RE: personalizing public land
I've hunted public land in MD as well, without success though. When I hunt it, I go further than I think others will go and look for places I think deer would go when pressured by humans. I've found some good trails during turkey season so hopefully they'll be active in October. Anyways, I don't hesitate to cut limbs off of a tree to get my climber up, or clear out a shooting lane. Just don't go crazy with it and you should be fine. GOod luck.
-- B