I hunt 100% public land and have to not only "outsmart" the deer but also the million other hunters that enter the woods. Maps are my best friend, I have a map of every piece of public land I hunt and I study them religiously.I am always looking for something I missed the last time I looked.

One thing you often hear about public land is toget as far in as possible to get away from the people. I think this approach works and I often will trek in pretty far to get away from the other hunters. However the last few years I have been looking at areas that other hunters are passing up, and the maps have helped me do this. One area I hunt I had been trekking1-2 milesinto the woods to get away from the people. I did a routine study of my maps and noticed a little ridge that was very thick that was not more than 300 yards from the parking area. I realized the trails that the majority of other hunters took went past this area but eventually led them away from it. In order to get to this ridge you had to climb a steep bank and all of the other hunters were just following the trail to more accessible spots. Long story short I found a spot that I had walked by many times and never checked out because it was close to the parking area, and I discovered this spot without ever stepping foot into it, I had used my aerial and topo maps. This little area 300 yards from the parking lot has produced over 10 deer for me in the last 2 seasons, including some solid bucks.

I used to think I had to hunt harder and further than everyone else, I realize now I need to hunt smarter than everyone else. I continue to find areas that hunters are walking right past that hold a lot of deer.