Some questions for those of you hunt public land with success. I'm going to define success as seeing deer with regularity and occasionally killing. I'm not being specific to mature bucks. Just deer in general. On a scale of 1-10 how pressured are the woods you hunt? (10 being extremely pressured) How far do you typically walk in? In general, how far do you feel you NEED to walk in to be successful to beat out other hunters? Of the distance that you typically walk in, what percentage of that is walking trails or logging roads and how much of it is "blazing" your own trail through the woods? How often do you run across another hunter near the location where you are successful? How often do you hunt a particular stand or area? Do you hunt both mornings and evenings? What determines if you hunt in the morning or evening? Does hunting pressure or having to walk a long distance way before light trying to be quiet meaning you have to get up extremely early a concern to you? What % of sits do you typically see deer? If you could only say one thing. What is the most important thing to consider and do well to kill deer on public land? Looking forward to your answers and to see if there are any trends that surface.
I came really close to leaving the ball sack of one of the bucks I killed in the seat of the climber that two guys came in left at the bottom of the tree 125 yards from where I was gutting my buck at, if that tells ya anything. Didn't do it, as I decided to not let them know I or anyone was back there... though they may have seen the cart tracks wheeling past the stand the next day.
1. Pressure=4 during bow season, a 9 the last week of october & 1st 2 weeks of december & a 8 in gun season. 2. 100-600 yds 3. 100-600 yds 4. 50/50 5. more often than I want to 6. depends on the spot, usually not more than 3-4 times a season, only because its far to drive 7. Both. Time available to hunt. I'm not concerned with going to my stand in the dark at all 8. Some years are better than others, 35-75% 9. Hunt good land that holds deer.
1.7 here in Michigan 2.Verys in Michigan 1 mile to my best spot/ Illinois some were not very far 3.Depends where the other hunters are!!! 4.Very litte or none..Public hunters are lazy for the most part except for a few.. 5.Never if done right.. 6.morning and night in some, once in others 7.Depends on the set and area for me.. 8.90% 9.The piece of advise I could give another public hunter is growing up here in Michigan has really helped me hunting public here and in Illinois because you learn to throw out old deer sign and learn to hunt the hunters. I have hunted some really stupid spots and killed some really big deer because the deer get old doing the same thing avoid the scent sound and sight of the mass hunters that hunt the old rubs and sign.. Hunt the hunters and kill deer..
On a scale of 1-10 how pressured are the woods you hunt? (10 being extremely pressured) 7 Typically.....11 near rut! How far do you typically walk in? It used to be over a mile, but I found an adjacent land-owner who would not let me hunt but allowed me to cross his land. In general, how far do you feel you NEED to walk in to be successful to beat out other hunters? Depends on the area and pressure. I have some areas that are quite close and an easy walk, but are overlooked for thier simplicity. Deer know where the "safe" areas are. Of the distance that you typically walk in, what percentage of that is walking trails or logging roads and how much of it is "blazing" your own trail through the woods? I certainly take advantage of any eaiser access, but sometimes due to wind, other hunters etc, you take the road less traveled. How often do you run across another hunter near the location where you are successful? My buck spots rarely...My doe stands quite often. How often do you hunt a particular stand or area? Area a lot but it's some 3000 acres, specific stands, depends if ones hot I'll hit it on consectutive days sometimes alterring morning and evenings. Do you hunt both mornings and evenings? What determines if you hunt in the morning or evening? Does hunting pressure or having to walk a long distance way before light trying to be quiet meaning you have to get up extremely early a concern to you? I hunt anytime I can. Anytime I have a few hours free I'm hunting. No What % of sits do you typically see deer? 75% If you could only say one thing. What is the most important thing to consider Doing your homework and knowing where the pressure comes from, then making a reasonable conclusion as to what this does to the deer movement. Study arials and find those hidded sweet spots.
I'll answer the best I can for these. On a scale of 1-10 how pressured are the woods you hunt? (10 being extremely pressured) Archery Season - 4, Rifle Season - 10+ (I've started hunting only private land or Archery Only Public Land once rifle season opens up.) How far do you typically walk in? I try to get at least a mile from the road In general, how far do you feel you NEED to walk in to be successful to beat out other hunters? I think some where around a mile I start seeing less evidence of hunters. So anything passed that and I feel good. Of the distance that you typically walk in, what percentage of that is walking trails or logging roads and how much of it is "blazing" your own trail through the woods? I say it's about 50/50 How often do you run across another hunter near the location where you are successful? I have mostly only crossed paths with a hunter either at the parking area or on the way out. How often do you hunt a particular stand or area? I'll hunt an area once every other week. Do you hunt both mornings and evenings? What determines if you hunt in the morning or evening? Does hunting pressure or having to walk a long distance way before light trying to be quiet meaning you have to get up extremely early a concern to you? I have hunted both mornings and evening. It is no concern having to be in the woods early. What % of sits do you typically see deer? 45-50% last season on public land...0 kills though If you could only say one thing. What is the most important thing to consider and do well to kill deer on public land? Go deeper into the woods and stay longer than the other hunters.
I quit hunting the public land near me, getting lazy I guess. Nah, the real reason is I don't have to share as much on the private land I hunt.
Here you go! On a scale of 1-10 how pressured are the woods you hunt? (10 being extremely pressured) WI and IL the last half of Oct-8-9; first 2 weeks of Nov-9-10; otherwise 4-5 not counting gun season(s)....never gun hunted the public land I bowhunt in IL, have in WI. How far do you typically walk in? As far as I need to. Keep an eye on the other hunters. My largest buck harvested off of public land in IL literally came from less than 100 yards from the parking area. I saw more deer on this stand than any public land stand I have hunted prior to or since that hunt. In general, how far do you feel you NEED to walk in to be successful to beat out other hunters? Pay attention to not only everything you have learned about hunting these wiley animals, but also where the other hunters are setting up. Often you can strategically set-up to take advantage of their location. I had it happen to me years ago where I thought I had the greatest stand location. Another hunter (who was getting dressed at his truck when I began walking) basically followed me and set-up a couple of hundred yards from me near some recently clear-cut land. He harvested about a 140" 10 pointer that evening that I actually witnessed it fall. Since then, I have added the dimension of taking into account where the other hunters are located as I typically hunt alone. Of the distance that you typically walk in, what percentage of that is walking trails or logging roads and how much of it is "blazing" your own trail through the woods? I strive to locate pre-existing trails/paths before tearing up the forest just to get to a stand site. Hunting private land I do more of the "blazing" technique. How often do you run across another hunter near the location where you are successful? Lately, it has been nearly every buck! Other hunters seem to swarm to you like flies on s*%$ when you are successful!! How often do you hunt a particular stand or area? It depends on the hunt location and date. If it is near rut I will continue to hunt a stand that I have located the presence of deer as it is only a matter of time before the big boy shows up. For my local hunts I try to hunt a different stand (I typically pack either my climber or a hang-on with climbing sticks) every hunt. Do you hunt both mornings and evenings? What determines if you hunt in the morning or evening? Depends on the property and when I am seeing the deer. If I am set-up closer to a bedding area away from a food source I will get in that stand as early as possible for both an AM or PM hunt. Does hunting pressure or having to walk a long distance way before light trying to be quiet meaning you have to get up extremely early a concern to you? Nope...I get nearly all of my stress relief walking to/from stands and while in the actual stand. What % of sits do you typically see deer? It really depends on the public land. I have hunted some that I have not seen a single deer over a 4-5 day period while on stand. Others (years ago!!) I would see deer each and every time out. That has not been the case for about 7-8 years now. Either I am losing my skills or there are less deer in the public lands that I am hunting in IL and WI!!! If you could only say one thing. What is the most important thing to consider and do well to kill deer on public land? Do not get frustrated by other hunters in your area. They have just as much right to hunt the tree you are hunting from as you. Do not act like you own the tree you are hunting from... I witnessed a fight in Nicolet National Forest around 2000 that ended with both guys dropping their guns (thank God) and throwing punches. Both my buddy and the other guy were ridiculously stupid. They were fighting over a blind site on a ridge that both of them walked to opening morning. Guess what....neither of them were sucessful 'cause of their ignorance!
On a scale of 1-10 how pressured are the woods you hunt? (10 being extremely pressured) Two weeks of peak-rut = 9, other times as low as 1 How far do you typically walk in? Average stand site .75 mile In general, how far do you feel you NEED to walk in to be successful to beat out other hunters?Many areas 100yds would work - question is do you just want "any" deer or increased odds at upper end buck. Of the distance that you typically walk in, what percentage of that is walking trails or logging roads and how much of it is "blazing" your own trail through the woods?10% is fire-lanes/field edge, remaining is heavy unmarked timber - typically following ridge/valleys or creeks. How often do you run across another hunter near the location where you are successful? Very seldom, out of 17 yrs of public ground hunting, can only recall seeing hunters from stand 4 times, only once did it blow my setup - I work pretty hard to avoid this. How often do you hunt a particular stand or area? as much as needed, being my time is limited anyway, I have rarely sat the same place more than 3x during whole season though. Do you hunt both mornings and evenings? What determines if you hunt in the morning or evening? Does hunting pressure or having to walk a long distance way before light trying to be quiet meaning you have to get up extremely early a concern to you? have done both - but almost strictly mornings now just because of family schedule. I love a long walk in the dark back to my best spots - I also know that mornings have less hunters in these areas. What % of sits do you typically see deer? 100% If you could only say one thing. What is the most important thing to consider and do well to kill deer on public land? Don't waste your time "hoping" a spot is good - only hunt those spots you have visual or historical proof that they are worth your time.
