One of my top two goals for next season is to kill a deer on public land with me and only me, picking the spot and doing all the work. I don't want anyone to give me a "tip" or show me a spot. I want to be 100% responsible for either the success or failure for this public land goal. Well I found the spot i am going to concentrate on. I've hunted near to here before. I know the land. I've seen deer close to here before. But after doing some further investigating I think deer have been giving me the slip. They have too many options around this property to get by me. But now I've found this inside corner/wooded funnel. The "strip of timber is only 40 yards wide and connects a private land woodlot and wooded wetland next to some fields. I found a very active trail going through there (see picture #1). This strip is only used during daylight hours (according to my trail cam) when there are leaves are on the trees. Otherwise it's nocturnal use only due to being too exposed I presume. This will be a great early season spot but likely won't be much good afterwords. There is to much human activity around here for the deer to feel secure using this during daylight hours when leaves are still on. The only problem is that it is VERY close to private land in one direction. Probably, a reason why it is overlooked by other hunters. I sure as hell hope the deer either runs into the swamp behind me or back to public land if I shoot one. I've never seen a bow hunter use this property. The only time I've seen anyone even close is during gun season. It's not that hard to get to but I think it's not what what most bow hunters would call ideal and therefore don't hunt there. I'm more excited about this spot than the private farmland I hunt. Why? It will be a major milestone for me to kill a deer using only my own decisions. I believe I have taken a huge step forward towards meeting this goal. I selected a tree and got it ready for my climber. I won't have to step foot on it again till this fall. All these pictures are taken from my climber at the height I plan on hunting. View of main trail that crosses in front of me. A nice shooting lane to my right that will present a shot if the deer takes the other trail. View to my left. To pass behind me they would have to walk into this opening. No other realistic choice. Beautiful view behind me (other than the house).
Public land is pretty decent here in early bow season or late season. Most guys here need a tree to bow hunt out of. There isn't any trees for the most part on the public land in my immediate area. Since we can't bait on public land... they don't set up blinds on it either. It really gets overlooked by most bowhunters here. We don't over look it. Hunting on the ground is what we are use to. If I hadn't misjudged the range on a buck a couple years ago and shot under him... I would have had 145 - 150 class buck on the wall. Late last winter I passed on a 135 class buck on public as he was just a bit farther then I wanted to shoot. My second best bow buck came off Public land and grossed 142. The bucks are there. There are some good ones to boot. This summer I am concentrating on some new ground that is public land. I've got pretty high hopes for it. Goodluck in your adventure!! Tim
That is one of my goals as well. I actually had a spot last season on a WMA on top of a mountain. My problem was once the season opened up we had some horrible mountain and it washed out the road and closed the WMA for the season. They've got the road fixed now, so its a go again this year.
I personally havnt ever killed a buck off public ground. Its where my family has been hunting since grandpa was a boy. We buried him 5 years ago at the age of 89
I've done some looking on public land the last few years In the spring when the snow has melted. I've found a good share of deer sign but not much for buck sign. The public land around here gets absolutely pounded during the pheasant and firearm deer seasons. Bow hunters not so much. Shooting any deer wouldn't be tough at all but getting a mature buck would be a real challenge I believe. I really don't view the hunting any different on my land compared to the public land around here. My neighbors pound their land too and have the same mentality as most of the public land gun hunters do around here. Good luck with your pursuit!! Nice looking bedding area by the looks of It In your pics!!
Good luck with that again this year Phillip. If my memory serves me correct you had most of your eggs in the basket. Is that correct?
Public land tips: Scout. Scout. Scout. Have a plan A, B, C, D, E...... Walk. Walk. Walk. Walk far away from other hunters. Take a look at the map and try to get at least a half mile or more from other hunters. Go in early for your am hunts and be on stand at least 1 hour before sun-up. In the afternoon, go in 1-2 hours earlier than everyone else. If it is sundown at 7pm, be on stand by 2 pm. Make sure your climbing stand does not squeak, nor does your bow. Playing the wind is even more critical when dealing with pressured deer. Predict where they will come from and make sure the deer do not get downind of you. Get up high, 20+ feet so you do not get picked off. Try to get a mental picture of where you have seen other hunters on the property over the years. Then go the opposite direction, . Just some thoughts...GOOD luck GFY!
A buck would be gravy but I didn't specifically say a buck would be required. If I killed a doe it would be fine by me. :D
It's funny VS, I agree with everything you are saying. This is the typical gospel when hunting public land. Having said that. This particular spot has HUGE amounts of human presence close by. Not really hunting pressure but humans. Houses and busy roads not very far at all from this spot. And thus the reason the deer don't use this area during daylight unless the leaves are on the trees. So sorry to say, I am somewhat breaking one of your major rules with this spot. I know the deer use this as a secure travel ground to quickly sneak though. Hopefully I am the smart guy that it pays off for and that no other hunter is thinking about.
Well most of my eggs. I was banking on that spot for a buck. Since then though I have joined a lease that has some good deer. There is also another WMA that I plan to scout this summer, so hopefully I have 3 pretty good places for next season.
Hunting around human presence versus hunting pressure is different. You are making a great move getting close to those deer when you know they are able to be hunted. Those deer understand their environment and know that John Doe starting his car up at 0630 does not equal danger. They might even use that stretch of land during the first hour and half of sunlight when the hunting pressure is not so bad. Good luck, I hope you arrow a good public land deer.
