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Post by TagTeamHunter on Oct 2, 2006 12:13:20 GMT -5
Well I thought I had a line on some private property to hunt .. but it looks like it fell through  Wish people would stop making promise they don't intend to keep. Thinking about Owen Putnam State Forest, anyone who hunts there have a few tips for a fellow public land hunter ... most concerned about areas to avoid i.e. overflowing with hunters. |
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Post by hornharvester on Oct 2, 2006 12:59:10 GMT -5
Get as far off the road as you can and hunt threw the week day if possible. Opening weekends are usually a free-for-all... public lands can be productive. Good luck, h.h.
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Post by eelriver on Oct 2, 2006 19:19:45 GMT -5
When I first started to turkey hunt the only opportunity I had was public ground. (Owen- Putnam State Forest). If you access this ground from the road you have to walk a long, long way to get away from hunters. What I finally learned to do was ask people who had property that bordered the back side of the state ground if I could just cross their land to get to the state property. I was never told no. They didn't want me hunting on them, but allowed me to park and walk to state ground.
I was coming off highway 46 West of Spencer, turned North at the state forest sign, and went in from that side. Get a Owen County platt book, that will tell you a lot. Good luck and good hunting.
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Post by hoyt1166 on Oct 2, 2006 19:36:33 GMT -5
Get as far off the road as you can and hunt threw the week day if possible. Opening weekends are usually a free-for-all... public lands can be productive. Good luck, h.h. I have to echo what HH says. Additionally, try to be the first one in and the last to leave. What I've found is the average hunter will be late getting in (pushing deer to you) and early to leave (again pushing deer to you). If you can last in the woods longer than the average hunter, you might have some good fortune. |
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Oct 3, 2006 9:54:02 GMT -5
When you scout out public ground for a hunting spot walk at least 30 minutes from the nearest county roads. Get off of the logging roads and focus on the elevated areas that are rougher to access. These are the areas the deer use when they start smelling, hearing, & seeing hunters.
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Post by semisneak on Oct 3, 2006 10:42:43 GMT -5
I dont mind hunting public ground during bow. It sucks during firearm season though.
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Post by TagTeamHunter on Oct 3, 2006 16:20:02 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I never thought about asking adjacent landowner just for "right of way" access to public lands. Well I guess I better hitting the treadmill ... seems I will be doing a good bit of hiking this season. Goodluck to everyone! Thanks.
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Post by lugnutz on Oct 3, 2006 22:57:04 GMT -5
I dont mind hunting public ground during bow. It sucks during firearm season though. same here! |
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Post by cambygsp on Oct 4, 2006 5:33:51 GMT -5
I hunt ALOT of public ground during bow season, BY CHOICE!!!
You just have to know what public ground to hunt!
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Post by psychobubba on Oct 4, 2006 5:53:52 GMT -5
I dont mind hunting public ground during bow. It sucks during firearm season though. same here! yeap here to guys get a tag a gun and ammo from k- wall. mart and Orange up and then there hunters shoot anything moving |
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Post by hornharvester on Oct 4, 2006 9:12:34 GMT -5
I hunt public ground in archery too since its so close but wont even think about it on opening day of gun season. Its like a bus comes from Indy area and lets off all the slob hunters that live there. I hunted ONE opening day there several years ago and saw several groups of three and four guys walking around carrying and drinking beer and shooting at any deer they saw, mostly does. I got the h_ll out of there and said never again. h.h.
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Post by TagTeamHunter on Oct 4, 2006 21:01:08 GMT -5
Hey I live in Indianapolis  .... last year I had pretty much the same experience ... minus the drinking. Hunting with my son so using a ground blind so even more concerned about people taking pot shots. The more and more I hear and read seems I will pass on opening weekend and try the next weekend. Hopefully M/L season will have less people around and about. But with all the deer we do need people out and about bagging deers. Interesting situation here in Indiana. |
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Post by hornharvester on Oct 4, 2006 22:23:23 GMT -5
Hey I live in Indianapolis .... last year I had pretty much the same experience ... minus the drinking. Hunting with my son so using a ground blind so even more concerned about people taking pot shots. The more and more I hear and read seems I will pass on opening weekend and try the next weekend. Hopefully M/L season will have less people around and about. But with all the deer we do need people out and about bagging deers. Interesting situation here in Indiana. Not trying to bash anyone from Indy...  but this was 10+ years ago and at that time when you checked in you had to put your address on the sign in sheet. Most of the addresses i saw that morning were from Indy, Muncie and Anderson. Those guys could have just as well been local guys too...it truly was a joke that day. Never again, h.h. |
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Post by emptyfreezer on Oct 5, 2006 9:02:58 GMT -5
heheheee, I'm in the same boat! I used to be part owner of 37 acres in Spencer...we sold the property about 2 years ago. I have a couple of friends that own some Parke Co. land but strangely, they aren't returning my calls? Maybe it's because I'm a better shot than they are???
The last time I hunted public ground was about 2 years ago, Raccoon lake. Slipped into the woods about 4:30 am, found a perfect spot and a perfect tree! About 10 am I heard some small gun fire...didn't think too much about it. A few minutes later there were some more shots & this time I heard the shots zipping through the trees. I've never been able to work my climber so fast since!
long story short...a couple of kids were squirrel hunting the edge of the woods with .22's. Even though I was a good 350-400 yards in the woods, I didn't feel safe.
Because of that...I only bow hunted 2 times last year on public ground!
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Wish people would stop making promise they don't intend to keep. Thinking about Owen Putnam State Forest, anyone who hunts there have a few tips for a fellow public land hunter ... most concerned about areas to avoid i.e. overflowing with hunters.
.... last year I had pretty much the same experience ... minus the drinking. Hunting with my son so using a ground blind so even more concerned about people taking pot shots. The more and more I hear and read seems I will pass on opening weekend and try the next weekend. Hopefully M/L season will have less people around and about. But with all the deer we do need people out and about bagging deers. Interesting situation here in Indiana.
but this was 10+ years ago and at that time when you checked in you had to put your address on the sign in sheet. Most of the addresses i saw that morning were from Indy, Muncie and Anderson. Those guys could have just as well been local guys too...it truly was a joke that day. Never again, h.h.