Been hard to find a place to hunt this year. A co-worker showed me some state land to hunt. I met his father who lives close to three miles from the area. They took me around this 4900 acre public land for close to five hours showing me places to hunt. The area is full of red and white oaks, and pine tress. Lots of streams, hills and valleys. It was RUN HEAVEN up there. We bump close to fifteen does. Seen four eight pointers. This was only a third of the land. I fell in love with this place instantly. It has a camp ground area that can only be hunted opening rifle day. Rather it be rifle, muzzleloader or bow. I set up a ground blind on a Ridge along side a stream. The only bad thing is the public land is an hour and a half away. To be honest, what I've seen the first time as ever been up there, the drive will be worth it. Especially since my co-worker's farther invite me to stay anytime. So how far are you willing to travel?
I drive 1 1/2hrs & use to drive that far for the public land I hunted. If it has quality deer it's worth the 1 1/2hr drive.
I drive an hour every hunt regardless of where I hunt. That half hour wouldn't change a thing. 2-3 hour drive and I'd be looking at camping or hotel for a multi day hunt. 4-6 hour round trip for an all day hunt leaves you with about 7 hours to do something other than hunt or drive including sleep.
I hunt on the 35ish acres I own around my house. There are a few deer out there, but not a ton. I also have access to 200 acres of private land that has a really high deer population (for my area). The private land is 35 minutes away and then a 15 minute walk into my treestand. Even though the private land is pretty much deer heaven, I rarely go. Maybe two or three times during a season. Being able to hunt behind my house is great and I work a lot on deer habitat out there (where I don't/can't on the private land), so I get a lot more enjoyment out of being there.
Depending where I want to hunt but no more than 20 minutes. I hunt probably over 6,000 acres of farm land, draws, and small wood lots.
I'd probably do the same. But, were you to switch that strategy up maintaining the habitat improvement and you could be living on a gold mine come the rut and early season.
I just got back from a 3 day hunt in upstate NY. 3 and a half hours each way, didnt kill a deer, but just being out there with my friends in the house, having fun is well worth it. I would do it again in a second!! Had a great time regardless of a harvest!
I did most of my growing up right next to the private land, so I know it like the back of my hand. That's probably one of the few reason I still go hunt it... for nostalgia. I spent probably 20 hours putting wood in the cellar for the landowner this year and probably only 6 hours in the stand. But in those 6 hours of sitting, I saw 11 does and fawns where as in the entire time sitting in back of my house (probably 60 hours total) I saw 2 does, 2 fawns and a forkhorn buck I shot @ 4 yards with my .270 on Nov 5 during rifle season. I plan on doing a little hinge cutting out back this winter, but not too much since the areas where I'd hinge cut are already pretty thick. The bad part of living on the property I hunt is my obsession with checking trail cameras, but I don't have any of those setup in the super thick area (only on the clover/turnip foodplot).
I drive 3 hours each way just about every weekend this season so far. An hour and a half man I would love that.
Most my spots (all public) are within 1.5 hours. I'd go beyond 2 hours for a confirmed giant roaming an area, but nearly all state borders are within 2.5 hours of me, so that's really not saying much Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sounds like you found a honey hole. I would make that drive once or twice a week or if you can camp for a few days it would make it worth it.
sounds like a great setup. congrats. I currently drive 2 and 4 hours for my two hunting areas. its the price of the sport.
My normal spots on club property are a 2 hr drive. I have another spot I like on another one of our properties that is a 3 hr drive. Longest I have drove was from Alabama to Colorado for a mule deer hunt last year.
I've been driving 4 hrs. each way to a public land area for the past 10 yrs or so. You guys are lucky...
I hunt several places thru out the season... 1 1/2 hours or less I just get up early and go... farther then that I leave the night before and sleep in my car....
I drive 19 hours to Illinois every year for a 5 day hunt. I used to drive 1 hour to a public land spot.
I drive 5.5 hours each way to hunt the family ranch. 4.5 each way for elk. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
