one in the bread basket, right through the ten ring into the ole pump station giving em the old dirt nap!

I use to love this place. Hunted it almost exclusively about 5 or 6 years in the 90's. I have been a few times last couple years when in the area but only like a afternoon here and a morning there. Seemed to be down but I went off 20 year old info and what was thick then isn't now and so on. Its some of the most beautiful woods you will find in Alabama so it will be a enjoyable hunt no matter what you see. Spidle lake is still gonna be a good paddle for you from Belmont. By huntstand I came up with rite around 2000 yards from the launch to where you can hunt. Even in a canoe watch for stumps in there. Its a minefield and a lot just under the surface. Your going to hit some. The drive on damsite property can be good. Just look in the swags for the "swamp oak" acorns that the cups nearly cover the whole acorn. Find one dropping with deer droppings under it and you should see something.

If you’re hunting the corps land around spidle lake their property lines are pretty well marked with red paint. I know a few landowners around those parts and would advise you to be aware of where you are, they don’t take kindly to trespassers or poachers. Not as many deer in that area as there used to be.

You can download an app called OnX that will show your location and where the property lines are plus other info such as the landowners name

Most of the Spidle lake corps land borders spidle lake hunting club as said above boundaries are well marked with red paint on trees. Good luck I hunted spidle Lake hc for years there are some good bucks there

I got to give thanks to Muzzy. I went to Demopolis and had a great time. I spent 2 days scouting. I found some swamp chestnut and white oaks. He pointed me in the right direction. I didn't bring my canoe. I walked a lot. It was a hour walk to my stand. It was a 45 minute drive from the economy lodge to the gate. I hunted the dam site. I had the whole place to myself all week. Those woods were so beautiful. I hunted the hardwood bottoms. Just amazing stand of old hardwood trees. I saw 7 bucks. I shot at 2 6 points missed both of them. I tried a practice shot to find out my bow was off. Must have knock out the site while scouting. I didn't think to test my shots every day in between hunts. That wont happen again. I will be back. I am thinking about hunting the rut. I dont really know how to properly use grunt calls or any of that stuff but I do know that place holds some deer. It's funny I did not see one doe.

Sounds like you had an awesome time even though you didnt come away with one. When I was in school at UWA (and before I knew a whole lot about how to sight in/tune a bow or which arrows to use) I would go in there several times per week and miss 3-4 in an afternoon. I ran out of arrows alot. LOL

I have a camp in Belmont about a 2 minute drive from the boat launch! im gointt to start hunting up there a lot

Sounds like you had a good hunt.