Appalachians - long range?

[blue_ridge]

In my only western hunting experience, I took an elk in Colorado at 400 yds and had clear visibility beyond for another 400. But on the east coast, I've never been presented with a shot past 300 yards. So once you hike up into the mountains, are you guys finding meadows or power lines where you have a clear long range shot?

 

[RMulhern]

In my only western hunting experience, I took an elk in Colorado at 400 yds and had clear visibility beyond for another 400. But on the east coast, I've never been presented with a shot past 300 yards. So once you hike up into the mountains, are you guys finding meadows or power lines where you have a clear long range shot?

I'm wondering if you've EVER hunted the West??

 

[Gene Jr.]

You gotta shoot animals where they are, not where you want to shoot them. Vertical wooded hillsides are the norm here in PA. Not too many deer hanging out in meadows and on powerlines during gun season here.

Check out some of Kevin Crams vidoes on this site. They give you a good idea of what to expect on public land in PA. From having hunted along the Appalachian ridge from northern PA to southern VA I suspect it's about the same everywhere. You might catch more deer in the open in less pressured areas.

 

[sniperjwt]

I agree with Gene here in PA if its not private ground then dont plan on any deer comming out on a powerline or pipeline. Any long range is done mostly hillside to hillside. I have hunted down in NC in the foothills and powerline hunting can be very successful. There again it was private land so.....thats probably why.

 

[blue_ridge]

Thanks. I figured as much, but the site is called Long Range Hunting and I have read a few posts on here talking about long range shots on here, so thought I would ask.

 

[7 loader]

In SC the longest shot I've taken is 650 yds paced. That was on a old RR track bed. In VA n.w of Roanoke it was 300 yds give or take a few. But in general 100 yds round about in the norm in the appalachians. Good old round nose bullets are the call of the day. My modle 94 in 30-30 with iron sites is my choise for the bush.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I hunt in wv, long range shooting spots are pretty common if you shoot ridge to ridge, its doable to about 750 yards without snow. (which we don't have often during deer season). spots for 1K shooting are less common but can be found here in the farming areas of the Potomac Highlands.
In the last 2 seasons I've taken deer from 307,340,523,702,723,1005, and 1,350 yards.
RR

 

[davewilson]

generally speaking, the steeper the hillside, the better. usually some rock outcrop or cliff. getting a bullet out from the hill you are on is usually the tough part. there are many places in Pa. where a little chainsaw surgery occured to present a good long range spot. getting a bullet in to the deer on the far hill is sometimes a difficult thing also.

 

[mike33]

I live in W.Md. hunting 3 states md., pa., w.va. At 50 years old have killed a lot of deer except most of them under 75 yards. I am now in to lr but very hard to come by. I have 2 places in pa i can go out to 1900 . Both places are private and i have become friends with a member on here where we can shoot out to 1900 in pa. I have settled in to enjoying jug shooting as well as hunting. My enjoyment now is going to these 2 places in mid season and trying to take a doe at 1k or over. Yes, if your on a power or gas line these deer are going to stand still for a range, click, send it deal. I am going back to co. for my second time this year and very prepared. In 80% of my area 200 yards would be considered a long shot.
mike

 

[silvertip-co]

yes in western Clinton County PA.

 

[blue_ridge]

I live in W.Md. hunting 3 states md., pa., w.va. At 50 years old have killed a lot of deer except most of them under 75 yards. I am now in to lr but very hard to come by. I have 2 places in pa i can go out to 1900 . Both places are private and i have become friends with a member on here where we can shoot out to 1900 in pa. I have settled in to enjoying jug shooting as well as hunting. My enjoyment now is going to these 2 places in mid season and trying to take a doe at 1k or over. Yes, if your on a power or gas line these deer are going to stand still for a range, click, send it deal. I am going back to co. for my second time this year and very prepared. In 80% of my area 200 yards would be considered a long shot.
mike

Yep, here in VA every where I've hunted has been 75 yard and under except the occasional cornfield buck at dusk. I usually carry Marlin 45-70. But I am getting into long range tactical and F-class. Was wondering if hikes in WMA's might yield some power line or ridge to ridge opportunities. Sounds like they are rare to come by unless you know someone with open country private land.

 

[zupatun]

Yep, here in VA every where I've hunted has been 75 yard and under except the occasional cornfield buck at dusk. I usually carry Marlin 45-70. But I am getting into long range tactical and F-class. Was wondering if hikes in WMA's might yield some power line or ridge to ridge opportunities. Sounds like they are rare to come by unless you know someone with open country private land.

In Northern VA CF Phelps has some fields but I don't think they are too big...there are a couple power lines as well, but I only use it for the sighting in range on occasion. Thompson is hardwoods hunting and a single hillside...mostly with my Marlin 30-30.

My hunt club has a piece in Prince William (South and West of Quantico) that presents shots out to 600yards, but most shots would be not much longer than 350 as the land is rolling rather than hillsides--hard to shoot down the second dip and can't shoot a sillouhetted target with no backstop.

Best shots are over a mile hike in and when it's wet I can't take my jeep in very far and there's no quad in my budget...

The national forest land near Front Royal is one hillside or the other--no shooting from ridge to ridge etc...

There's some nice land in Farquier, but if you don't have private land access or a hunt club you are hard pressed in Virginia. I hunt the Prince William plot until April...we have too many deer here.

Matt

 

[vintec]

I agree with one of the other post. The steeper the better!!!! for long ranger hunting in here in central WV. (the recovery sucks) I have taken deer at 529, 472, 497, and 789 the biggest was a 142" 8pt. I have spotted many deer and bear at over 2k.

Against the the preaching of many enviromentalist the reclaimed and active surface mining areas are often the most rich in game.

Vince

 

[Kevin Cram]

There are places to long range hunter almost everywhere I go. My eye is constantly searching as I drive down the road. I'm always saying "man that would be a good spot to hunt, but where can I shoot from". Finding a "good" spot to long range hunt from is a little harder. Steep is good, to a point, we don't have many billy goats on the east coast. Everywhere I hunt is public land, which we are fortunate to have plenty of here in PA. But there are just as good of spots in Virginia and West Virginia and are public also. Don't expect someone to just blurt out exactly where they hunt. I know for myself I put a lot of time and energy into finding and making my long range spots. I don't give out much info as to where they are for good reason. Look for a hill that faces as close to dead North as you can if you want to hunt all day. If the hill faces east it's only and afternoon spot, and if it faces west it's usually only good until about noon. Your best bet is mostly going to be hillside to hillside here on the east coast. You'll be looking through the tree tops mostly, but when the leaves are off it more open than you would think. Power lines are OK for glassing but guess what runs over head where the bullet flies. I don't even want to know what would happen if you clip a high tension power line with a bullet. There are places out there but it may mean hiking back in 1-2 miles and doing some major grunt work for a year or so before you can even hunt the area. Find the general area you want to hunt and start pooring over topo maps. Topo maps can only get you so far though, you'll need to see the ground cover for your self. I've found good spots on a map but when I checked them out it was nothing but mt. laurel. Once you find a good spot keep it to yourself, there are (spring) men on this forum that are known jump right in your spots if you give them to much information as to its location.