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Q:
Have any of u had any success hunting public land? Would u recommend it?
from packerfan on 09.15.09 Answer Question |
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Answers (5)
You can certainly have success on public land...and if that's your best option to hunt...don't let it stop you. Hunting is hunting, enjoy it when and where you can. I, and my family, have done alright on public land for years. Certainly private land provides benefits such as fewer hunters, and thereby more options for you, and deer might get a better chance at maturing another year or so, but don't shy away from public land. My tips would be get there plenty early to try and obtain a prime spot and have incoming hunters push deer through to you as they arrive, and always be aware of other hunters and be extra strict on all safety percautions.
Hunting public land can be a good opportunity for hunters to harvest game. Yes, there is going to more pressure in the area because of the multiple hunters, but this also allows you to be patient and set in one spot and let the other impatient hunters push deer your way. Also if the land is rugged and thick most hunters will stay near the easy access spots, so if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and go deeper into the brush you will see more animals and most likely larger animals. Remember that every animal taken is a trophy to someone.
I have had success hunting public land and would recommend it.
Where I live, N. Y. State, on the hunting map there is a line that runs through the middle of the state that runs East to West and it separates the Northern Tier and Southern Tier. N. tier opens first than a few weeks later the S. Tier opens. In the beginning hunters are hunting N. Tier, but as soon as S. Tier opens up, it seems everybody heads down there and the N. Tier is just about free of hunters, which makes good for less congestion in the woods. So, watch for that type of pattern.
And there is what I like to call "bridge fishermen". They stop by a bridge, get out of their vehicle, just fish by the bridge and than get back in their vehicle and leave. They don't bother fishing up or down stream, because they can't be bothered with the walk or obstacles. Problem with that is there has been others who have done the same thing and most likely the fish are gone. That can be applied to hunting too. The 'bridge hunters' so to say. Take the time to walk where others can't be bothered to go. Get there early, walk in, sit down and let the 'bridge hunters' push the deer to you. Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
For what it is worth... I should have mentioned that I live in the Northern Tier of N. Y. State.
Public land is where most of us hunt. Deer will go deeper as stated above so the successfull hunter has to get off the road and walk back futher than most hunters are willing to go. Sure some great deer are harvested right near the road to public land and setting a stand is great for those who cant walk very far for one reason or another. Find an area with water, food sources (soft mass, row crops or pastures) and good cover where the deer can escape to when pressured. look for rubs, scrapes and trails that lead to and from the cover areas to the feeding areas to set a stand. Good luck and get out there and have fun, I'll sure be on public land every chance I get.
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You can certainly have success on public land...and if that's your best option to hunt...don't let it stop you. Hunting is hunting, enjoy it when and where you can. I, and my family, have done alright on public land for years. Certainly private land provides benefits such as fewer hunters, and thereby more options for you, and deer might get a better chance at maturing another year or so, but don't shy away from public land. My tips would be get there plenty early to try and obtain a prime spot and have incoming hunters push deer through to you as they arrive, and always be aware of other hunters and be extra strict on all safety percautions.
Hunting public land can be a good opportunity for hunters to harvest game. Yes, there is going to more pressure in the area because of the multiple hunters, but this also allows you to be patient and set in one spot and let the other impatient hunters push deer your way. Also if the land is rugged and thick most hunters will stay near the easy access spots, so if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and go deeper into the brush you will see more animals and most likely larger animals. Remember that every animal taken is a trophy to someone.
I have had success hunting public land and would recommend it.
Where I live, N. Y. State, on the hunting map there is a line that runs through the middle of the state that runs East to West and it separates the Northern Tier and Southern Tier. N. tier opens first than a few weeks later the S. Tier opens. In the beginning hunters are hunting N. Tier, but as soon as S. Tier opens up, it seems everybody heads down there and the N. Tier is just about free of hunters, which makes good for less congestion in the woods. So, watch for that type of pattern.
And there is what I like to call "bridge fishermen". They stop by a bridge, get out of their vehicle, just fish by the bridge and than get back in their vehicle and leave. They don't bother fishing up or down stream, because they can't be bothered with the walk or obstacles. Problem with that is there has been others who have done the same thing and most likely the fish are gone. That can be applied to hunting too. The 'bridge hunters' so to say. Take the time to walk where others can't be bothered to go. Get there early, walk in, sit down and let the 'bridge hunters' push the deer to you. Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
For what it is worth... I should have mentioned that I live in the Northern Tier of N. Y. State.
Public land is where most of us hunt. Deer will go deeper as stated above so the successfull hunter has to get off the road and walk back futher than most hunters are willing to go. Sure some great deer are harvested right near the road to public land and setting a stand is great for those who cant walk very far for one reason or another. Find an area with water, food sources (soft mass, row crops or pastures) and good cover where the deer can escape to when pressured. look for rubs, scrapes and trails that lead to and from the cover areas to the feeding areas to set a stand. Good luck and get out there and have fun, I'll sure be on public land every chance I get.
Post an Answer (200 characters or less)