OK. By reading my previous public ground thread, apparently most of us out here hunt public land at least some of the time. So, my next question, of you who are successful, what would you say the key to that success is? Do you use topo maps, and use the terrain? I know scouting is big part of it, but I will not put a camera up on public ground for obvious reasons. I guess after you hunt a patch of ground a few years, you can get it figured out, or at least somewhat, but where do you start?

When I first started at a new WMA I sucked...well, I still do but thats ... ANYWAY....in the afternoon between noon and one most of the people were out of the woods dirnking (waterand cokes) because down here it is in the upper 90's during bowseason. So I walked up to a couple of guys who didn't look like complete jerks, and asked them how long they've hunted this WMA, what the man-days is (how many deer are harvested per how many hunters there are) Etc. etc. After talking a few moments I asked where they were setup so I wouldn't bother them and disrupt their hunting, because I was going to attempt to scare one up in the jungle like part of this WMA. Well, these guys were willing to setup on the other side in case one came running (walking, sneaking) out over there. I ended up the following week in a prime spot near where these guys were. You can imagine the rest of the story.

I don't hunt a lot of public land. But when I do, I try too go in an area where that is a little more out of the way that others won't go for that reason. Deer seem to be a little more relaxed and have a more normal pattern, but you need time in these areas to know for sure. After our firearm season I won't consider going there because the area has been trampled and shot up the in woods. I might go during the last couple of weeks when everyone else is out icefishing though.

When I hunt public land i go to thick areas. If you are willing to hike back where the weekend warriors won,t go and hunt all day you can have alot of sucess. The rut on public land is the same on private, them bucks want them sugar walls just the same.

I can't say that I've bow hunted much on public ground, but I do run into alot of deer in the Fall of the year when I'am out turkey hunting. Seems they both like the same White Oak acorns. As long as I'am smart enough to stay out of the woods during rifle season I very seldom run into other hunters. Thats why I'am so excited about getting back into bowhunting. Very little hunting pressure after the first few weeks.

Pre-season scouting. Get to know it and the movement of game and you'll do well.

I hunt several old clear cuts .
In 1 there are 3 trees that I can hang a stand in 200-300 acers.
So I hunt out of ground blinds that I make up in my pre season scouting .
All the other hunters skirt the edges ,I have never seen another hunter in the thick stuff.
I play the wind and use hill sides for elevation.
Deer seam to relax in the thick stuff .
Find or cut a few shooting lanes pre season and enjoy.

I am going out in a few weeks to cut shooting lanes for a new stand .
The deer will probely be using them as trails by season.

Johnch

I put out the cheap stealth cam on public property last year for four weeks without any problems. I just hike through some thick nasty briars where nobody wants to go, got some nice pics. If somebody steals it, it was only $60 not $400 like some others.

I spend about every other saturday from july to september scouting, I would spend more time out there but its about an 1hr15min drive.
I didn't see any bucks but I passed on a doe and two fawns on opening day and two days later passed on another doe. This year I'm not passing on any does, I'm almost out of meat!!

the thickest, hardest to get to places that are the most inconvienent to get to areas are usually where i have my success on public ground.

all i hunt is public land, the 3 most important things are!
1. location
2.location
3.location

o.k. thats about it, find the best location, and its easy!(when u figure that out please let us know)lol