I'll be hunting public land for the 1st time this season most probably the Moore Plantation and Sabine National Forest. I have been lucky enough to have been a member of several great clubs over the last 20 years. Everything I've read about hunting public land said to get away as far as possible from all campsites, roads, parking areas and any other areas where there is a lot of human activity. I realize this makes sense, but I also wonder that every year I was in a club, there was always a good buck or two and several does always taken very near the club campsite. Sometimes only 150-200 yards away. Are public land deer much more savy to human activity and hunting pressure? These clubs I was in were in Mississippi and Alabama where the season and yearly limits were much more liberal than here in Tx, and all the members hunted alot right up to the very end of the season. So they did get alot of pressure too. What are yalls thoughts on this?
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I think the better quality deer are going to be farther off the beaten path, but I have seen plenty of deer, and have a few pictures of a decent buck less than 300 yards off of the main highway. I think its all about pressure. The moore plantation will probably be more pressured than where I hunt, although Im not far. Just my 2¢ -
I've heard the same thing, that most hunters are reluctant to travel more than 400 yards from their truck, and that you can increase your hunting chances by going the "extra mile" so to speak. That may be true, especially later in the season, but I've also heard of plenty of stories of hunters that quietly set up not far from the parking lot and then killed a deer that other hunters spooked while tromping through the woods to their treestand.
During archery season, the deer aren't as pressured as they get during rifle season, or at least that's been my experience where I hunt. Bowhunters by nature are just less intrusive to the environment, since we have to get so close to take a shot. I don't think it matters as much during archery season as it would during open rifle season...that's when the public land gets seriously crowded, and hunters aren't as mindful of scent discipline and such.
My recommendation would be to just start scouting early where you plan to hunt, and look for some good spots for a treestand or ground blind for different prevailing winds. Looking at Google Earth or topographical maps can help you spot likely spots before you ever go out there.
Also, it's been my experience hunting on public land that most of us hunters like to get started before sun-up. So I'm not shy about approaching other hunters in the parking lot and getting a game plan outlined on where they're planning to hunt. If they are going one way, I make sure to go another, so that we don't interfere with each other's hunt. I'm not trying to find their "secret spot" to hunt, I'm just trying to make sure they don't get in my way and I don't get in theirs.Comment
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Don't worry about getting as far from the parking lot or camp as possible. We've had tracks in camp. I'd suggest getting on Google earth or cabelas recon on ur phone and looking for fence lines between bedding and feeding or water and scout it on foot for good crossings. Just my 2 centsComment
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Yep, good suggestion if they're interior fences, but don't set up too close to boundary fences, if you're hunting public land.Originally posted by nock1 View Post
If you stick a deer and it jumps the fence into private land, you probably just lost that animal unless you know the property owner, or you're willing to risk hopping the fence to go after it (and possibly getting caught and charged with criminal trespass).Comment
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all very good sound adviceComment
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I grew up hunting public lands in West Virgina. We started walking at 4:30 am. Our Idea was get'n in quietly, let every one else push them onto us. I have walked 2 to three miles in a day (was 15 at the time) hunting and drug deer nearly as far. Google earth Hosterman, WV. Hunting public lands can be a lot of work. You aint deer hunted until you have ridden a deer on a sled down a hill in a foot of snow.Comment
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Some good advice above! Thank goodness we're not talking about WV here, eh TommyGun? I've seen those hills. Don't want 'em !
I use two approaches to bowhunting public land, and I've been fairly successful with these: 1) Go in deep, or 2) stay close to the road.
Honestly, I've killed more deer close to the road (road, not necessarily camp) than in deep, but I've seen more deer in deep than close to the road.
You just need to avoid that "400 yard" zone and you'll be fine. The vast majority of public land hunters go in until they start to feel uncomfortable and then stop. That usually occurs between 1/4 and 1/2 mile. And most hunters (city folk, usually) have no idea how far 1/2 mile in the woods really is. I've had guys swear to me they hiked in 2 miles and I know without a doubt they were no more than 1/2 mile in. It feels a lot further in the woods, with no trails or roads.
Best thing to do is find a spot that everyone else overlooks. It can be within sight of a road or parking area, or 3 miles in. But remember this - deer move according to human scent. They use their nose to quickly figure out human travel patterns. So they KNOW a spot is safe even if they can see humans from their bed, just by using their nose. You've got to find spots where people don't linger on foot. That's where you'll find the deer, all other things being equal.
JohnComment
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Great advice limbwalker. That all makes sense..Comment
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Also with how dry it has been, look for water sources. All animals have to drink, and if you can set up right you can sometimes catch them coming to/from water.
Google Earth is a great way to see satellite views of land to find remote water sources.Comment
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I have been hunting public land for years. My best buck was taken 70 yards from a forest road that had plenty of traffic. I do however prefer to hunt quite a bit further in the woods. Also, there are less hunters on the weekdays and I am fortunate to be able to take advantage of it.Comment
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Yes but unfortunately everyone else has access to this same informationOriginally posted by MojoTexas View Post
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Look for edges. It won't be like on private land it might be as simple as a large briar thicket bordering a wide open oak flat.Comment
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send a pm to coop2564 on here. Tony had killed numerous big bucks on the Moore and Sabine Nat. Forest. He can give you a little more insight on the specifics for those areas.
Tell him Tom sent ya...Comment
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