Another good tip: If you find a good spot DON'T TELL ANYONE because a friend will tell a friend will tell friend...and then there are more people than trees
1) Be the first one there and the last one to leave. 2) Learn your route in and out, don't leave markers. 3) Hunt higher up, Public land deer are really hip to our crap! lol 4) If you need to blaze a trail to your stand location, don't start it right off of a thoroughfare used by other hunters. Start it a short distance into the woods, so others won't see it. Put a few branches in a certain configuration that only you would recognize to mark that spot.
Here's a couple more when a shot opportunity presents itself take full advantage of it. Also talk to the other people that hunt it and only believe about a 25% of what they said. Like I only saw 2 deer multiple that by 3 or 4 and if they said they saw nothing yeah they saw a giant. Once the place starts getting pressure you have to start thinking outside the box a bit and go into areas that might not look like "deer habitat" you'll be surprised.
Some great info on this thread, I'm a full time public land hunter here in louisiana. If I find anouther hunters stand in the woods, I back out and hunt anouther area. Best tip stay away from other hunters. Don't know about other states but where I hunt its against the regs to leave stands attached to trees and unmarked with owners info, wardens around here like to give away seized gear at the end of the season.
I was wondering if anyone has any strategies they're willing to share for luring deer on public land? I've been having doe urine and estrous in a triangle that starts at my tree and goes out as far as my fans then drag urine through the triangle from about 50 yards on either side. Any thoughts, tips, or ideas? Thanks!
I only use doe urine if I have a clear line of sight to a hot scrape. I will put some on the scrape and then put some on a drag, drag the drag from my stand to the scrap, bucks will follow the scent from the weakest point to the strongest point of scent, so starting it from the stand puts the buck trailing the scent back to you. I also use the bleat cans and grunt calls as well as a rattling bag. Don't get real aggressive with the rattling bag and grunts if you can see very far, and when calling and rattling focus most of your attention to the downwind side of your stand bucks like to come in down wind of other bucks fighting.
Deer seem to like all my apples that keep slipping out of my hand when I reach in the bag for em for a snack...
Honestly how was this missed? Dont buy any stands, plenty of stands already setup in good spots, just find em and climb on in.. Bring a big bag of apples for your snack...