I hunt both public and private. The key to public is first deciding which public land to hunt. Contact the county DNRO/warden for help/deer numbers and get them to send you a topo map of this land. Secondly, study the map and look at the terrain and surrounding properties then go out there and scout it with the map in hand. Make notes on the map of trails, draws and any deer sign. Food sources and watering holes/creeks. The thing about public land hunters...for the most part...is that they usually don't venture very far back into the woods. What I have found is that most of them will only go 500 yards in to 1/4 mile in. You want a nice deer where theres hardly any pressure, go deep into the woods. I kill 3 to 5 deer a year on public land...get to know the land...you get to see the deer.

We hunt public land here and have been successful. But we're getting a bit angry at the preference given to private land hunters and this may very well be the last year we buy deer permits. We'll just stick to small game.

Edited to add: The same goes for turkey permits.

Depends on the public land. I have hunted the national forest in VA before and done extremely well. My goal is to find the place where others arent! I scout it on the ground and with topos and aerials.

1shotkill1993 says the public land in va is full dumbies is kinda crazy, everytime i have gone I never see anyone. Also, if his friends are walking to stands, there breaking the law, no stands are allowed on public land in va, only portable stands you must bring in with you and take out everytime.

The best trick i have learned about hunting public land is to find the hardest and farthest spot to get to and go there, once the others start shooting close to the roads those deer will know where to go. I usually go to a spot in the late season once or twice on public land and it is stacked with deer cause its impossible to get too, i have to take a canoe down river or walk 8 miles, as soon as i enter that bowl i see deer everywhere soo its worth it.

i went to the local corps of engineers office and got maps of public land where they have planted and maintained food plots. most of them are over huntedexcept one area near my parents house. i have hunted this property for years and done very well. there is a few hunters here and there but the best spots are a 45 minute walk and it seems nobody but me will walk that far in. the only bad thing about this is when you shoot one you have a hell of a drag out of the woods.