Magic,

I hunt public land in MN too. I hunted the Twin Cities, Perham, Detrait Lakes, Staples, Longville, Walker, Bemidji, Ely and Redwood Falls areas on mostly public land in the last couple years. We do many different things during bow, muzzleloader, and rifle seasons. Some of the different things we do include:

Eliminating scent trails in unwanted spots by using scent rags tied to rocks that we place by throwing or shooting them out with a wrist rockets.

Walking to sound like we are not a human as best we can. When 2 people walk in line to a hunting areathe back person times the front persons steps so they don't step at the same time.

Always be in the stand when other people are walking back for lunch.

Sneaking upwind into areas where we know larger bucks are hidingbut won't come out and use mouth vocalization to get them moving.

Riding mountain bikes to the stand. Deer don't hear the steady noise of the wheels like they do footsteps.

Floating small rivers with a bowhunter in the front of the canoe.

Taking boats in to stand sites when possible.

We come up with other strange ideas every year usually after examining arial photos and drinking a few beers. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't but at least we are trying new ideas.