how early should i prepare a PUBLIC land for hunting??

[USPENAMC]

Good Morning to all of you savvy, and intelligent hunters,,,unlike me ha ha.

I hunt public state forest and i have had great luck i have had great luck always no scouting, found an already made stand which i have used for 2 years now on a cross between 3 paths always has activities. I was wondering this year i want to go bye and drop a few mineral blocks and spray some scents maybe put out some drippers oats whatever i can get my hands on to further my chances of deer activity .. I am also aware that anyone else can find the stand and use it .. and thats a chance im willing to take. I am also aware you cant bait thats why I would like an estimate of time you think is good to do this im hunting the opening Rifle season. I need to do it with enough time where there wont be oats and stuff left where it would be baiting but also not to much time away to where everything will be gone and the deer would loose interest. any information from you experienced ethical, hunters would be greatly appreciated.

[FOOT]

If you put out oats, mineral blocks, etc: and there is ANY left it would be considered baiting and would be illegal.

My suggestion is - don't do it.

As far as scents they are legal and can be used very effectively.

[bigbucks]

Plus you'd be baiting it so no one elso could hunt there in between, which wouldn't be fair at all on public land.

[Powerstroke]

Placing oats, apples or any other food-type attractant is illegal, no matter when you place it down. If you're caught doing it or caught after the fact you will be charged.

Mineral blocks are not illegal as long as they are mineral only. Those are legal and specific reference is made towards them in the regulations. I wouldn't just palce scents cause they don't last long, but if you wanted to do a dripper on a mock scrape I know that tends to work pretty well.

[USPENAMC]

i appreciate it very much and i thank you seasoned hunters who have given me great advise and as a novice i appreciate your guidance to keep me away from a TICKET and for making me a better more mindful, hunter. You all are right if i were to bait it would be putting myself and someone else who would step in that public land at risk of getting ticketed or having to bypass that certain area for hunting.

so placing drip scents how long before a week two weeks, a month, the day before im thinking of placing one of those drippers that last a week exactly a week before and maybe drive out and get there really early 2 3 in the morning and spray the area down and then catch a quick nap before sunrise and hunting hours.

[PerchJerker]

You really don't want to be using scents when you're not there. If the scents bring in a deer you want to be there to see or shoot it - you don't want to "educate" the deer when you're not around to see them. The scent drippers that last for a week are designed to be used over mock scrapes. Scrapes will keep the deer coming back, but on public land that would be like a neon sigh to other hunters saying HUNT HERE.

My suggestion would be to scout a lot and try to find heavy cover, escape routes, etc. where the deer will go to get away from the hunting pressure. Try to set up as far away as you can from where the other hunters will be parking and walking in from. Get there early (very early), get in your spot and be quiet, and hope that other hunters move the deer past you. If you want to use scents, put them out when you get to your spot, or drag a scent wick behind you to lay down a scent trail on your way in that morning. Good luck.

[USPENAMC]

Thanks for that info:

I already have a spot pinpointed its only about 150 yards from the road, there are about four trails that crisscross around that area 1 is made by snowmobiles the other 3 seem to be made by animals this is where i have had luck all other years. deer come from accross the street from feeding to go into the woods so i think ill just drag some scent behind me and lay down some more scent when i get there thanks for all your great info and hope this has helped other hunters that hunt public land.