So far this season I have had more interuptions and agravations on my own private land than I have heard of others having on public land. I am thinking next season I will still hunt my property some and still do plots on it also but, try my hand at public land. We have one nice piece that has a draw and another one that is open to all but, doesn't get as much pressure as most private land around here. Thats according to one of the GW's I know. I really hadn't considered public land much until all the recent crap that has went on with hunting my own property. I will probably not hang any stands on my land next season and just use my climber or if I am able to get a Lone Wolf set up using it. If anything I will probably keep a couple cheap lock ons up in a couple good spots and be done with it. Our public land around here is not anything like other places in the US. Both are within 15 minutes of my house. The draw: I have had more success this year using my climber and scouting the day before or even scout and hunts than I have in most of my permanent stands. I have also enjoyed the scout and hunts far more than I have the permanent stand hunts. I guess mostely because of not knowing for sure if I will see deer or not. I would like to even try a hunt or two using a flat bottom boat and trolling motor to travel down a small river to a remote area that runs down the middle of it. I just think doing a hunt like this with my brother would be an amaizing adventure and produce some really great memories. Maybe even a big buck or two. I don't know anyone personally who has done this and only heard of very few that do. All in all I guess I am trying to figure out what to do next season to increase my chances of arrowing a big buck or at least arrow a few doe and try something new. What do you guys think?
How do you mean your public land is not like any other places in the US? Also, how are you getting interruptions on private land? Curious on that... I have a handful of WMA's within 15-20 minutes of my house. Some are even less than 5 minutes. But, sometimes they are very pressured. Thus why I'm considering a lease.
They are small is what I mean by that. Maybe 200 acres or so tops from what I can tell anyways. I can't find any info on how many acres. This one pictured above may be a mile long and less wide. We dont have that many public lands in NC. I know people who don't have one withing 2 hours driving. I am lucky on that one. We have so many people that have family land that they hunt around here that not many people have to go public. Especially durring archery season. One of the GW's I know says the public land is less pressured than most of the private land around here. The interuptions have been by one paticular neighbor/family members kid. If he hasn't been out riding his ATV or dirt bike (thank god he blew the engine on that noise maker) he has been raising imortal heck in his truck particularly the time I shot my first arrowed deer in a pasture that neighbors our land. She ran off after crashing. That one is a long story though. Subosedly he is going into the Marines next spring so we will see how that goes. I really wish he would. I think it will help him in so many ways. Now add that two of my ladder stands have been stolen this past week while we were at the hospital for 5 days with our 2 year old son. I haven't had the best of tomes this season but, I have enjoyed my time in the woods none the less.
SECOND CREEK GAME LAND N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Rowan County (1,140 acres) http://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Hunting/GameLand_Maps/Piedmont/Second_Creek.pdf I believe that would be the combined total.
quick ?... is this YOUR own ground or leased ground, or jus private ground you hunt... if its YOUR ground it'd be a cold day in hell before i let someone run me off ground that is MINE makin me think to hunt somewhere else..... but anyhow good luck if you do go the public ground route...
wish you the best of luck in anything that you decide but i also have to say that river hunting in my boat is the fail safe/alternate to my public land hunting only because not alot of people don't hunt the river's anymore and every year either myself or my hunting partner get a doe or decent buck off the river out here. Things may be different but i know alot of deer close to the river seen to treat it like a safe haven around here. I second what mddave said though there wouldn't be anyone that would run me off the property. Best of luck in your decision though bud!
Yes, its mine. Easier said than done though considering this chaps dad's property butts up to mine on two sides. He can and will ride the fence line that borders and also the trails right up to mine. He has even shot down through the trails a couple times onto my property. His parents wont do a dang thing about it either. No matter who it is disturbing they have the its our land and he can do what ever he wants when ever. We plan on puting up a barbed wire fence next year to cut him off from coming onto the trails at least and part of the one side that borders their property. What I would really like is for him to turn 18, catch him out in the woods doing something, sneak up behind him and really lay down a good beating. The 18 part wont be long by the way. Just saying what I would like to do. Not going to do.
Hmm, guess I didn't look hard enough. That one is a draw and there were no spots left when rifle season hit. It is however open until Muzzle loading season. Its about 10 miles from my house. Alcoa is also the same distance pretty much. Guess I need to really work on my acreage estimating looking at google maps huh. lol I do wish all that 1,140 acres was all in one chunk.
Doug, YES I would hunt the public and around your house. The #1 reason to do so is to lessen the pressure on your 30 acres. It needs a break every now and then so the deer don't get too antsy. Also, you can go for broke on public land, smashing into your best spots and trying to kill something tactically aggressive each time, just knowing that you have your own private land to fall back on if things don't work out. I would take my time and really scout those areas this offseason.
I have hunted some public lands and done real good.I most always see deer and sometimes see people but that's public land.HAHA I have not hunted the prices you are looking at.The ones I hunt are much bigger and about a hour drive sure wish I had one 15 min away.We have a small price of private land and you would think a trespass sign is a welcome all sign.
I guess another thing is after looking at the same piece of 30 acres and now getting permision to hunt the other 15 that is at the back of the property this season a few times, I am ready for new land to venture out on. I really love water period lakes, rivers, branches, streams or creeks, it doesn't matter. I have thought about a flat bottom on a river since I started hunting. Just loading up everything on a little flat bottom and going to a remote area where no one else will go because its not easy to get to just seams right up my ally. Just getting to see some area not many others will ever see is very appealing to me. Although I have seen more deer this season, mostly due to everyones help on here, I still want to find that spot. You know that one little honey hole you can't help but think about no matter what stand you may be sitting in at the time. If that means only hunting it a few times a year because its not right outside my door, so be it. As VS said, it won't hurt to take some pressure off our little 30acres either. I am looking forward to next season already and this one isn't over yet!
