I am curious to know how many people hunt public land ONLY and how many you have killed this year on public land?
If you were successful, what did you do? What sign did you look for?
I had a pretty rough year on public land and am debating on joining some kind of lease next year. With working 5 days a week it sure makes it tough to hunt public land successfully.
Sorry to hear about your bum season. It happens to the best and it can happen hunting good private land too.
I don't hunt public exclusively but this year I shot 3 deer on public land and passed up 5 bucks on public land after filling my 2 buck tags.
I don't claim to be the expert on this but here are some things I have learned:
Public land is more challenging and can be frustrating. I think the secret is finding the right tract to hunt. Louisiana looks like it has quite a bit of public land for a southern state. I would look for large tracts, small pockets that no one knows about, and weapons restricted areas.
The easiest pieces to hunt are the small tracts of land around lakes and rivers near residential areas. I hunt one such spot and had really good success but don't see good bucks. I also don't like the feeling of being "in town" but it's really nice for morning or evening hunts before and after work.
The other two tracks that I hunt are large; between 7,000 and 15,000 acres and are restricted to bow hunting only. Oklahoma has legalized crossbows so the number of hunters is a problem...don't get me started on that one!
When it comes to hunting big pieces like this you have several things counting against you but it's an outstanding wilderness experience! Word can spread quick about these areas and they can become thick with hunters so if I'm asked in any way by Xbow folks I just imphasize how hard the area is to hunt/bad experiences (like having a tree stand stolen ect).
1: The deer your hunting are extremely nervous around human scent. They don't smell it often and when they do it's a hunter. You have to be incredibly careful about your approach and wind direction.
2: Food and cover are interchangeable. These large tracts of wilderness areas make patterning deer tough around food sources and cover because its everywhere in the form of grasses, brows, acorns etc. this causes the deer to meander a lot and be tough to pattern. The trick is to hunt terrain ie saddles, ridges, pinch points, fence lines, Creek crossings, and benches.
You'll need a topographical map and a satellite or aerial image of the area.
3: These areas are huge and can be kind of intimidating when it comes to scouting. I found late-season scouting to be imperative starting immediately after the rut. Cover lots of ground and enjoy yourself! Never carry a tree stand with you only scouting tools like locators and scouting cameras. Cameras can be stolen but I take this risk and never leave them in place for more than one week.
4: The places you were looking for are tough to find. In wilderness areas as large as these. You are looking for a needle in a haystack: one of two or three dozen specific spots that are dynamite in an area covering thousands of acres. They are there! You just have to find them.
5: Hang in there, it takes 3-4 years to really understand deer in an area of this size
Oh my! Sorry for the spelling it was from an iPhone
im in the same boat, this year has been bad. ive hunted public for alot of years and did pretty well, then i moved across the state to a area that recieves more hunting pressure and the deer numbers are lower, last year i struggled but was able to kill a couple ok bucks and a doe, this year i have blanked so far and hunted more than in alot of years past, my main problem is other people, and thier lack of basic hunting skills. ive had other hunters come walking up downwind on a deer trail i was set up on, and ive had them set up 50 yards away from me, and start wearing out thier grunt tubes and rattling horns.. i finally just basicly quit early this year and started hiking and scouting for next year. But im getting older and cant hump the mountians like i could a few years ago. Hunting a lease is looking more desireable for me as well..
Dave,
sounds like you and I are in the same boat. Last year I managed to get 4 by this time and deer sightings were the norm. This year there were more hunters in our area than any where I could imagine. If we didn't have a camp in the area, I would definitely be looking else where..
One of the secrets is to do things differently. If everybody else hunts from a tree, look for places to hunt from the ground. I killed a doe at 5-6 paces this year, from the ground, no pop up, just judiciously chosen locations.
The deer I killed this year was no more than 200 yards from my truck, OK, maybe 250. Sometimes fence lines, corners of overgrown fields, high spots in a marsh, any of these can make a difference, as does good early season scouting and preparation.
On one spot, on a steep hillside, a huge oak tree fell at the base, years ago and causes a blockage. Several smaller, but still substantial trees fell down the hillside since then and forms a sort of funnel.
Sunlight comes thru in one spot, in a tangle of limbs (which I replace annually) and some sort of viney plant grows up. I started throwing a handful of fertilizer on it each year, so it grows up just enough to give me a bit of cover from that side. Not a lot... but some.
Wind is critical, approach can be critical and this is all part of scouting. Do it different than all the rest.
ChuckC
I can't say that I only hunted public land, but I still spend most of my time hunting there. I harvested my first trad deer on public land.
I look for funnels, escape, and travel routes. If it's late season, then thick cover and food. I also prefer areas that receive less hunting & pedestrian pressure.
If you are hunting a highly pressured area, hunting times when other hunters aren't (mid day and weekdays) yield best results. You have to find where the deer escape when the people start moving.
Also, areas that don't have trees big enough for stands. Most hunters want to be in a tree, so if you hunt an area where that can't happen - you may find the deer.
Public land is all I hunt! i do well every season This year i have killed 7
3- recurve
1- compound
2- shotgun
1- muzz
The past two season have been a bit slow
last year no acorns this year acorns everywhere
Hang in there Daniel, these areas can have influx, chances are a lot of other hunters are thinking of finding another spot next year too and next year may find many hunters having pulled out of the area.
In areas with a hunting culture word can spread quick both good and bad. I'd spread the bad word;)
We have a lot of great public land here in Maryland with lots of deer. Rarely crowded except for the start of the gun season. That being said I have started hunting more urban areas and gaining permission to hunt small tracks of land. For the most part little competition, nice mature bucks, and lots of does to harvest.
The local public land around here is pretty low in deer numbers, and public is all I have access to. Waay too many doe permits handed out over the past few years resulting in nothing but tag soup for me.
The "no tree stand area" sounds like a great idea, time to start scouting in a different way.
By the way, being from the east I really don't understand how the whole lease thing works, but sounds like it may be the way to go.
I don't hunt it exclusively, but do hunt public land every year,(Homochitto National Forest) generally with success. Got one nice 8 point off public so far this year. First of all, I find remote areas that are hard to get to. Then I generally hunt the edges of bedding cover in natural ground blinds. Sometimes a natural food source. This is a game of details, and attention to detail really helps your odds. The public areas in SW Mississippi have really improved the last few years since the the dog hunting has been curbed. I have access to some of the best private land in the state, yet choose to hunt public land often. Nothing is as satisfying as success on public ground. Pre scouting before season and ground blind construction are something I look forward to every season. It is not easy, but that is what makes it so special.
I hunt exclusively on huge tracks of public land. It is a lot of hard work. You are dealing with deer that know hunting pressure. LOTS of scouting and brainstorming on tactics to hunt the good spots you find. Some good spots are right off the road, and some are miles back. You just have to put in a lot of time. I get shots every year, but don't always pull it off.
i love hunting public land, and do so at every opportunity. The vastness of it, com,pared to my 40 acre farm, exploring, and finding new hotspots, its all the fun. That being said, I have only harvested 3 deer in many years of hunting public land, and probably over 20 deer on that 40 acres ! What makes a successfull hunt though ??? A week at a WMA hunting with friends, or 2 hour sits at home in the magic hours ? I prefer the former. Just wish there was more public land closer, as its all an hours drive.
I've been messing around with public land in PA and MD these past few years for deer (and turkeys). I've hunted public in many states from WY to the east coast and up here in AK.
Some areas public ground is great...I remember growing up having a turkey woods to myself. Elk in WY was unreal! Deer in ks, turkeys in mo, mn wi ne.
not so much these days.
PA and MD has been a lesson in futility! just seeing a deer is exciting. Guess I was spoiled as a kid growing up having deer everywhere both public and private.
you can thank the antler movement and greed for that one, or as I'll believe to my grave, the insurance companies for starting that agenda. A gentle nudge to the qdm industry and a giant boot to the game departments and many areas have relatively few deer!
I hunt alone most of the time, can only get one tail in one of my stands at a time. If I want to sit around a fire and roast a burgers and brats with buddies I'll do that after dark, or go grab lunch somewhere in between. When its time to hunt, its not a spectator sport...unless it's turkeys than I enjoy calling.
The game offices are using our greed and the industry push for antlers to annihilate game population at the prior blind eye of the hunting community! It only seems as of the last 10 years people are starting to say something. It's a common thread as the years go on in many of the states I've visited or conversed with! Those that find themselves against this are usually those with limited access of some form, or have some sort of niche to one spot. I've shot plenty of critters in many places so this isn't a rant about not killing! Been there have the shirt!
The areas in PA we see deer regular are from the road where no one has access.....what's that tell you! I do see more deer in MD on average but finding access is like trying to marry ms usa...one lucky sob gets to do it and his social security doesn't match with mine LOL!
As for leases....one word of caution, make SURE they have the same mindset and goals as you do! If not do NOT spend your money! They hunt with similar mindsets, they manage with similar goals, and have at least to some degree some what similar expectations of the over all leased ground/game populations. Just because they shoot stickbows or guns or throw atlatls means nothing!
I spend a disproportionate time chasing small game, usually grouse, yet find very few guys are willing to go, or in areas of restricted access even approve of me doing it so I go elsewhere. Thankfully I'm not spending a months worth of pay for access to ground only to get run out by the same 'friends'.
just a rant of caution on leases and our progression as a hunting community!
A buddy puts it well.
Limit your kill don't kill your limit!
I hunt both and public was just as good as the privately owned farm and woods I hunt.
I went out last year right after a snow and did some tracking. As a result, I started hunting a spot in early archery. Unfortunately activity really declined as the season progressed. The deer stayed in the real thick stuff later in the season. However, the same thing happened on the farm. Also they went more nocturnal. I ended up and broke down shooting a doe in the last week on the farm.
9 bucks and 14 does on public, 3 bucks and 6 does on the private.
I hunting both a day or so in firearms season and saw only one deer on the public land. We were plagued with rain and fog a lot this year.
I hunted two mornings in late flintlock season (one each place) and have yet to see a deer.
Next year I plan on hunting the public ground more as it is closer and the deer activity was just a bit higher.
I do.
It's very hard to get on deer around here. Most time we are lucky to get one shot ata deer in the entire season during archery. I have had many years I never got to draw back. Also take into consideration I hunt 4-6 days a week usually.
We deal with many other hunters and now low deer numbers also. So it makes it very hard.
I tell you this, if it was not for such a deep love of bowhunting. I would have quit long ago and just hunt with the rifle. Or I would only hunt the rut and be done. But I try and bitch my way through the seaso every year.
I don't thin many even have a clue what it's like to hunt public land. ESP with low deer numbers.
So I feel for ya I really do. It's hard man....
Around me it's tough hunting public land, not because of the number of hunters but the lack of deer. I hunted many years without even seeing a deer......not one. Very hard to hunt animals that are not there. Last year I took a 4 mile hike on State land on 2 day old snow [4"], saw 1 deer track and that had a coyote track right on it.....that's on a 4 mile hike.
I don`t hunt public land only but do 90% of the time. This year on public land I killed 6 hogs and two deer. One nice ten point all with homemade longbows. RC
Around here there is no such thing as private land. Central La.
Chuck
I remember my pops waking up at 4 a.m on a Saturday morning, driving 45 minutes to our favorite public land honey hole only to sleep in the truck until other hunters had parked elsewhere and then head back to the house. He had two draws that he hunted religiously and the more people saw his truck the less likely they were going to go into the spot. If he had a successful hunt one afternoon, he would be parked there the next morning, not to hunt, but to keep others from stirring the place up more. I remember a few years of 6-8 out of those two draws.
I prefer to hunt large tracks of public land and have been doing it exclusively for the last 25 to 30 yrs.
I've always had good success until my age and health starting catching up with me..missed the rut this yr. not being able to hunt last part of Oct. till couple wks into Dec. Killed one little spike in Oct. with my Black Widow PTF. Been getting one or two a yr with recurve lately and a decent buck every yr., but haven't even seen one this season. Still trying..got till the 18th but it's way too cold out there for me the next 4 or 5 days.
Dan,
I used to hunt exclusively public land. I mix it up now, but I've had great years hunting public land, and I've had (this year) terrible years. This year was rough. I did kill a deer on private land, but had no opportunities on public.
Stick with it! I'm sure you'll bounce back.
I will always hunt public land. I am just thinking that next year, I will expand my hunting opportunities.
I've hunted exclusively on public land the last 7 or 8 years with the exception of 2 TG sponsored Solana Ranch hunts here in Texas. I love the challenge offered on good public land and have come to grips with how difficult it is to take a good buck, or for that matter a smaller buck or doe, on heavily hunted public property. With that said, I have been successful, but I don't let kills determine if I've had a good/successful hunt. I look forward to each outing and seldom go without seeing a critter or two, and sometimes even get one to venture into my preferred longbow range of 12 to 15 yards. It takes a lot of effort/time to be successful on public land, but to this 67 year old traditional archer its all worth while. Heck, when you hunt as far off the beaten track as I usually do you come to realize the work don't even begin tell you get one on the ground. Enjoy what you've got and take advantage of it as long as you can. :campfire:
The secret is to get the deer to come to you, I drop by Lowes and buy a roll of yellow caution tape and string it through the woods in a straight line with one end at a lake road or other obstruction then hunt about 40 yds off the other end of it. Deer don't cross caution or crime scene tape and when they are going around it they are lookin back at it not at you. This also eliminates the need for trail markers.
Chuck
In case that does not work,go to cabellas and buy every deer attractant sent they have and mix them all together. Dip a sponge in it and drag it in a ever diminishing spiral with yourself in the center. Works great and keeps the tourist away.
Chuck
OK if neither of those plans work and you do not like hunting at night this is your last chance. Set an idling chainsaw next to your set up, if you dont have a chainsaw a portable radio tuned to NPR will work.
Chuck
Funny thing here is the public land is less pressured than the hunt club I pay for. Only reason I am in a lease is for hogs in the summer. Can't hunt hogs on public land unless something else is in season.
It has been a long, long time since I depended on public land for hunting, but I found it fairly easy to find places that were not overly crowded. Going DEEP into the woods was the most successful tactic I found. Luckily, in the area where I grew up, the public forests were quite large, allowing me to find spots that others did not visit. At that time I was an inexperienced kid, just learning to hunt, so never had much success, but the fun was there. Since I have a tendency to get lost in the woods, I would commonly walk up a fire break until there no more boot tracks, then I would walk a while further and find a location close to the fire lane.
I wonder about game seasons being required for hunting hogs. In many places coyotes have no closed season. Would that count to make hogs legal to shoot?
Sam,
here, hogs are legal to hunt all year on your own land, or a lease, but on public land there are seasons.
The public land here in south Ga. is not really crowded. I work weekends so that cuts the pressure back some when I hunt during the week. Also I seldom kill a deer or hog less than a mile from the truck unless it is in a very thick area. I am finding some decent close to the road places that are overlooked because they look too easy and everyone thinks everyone is hunting them and no one is.
One thing I do and this is not a joke. On some of the gated walk in roads I will put little piles of toilet paper all around the parking area. Someone pulls up and thinks this place is hunted to death. The toilet paper is gone in a rain or so. RC
Time. You have to be there at the right time and only time will ensure that.
There's a lot that will help you to be successful at seeing good bucks and numbers of deer on public land.
You may find good big buck sign right next to a public campsite if certain factors are right. Like a big thick cover nobody can get into deep as the deer can right next to the campground. Most people won't hunt it because it too close..but the campground will get real quiet when the hunters leave to hunt and the deer will come out.
Or right next to a main hwy on gated public land where there is no entrance expect through the check in gate Big bucks can lay right next to the hwy with their back facing the road knowing people won't come from that direct. So will turkeys and hogs..but hearing turkeys gobble is tough with all the road noise.
Big sanctuaries are my favorites. Whether they be on the pubic land or across the road or fence. Big section where the deer are not hunted or bothered.
I love to hunt a trail I can see a long ways on and catch deer coming back from feeding on the public land that night and heading back into the sanctuary. Big buck will also come out of the sanctuary later in the mornings and scent check the trial to and from feed to sanctuary for a doe in season. They will usually come out in a quick step or trot, smell around the trail a little an head back into the thick. I guess it's easy to see what's been down the main trail than to run all around trying to locate one.
Also of course you can go where most sane people won't and usually find good success. That may be a long ways on flat country or up and down really steep ridges that others won't deal with. Normally you will have these areas pretty much to yourself or at at worst another serious hunter or two.
Another thing I would do when I was younger and friskier. I'd keep tabs on certain areas I knew held big bucks...but all I was looking for was the first sign as to whether on not deer were going into the area. Like a track crossing a sand road or firebreak. I didn't go into the area because when I did they would just leave first time they smelled where I'd been in there and it might be two wks before I see another track going in or out. Stay out of the areas you are going to hunt unless you are going to hunt.
One last thing I had good success with is setting up over a trail that went from feeding area back to sanctuary through really thick stuff..like a myrtle flat so thick and close together a man can't walk through, tall saw grass, Palmetto flat, et. You can set up high in a tree right on the edge or just into the thick and see down into it. You can see the deer walking the trails although they don't think they can be seen in there. It's triple good right after it gets burned..then you don't have to get high up to see them and the deer will still use the trails. Guess they don't have sense enough to know their cover is gone.
I found and area close to some houses people were walking right buy.look for thick cover and feeding areas . and don't pay any attention to the leaf blowers the dogs were in fences they bark at deer all the time the deer don't pay them any mind
I have a few things I like to do on public ground that makes the hunt easier and sometimes successful. Do your scouting but do it where you think pressured deer will go. Its likely to be real thick and wet land. Swamps are great. Now, scout a funnel near the swamp that holds acorns or whatever the deer will eat in what season. Build 2 groundblinds from the natural foliage in you ambush site. This of course for playing the wind. Now is the hard part. You have to get in there without spreading your scent to where the deer are bedding down. You may as well stay home if you cant do this part. I like to build the ground blinds in summer. Make a day of it and leisurely build that perfect hidey hole. If you can find a swamp and a crop field that are close you have found the holy grail. Between those two and nearer the swamp is where you want to build those blinds. Never tell anyone where its at or ask if they wanna come along unless you really want them to ruin that area for you when you arent around.
In our part of Iowa, the public areas are at best 200 acres of cover and the rest crop land. Everyone accesses on the same routes. What I do is to stay clear of the young treestand hunters. One day I heard a clank kitty corner across a corn field. I thought, 'great some body just rattled that tree stand.' Then some cussing, then the corn rattled just north of me. A bit later a younger guy walks around the corner with a bow in one hand and a few arrows in the other come and stomp on the ground like a crazy man. Then he looked like he was about ready to wind up and throw his compound into the woods, instead he bent over, picked up what he stomping to death and throw it for all he was worth my direction. I stood up wondering if I should put him out of his misery, he saw me and went back to towards where he came. What he threw was the broken bottom end of his bow quiver. Besides getting everything that can be carried gets stolen, episodes like aggressive or sloppy actions are common. I suggest going where no one can put up a tree stand. The deer figure out where these guys go real quick.