i have been hunting a area on some public land in Missouri. where i go no one else goes because its the next exit. I've seen about 2 people there in 4 hunts. but have only seen deer once on my way out. should i move to where i saw the deer or stay were I've been where iv been theres a nice trail but i see nothing it looks like they walk through just before i get there or that morning because i can only do evening hunts. i also was wanting some tips on hunting in public land.
Sorry no one else replied to this. I am no expert at all but I also live in Missouri and hunt a ton of Mark Twain National Forest. If you have deer sign there I would hunt it out and just keep trying. Things will only get better from now. Don't get discouraged the deer are there may just have to get a little closer to where they sleep. Good luck and welcome to the site!
Get a game plan together. I'm doing the same thing and did map research and actually got boots on the ground today ding some scouting. So best bet is to take one afternoon and scout. if your in one area and the deer is in another then you need to figure out where they are first.
My game plan for public land that I hunt in southern Illinois is to go where the deer are. If I can at least see where the deer are moving then I can move closer if I'm out of range or try to pattern them.
The best advise I've found far (Because it just makes plain old sense!) is head back further than anyone else wants to go. Get off the beaten path a little bit as well, and use scouting to your best advantage. If you're not seeing deer, no use in hunting where the deer aren't.
Further is not always better. I do Hunt far sometimes but mostly hot within 2 to 300 yards of the truck. Everyone has that further mentality. Where I am at they pushed the deer up close to the road. I have had a lot of luck up close to the road.
It really all depends on the place. I hunt alot of public land and i use the go further than everyone else which normally works depending on the people that hunt there. I also have a spot that we litterally sit 40 yards away from the road becasue every one else goes far back and push deer towards the front. When hunting popular public land i dont hunt deer i hunt other hunters. Where ever they i go the opposite way usually they'll push deer towards me. If not alot of people hunt it i just pick the spots that look the best.
