Public land strategy
 

I am hunting public land in south/central Indiana this year, rifle and ML seasons. I know things can get a bit crowded, and so I'm having a bit of difficulty deciding where I want to focus my scouting. It's hilly terrain, lots of trees without a ton of brush. I think it will open up even more once the leaves start falling.

Should I stay on the periphery of the state forest land, near the private farms, or should I go as deep as I can hoping to have the other hunters drive the deer towards me? There's oak trees all over, so I'm not convinced that the deer need to be near the fields for good eats.

Also, should I be focusing my time more on the ridges, or down in the ravines? Most of the tracks I've seen have been in the dried up creek beds in the bottoms, but I still plan on getting out there atleast 2 or 3 times before the season starts. The elevation only varies by about 300 ft, so we're not talking mountains here.

I'm also planning on hunting off the ground here. I'm good with my ML out to about 150 yds, so I'm not too concerned about being real close. This is only my second time out hunting, and last year was out west, so completely different deer and terrain. I'll probably get an antlerless tag, too just to give me the option. I just want to get something, doesn't have to be a bruiser. Thanks for the help.

I'd recommend pulling up the state land on google earth and determineing where the access points are. Using google earth find the dead center of the state land(the farthest from all the access points) and be set up there. If is a mile walk so much the better. Most hunters don't go past a quarter mile from the access points. Find a place to set up and try to sit all day. Bring warm clothes, food and a thermos of coffee. Last year I did the same thing on state land in Wisconsin and killed a 9 pointer at 10:50 am. Once the morning shooting dies down and hunters are dragging there deer out and/or going back to the truck for lunch the action should heat up. Mine was killed on the second to last day of our 9 day gun firearms season, so he had survived the first weekend onslaught be going deep into the thick swamp. You can get the gps coordinates for the center of the state land you plan too hunt off of google earth. It would be a good idea to pre scout it to make sure the terrain and cover are reasonable. If you can walk in a mile or so and be in some thick stuff you should have some action.

Good Luck

Well I would definitely be looking for the thickest cover. Opening day those deer will be bedding on the hillsides and when the hunters come in they will kick the deer off the hillsides. The deer will run for thick cover. The ravines and the dried up creek bed is where you need to study. If you were a deer, where could you go to get away from danger? These tactics work for me in WI, they aught to work for you in IN.

i'd go deep away from the other hunters

Like Jackson and Rhody said get as far away from everyone else as you can. Finding all the access points will help to determine how far you need to go..

We hunt nothing but public land. The key is to park your car/truck in a parking area and then head deep into the woods. Most people don't go very far at all. And the critters tend to be where the people aren't.

We always wind up getting muddy and dirty from crawling through the brush and the muck. I am usually a total mess by the end of the day. But it's really fun.


:sheep: She cleans up okay though

It's like making love. Go deep and stay long!

:s2: That sort of sums it up.

already been mentioned but go deep and stay long.

Where exactly are you planning on hunting. I live in Monroe county and have been in a lot of the state and national forests. As others have said hike deep into the woods and stay all day. A good headlamp is a must if you are going to be coming and going in the dark. One thing to look for in the forests in this area are the small ponds that are hidden in the middle of everything. If you can find oak trees and water I don't know what more a buck needs.

weekdays non-rut may help reduce numbers...

Thanks for all the input. We're planning on hunting Morgan-Monroe State Forest. I also just got the dates my friend and I will be going. It will be the Mon-Wed after the opening weekend. I don't know if that's the best time, but I was a little too concerned for my own safety to go public land on the opening weekend. I have been looking at google earth and the state forest maps and have pretty much identified the least accessible areas, and I've also found a few of those hidden little ponds mentioned. I'll be checking them out in the next week or two. Keep the tips coming. Hopefully one of us gets lucky and fills a tag.

You will be hunting right in my backyard actually. I live down in Bloomington and have hiked back in Morgan-Monroe quite a bit. Google Earth is great, but there is another site that gives you a lot more detailed information about the area. It is the Indiana GIS Atlas http://inmap.indiana.edu/viewer.htmIt isn't as easy to use as Google, but has a lot of information. A good feature is listed under "Infrastructure". Go to "Other Infrastructure" and you can put the trails on top of the Aerial Photos. The 2005 images are the best as far as detail goes. It is a very useful tool for scouting here in Indiana. As far as the hunting goes be prepared to hike, because it is some rough terrain. I did the 10-mile Low Gap trail in the middle of the summer and it was a haul. Good luck with the scouting.