Weather Slows First B.F. Grant Hunt

Steven Carter, of Tallapoosa, is a veteran hunter of B.F. Grant and shot this 9-point buck early Thursday morning.

B.F. Grant’s first quota hunt of the season is always a popular one. Coupled with the fact that the WMA operates under quality-buck regulations and the rut is wide open the first week of November, B.F. Grant’s first quota hunt of the season is traditionally one of the best in the state for shooting a quality buck.

Anthony Dixon, of Statham, is a new hunter to B.F. Grant and was able to shoot and kill this 5 1/2-year-old 8-pointer Thursday morning.

This year’s hunt, which ran from Nov. 5-7, was a quality buck and antlerless hunt. However, the three days of hunting was unfortunately hit with warm and wet weather for most of the hunt and resulted in low numbers of both hunters and deer. 

After killing a deer on a WMA check-in hunt, hunters are required to take their deer to a check station so WRD staff can collect important deer data.

Despite the nasty conditions, 289 hunters checked in 36 deer over the weekend. Of these, 23 were bucks and 13 were does. This 12.5 percent hunter-success rate is noticeable lower than last year’s 16 percent and 2013’s 23.4 percent hunter-success rates.

GON was at the check station during the first morning of the hunt. Andrew Parker, of Monroe, showed up with a nice 8-point buck, which was spotted trailing two does. 

Andrew Parker, of Monroe, shot and killed this 8-point buck, which was one of the largest deer from the first morning of the hunt.

“Numbers were down from what we have experienced on this hunt in the past, but that is what happens when you have a weekend full of bad weather,” said Bobby Bond, a biologist with WRD. “The second hunt, which will be in December, is typically slower than this one. However, with this hunt having such bad weather, I am excited to see what happens.” 

Tommy Hill, of Covington, said this big buck was trailing a doe at 5:15 on the first afternoon of the B.F. Grant hunt.

The next quota hunt at B.F. Grant will be Dec. 3-5. A non-quota primitive weapons hunt, which is open to anyone, is scheduled for Dec. 17-19. 

For more information on B.F. Grant, call the WRD in Fort Valley at (478) 825-6354.