|
|
Post by bowjackson on Oct 8, 2017 15:27:46 GMT -5
What is your guy's strategies on hunting public land? I'm usually on private ground in the Southern part of the state but I moved for school so I'm taking advantage of the thousands of acres of public land that surrounds me. It is already proving to be different just from the scouting I have done. How are the deer populations in the Monroe County area if anyone is from the area? Not interested in details, I'm not trying to take spots. Lol Just want to know how the hunting is in the area? I know back home its more agriculture and little plots of woods and it's a different style of hunting than with this huge forest with very little agriculture. What should I be focusing my scouting on? Acorns, creeks, thick hardwoods? Any tips are welcome! Thanks and I am excited about this Forum!
|
|
|
|
Post by barnettbuckbuster on Oct 8, 2017 16:38:40 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum
|
|
|
|
Post by duff on Oct 8, 2017 16:39:38 GMT -5
Lots of public land around Bloomington. Lots of deer too. It will be a learning curve but you will figure it out.
Look for food sources and travel routes. Pinch points etc...
|
|
|
|
Post by beermaker on Oct 8, 2017 16:43:40 GMT -5
I hunted the HNF in Martin Co. for over 20 years. During archery season, concentrate on the food sources and natural funnels. The white oaks should start dropping acorns in a few weeks. Once firearms season starts, figure out where to be when most of the 2-3 day a year hunters will be pushing the deer when they go back to the truck at 10:00 a.m.
Remember that just because you have no seen a single person during the entire archery season, all bets are off come firearms opener. I hunted at the Clark SF a few years ago all during squirrel and archery season without seeing anyone other than my buddy. We went to hunt the second Saturday of firearms season and could not even park, and we weren't the only ones that had to leave. It was a bit warm that day so we regrouped and caught some crappie at a farm pond instead.
|
|
|
|
Post by bowjackson on Oct 8, 2017 16:54:48 GMT -5
You see very many mature bucks on public land? Is the buck to doe ratio pretty descent or is it tough getting on bucks?
|
|
|
|
Post by whitetaildave24 on Oct 8, 2017 17:15:49 GMT -5
If you can do your homework and figure out some good travel corridors you will be off to a good start. Plenty of good bucks to be found around the Bloomington area. If you can find the bucks bedding areas that will be even better.
|
|
|
|
Post by thebellcompany on Oct 9, 2017 7:04:20 GMT -5
Public land it’s important to know what’s around you and be willing to move to a better stand location when things change. Just last night I walked into a spot I thought would be golden but learned there were 3 new stands in that area. Also your pre-season deer will move elsewhere when the season starts so you have to find out where they moved to and learn their travel patterns. My advice,try a bunch of different stand spots. You may look for some big oaks they’re dropping heavy near me.
|
|
|
|
Post by jackryan on Oct 9, 2017 12:08:28 GMT -5
a. Hunt close to where you live.
plan b. Hunt close to where you work.
|
|
|
|
Post by greghopper on Oct 9, 2017 13:22:16 GMT -5
a. Hunt close to where you live. plan b. Hunt close to where you work. C. Keep a open mind and don't carry your feelings on your Shoulders. |
|
|
|
Post by thebellcompany on Oct 9, 2017 13:54:12 GMT -5
Another thing I’m doing new this year is setting out a cheap trail cam and move it from place to place so it isn’t found by sticky fingers. But the cam photos will inform you if there’s movement near a location you’re considering hunting
|
|
|
|
Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Oct 9, 2017 15:39:01 GMT -5
Use the DNR's "Where to hunt" interactive map to locate small tracts of public that border private, preferably near some crop fields.
|
|
|
|
Post by jjas on Oct 9, 2017 15:44:15 GMT -5
Use the DNR's "Where to hunt" interactive map to locate small tracts of public that border private, preferably near some crop fields. Can you post a link to that? |
|
|
|
Post by cindy on Oct 9, 2017 16:21:13 GMT -5
|
|
