2023-2024 Official Somerville PHL Thread

[LukeDuke]

...Saw one buck, young six, came in on the same trail I took to the tree.

You must have a pretty good scent control routine! Anything besides rubber boots?

[rem788]

You must have a pretty good scent control routine! Anything besides rubber boots?

I wash my clothes in scent free dye free soap, hang them outside in a tree to dry, shower as soon as I get up and that’s it.

[Cocobulldog]

I was out at the CR125 gate. Saw one hunter when I walking in sitting in a chair near a "spot" I setup, burlap blind. So I went up another 40ish yards in some hard woods. Did not seen anything that morning. Had a doe come in that night, was the size of a Lab, no spots but guessing 6-7 months old. She walked in semi circle at 12 - 15 yards, I let her walk off. Sat morning had a fork or spike was not sure as he trotted by me around 25 yards and would not stop for anything. About 10 min later he hauled by me again going back where he came from. Someone or something spooked him. I checked the trail for blood but nothing. Sat night nothing. Sunday saw a deer about 80 yards away, it blew, not sure from that far off it could hear or smell me. Will be back this weekend.

[TN_boy]

Seems like pressure has dropped now that general gun season has opened and the area is buck only.
Now is the time to capitalize! I have been hunting known spots in the morning, midday stalk scouting, and setting up in new areas for evening hunts.

[Cocobulldog]

Yep pressure has dropped. Sat. morning I was the only call in the parking lot. Sat evening saw one other hunter walking out, another person was in the woods but did not see him walk out. Sun morning was the only person out. Only pressure out there was somebody's coon dog barking and running around, did not seem to really bother the deer, saw a couple doe Sun morning and they walked right over to where he ran by an hour before. Will be back out this weekend.

[rem788]

Yep pressure has dropped. Sat. morning I was the only call in the parking lot. Sat evening saw one other hunter walking out, another person was in the woods but did not see him walk out. Sun morning was the only person out. Only pressure out there was somebody's coon dog barking and running around, did not seem to really bother the deer, saw a couple doe Sun morning and they walked right over to where he ran by an hour before. Will be back out this weekend.

I got lots of pics of that dog running around. It must have run by a camera 4 times within 30 minutes.

[Cocobulldog]

Yep, he was basically running in circles around the area. Went last Thursday evening and Friday. Saw a couple small bucks, one doe way off. Heading out this afternoon today and will hunt the weekend till Sunday till around 11.

[BNewt08]

Is there anywhere convenient to camp nearby? I saw in the public land book that there is no camping in the phl but I'd rather not have to drive around the lake to sleep a couple hours. Any suggestions would be great. Im not against sleeping in the parking lot in the truck either, but I don't want any trouble for it. Thanks everyone!

[Cocobulldog]

I have been "camping' mainly at Nails creek park which is about 5ish miles away. If no spots open there been going to Birch creek part, about 30 min drive. The park charges $25 a night for a slip with water and electric. I thing they have some spots that dont have electric for $12.

[Cocobulldog]

Weekend fun!
First, I did not get anything but had a good time in the woods. On Friday afternoon did not see anything. Sat morning was slow until I did some rattling and grunt calls. About 10 min after that I heard some real deer fighting, rattling, but could not see them from where I was sitting. About 10 min later I see a nice buck walking away from the area where I heard the fighting. He was about 80 yards away. I tried some grunting and snort/wheezing. He stopped a couple times but walked away. Sat afternoon was nothing but I walked to the area where saw the buck in the morning walking, found a good spot to sit for Sun morning.
Sunday morning, I get to “new” spot around 530am. I broke some branches and pulled some dead tall weeds to make a couple shooting lanes. Around 545 I’m sitting on a down tree with cover behind me, some to the side, and a little bit upfront with the dead weeds when I hear walking over my left shoulder. Of course it was still dark but good moon shine I was still worried that “oh H hope it is not a big boar”. I turn and it was a young buck, small 8 pt., how do I know this is because he came out at 10 yards, step step step, 8, step 7, 6, 5, stopped right in front of me broadside at 3 yards. He sniffs the ground, looks at me, sniffs, walk a couple more feet turn and faces me. 2 yards, step step, 1 yard and looking at the dark blog not knowing what it is. He was about to take another step, if he did, we could have been touching noses, so I moved my foot and he jumped back, turned looked one more time and walked off. This is how my season has pretty much gone so far.

[PLBowhunter]

Has anyone managed to shoot anything in Somerville this season? Seems slow. Haven't seen anything in terms of pigs or deer.

[Cocobulldog]

Not a think close or big enough.

[TN_boy]

I learned my lesson. Most people don't talk too much about open public land harvests.

[rem788]

I haven't seen anything legal to shoot in weeks, on camera or in person. I was getting all kinds of pictures and had a few encounters, just not close enough or a clear shot, then all of a sudden nothing at all.

[Cocobulldog]

My first year hunting Somerville ended on Sunday. While I did not get a deer I have to say I had lots of fun with some good encounters, met lots of good hunters and the game warden. I hunted mainly off CR125 but for the last 6 weeks I moved over to CR134 area. Both areas I saw many deer and only saw hogs at the 134 location. Heard lots of duck hunters and a few "neighbors" doing what I'm guess target practice and few what I guess were shots at deer or hogs on the private land. I will take this weekend off but plan on going back to CR135 area and see if I can get some hogs in close. Also during the off season, before it get hot, will walk around the other area's to get a better lay of the land.