Scout hard, get in early, leave late and don't tell ANYONE where you hunt.

Public land WMA's? Let me sum up my experience with smilie expressions: [:'(][>:][:-][&o]

The best way to hunt a public WMA is during the week. Go in quiet and go in deep, is what I've always been told. Do not even THINK of using a WMA on an opening day Saturday! There will be 9000 hunters for every 1 deer!!! [:@] (ask me how I know....)

Butch A.

I start my scouting with a map. There are obvious terraine features that will funnel deer and these get my first attention. I'll hike out to them and look for sign, if sign is present I'll look the area over further. At this point I'm looking for bedding areas clost to the funnel and rut sign from last fall (most of my scouting is spring or immediately after the season), things such as rubs and scrapes. I, like you never put my cam out on public ground. I'm sketched out enough on my private land. Too many people in this world just don't respect what others have worked hard for.

I probably have it easier then most on public ground because the land I hunt sees few hunters. That's the luxery of "Big Woods" but the down side is there are only on average 7-10 deer per sq mile. This means if your homework isn't done when you get to the woods you may be concentrating your efforts in areas void of much deer activity.

I wake up early and get in the woods before the other guys.

I make a good effort to meet the other guys and speak with them to be friendly and find out about where they are so we don't bump into eachother - I try to stay non specific when saying where I am though........

I spend more time scouting than the other guys.

I don't over hunt my stands.

I have 3x stands within reasonable walking distance so if someone screws up a spot I have another to go sit in.

I try to do most of my scouting from a distance and by glassing - only actually going in close to hang a stand/trim lanes.

I spend TONS of time looking at aerial photos and topos that I usually get from Microsoft's terra server for free and use that to narrow down the areas that I should be spending time scouting.

1. Get as deep as you can and stay all day if possible (I prefer thick stuff). Most hunters will not go in very far off the road.

2. Try to hunt during the week, not weekends.

I know alot of people cannot do this, but I hunt during the week. shot two on public land in nj. rarely saw anyone else. saw plenty if deer too. I like to get away from everyone, and go during the lull periods for archers...aka, mid week.

1. Study topos and photos often
2. Think outside the box (don't hunt like everyone else does)
3. Don't make mistakes because they probably won't go unseen

Going deeper in the woods doesn't work on the public land I hunt. I took a week off work during the 2004 rut and saw other hunters every time I was in my stand ,and I was an hour walk from the nearest parking area. I have hunted the same public land for 13 years and this is the game plan I have come up with. There are lots of does on the property (approx. 3000 acres) so I try to hunt close to doe bedding areas and make sure I'm seeing does on a regular basis. When the rut comes the does will attract the bucks (big and small) and hopefully right past my stand. I rarely see a mature buck on public land during normal shooting hours unless it is ruttin time. Lots of 1 1/2 year olds and an occasional 2 1/2 year old but no monsters until they get silly in November. Something else I have found is being on stand the opening day of bird season is a must. All those bird hunters walking around and shotgun blasts get the deer moving. As stated earlier, try to be the first one in and the last one out and maybe the other hunters will move the deer past you. Hunting public land is completely different than private land, but once you figure out the little tricks, and maybe a little help from the Man upstairs, you can be succesful.

Scout, Scout and Scout some more. Find the right spot! Set up a blind or stand, and be ready to move and be flexible. Through my two years of experience (not much I know, but I am very observant) I have noticed that once that season starts the deer will change movement alot! They have the start of the season marked on the calendar!!!


Good Luck

Jim

Stop by a piece of private land and hunt there before you go home for the day??