These are highly controlled hunts focused on harvesting the maximum number of antlerless deer possible in the shortest period of time while maintaining minimum impact on a the area / neighborhood being hunted. Get in, harvest deer and get out, that’s it. Hunters will be assigned by-name and for limited periods of time. These are usually very small tracts of property with high deer concentrations. If you are a very experienced and competent bowhunter and you want to fill some antlerless tags quickly and you are ok with shooting a deer in a very urban setting / under close scrutiny, these hunts might be an option for you.
Hot Spot Hunt Qualifications:
This is for returning hunters only. The ABA Board also reserves the right to deny any hunter entry into the hot spot hunts if the Board has any reason to believe that a hunters participation would present unacceptable risk to the hot spot program. This is not a program designed for hunters to take their first deer; it’s for highly experienced bowhunters who are extremely sure of their ability to make a clean killing shot every time. The only purpose for these hunts is to remove nuisance deer for landowners in a quick, safe and efficient manner.
The ABA will post a list of Hot Spot Coordinators. You must be logged in to view this list. These individuals will be solely responsible for placing hunters, rotating hunters into and out of Hot Spots, removing hunters, and managing each Hot Spot. These Coordinators WILL NOT hunt you down and beg for your participation. It will be the hunter’s responsibility to make contact with the Coordinator, and keep in touch as the hunt progresses. Your placement is not guaranteed. The Hot Spot hunts are extremely limited in spaces. Sorry, but that’s the nature of this program. Less than 20 or 30 of the 300+ hunters will ever get placed into a Hot Spot. So, keep realistic expectations, and just plan on hunting your assigned DHA and / or private lands.
If interested in participating in the Hot Spot Program, contact the Hot Spot (HS) Coordinator in charge of the Hot Spot that you are interested in. Each HS Coordinator will be in charge of placing hunters, managing hunters, and rotating hunters into and out of their Hot Spot. Please note that neither HS Coordinators nor the ABA will track you down to participate. It is your responsibility to stay in touch with the HS Coordinator.
