Atlas - I agree 100% - I have had small game hunters hit me with there shot - when a pheasant launched between myself and them[], I have had kids walk down the very trail I was over, joggers, horseback riders, mushroom pickers, and have found other hunters in my stands, next to my stands or stolen my stands. Fustrating to the max[:@]. These events can loose the battle but not the war.

I am not saying it is easy but you have to go in further-thicker, get in earlier, and learn the habits to a point that you can overcome the public land horror. I have to use a climber, as too many of my stands " walked away" on me. If you have to set up 30 trees and blaze them, to give yourself enough options to stay one step ahead of the deer and everone else then so beit.

All I am saying is that even in heavy pressured land, it is possible to find yourself alone and over good deer - consistantly. It will take much more work than those fortunate enough to hunt private land.

You can use that as your excuse, or as your motivation.