I am new to hunting (1year) and had 2 bad experiences on public land my first year. so this year i am going to try finding some private land to hunt (non lease). is there anything anyone can suggest to help with that process? Thanks in advance!
I don't know your location and if that poses any specific obstacles... But in my case the best way to locate property to hunt I though networking.. Friends,family, friends of both.... Clients and customers....people you employ. Anyone you can make a connection with that may open a door for you.
Knock on a farmers door, be as polite and respectful as possible, then hope they say yes. If they say no, thank them for their time, maybe leave your number incase they change their mind(depending on type of "no" you get), and find another door to knock on.
Offer help with some common chores or other projects the owner may have. I put a TV antenna up for an elderly couple in exchange for a 1yr lease on 120 acres 6 years ago, They liked me so much I haven't paid to hunt there since.
Knock on every door you can and do a lot of praying. Good luck! Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2
I am a public land hunter only so i don't have advice for you. I'm curious as to what your bad experiences were if you don't mind sharing.
Well to make a long story short, hunted public land that is adjacent to private. The guy that owns the private land puts his box stands on the property line and hunts over the public land from his back yard. The only way onto the public land is an easment right past his blinds. So after 2 mornings walking past his blinds to get to our spot, he storms in on us with his shotgun on his shoulder as we're gutting deer to tell us how inconsiderate we are. Secon is having my lone wolf sticks and stand stolen. I came out of my stand at dark, had church in the morning, so I came back for the afternoon sit and my tree is stripped. It was my first solo hunt. I was banking on the sportsmanship of a fellow hunter but I guess that doesnt exist during the rifle season. An expensive lesson for a noob...
Can't say much about the A-hole with the shotgun except that you take it with a grain of salt and move on. That is unless he actaully threatened you... As for the stand, well if you leave any stand on public ground your asking for it. Took me 3 stands to learn that one. Knock on some doors, and you may get lucky..
I'm also new to hunting and have the same reservations about hunting public land. I've been learning a bunch over the last few months and have read and heard many stories of incidents dealing with dbag hunters on public land. I'm really starting to think that one would really be better off hunting private land if possible. I'm trying to learn how to go about finding private land to hunt in WI.
Sounds like the way my area is becoming. I can go all archery season and not run into hardly anybody, just me and the critters in the woods. Come deer season it is amateur hour out there!!! Ruins it for the people that actually know how to hunt and not just tromp around in the woods tripping of every leaf they step on. My goal for this season is to shoot my two deer during bow season and not hunt so hard during gun season because it is just not as fun as archery.
Knock on a lot of doors, offer to help with chores, leave a card with your cell number and contact info. Be respectful.
