I've hunted the Governor Knowles State Forest many years (years ago). I've seen some of the hugest deer tracks ever made up there. You can sit over open areas (and they are good), fresh logging areas (excellent) or go deep into the marsh along the Mississippi river. The big bucks are bedded in the marsh during the day. My BIL was a DNR biologist up there until retiring a couple years ago. I hunted with him and his DNR buddies (wardens also) in their cabin with the wolves howling at night. (Huge wolf packs up there). We always got deer. BIL had to help register deer a couple days during rifle season and one day he registered a deer that he aged at 1-1/2 years old. It would easily make the book! Imagine how big that deer would have been if allowed to grow up! The Jordan buck (former world record) was taken nearby years ago. They kept a shed antler from that area in the cabin. It would have put the Jordan buck to shame! You're going to have to hunt public land and this area has the largest amount of public land in the state. You won't see many other hunters if you find the right area.

Watch the weather! One year I had to borrow snow shoes as there was 3 feet (level) of snow on the ground and drifted higher. Amazing how quick you can learn to walk on those things.