wog
New Member
Posts: 6
|
Post by wog on Oct 29, 2010 13:50:19 GMT -5
I'm tired of begging for land to hunt deer on, but even more tired of whining about it. So off to the nearest parcel of public land for me.
As a new hunter, I've never hunted public land. What should I expect? If I call up the State forest office I'm headed too, will they tell me if a certain part of land has been crowded? Will they even know?
I've heard people say you just have to be willing to go deeper into the woods than others, etc. - is that generally how I should start scouting? After the season ends - head out and look for signs, trails, etc? Walk a few miles in, more than other hunters would be comfortable doing?
I'll probably end up using Google Earth as a tool to give me some ideas, anybody recommend other topo maps or anything?
Anyway - if you've successfully hunted public land, and don't mind sharing info on how to get started, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by oneshot on Oct 29, 2010 13:56:51 GMT -5
Try to pattern hunters as much if not more than the deer.
|
|
|
|
Post by huntin4ever on Oct 29, 2010 14:46:04 GMT -5
From reading your post, I'm assuming that the type of public land you are speaking of scouting/hunting is heavily forested in Southern Indiana... If that is so, then maybe I can help by giving my 2 cents... First off, I moved to Columbus, IN about 4 years ago... Originally from Kokomo, IN.... I had apparently never really seen or hunted a ridge until I moved down here... with nowhere to hunt and finding private land being such a pain.... I decided to start studying about reading topo and aerial maps, and hunting deer in the "big" woods of the HNF... So here is my best advice for starting out.... 1) Spend some time reading, there are articles all over the web talking about how to read a topo map and what to look for, combine that with a few hikes in person and you'll get the hang of that quickly... My favorite website for "Online" scouting is www.MyTopo.com... scroll down and click on the link that says "Browse Free Online Maps".... this allows you to easily switch between street, topo, and aerial maps.... 2) Learn to identify natural funnels, saddles, etc... also I've found main ridge lines with lots of "fingers" seem to be best or if you can find 2 or 3 major ridges/fingers that connect at one location... 3)Remember deer and game have been running these ridges for years... basically, there are trails on the face of about every ridge that to a newby look great... you need to find which ridge, finger, etc is being used now... rub, scrapes, droppings, turned-up leaves, crushed leaves, and a hunt or two should tell you that.... 4) In dry years (THIS YEAR) find water.... 5) Acorns seem to be everywhere year after year, don't try hunting a ridge, finger, or bottom because it's loaded with acorns... the next ridge over probably is too... 6) Don't expect to see 10 deer everytime out, you might only see deer every 2 or 3 trips, but my experience is that about every other buck I see is 125"+... but you might only see 3 or 4 bucks total in a season though... 7) Hunt from last week in Oct through 2nd week of November hard.... and All-day if possible, in the forest a lot of bucks are on their feet searching during the day... Thats all I got! |
|
wog
New Member
Posts: 6
|
Post by wog on Oct 29, 2010 15:13:27 GMT -5
That'll give me a great start. Thanks for your help.
|
|
|
|
Post by awalters0815 on Oct 29, 2010 15:14:00 GMT -5
Hunt an area that has at least 8000 forested acres. Usually you will not have too much trouble bumping into other hunters except on the first day of gun season. Get in the woods early and sit all day. Take you luch with you. When other hunters head out of the woods at noon to eat luch, they will spook the deer in your direction. If you want a couple spots I know if, pm me.
|
|
|
|
Post by fishinbrad on Oct 29, 2010 17:23:21 GMT -5
I have been hunting public land exclusively for the last 5-6 years, and have seen more and bigger bucks than I ever did hunting around the typical field edges like most folks do on private land...
As for learning the public land, look for maps online and find hiking or horseback riding trails. Going DEEP in the woods is much easier when you have an established trail to hike in on vs. bushwhacking... Get a good, lightweight climbing stand, and learn your trails (don't use those reflective tacks in trees, as they give your spot away to those not willing to put in the time and find a spot on their own). Be in the woods EARLY - let the lazy hunters push deer to you from near the parking areas.
Find bedding areas in the late season or after the season when there is snow on the ground. These areas hold deer year round, and from year to year. Don't worry about your typical sign (rubs and scrapes) because they are usually few and far between. Rather look for travel corridors between food and bed or water and food, or water and bed, etc.
As far as locating resident bucks in the area, do some spotlighting in fields near the area you plan to hunt. Don't be surprised though - this time of year, I see bucks strolling through the woods that I have never seen before. Bucks travel a LOOOOOOONG way in search of a doe that is ready!
Take it easy on the does in the early season! They are your best buck attractors during the rut, and in the deep woods, doe groups are nowhere near as numberous as in ag. land... You will have plenty of time to harvest a doe or three after you drop off your booner to the taxidermist!
As was said before, you won't find near as many hunters as you would think. I hunt a single 800 acre wooded parcel on public land and last year, I knew of only 3 other hunters on it, and they were all within 500 yards of the parking area. In fact, all of them hunted ONLY in the gun season, so I had early archery, ML, and late archery to myself! How many pieces of private land that size only have 4 guys on it all year???
|
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Oct 29, 2010 19:34:38 GMT -5
All great information and all spot on...
|
|
|
|
Post by daworz on Oct 29, 2010 20:17:22 GMT -5
huntin4ever,
Thanks for the Info, Iam going to read it and Learn Myself.
|
|
|
|
Post by 76chevy on Oct 30, 2010 5:47:11 GMT -5
Find out of the way places, if it is within 1.5 hours of Indy it is going to be crowded.
Be willing to drive farther than the wannabes and hunt the thick rough cover....
Being in shape and being able to hike back in a ways is very helpful
|
|
|
|
Post by 76chevy on Oct 30, 2010 5:48:14 GMT -5
google earth is your best friend for scouting
if you are hunting hilly regions figure out how to overlay topos on top of google earth images
|
|
|
|
Post by TagTeamHunter on Oct 30, 2010 22:17:58 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by huntin4ever on Nov 2, 2010 13:07:30 GMT -5
This a great map... thanks!! |
|
