I want to try HUNTING on a local public area in mid to late Oct ,but not knowing where others may be or how well they are safety wise ,I thought the safe way to travel way in the back country would be lotsa blaze orange ,do you public ground bowhunters have any recommendations?
Not really.. All I hunt is public land. I wear orange if it's required but don't worry much about getting shot by accident.. I know it could/does happen but it's never bothered me too much..BeauJ
I hunt both public and private. The public land I hunt I gain access to over private land (a friend's house) that puts me in a spot on the public land that is well away from public access. It is essentially way back in with out having to hoof it so far.
All I hunt is public. Never had an issue. I don't rifle hunt public land though. Just bow.
All I hunt is public land, things don't get shady until the guns come out then I'm covered in blaze orange.
I have had plenty of success on public land and wouldn't tell any one to be scared of it. Expect to run into some people who don't have hunters etiquette and will walk in late, maybe setup close to you and so forth if it bothers you move everyone hunts different. I will say I had a guy set up and climb a tree 35 yards from me one day, I wasn't to pleased but killed a doe that evening and he watched the whole thing hahaha.
I hunt mostly public land. Never an issue and less pressure than some of the leases I have been on. RC
I usually don't bow hunt during the either sex gun hunts. That's when the masses of orange are out.
I prefer hunting public land since I can't sit in the same spot more than twice so I need lots of area to hunt
I live near a 28,000 acre wma so I have plenty room to roam
Nope. Don't worry about it at all. Reasonably concerned during two -three weeks in November because of rifle hunters but that is all.
I hunt public land a little bit here in East Texas. My days off are Sunday and Monday. On Mondays it seems like there's nobody else in the woods after the weekend is over. I always wear orange because it's required. If it wasn't I wouldn't bother during bow season.
Even though it's been a long time since I have hunted on public land I would not be concerned during archery season. Gun season - pass.
I'm far more likely to get shot at work, public land doesn't bother me a bit.
With Oklahoma's recent legalization of crossbows I have started to change my actions during bow season on public land.
1: I always wear blaze orange, normally just a hat
2: I always use a flashlight at night or in low light conditions
3: when I'm walking out of an area I whistle, in I just stay quiet
I personally think blaze orange in some form should be a legal requirement because of cross bows
Agreed with the above comments! I only fear not being able to bag game on the public land near me! :p
On a side note Hickry, if you live near me you should PM me! Need more local trad hunters!
Missouri recently added crossbow to all archery seasons.
In the past never had a concern. But I've seen some,sloppy safety practices from cross bow shooters.
So, why do these crossbows keep getting allowed year after year in an increasing number of states?!
It's just allowing the orange army out into the woods more frequently!
I am ok with the concept of crossbows for those who are physically limited, but come on!
I used to hunt public land a lot. Quite honestly, I found that if you got beyond 400 to 500 yards from the road, you ran into relatively few people.
I hunt quite a bit of public land, and I've never worried about someone shooting me.
Like others have said, I only bow hunt public land.
I wear orange on my way to the stand during muzzle-loader season.
Many years ago in total darkness as I neared the parking area, I heard a compound squeak. I yelled and got a growning 'oh no' from the trees that were about 80 yards away. A knucklehead drew at me over an hour past sundown. Since then, I am pretty sure that knucklehead's life has not been the same, I got very angry and I think he wet his pants, he dropped his bow and was shaking so bad that he could barely get out of the tree stand, pleading for his life the whole time. He feared the circumstances either way. whether he would have hit me or missed me. I do not make a move in low light conditions without a light since then. The biggest problem on our smaller and scarce public areas is hunters filling them up with unused tree stands and cameras, at the same time thinking that those areas are theirs alone whether they are there or not. Some guys are putting up way too many tree stands. I have lost track of how often someone has told me that they caught me on a trail cam and came to tell me that no one could hunt there because they claimed it. That is not how the law reads at all in Iowa, all tree stands are on a first come first basis whether it is the owner or not. I am pushing for leave no trace hunting. When you go home all of your stuff goes home with you.
I do have concerns at times with the muzzle seasons, as example, last fall I called in a little fork yearling. I did not want to shoot it, I just wanted to talk to him. When the little guy was about twenty feet from a muzzle went off. a little girl with the youth season shot at it from well over a hundred yards away. She grazed it. but did not kill it. I saw it later in the season. I have seen the inline muzzle guys take 300 yard plus shots at deer in fields. They are not same hunters that were using the cap and ball guns with the late season years ago. The original cap and ball hunters were the safest gun hunters in the area and the most courteous.
I only hunt public land a in Michigan and have never had any major problems. It is getting more crowded by me since the introduction of Apr's Now I have to get creative ,like using a canoe or going farther back in the nasty stuff. I don't hunt in the lower during gun season ,I head to the Western Yoop were it's quiet.
I don't have any problems doing it, it sucks sometimes when people blow your set, but sometimes they push animals to you too!
The crossbows mean more money, and that's all the states' wants, ethics don't apply. As far public hunting, archery season not much worry, orange in orange out. Gun seasons not me.
I'm also lucky enough to own my own little slice heaven but I don't always stay at home
All I hunt is public land. Just wear orange or whatever your law requires during gun season. Then if it is your time? Well??? It's your time.
Here no orange during bow, only rifle.
I had a friend draw on me once, edge of last shooting light. I never used all white fletchings again. If I hadn't said something he would have let fly! lOL whatever
I hunt 4 smaller tracts routinely. All under 2,000 acres. I have found a similar experience with some hunters here. That getting more than a few hundred yards from the trail will get you away from most crowds. I have something of an issue with the permanent stands about mostly because they are usually on the best trees and that ruins it for my climber. Although I will sometimes hunt from this stands anyway. I also ground hunt a lot.
All I hunt is public land. Plenty of it around here. I doubt it is the same for you folks to the east.
Tom
Not afraid...but I do have concern as for the deer getting spooked from too aggressive of hunters, or amount of pressure. Finding unspoiled deer is the key to consistent success. Afraid though? Not at all.
I am not so worried bow hunting, even with the crossbows, although I make it a point to use a flashlight going out. I hunt from the ground more and more, and I leave when the buzzer goes off, so I am usually the first one out. I use the flash so I am not mistaken for a deer a few minutes after hours.
Gun season in WI on public land is pretty safe in terms of getting shot, but not so much in terms of getting worried or downright scared. It is just too crowded and the whole drives and shooting at running deer thing is not my cup of tea.
ChuckC
It's a good idea to wear some blaze if you are out there when the gun guys are out there. Even if it's just a hat.
I've been hunting public land for years and I've definitely seen some knuckleheads out there from time to time but I don't really worry about it too often. I like to get deeper in than most of them and I don't see too many hunters back there.
I bowhunt during the gun season for Deer. Not much choice here. It is a general season, either sex for Oct. and Nov.
Ya I get nervous. I go in before light and always use a flashlight even if it is not needed. Same thing at dusk, I come out well after shooting light and use a light. When I move during daylight I put an orange vest on.
BTW Orange is not required in Id.
90% of my hunting is on public land. I have not had an issue. In the last few years I have only hunting archery, trad and compound. I wear an orange hat to and from the stand during any gun season. Then just keep it handy when in the stand if I see orange in the distance. I just give a pleasant wave of the orange hat, and have yet to have any issues.
I hunt mostly public land now due to growing posting and landowner permission restrictions. Being a low-income state our public land is somewhat undermanaged and it's not uncommon to find illegal treestands, chairs, car parts, milkjugs, patio furniture even well off the main roads..sort of a redneck rodeo. Public hunting areas have potential but often aren't harvested enough to provide optimal habitat, reducing overall quality. Deer numbers, hunting tradition and accessibility is generally on the decline while license fees and antihunting sentiment is on the rise. On private land I used to see deer on most trips out and took one fairly regularly (only one per year is allowed in most areas). On public land last year I saw one small deer in roughly six weeks of hunting.
Safety issues on public land are mostly controllable by the hunter. Viability issues..i.e., the likelihood of having and enjoying a memorable hunt...is of far greater concern.
I hunt public lands a lot. I only avoid opening weekend of modern gun season
I hunt Ohio public land the majority of the time. Never had any issues. Don't wear orange unless I have to. I get in as deep as I can and that helps distance you from the majority of the crowd.
Going in at dark and coming out in dark is your safest bet. Like others I dont feel too threatened. I drive to work 45 min. one way with tons of idiots on Facebook driving right next to me. Stupid cant be fixed with hunters orange. :banghead:
Has anyone else noticed the amount of people "going way back in there, to get away from the crowd"? Makes you wonder just how many folks are doing the same thing. I really dont think people are stupid, or lazy,,,they want a deer just like the rest do. Think they wont go deep too? That's why Ive been opting to find overlooked areas, not necessarily far away areas. Some of my best public hunting spots are right next to the road.
I am a 100% public land hunter but the area I hunt only has a 2 week primative firearms season that I have just stayed home for the past 3-4 years. Prior to that I hunted and area surrounded by private land that was a 2.5 mile walk to get there and stayed in my tree from dark to dark and never saw another hunter back there the 6-7 years I hunted it.
QuoteOriginally posted by Shadowhnter:
Has anyone else noticed the amount of people "going way back in there, to get away from the crowd"? Makes you wonder just how many folks are doing the same thing. I really dont think people are stupid, or lazy,,,they want a deer just like the rest do. Think they wont go deep too? That's why Ive been opting to find overlooked areas, not necessarily far away areas. Some of my best public hunting spots are right next to the road.
SSSHHHHH. Don't let the secret out. :nono:
yes but only during gun season, anymore I fear private land during gun season with so many trespassers.
B. Wallace. That's actually more than a little true. I have had success (not always defined by a filled tag) in spots that are "out there" and some really close ones. 3 spots come to mind. Last year I killed a doe and had 3 turkeys almost walk on me about 75 yards from the parking lot on a small plot of land only 1000acres told. I also managed to still hunt withing hitting distance of a buck and several does on my favorite ridge. It's fairly far from the parking lot but totally encircled by a popular hiking and dog walking trail. Finally on the same small track as my ridge I took my daughter "hunting" 3 season ago. We set up between two fields separated by wood lots along a busy deer highway. So close to the road we could hear cars coming and going. She was only 6 then. We set up in little chairs her with her little fiberglass bow and I with my recurve. She wiggled and whispered loudly for ohh about an hour until she'd had enough so we decided to shoot stumps instead. We stood up and folded the chairs and suddenly there was a young doe running down the deer trail. I am not sure who was more surprised lol! We all froze. She ran off but, I still laugh every time I think about it. That place is neat area and very popular with hikers, photographers, dog walkers, and birders too. If you know where they tend to go you can learn where the deer go when these folks spook them.
All I hunt is public land and have done very well on it.
I tend to focus on learning where others hunt and I use that to my advantage
QuoteOriginally posted by Shadowhnter:
Has anyone else noticed the amount of people "going way back in there, to get away from the crowd"? Makes you wonder just how many folks are doing the same thing. I really dont think people are stupid, or lazy,,,they want a deer just like the rest do. Think they wont go deep too? That's why Ive been opting to find overlooked areas, not necessarily far away areas. Some of my best public hunting spots are right next to the road.
I only have a couple public spots that I hunt. Neither one is over 150 yards from a county road. I drive all over the county working, and over time spent in the area I just picked up on spots that look good where I've never seen vehicles. This year another guy started parking at the same place as me at one spot, but hunted the other side of the road. He seemed like a nice guy and we talked a couple times at the trucks. After the first couple weeks he never came back though. The National Forest here has designated hunter's camps, and neither one of these spots are over a 1/4 mile from camps either!!
Haven't hunted public land in a few years, as I have had access to private land. But hunted it a few years before that. And was in a lease for many years before that. I agree some if not most leases get more hunting pressure than public land. On a lot of Saturday evenings I would be the only one truck on a mile long gravel road. Saturday mornings there were more people but never felt crowded The only issue I have is not knowing where the other folks are.
I am not afraid on Public land. I hunt it often.
I know guys who go to Ohio and do well on public land. I think you should give it a go.
at times I have a red bandanna in my pocket to wave at hunters. It usually takes me several weeks to pattern the hunters. once I do, I then start to see deer as they are changing their patterns around the hunters as well.
No!
started using a light exiting after dark and wearing florescent green or bright orange T shirts when scouting and moving stands. This is directly due to the muzzleloaders being given two weeks of our bow season and the compound crossbow being legalized during bow season. We had a death soon after crossbows became legal.
I'm forced to hunt public land and I seek areas no one in their right mind would want to hunt, it's the only way to carve out a piece of turf I can feel confident won't be over hunted by the masses.
Longsticks64 , that's a great idea .I have a spot in mind like that.
Some areas I hunt. I can see my truck from the tree others I have to walk in about a mile just to get to where you can hunt. I do like to find area that have hard access but I also don't overlook those close spots either :)
Now you guys got me thinking.. I forgot about crossbows being legal in MO this year. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to use my headlamp when I'm walking out? It sure is hard to imagine how someone could mistakenly shoot someone else but we've all heard the stories about it happening...idk...BeauJ
I never like public lands with a bow during rifle or pot season. I guess it depends where you live and hunt.
I've run into pot farms in the Fall when living in California which is always sketchy and I always felt the drinker - gun hunters hit it hard on the weekend.
I usually was abel to hunt weekdays so that worked out.
Several possibilities to this question and most depends on location. I have hunted public ground in several states over the years and have had no issues. I usually scout areas not very accessible or at least they will make people work then I get there first and leave last. Sounds simple but it has worked for me. If people are willing to work and get in deep public hunting is as good as any.
Though permission on private land can be obtained, most land-owners around here want to charge for the opportunity - - especially those land-owners in or adjacent to the USFS controlled Black Hills. Aside from hunting private land that is owned by acquaintances from High School - - and I don't like imposing on their friendship that way, the only other option is public land.
Around here, that means on the Nat'l Grassland or in the Nat'l Forest - - all of it is controlled by USFS. Very little BLM in this area, and those portions that are BLM are a wild free-for-all.
Around here, bow season means sharing public land with mountain bikers, motorcyclist, ATV's, Quad's, side-by-sides, and a plethora of idiots. The rifle elk season coincides with archery deer and goes for a month. At least those guys lucky enough to draw a rifle tag are pretty cautious, I still make sure to wear a light on my melon on the way in/out or anytime light is faded.
The rifle deer season is a different story... I make it a point to wear an orange vest when I'm moving, and it goes in the pack when I'm on stand - - especially when I know other folks are around. As for quiet pockets, my best honey-hole is only about 400 yards from a well-traveled USFS roadway. Another honey-hole that isn't quite as productive is on the edge of a development with lots of traffic & people. It works well enough for first and last light hunting, but is pretty dead when all those people are moving.
Hunting public land doesn't scare me as much as sharing the road with so many yay-hoos... But, it does force me to hunt with certain precautions.