When hunters usually think about hunting public land they think about high pressure and minimal deer. With outfitter prices and land leases at a high, for some of us, hunting public land is all we have available. On the upside, public land can also prove to be a great spot to take a trophy animal. If you can avoid the general riff raff, and use its disadvantages to your benefit it can help produce successful hunts. Here are five tips that we have found helpful when hunting public land.
Get Out Early
Most public land areas make parking available in designated spots around the property. In some cases, there may only be a limited amount of areas for someone to hunt when parking in a particular spot. For example, if you parked where the only thing in sight was a square two acre wood lot, surrounded by CRP fields, then you know that more than one hunter is too many for this area. If you get beat to this spot and see another truck there as you pull up you should know that the other hunter is most likely in those woods and respect his hunt by driving to another area. To avoid these situations you must make sure you are always the first one to park and get out to your set, but understand even in this scenario other hunters may still come out, but you did your part to try and get the message across.
Post a Note
If you are in an area that offers a few different options for hunters, try leaving a note at the gate of your location. A paper plate pinned on the fence next to the walk gate should grab most hunter’s attention. Do your best at mapping the land and identifying the area in which you are hunting in hopes that they will respect your set. If there is a trail or a two track that has break off trails further into the walk, you could place your note there. Hoping they use a break off trail prior to yours this could mitigate the number of hunters that see your sign at the gate and actually know where you are hunting if this concerns you.
Know What Seasons are Open
Do your research before heading out on a hunting trip to see what other season are open. Typically during deer season, other seasons such as duck, goose, pheasant, and partridge are open just to name a few. If your stand is around any marshes, ponds, or next to a large CRP field, than odds are you will have a run in with bird hunters. Bird hunters are always thought of negatively by bow hunters when brought up in conversation. Use them to your advantage first by staying away from what looks like good bird country and second, hunting in an area that you feel they will push deer to. If you can play it right with a little luck they will be sending deer to you all day.
Have Several Options
There are several variables that are unpredictable when it comes to hunting public land that you never face when hunting private land. Hunting private land is challenging enough as it is. Reviewing your scouting notes, trying to understand recent observations, watching the weather, and confirming the wind are just the basics. Now when you are on public land add the unpredictable factors of other hunters, other seasons, state hired farmers, ATV's, and border patrol. Two years ago I only had two sets and because I didn’t get out early enough both areas were occupied by other hunters. This left me no choice but to sit on an open hillside and glass all night which equated to a loss of a hunt. When you only have five days to get it, done every hunt is imperative. Because you can never be certain what’s going to present itself that day, you need to have several back up sets. The more sets you have and the better you get at human scouting, the less likely the chances of your hunt being affected by these unpredictable factors.
Get to an Area Less Traveled
With all the unpredictable factors that have been mentioned, one of the best things to do to avoid these is getting to an area that no one really wants to go. Many hunters are lazy, out of shape, and not willing to work hard for a hunt. Most of them are going to hunt within a quarter mile of their vehicle. Hauling a tree stand, steps, bow, and a pack adds up the weight and is not fun to carry for anyone. Come into the season in tip top shape so that you go the extra mile and get it done. Pack as light as you can, and get yourself away from any parking area. Get to an area that only someone really dedicated would hang a set because odds are you won’t run into that person.
Implementing these five tips to our hunting strategy has helped us produce more successful hunts. However, with all this said it’s important to understand that on public land there is no such thing as your spot or stand, it’s first come...and sometimes keep coming. Fuzz
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