The truth, a hard lesson in reality.....

Mojostick · September 11, 2013, 05:31:00 PM

Use the resources we all pay for. If in Michigan, contact the USFS and a ranger station in the Huron/Manitsee National Forest. They typically have maps showing all the timbering being done and what has been done.

You won't find too many deer in wide open, old growth forest. Deer like "edge habitat", just as trout like a "seam" in a river.

Find well managed public forest habitat, with newer growth, and you'll likely find the best public land around.

Here's a map link showing forest ages of some of the National Forest...
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hmnf/maps-pubs/?cid=stelprdb5275162

moleman · September 11, 2013, 07:43:00 PM

Just a couple things to say
First off, my apologies to Shawn, as part of my post was way off base.
Secondly, I will NOT apologize for being opinionated and out spoken, even though it might not be popular or even disagreeable to some.
Third, I hold no ill will towards Shawn, id hunt or have a cold one with him any time. Opinions vary, and the fact his differed from mine, was no reason for the lashing that I handed out.
Dont get me wrong! My opinion still stands! but my personal attack was not called for.
Paul

tracker12 · September 11, 2013, 08:17:00 PM

If I hunted two weeks without seeing a deer I would definitely find a new spot. I have say I am spoiled here in Maryland. I can't remember going two days without seeing a deer. I would suggest finding someone with experience to help you out. Not sure where you are located but I am from Beaver County PA and the area is full of deer. Closer you get the Pittsburgh the more you will see.

Plumber · September 11, 2013, 08:19:00 PM

not seeing many deer an seeing too many are in a way one of the same.neither seem right.overall its lack of balance.I see a lot of deer an from that I have learned a lot fast. I got to become a better shot faster.I have learned deer habit faster.I have learned when to shoot an much much more.It would be very hard to see only 8-10 deer a year.some say hunting is not about killing for me it is.I want meat.I want reward.I want the total expearence. It is about a lot of things but I never feel let down or mad if I don't get anything.I know it has to be tough for some people who live in areas that lack good game numbers.It can take a lot of time to learn things.I hope you have a good season.good post take care ED

Plumber · September 11, 2013, 08:20:00 PM

not seeing many deer an seeing too many are in a way one of the same.neither seem right.overall its lack of balance.I see a lot of deer an from that I have learned a lot fast. I got to become a better shot faster.I have learned deer habit faster.I have learned when to shoot an much much more.It would be very hard to see only 8-10 deer a year.some say hunting is not about killing for me it is.I want meat.I want reward.I want the total expearence. It is about a lot of things but I never feel let down or mad if I don't get anything.I know it has to be tough for some people who live in areas that lack good game numbers.It can take a lot of time to learn things.I hope you have a good season.good post take care ED

Plumber · September 11, 2013, 08:23:00 PM

woops

Altiman94 · September 11, 2013, 08:27:00 PM

Hunting public land can be tough and trying, but it can also be really rewarding. Even here in IA hunting public land is hard. You have to work harder than the next guy and really out think the deer. I hunt it for two reasons (1) it's close to home and (2) I enjoy it. I would much rather have a prime piece of private land to hunt but that's really hard to come by.

You can really learn alot from deer and other hunters on public land. As much as you hunt the deer, you have to be conscious of other hunters habits as well. Sometimes using their movements can help push deer to you.

I do sort of agree that on some level we hunt for the kill. Sure we all love the wilderness and everything in it, but the ultimate goal of hunting is to bring an animal home. I don't think there's too many hunters who honestly don't really enjoy the thrill of the harvest. Plus, the eats that go along with them!

modr · September 13, 2013, 06:01:00 PM

Shawn, I agree with you the whole experience of the hunt is great, but the end results should be the kill, thats why we hunt.

VictoryHunter · September 13, 2013, 06:40:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by tracker12:
If I hunted two weeks without seeing a deer I would definitely find a new spot. I have say I am spoiled here in Maryland. I can't remember going two days without seeing a deer. I would suggest finding someone with experience to help you out. Not sure where you are located but I am from Beaver County PA and the area is full of deer. Closer you get the Pittsburgh the more you will see.

x2 there are deer everywhere there. I lived there for a year and saw them often. Lots of deer in Washington count too.

Knawbone · September 13, 2013, 06:49:00 PM

I think some of us mis-inturprited what Shawn was saying, Me included. I believe this is the case with Moleman also, although I can not speak for him.

None of us are professional writers and what we mean to say doesn't always get wrote the way we mean it. Or we don't read it the way it was meant to read by the person who wrote it. Hard to communicate exact meaning without cadence of voice or expretion of face.

Sometimes in stead of getting hot under the collar, we should give the benifit of the dought or pollitely ask the proceived offender to clearify what he or she meant.

Try to stay respectful even if the other party isn't.

JM2C

Knawbone · September 13, 2013, 06:52:00 PM

Sorry for getting off subject, My bad!

Easykeeper · September 13, 2013, 07:30:00 PM

RedShaft, I admire your determination and attitude. I also have no idea of the quality of your land or the deer population. I do know that I also at times hunt a large public big woods area that is hit hard by bird and small game hunters and the hunting is tough. The public land near me does hold some nice bucks though but you do have to work for them.

Surprisingly you have to work hard but you don't always have to be the guy going in the farthest. I've got a couple spots that people avoid because they seem too small, just a few acres of dry ground between a logged off area and a slough. Nobody wants to walk through the left over slash for only a few acres, but I took a nice buck out of there one year, only 150 yards from the gravel road. I should add that I walked several hundred yards to get around the slashings but the deer were using that little island of land.

I've found the key is funnels, and to be specific, pinch points in funnels. I don't pay a lot of attention to food sources since in a big woods area since without the concentrated food source of a crop field they can and do feed almost anywhere. Sometimes you can narrow it down, like if there are acorns on the ground, but in general it's tough to pinpoint what they are eating. One of their favorite foods is maple leaves as they are turning and falling, in a hardwood forest where every other tree is a maple...and the others are mostly oaks dropping acorns...trying to hunt food sources is a waste of time. Besides, most of the feeding activity is at night, at least in the areas you can get too without hip boots.

I like to find a spot where deer, and bucks in particular, have to pass through to get from one big block of woods to another. There are lots of small sloughs and tamarack bogs here and often there is a narrow neck of dry ground between them that deer like to travel through. Sometimes it's just the edge of a big slough with something to funnel their movements. That's where I have had the best luck but I don't know if your conditions are anything like mine.

If you have good numbers on your public ground it's just a matter of finding the right spot and putting in your time. I never see as many deer in the big woods public area as I do at home with my food plots and neighbors crop fields, but in many ways it's more fun to hunt the public land. It's much more "hunting" and a lot less "sniping". I spend a lot more time looking around on the public land than I do sitting and in many ways it's more fun than sitting in a blind or stand. I also don't go on the weekends if at all possible, with all the squirrel hunters shooting .22s up in the trees it just doesn't seem safe.

Good luck this fall, I enjoyed your post and share your love of just having the opportunity to hunt. I hope your son catches the bug like you have...

maineac · September 13, 2013, 08:55:00 PM

Some great suggestions and debate. Don't forget that not all publicly, or private land is the same across the country. Travel to hunt is tough for me as a teacher, my busy time of year and all. I have been lucky enough to travel out of state to hunt a few times. Each time I saw more deer in a few days than I do here in a few years. I have built a life here and don't see leaving even to live in a place with higher game densities. So I am going to join Redshaft in sending encouragement and luck to those who love to hunt and do so in areas that challenge skills and patience. And those who do see and harvest deer,thanks for sharing your stories to keep me fired up to get up early, and stay out late chasing game.

RedShaft · September 13, 2013, 09:45:00 PM

Thanks for all the advice guys. Sorry some of you got upset or had misunderstanding and glad you straightened it out. It's the last thing we want to do is fight. But It's good to debate and throw opinions out.

I think because of wanting to get out as much as I can it does limit me in traveling too far, especially after work.
Saturdays are different. I made a call today to our county's conservation officer to see if anyone in are is having deer problems and maybe I can get in to hunt.

Be heading back out to the mountain tomorrow to do some scouting to find some over looked spots. See what I find