All,

I'm looking to bowhunt some public land in western wisconsin. Any tips? is it all hunted pretty heavily? Are any areas known for a high deer population?

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Feel free to pm me if you'd like. I plan to head out and do some scouting and hunting on 10/9 so i'm researching and looking at google earth right now.

Thanks all!

What public land are you hunting? All of it has different hunting pressure.

I have good luck getting to my spot early opening morning. I get in pretty deep so the guys that walk the ridges push the deer back to me where it's thick and swampy. Last year on opening day I killed a nice buck that was pushed off the ridges, he was just sneaking through the knee high grass in the old dried up beaver pond that I have hunted over the last five years. Three bucks in the last five years to me is pretty good on public land.
If you can find some public land that borders some nearby agriculture fields that usually makes for some good hunting.

I actually haven’t picked any land to hunt yet. Last year I hunted near Hayward w/ some friends and got hooked. This year it looks like it’ll be just me. I’m coming from north of the twin cities. Part of my question really is do you guys have any advice on some land to try?

I’ve been looking for some that isn’t too close to the cities but next to ag or a nice funnel. I love google earth but it really doesn’t tell me hunting pressure, deer population, etc.

My guess is the public land closest to the cities gets hammered pretty hard??? Or doesn’t it?

If you are after nice bucks I would hunt the public land along the river from Hudson south. I have hunted the river bottoms south of LaCrosse and have seen and taken some real dandies. Good luck........Kill a big one