Hunting Public Land - what do you look for?

[nofishfisherman]

A couple years ago I joined up with a few of my buddies as we started deer hunting together. The first year we hunted a mix of private and adjoining public land. That spot sort of fell apart due to way too much trouble with the neighbors. We opted to just hunt different areas versus deal with them. Last couple years we've been hunting all public land in zone 259.

Trouble is we've been having a hard time finding even reasonably decent spots that aren't crawling with hunters. We've tried getting in further and away from roads and every year we still end up having a lot of hunters around us. We've also hunted 2nd weekend the last two years and have still run into problems. Part of the issue is the area we hunt is loaded with ATV trails that cover the entire area and make it easy for guys to get deep into the woods.

I've been doing a lot of online scouting using satelitte maps before we head up to do a scouting trip next weekend and i've been looking for areas without ATV trails where we can maybe hike in aways and get away from people.

My question is what do you look for when hunting public land? Is there a certain minimum distance you feel you need to get away from roads or ATV trails before you can expect some land to yourself? Do you avoid hunting off of ATV trails? Any other tricks you've discovered that help get you away from the crowds?

[Bear55]

I hunt all public and do whatever it takes to get away from the crowds. My best advice is to hunt near anything wet. If you have to cross a big swamp or a river all the better, or take a boat across a lake. The nastier stuff you have to go through the better. It is a lot of work but it can pay off big time.

[nofishfisherman]

I've actually been considering taking a boat across a lake to a spot that looks somewhat in accessible from the road. On the satelite map it shows what might be an ATV trail but I can't quite tell for sure. Its one spot I plan to scout when i get up there.

The area I am in is full of little pot hole ponds/swamps but there are pretty well established ATV trails that go around them. The trails go back for miles in some cases with multple side trails off the main trail.

[Wanderer]

Another option that can work on busy public land if you have the patience and confidence is hunt near the parking lot, if there is one.

Everybody pulls in, makes noise and then travels into the places that show promise leaving the lot area unattended. The push of hunters into the land can push the deer out to travel the fringes. The deer know where the lot is and know people are more easily heard, seen and smelled there. Keeping tabs on an unwary enemy is easy.

Set up like you would any other spot using the wind and cover and wait it out.

[NoWiser]

Couldn't agree more with Bear55. Are there any streams or rivers in your area that can't easily be crossed? Maybe a miserable swamp or two? A pair of waders could be a great investment to get you away from other hunters. That said, I used to hunt 172 which is one of the more crowded zones in the state. It seemed like if I crossed a swamp, there just ended up being an ATV trail on the other side. I ended up relocating to a different region entirely and it made a huge difference. I don't see many deer these days, but the "hunting" is much better.

[nofishfisherman]

Not much in the way of streams just a lot of little ponds that aren't connected in any way. Its a mix of high land with these little pot holes that are pretty easy to walk around.

The few areas I'm seeing with larger swamps seem to have ATV trails that access the far side of the pond.

We thought about relocating to another area this year but couldn't line up decent lodging anywhere else. One of our guys doesn't want to rough it in November after sitting in the stand all day so he nixed the camping idea which would have opened up more options.

I've been looking a little further to the east which would put us into the Paul Bunyan State Forest. Looks like a lot of trails/forest roads throughout the area. Anyone know if that area gets a lot of pressure?

[Bear55]

Lot of my best areas depend on the water level, if we have dry years kind of like this summer and I think 2011 the atv guys get what I call "dry swamp courage" and they can get all over the place. Other years when its wet and nasty the atv's aren't as brave and I am hunting alone.

Not talking down on atv's either, I use one to get me as far back as I can, then I walk the rest of the way.

Like Nowiser mentioned your area could just be saturated with trails/hunters and it might be better to look for a new area if you really want to get away from the crowds.

[Jmnhunter]

hey nofish; we hunt the PBSF and it gets pounded also, if they would only close more trails off, the ATV traffic would be minimal and you woulndt have to worry about seeing orange over every hill. i think the only region you could have more woods to yourself would be the arrowhead region

[TruthWalleyes]

My question is what do you look for when hunting public land?

1 thing. SLOUGHS.

I've deer hunted many sloughs that have just had phesant hunters with their dogs push ALMOST the whole works...Them LAZY hunters never step foot into the thick cattails.

I used to walk to the classic deer bedding spots on these public lands. I'd find beds too, but never any deer. Of course, you often see foot prints from the same day of hunters that beat you to the 80. Ask yourself...Where did these deer go? Constant hunting pressure every day, yet they are bedding here.

Well boys, hike up your skirts and start walking through the thickets swamps/sloughs/cattails you can find. I kick out TONS of deer in the cattails.

Have zero problem pulling up to a public land that people are literally walking off of. Go into the thick. Come out with a deer

Though i must admit, it isn't the easiest thing to do. Even at 6'6" it is hard to get a shot off. But, for every 10 deer you kick out, you'll get a shot.

I zig zag the heck out of them, stopping often for 30s to 1 minute (Often spooks deer when you stop and wait).

I'm tell'n ya boys. Get in them cattails.

[nofishfisherman]

I might have to branch off from my group a little this year and hunt on my own. 2 of the guys I hunt with don't want to put in that much work. They want to do what everyone else does and I've been telling them for 2 years that its not working and that we need to think outside the box.

I'm going to scour the sat. maps of our area and see what other nasty stuff I can find and try to get in there some how.

[Bear55]

TW has solid advice on sloughs and cattails, the deer will dive in there. Especially when the pressure is up, I wouldn't doubt a lot of the hunters just walk right on by these places and the deer stick tight to the cover, even watching as hunters walk on by.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I'm tell'n ya boys. Get in them cattails.

What he said. It aint easy but if it were easy, prissy wimmin and tiny little kids would do it. Like TW, I've shot my share of deer from public land cattails.

[muskiemanAD]

Like someone else mentioned hunt near the roads or parking areas. I used to try to get as far back as possible during shotgun season and there are always enough others that do it too. Find a thicket near a road and or parking area and it can produce. When the orange mob goes in it is easier to pattern them then the deer. Now bow or muzzy when the crowds are gone is another story, get back in the bush then...

[Port.Winterhawk]

hey nofish; we hunt the PBSF and it gets pounded also, if they would only close more trails off, the ATV traffic would be minimal and you woulndt have to worry about seeing orange over every hill. i think the only region you could have more woods to yourself would be the arrowhead region

Good friend of mine hunts the pbsf and he claims it is pretty desolate during the rifle season. I would give it a shot if you have nothing else.

[Coach1310]

We lost our lease about 15 years ago.... Been public ever since. My best advice...

#1 find areas CLOSED to ATVs . One piece we hunt changed to that about 5 years ago... Way less pressure.

#2 don't be scared of the pressure. Lots of hunters means deer are being moved constantly. We have good success in crowded areas because we sit longer than others. We sit longer in the mornings and get out earlier in the afternoons than others. Amazing how many deer get nudged by guys just walking out to us already in our stands

#3 think BIG..... On public ground a lot of people look at land too chunky... Depending on roads... Parking areas etc.... Look at at topo in a broad sense and piece the territory together to understand what spots are better than others.... If u can piece it together often times you can figure out travel patterns and intercept the deer before the get to other hunters.

#4 don't be afraid of the road. It is a different experience hunting by that noise but can be very effective.

[nwhunter]

We lost our lease about 15 years ago.... Been public ever since. My best advice...

#1 find areas CLOSED to ATVs . One piece we hunt changed to that about 5 years ago... Way less pressure.

#2 don't be scared of the pressure. Lots of hunters means deer are being moved constantly. We have good success in crowded areas because we sit longer than others. We sit longer in the mornings and get out earlier in the afternoons than others. Amazing how many deer get nudged by guys just walking out to us already in our stands

#3 think BIG..... On public ground a lot of people look at land too chunky... Depending on roads... Parking areas etc.... Look at at topo in a broad sense and piece the territory together to understand what spots are better than others.... If u can piece it together often times you can figure out travel patterns and intercept the deer before the get to other hunters.

#4 don't be afraid of the road. It is a different experience hunting by that noise but can be very effective.

Excellent advice, although I'm not a fan of #4. I prefer quiet.

[pikerliker]

nofish if you don't mind walking hunt the larger WMA areas or National wildlife refuge areas. They don't allow ATV's, cars, etc. You need to walk and carry in your stands, etc. Keeps the lazy hunters away from you. You have to work a little harder with walking, dragging deer out, etc but to me it's worth it!

[nofishfisherman]

There was a lot of good advice given, I really appreciate it. It gives me some new ideas to look for and it also reinforces some of the ideas I've had in the past.

I'll be heading up there soon to check out some areas in person and get a game plan set for opener.

[TruthWalleyes]

There was a lot of good advice given, I really appreciate it. It gives me some new ideas to look for and it also reinforces some of the ideas I've had in the past.

I'll be heading up there soon to check out some areas in person and get a game plan set for opener.

The lazy hunters in your group can post around the cattails...

[Getanet]

Have you considered hunting downtown?

http://www.startribune.com/video/226145421.html#/226145421/video/1/mh

I bet you'd get a few strange looks hauling this buck onto the Light Rail.

[nofishfisherman]

I've thought about hunting St. Paul many times. Last year when I came home from getting skunked during firearms season I dropped off a buddy and headed home. I turned down my street and had an 8 point buck a little smaller than the one in the story running right down the middle of my street in front of me. Its also not uncommon to see deer munching on apples in my neighbors yard.

I live in the middle of St. Paul just 2-3 miles north of downtown.

[DooWap]

I've thought about hunting St. Paul many times. Last year when I came home from getting skunked during firearms season I dropped off a buddy and headed home. I turned down my street and had an 8 point buck a little smaller than the one in the story running right down the middle of my street in front of me. Its also not uncommon to see deer munching on apples in my neighbors yard.

I live in the middle of St. Paul just 2-3 miles north of downtown.

I know what you mean, I live in Highland Park and see deer around the golf course and high school all the time. I once saw more deer just leaving my house in St Paul to go up north hunting than I did when I got up north!!

[nofishfisherman]

I used to live in highland off of Montreal and would see a ton of deer down there as well. Mostly around the golf course and down toward Crosby Park.

[WalleyeVision]

I agree with all of the posts saying to get deeper into the woods away from traffic if you can, I only hunt public land and have had pretty good success doing this. As far as what you are looking for when you get there - I always look for natural funnels that bring multiple good deer trails together. I especially like areas where there are several ridge trails that come to a point with swamps on either side and funnel the deer through a narrow corridor before branching back out on higher ground. These areas can be great especially during the rut when bucks are chasing does. She will naturally bring that big boy right to you.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Another thing that has done me fairly well............stay out there all day especially during "Lunch time."

People will pack up and leave cuz they need a sammich. This is the time you need to be out there and ready. When they start heading for the pick up, they kick up deer and get them moving. Be ready.