Hey guys....just wondering how many eastern carolina archers might be interested in a hunt at Poccosin lakes NWR this opener of deer season.I tried to put a hunt together a couple of years back but weather and such fowled everthing up . No special bells or whistles, just a chance to get get together with fellow trad archers in the area for a few days of hunting and story swapping. Poccosin lakes NWR is located just off HWY 64 outside of Plymouth NC.I.ve been hunting there every opener for about 12 years , always have a fine time, like any place else ...some years are better than others but overall it's some of the best bow hunting in the state.Most opening day's we harvest at least a couple betwwen the four of us, even if you dont bag a deer , you'll probally get a chance to shoot some good photo's of bear and such. Never been and not had a great time with some cool adventures to tell about when i got home.Thers a nice campground right at the entrance to the NWR, it has hot showers and clean facilities, owned by a fantastic guy named Mike Noles, real family oriented campground. If the refuge aint your thing ...Mike has a top notch guide service with a huge lease bordering the refuge, he offers deer , bear , turkey etc....if camping aint for you he also has 3 cottages for rent . Just thought i'd see if anyone was interested, i think the acerage is in in the nieghborhood of 196,000.I plan on being there the 9th of Sept thru the 18th.Hope ya'll can make it , always somthing good on the supper grill. Thanks fer listening........Tim

I recall that and it's funny, I was just talking to my wife about it a couple days ago. I at least would like to register an interest in it (again), Tim. My problem is I don't drive very far alone anymore but I'll see if I can maybe scout up a partner. That year I needed to be here for opening day (weekend) and then some possible partners fizzled out, as I recall.

What's the new (I think) "stonemedic" handle about - are you by chance into flint knapping?

I would be interested if you would not mind a complete rookie along.

I just moved to Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro and have not found any place to hunt yet.

Just this year I took up archery again after 10 years. I have not hunted for about as long.

STONE MEDICHAVE,YOU BEEN HUNYING THOSE HUGE COASTAL BEARS?ANY LUCK?KNOW OF SOME GOOD PLACES?MAN HOW I WOULD LOVE A CHANCE AT ONE OF THOSE BEASTS,JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO OR HAVE ANY ACCESS.DOES MIKE NOLES HAVE A GOOD REP ON BEARS?NEVER PAID TO HUNT BEFORE,BUT WOULD CONSIDER IT FOR A GIANT BLACKIE.

hey guys, check youre private messages!

Bernie brings up a good point, there will be about 4 or 5 other knappers at the hunt. Like i said, this aint no bells and whistles organized hunt, just a bunch good ol local boys that love bow hunting. Some even shoot.......compounds.....sorry. Maybe we can bring them over from the dark side into the light.     Maybe we can have a mini knap-in.

I got your PM and answered just now. Didn't realize there were any knappers down here near the Coast. Makes the prospects of the hunt even more attractive to this aspiring knapper (just started last winter). I'd sure like to get there.

You guy's watch out down there in NC,,, look what I found on the net.

How many bows could a man back with this one?


Carolina rattlesnake


THEY GROW 'EM BIG IN THE CAROLINAS!


This Rattlesnake was recently found at the old Turkey Creek located just south of BURGAW, North Carolina.

If I didn't have a spot scouted out and ready to go I'd come up.

Yeah plenty of big snakes down there.We don't have a lot of big deer but grow big snakes and big bears.    Some of the cotton mouths down there might make the record books as well and should be of more concern than the rattlers.Along with the copperheads and coral snakes hunting down there keeps you on your toes.SC has there share of big snakes as well.

Thanks for the reminder, Friend James -   :rolleyes:  I ran into plenty of Cotton Mouths around Mattamuskeet and Bears at Pungo (adjacent to Pocosin lakes).

Bernie after one trip to the Pungo you could not get me in there at gun point without snake chaps on.    They were so bad the time I was there I said to heck with deer.I just wanted to get back to the truck in one piece without any extra holes in me.There were 2 guys bit on the hunt that day and I say another guy that had been bit before that and his leg looked terrible from it.    That was my last trip there.You guys are used to that stuff.I am a weenie I guess or something but if there are no hogs in a place like that this kid is not going in.   :D

Just checked in and saw this thread.

How many of you guys are serious about being at Mike's place around the opener? I'm only about 40 miles north of there and would enjoy meeting fellow sportsmen for fellowship and pics.  

Heres where you can see the campground and  get info about the refuge , just follow the links.....www.homestead.com/conmans

You know I hates snakes, James but I guess I was lucky at Pungo. I have a pair of Rocky Snake Boots and a pair of snake chaps. The chaps are too heavy (and noisy) and the Rockys (almost new as far as wear goes) are size tens and my feet, right after I got the boots, flattened out (swelled) into 10 1/2 to 11s most of the time (I'd love to trade 'em for larger ones). However, when it comes to hunting, I pretty much go anyway, keep my eyes peeled, and pray a lot.

Bernie it was probably 30 years ago when I went.I don't remember why but the snakes were just laying everywhere you looked.Maybe that is not the normal situation but it made a big enough impact on me I have never put in for another hunt down there. :)I was not wearing snake boots or chaps at the time and still remember those dark olive looking monsters.    We came home at lunch and never looked back.

I'll be darned - that would have been enough to scare me "outta town" too. I've been there about four or five times (twice I camped a couple days) and can't remember seeing one. Not even the time we took my canoe and paddled around a couple of the ditches/cannals there scouting. Now Mattamuskeet, been there lots of times and seen at least one each time, but never saw 'em layin' around everywhere - wouldn't want to either. Oh, I always feel safer in places (like some in SC) where I know there are plenty of pigs around eating the rascals too.

Yeah if you hunting where there are a lot of hogs you don't see many snakes.The hogs work on them pretty good.Last year things were flooded out and I saw about a dozen small ones when hog hunting.Untill then I have only seen a couple in 4 or 5 years of chasing pigs.The high water pushed them to the high ground like the hogs I guess.I guess timeing has a lot to do with it as well.

I think there probably is a lot of truth there, James. I was looking at the Conman's web site and the map a little bit this AM - getting hepped up - be nice to try a little different type hunt. I may go out on base (if it looks extra good) the first day of season and then go up there. Still figuring details but the wife sort of OK'd the "lone drive" yesterday, if necessary, since it is relativly close.

I Feel Your Pain Bernie! They dont Let  ME  Out on My Own Very Often Either! Something about "Scaring the Neighbor Kids",     I hadnt noticed....    hahaha