RE: Public land, help?
Stalking on public land is about as challenging as you can get. I got my first deer this way, and prefer hunting this way. However, I usually stand hunt until I get my first one in the freezer. I have definitely scared off many more than I have taken while stalking because there is often one that will spot you or scent you before you can even spot one. Then they snort and its over.
The thing is that they usually live in very thick cover, so it is usually difficult to spot them in the first place. If you do spot them it can be difficult to go after them in the thick stuff unless there is a good trail in there. It helps to do this in windy or rainy weather because this covers any sound you make. They probably wont be moving much in this kind of weather anyway.
I mostly only have access to public land. My only gripe is they wont let you use buckshot, which would be better in the thick cover where I know they live.
More power to you!