Harlan County Monsters?

[EKY.MTN.HUNTER]

I've heard of two monster deer that were killed in Harlan County Ky recently. One was a 28/26 point brute. Another was an 18 point I believe. I saw a picture of the 18 point at a check station and on the back of the picture it read, Harlan County 18 point, 215 inch, 185 pound dressed. Just wondering if anybody from that area can confirm the size of these deer or even better post up some pictures. I can say that the 18 point was a beautiful buck and I'd like to get pictures up of both of these deer.

[EKY.MTN.HUNTER]

bump.... somebody has gotta know something about these 2 deer, or has the internet not made it way to Harlan County yet. :D

[150PandY]

bump.... somebody has gotta know something about these 2 deer, or has the internet not made it was to Harlan County yet. :D

I would say your second satement is true.... lol! I would like to see them. This months Kentucky Game and Fish has an article about eastern Kentucky monsters from last season!

[muzzy125acc]

Guys they are big deer in those Mountains:D

[S.Pace]

Yeah, the Internet has been here for a few days now....

I was told of one huge buck with double drops and know the guy that killed it; I'll try to get some pics. There 'are' some monsters here; it's pretty hard to catch up w/them though.

[jatackett84]

my uncle called my dad and said the same thing about those Harlan county deer. i am from floyd county and now live in NC. Back in the summer we were riding 4 wheelers round cow creek down torward Dewey lake and seen a few nice ones starting to grow and in velvet. We also seen a ton of elk on that trip as welll there are some grown ones in those mountains guys....GROWN ONES....also that owen county deer that vance kid killed, the picture does no justice my uncle said.

[WhiteRubi]

The wifey is from Harlan and still has a lot of family down there. Her brother kills a nice buck every year and then heads across the mountain and usually tags another nice one in Virginia.

I think the 2 he shot last year were both over 140" (Kentucky and Virginia before anybody screams POACHER :D)

[rangerman2003]

my fiance is from harlan, but i never get to hunt down there... wish i could... its funny to go down there and see 5 - 6 year old kids going to the store on a four wheeler.. hehe whats normal there is not here

[naturalelite]

my fiance is from harlan, but i never get to hunt down there... wish i could... its funny to go down there and see 5 - 6 year old kids going to the store on a four wheeler.. hehe whats normal there is not here
Were they going to get liquor or tobacco????

[rangerman2003]

depends on the day ahah

[120+]

Were they going to get liquor or tobacco????

Neither. They grow/make their own on those two items. :D

Probably going after copper tubing. ;)

[150PandY]

Yeah, the Internet has been here for a few days now....

I was told of one huge buck with double drops and know the guy that killed it; I'll try to get some pics. There 'are' some monsters here; it's pretty hard to catch up w/them though.

Yeah, those mountain deer are hard to hunt. I think they have a large range and are not easy to pattern. I was born and raised in Knox county and I still cant hunt them!

[buzzbaiter83]

Avid hunter from Harlan here. I've not heard anything about those monster deer. Doesn't mean they didn't come out of Harlan though. There are a few nice deer here. I believe the majority of deer here are poached out. People ride strip jobs all day and night from September through December and kill whatever they can it's sad. No matter how many calls I make seems like no one cares. I haven't even seen a game warden in the woods in over 10 years....Usually topography makes the wind though to hunt here. A lot of it here is getting lucky or finding the right buck. I'll see what I can find on the two deer.

[EKY.MTN.HUNTER]

Yeah, those mountain deer are hard to hunt. I think they have a large range and are not easy to pattern. I was born and raised in Knox county and I still cant hunt them!


What you said!. It's very hard to pattern those mountain deer. I feel like with so much forest and lack of agriculture they just rome around a great deal. I don't hardly hunt back home unless it's rut time, I stay up in owen county hunting agriculture. When I do hunt in the mountains during rut I really spend a great deal of time scouting for a great stand location. This for me is a stand that is located on or near the fringe of a thicket (that I feel bucks bed in), and also one that allows me to see a very large portion of woods. I feel like due to lack of pattern, you gotta help your self out as a hunter and put yourself in a spot that will allow you to really reach out and poke one with your gun. Cause in all honesty, you never really know where there gonna come from, you just wanna catch one cruising within shot distance. This setup has produced for me.

[SmokeyBear]

[quote=buzzbaiter83;498560]I believe the majority of deer here are poached out. People ride strip jobs all day and night from September through December and kill whatever they can it's sad. No matter how many calls I make seems like no one cares. I haven't even seen a game warden in the woods in over 10 years....quote]


If you want KDFWR to respond to deer poaching complaints in southeastern KY you have to "fudge" a little and tell them the poachers are shooting at the elk!!! Then the department will send in the F&W Swat Team, helicopters, airplanes and ninja enforcers!!!:D
I was born and raised in Harlan County and I have taken a few good ones from those mountains myself in years past. I still try to get back down that way for the December muzzleloader season each year just for old times sake.

[Mepperson]

I'm originally from Harlan and try to hunt when I go back to visit. I was hoping to keep it secret, but I guess it's out now :mad:. There are some big deer there but the last Kentucky Afield Magazine showed the deer density at 4 per square mile. I wonder how they get this data? Surely there are more deer than that. I have seen several at one time, do you think it was a family reunion? They all came together in one area to celebrate?

[buzzbaiter83]

Yeah, I wouldn't be suprised if they didn't shoot the elk too. I know they've found some dead, shot and left. I know we have some nice bucks here but too many people kill multiple deer here. And they take whatever no matter the size. I killed a doe this morning with my PSE Bruin. She was by herself, didn't smell like she was in estrous. Only a hen turkey with her.

I'd say 4 deer per square mile is about right around here. Should be better. I'd say the buck-doe ratio is about 1-7 or 1-8. Big deer just hard to get up with in these mountains.

[buzzbaiter83]

oh yeah, asked about the monster deer today at the butcher's. He cleaned a 32 point from Leslie and a 16 from Harlan. had photos but hadn't developed them yet. I saw some pictures from the past of some brutes. People around here don't have deer scored much.