anyone here hunt at the Talladega National Forest? is it worth my time or should I look at another Management Area. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Look at WMAs instead. Too many hunters, low deer density, difficult terrain. Occasionally a good buck is killed but most don't reach maturity because of the high hunting pressure.

It depends on the county you hunt in. They run dogs on Talladega cnty but Calhoun and Cleburne don't. You can hunt there all year and never be walked over. If you find a good spot keep it to yourself. A lot of hills but there are some nice ones there. Scouting is the key.

I've hunted the Okmulgee division for years. It has good populations of deer and turkey. You just have to find the right areas.

Good luck!

x2

If you like enormous steep ridges, covered in picturesque timbered forest, without seeing any deer, you'll love it. I was born and raised on that mountain (Munford, AL), and could count on one hand all the racked bucks I've ever seen. Crap, could probably count on two hands all the deer I've ever seen period. I think the turkeys eat the deer there.

I went for the first time this year....went 3 times killed three deer perry county side

I agree, probably more turkeys than deer. You can hunt your buttocks off all season for one opportunity. But I did kill my biggest there. But that was when I lived nearby and scouted year round. Found that deer in the summer and killed him Thanksgiving morning. If you dont like clubs (like me) and live nearby you can kill some good ones, if you put in LOTS of time.

Thanks for the info. Basically I'm looking for a place as close to home as possible (Trusssville). I hunt by myself most of the time, don't really know too many hunters. I've found this site to be very helpful. Four years ago my boys wanted to start hunting and I never hunted before, so I tried to learn everything I could to teach them. We hunted a few 10-20 acre places and had some success. Now I'm an addict and they would rather chase girls. I enjoy the scouting as much as hunting but I don't want to waste time scouting the wrong places.

Actually I saw more dogs in Calhoun and part of Cleburn. Dugger Mountain and some areas of Terrapin Creek are over ran by them. There are deer up there, but they hide from the dogs. I know a man who lives at the bottom of the mountain and he lets his dogs run up there whether he his hunting or not. I asked the ranger if that is legal, and he said yes. I started going to Cheaha after that, but did not have much luck. I'm limited on money, but I'm going to cough up the money for one of the clubs this year.

Scout and you will likely find a some good spots. With the amount of logging that has been going on out there, the deer have plenty of thick cover. The hard part is finding the daytime travel routes of deer. There aren't as many deer out there as in other parts of the state but there are some good deer out there. It's all about putting in the time to find them. Best piece of advice I've been given is to walk until you think you're far enough off the road, then walk over another ridge or two. The farther you get off the roads the more likely you will see deer. Also hunt all day if possible. I've killed more deer around midday than any other time of the day.

there is some dog running in the sycamore area but if you get away from them and get back of the main roads a good way there are some really good bucks to be killed. they're right, it's tough terrain but I have a couple buddies that have killed some very nice deer just by walking some of these old roads. it can pay off big but you definitely have to get isolated and put in some time out there.

This is a deer I killed on the Talladega Natl Forest in the early 90's. He's 19" inside. Killed him off the Skyway Motorway on Cheaha Mtn. I was Fall turkey hunting when I killed him.

The biggest AL buck I've seen came 3 days after the season ended a few years ago in the NF. Shot the first squirrel of the morning next to some thick pines. Before the squirrel hit the ground, a large, mature buck tore out from those pines and across a large hardwood bottom.

The moral of the story: There are good deer in those woods, but they aren't stupid. It's all about putting in your time and being at the right place, at the right time.

thanks for all the great advice.

I killed several deer on the Oakmulgee division this year as well. Saw LOTS of deer including some pretty good bucks. I saw deer just about every time i hunted. You gotta put boots on the ground.

They must have some sure enough sorry dogs, if them deer can HIDE from them. If you only knew how many deer I have seen get up after having a pack of beagles run within 30 yards of them for an hour....

I would be trying to cut the dogs off and shoot the deer they are running, but thats just my crazy opinion...

There plenty of deer out here and they got good size... You dont have to walk far either... This buck was killed out there in 2010 by my dad 10 pt.

14 point killed in 2000