The OFFICIAL thread for PUBLIC LAND hunting.

Now the temps are looking to drop from about 83 degrees right now to upper 30s by Tues morning. 45 degree change. Wow. Not sure what that will do but I'll be in a tree stand Monday, tuesday, and Wednesday mornings on the outskirts of doe bedding. Not real close but working some routes to them using the wind. Maybe something will be moving.

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Well I hunted Sat, Monday and Tuesday mornings. Sat I got that doe and on Monday and Tuesday I had does in range with a small spike in tow. That was it. At least my set ups are producing deer in range. Time to focus on my shooting down the stretch as the pre-rut approaches fast. Wont be able to get back out til next Monday or Tues morning.

 

Need some help from my public land brothers as to why I'm seeing so much buck sign in this spot. I am a little worried to hunt it except for maybe some plummeting temps in the afternoon or a morning hunt where the temps are dropping and the clouds are out. Worried about the thermals and my scent.

The spot I circled has dozens of big rubs. I am not sure if bucks are using the terrain features to cruise through there during the rut or if a big buck is bedded close by and stages there.....what do you all think? Worth a hunt or two?

 

A buck could be using it as a thermal hub...good chance there might be a bed on one of those points connected to it. Or, it could be a social hub where multiple group's and/or ranges overlap.

 

Josh, do you think I could get away with a hunt down there or should I move up on that ridge to east for example? Maybe in that saddle.....

 

Hard to say without knowing where a bed might be...I see a couple spots to gamble on. Saddle would be a good rut stand, that hub it's self could be a good rut stand also depending on the wind, thermals and turbulence. First doe's should be coming in here in the next 6-7 day's.

 

I'm out of town right now...we can dive into this map a little deeper when I get home in the next few days.

 

If that is fresh sign, this year's sign, there's more then likely a bed attached to it. You should be able to setup and hunt that on a west to northwest wind...gambling on a falling thermal last 45 minutes of shooting light.

 

And it could be a point (A) point (B) rut cruise, if it's last year's sign....which makes one wonder...why stage there? And if a community or primary scrape is located in the hub...it's a good possibility that it's a social hub created by forced travel, connecting multiple ridge systems (networks).

 

Thanks Josh! I attached a map on here. The yellow is where Ive seen good trails and movement. The red stars are where I have stand sites ready to go but have not hunted. The majority of the big buck sign in the form of rubs and tracks are by the ridge to the north and to that little low ground red circle we talked about. Those two blue lines to the north ridge represent their travel movements and a smaller thicket is up there with great buck sign. I started hunting it last season and have not seen anyone else in there. The ridge in the middle I found some monster rubs on the trees running north south and on the eastern side of the ridge.

That low ground spot with the red circle I found all that sign in the early spring. I haven't been back there yet. If it rains a lot on Monday Im gonna slip in there under the cover of hard rain and take a look at whether the sign is back.

 

Sounds like a good plan and I'm definitely liking your approach...good luck my friend!!

 

I've shot 4 on public land this year, been on private a few times but saving the best spots for the rut








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Good work catman!

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Ethics questions....I hunt out of a climber. Take my stand in and out every time. I have scouted a spot and hunted the same tree about 5 times this season. Went tonight to the trusty tree and someone has a hang on and 4 sticks in the tree that I have been hunting. I know that whoever it is has just as much right to that tree as I do. So here is my question that stand wasnt there last week it’s there now. am I wrong to climb into the hang on and hunt it?


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Are you allowed to leave stands in your woods? I wouldn't ever use somebody else's stand. Nothing good can come of it.

 

No rules against it, That I am aware of. seen several on this property. So why do people who leave stands on trees get the priority then? Seems like I would have just as much right to take his stand down and leave it at the base of the tree and use my climber to hunt that tree.


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I'd climb a tree next to it, or find another spot... I don't know if I've ever hunted the same tree 5 times in a row.

 

I'd get away from that stand . I hate hunting around other people.

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First card pulled this year, haven't gotten to hunt much due to school but hopes are high. Solid buck for east Texas public land.


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Any stand on public ground here is considered open to the public. So if a guy put a permanent stand in the tree that I had cleared shooting lanes for then I would use it (unless there was another suitable tree nearby) if he came in and asked me to move then I would move. But if he is not around I don't see a ethics problem.

Avoid a sticky situation at all costs, because its better all around if someone isnt pissed at you. but if people are going to just shadow you after you put the effort in, than it can work both ways. You get to use their stand.

Thats PA law, not sure where your from though.


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