How often do they mow it? I wouldn' t worry so much about that...if it keeps warm it may even allow some nice tender green stuff to pop-up giving the deer a treat...putting you in the cat-bird (depending upon mast conditions in your area).

I would be very cautious of pressuring the buck any more than necessary. You mentioned public land...is it like a WMA that gets hammered by hunters? Or some company land that gets little use?

If the pressure is high (by other hunters) and you feel the buck has changed his patterns or " flew the coop" ...set-up wherever you can find the thickest, gnarliest, ugliest patch of the thick brush you mentioned. Maybe try to slip in before light and catch him coming back to bed down at first light.

Once he starts getting fired-up looking for love....find the does on the property and hope the buck doesn' t wander by someone else' s stand!

Good luck...look forward to seeing the pics!