Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer Bow Talk Frustrated!!

I have been hunting the Cahaba WMA for 2 years now, I have scouted and felt like I had a couple of great spots just to put eyes on some deer more less see a shooter. I know people are going to say that's part of hunting PUBLIC land with all the pressure that is on it but my thing is we cant all be wasting our time out there, there has to be people seeing deer with all the land that it is over there. On top of not seeing anything in the stand I have only seen 1 even driving in on the roads. Anyone that hunts out there and would be willing to make give me some pointers please PM me (I'm not asking for you to tell me where your hunting out there). Maybe I'm approaching it wrong an I just feel like I said before there has to be a large number of deer on the WMA. Thanks in advance to anyone that gives me any advice.

That place looks like a nuclear waste land. I don't live far from it and I onky hunt public land. I dont see myself ever going up there to hunt

This is my first year hunting Cahaba and first time ever hunting public land. I have been out 4 times so far this season and have not seen a deer from the stand. I did see 3 deer while scouting in Septmeber. I have found several spots that look like deer heaven but only get a few does on my trail cam. I did see 5 does crossing the road this morning about 8:30. I put in a quick hunt before work.

All the day time activity I have had on camera is between 8 and 9 am. I saw two deer scouting one morning between 9 and 10 am and one around 2:30 pm. I have very limited knowledge of this area (just moved here 3 months ago), but I would say there are deer on Cahaba and based on stories I have read good deer are killed off of it.

I am getting a little discouraged but it is the only place that I have access to right now. Don't over think it, it's just hunting. Hunt when you can and eventually you will see some deer and hopefully have the opportunity to harvest one.

*Question, Are you hunting super deep off the roadways? I have seen many tracks walking up and down the roads. I am thinking of just hunting one of the crossings that I see. I know many say to get as far away form the roads/other hunters but I am seeing more sign on the roads than in the woods.

Getting waaaaayyy off the road isn't always necessary. If you're hunting "pretty" places, you're hunting low percentage places most of the time. It takes hunting big trails in thick areas. I don't hunt it, but work with a guy that does, religiously. I couldn't hunt the way he does, sitting in a tree that barely holds him up and can't see further than 40 yards at most. Not fun to me, but he kills several deer a year, and normally a good one or two.

I hunt most of the time anywhere from 75-150 yards off the road. I have been hunting heavy trails and still nothing. I do understand that's why its called HUNTING and not killing, but I would like to at least see a deer while in the stand.

You could always put up a feeder.... JK

I hunted Tuesday and saw one doe at about 8:30am on a small finger with a big white oak dropping acorns heavily. She came from some 12 ft tall pines that are so thick you would have to army crawl through them. In the area I'm hunting it's hard to get far away from the roads. It seems like the roads take you close to anywhere in the area. Also I think the terrain has a high impact on deer movement out there. I don't think they cover a lot of ground especially early in the season because they have food close to bedding. I have only seen deer close to the thickest stuff you can possibly imagine which makes me think they don't move very far distances because of the terrain. I'm sure once it gets colder they obviously have to move away from bedding farther distances to find food. I could be totally wrong but that's just what I've noticed. I know for a fact though that big deer have been killed out there. I have heard stories of trophy bucks out there. I assume they are probably more aware and skiddish of human presence because I think they are pressured heavily with it being the closest WMA to Bham. PM me when your planning on going out there and maybe we can hunt an area together.

You are correct. Big trails in THICK areas is a big key out there I think.

I hunted cahaba hard when I was in school at Samford. I didn't see many deer but I saw several big bucks. I was mostly hunting areas with lots of scrapes and big rub lines.

My thoughts exactly about the bedding areas. It's so thick that they stay confined to small areas.

On public land, I like to stay as close to the bedding areas as possible.

From my experience on Cahaba, the deer often stay high on the ridges. You would think they would be low in the hardwood bottoms, but I see way more up high, especially if it is a hard climb to get up high (where most hunters are unwilling to go). I also have 10x more luck in the mornings than the evenings.

Thanks for all the input fellas. I'm going to try again in the am, maybe try to go scout a little today an see if I can find some places like y'all at talking about. FYI I am hunting on the Pea Ridge side

I am too. I'll be there tomorrow morning

I don't deer hunt out there but I've seen some impressive rubs and scrapes while turkey hunting but it is way off the beaten path on the Helena side. Haven't ventured to the Pea Ridge side. Thick cover close to the river or a creek crossing, if you can find one with any water in it, is where I would start.

I wish I could help, but all the woods I used to hunt are gone and look like a bomb went off. that's what I didn't like about that WMA, always cutting where I was hunting. Good luck, its tough hunting!!