Hey, i know how you feel. I'm relatively new to the area that I hunt (last 6 years). I hunt exclusively Public Land, since I can't afford to own any hunting land for myself. I do this by knowing where the other hunters will likely be, or where they do drives, and try to hunt "with them" by being past their furthest posts. I have shot several deer this way, that they pushed to me.
Second, when I first moved here, I looked at the county web site that displayed aerial photos of the county and highlighted public hunt able lands.
I than went and found the least used entrances to these lands. I now have a book of hunting places that I mostly have to myself, or have very little competition.