unioncountyslayer Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 To pull off of another post I read about public land hunting I have a few questions. First let me say that I have never hunted public land, so I'm just curious, not trying to ruffle any feathers. I've heard guys saying that they are going to "My Spot" or a particular tree they have picked out. If the land is public, who's to say that someone else hasn't claimed that "spot" as theirs? Is there a system in place that lets you claim that "spot" or tree to hunt for the season, or is it first come first serve? I've always wondered about this and been very weary about trying public land hunting for fear of being "on top" of another hunter. I have plenty of private land to hunt down here, but have been invited to hunt some public land this year. I guess in a nutshell how do you claim your "spot" if it's public, available to any licensed hunter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? Public land hunting can be very frustrating. I've been several times and i've seen guys go as far as chain stands to trees to "CLAIM" there spot. I've moved on until i found a spot that i've been pretty certain that i wont be bothered or step on anyone. Public land is public, first come first served .. It's everyone's, but i still respect another persons CLAIMED SPOT.. even though i dont agree with it... I sometimes hunt a 7000 acre public hunting land and will walk for over an hour to make sure i get far enough away from everyone. I'm usually in the woods alot earlier when going to this area, and will only go there during the week m-f , not saturdays....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? Never hunted public land either. There is one very large piece of public land close to here I would like to hunt, but you have to have someone take you on the land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Basinboy Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? I hunt public land most of the time. I have lots of spots, but they are not mine really. If someone is in my spot, no problem! I have other spots. I just head to the next one. The main thing is to be respectfull of other hunters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyt03 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? Whats the best here in PA is when your on public ground first day of gun season as the beatiful sun starts lighting up the sky you see orange sitting next to every tree and are afraid to get up and leave for the fear that some of these nuts will shoot at the sound of movement. Some public ground hunting can be well worth it, but you have to do some reseasrch and like others said do a little extra and get away from the crowds. If you have private ground to hunt I'd probaly stick to that, but it wont hurt to atleast go try this public ground hunting a time or two to see what its like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyBucks Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? I've hunted the same area of public land for well over 10 years now. When I first started hunting this area the pressure was pretty bad, if you got there late you had to find the best place you could before daylight and sit there. Then we started being the first hunters in the woods and it worked pretty good unless some other hunters passed you up without even speaking and ended up in the spot that you had hunted all bow season without seeing a soul. Since then, things have slacked off and I'll see two or three other hunters in the woods during rifle season, if that. When I'm going into a spot that I think there might be another hunter I'll blink my light a few times in the direction I'm going and then turn itoff and watch for a flashing light, if there's anyone in there, most of the time they will blink their light back in my direction and I will go to another area.......the main thing is to have a back up stand or blind to hunt out of just incase someone has "your spot" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
13littleones Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? I hunt nothing but public land here in the state of Indiana over the past 14 years. The sure way to avoid people is to go deep into the woods, and if you see somebody back there you can figure they are as serious as you are about hunting. Buy some great topo maps, I have around 30 or so. It will take you years to find a good spot for deer on opening day lol... it can be a real mess out there! Avoid opening weekend if you can. If not, go in 2 hours after first light, find a spot and wait for everyone to kick the deer around as they go to lunch, 4 hours later they all kick them around again for ya. As far as it being your spot, my tree, my ridge, no such thing lol...I just move on. The real trick is to have as many backup spots as possible for hunting... 1 or 2 years in a row at any given area may be real busy, the next year almost nobody will be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? In my experience of hunting public land...the only way to attempt to reserve a spot is to go in early before the season, find a spot you want to hunt, and put blaze orange tape around a tree. Even thats no gaurantee that someone else wont setup right by the tree thats on...but other respectful hunters wont. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest firelt Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? I only hunt public land here in maryland and have had some good luck. 5 deer last year, and a big doe and big 6 pointer so far this year. State lands are pretty controled and not over crowded where i hunt. But if your public land isn't controled like here in maryland i would suggest get in early and stay late as possible. The frustrating part right now is that it doe only ML season and i had a really nice 8 pointer walk by, and beat the heck out of a couple of trees. But none the less very cool to watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest archer8030 Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? Yes it is "first come, first serve." I do probably 98% of my hunting on public land here in SC and have been doing so for nearly 10 years. In those ten years, I've encountered less hunters than the average club has as members. It's all a matter of doing your homework. There's always going to be certain spots that are "shoulder-to-shoulder." These are the spots I avoid like the plague. I spend as much time on these public lands in the off season as I do during the season, and in most cases, I spend more time on them during the off season, scouting. Like I said, I've ran into less than 20 other hunters in nearly ten years of public land hunting. Successful public land hunters have to scout harder and hunt smarter than their private land counterparts. That's not a jab, just the truth. It takes a special type of hunter to make the choice to focus his/her attention on public land for their hunting opportunities. It's not for everyone, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ArrogantMystic Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? I hunted public land from late sixties until 1980.I took over 100 deer on public land.The majority do think an area is their personal spot.But they will accept being waved off if another hunter is there first.And then there are some bad apples in ever bunch who will cause trouble, so just learn the land and have back-up areas picked out.Don't be like the bad ones life is good and we should be too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drkillemquick Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? Use to go up north and hunt public land, There is enough land ussually everybody gets along, helps each other out and has agood time. Luckily all my deer and goose hunting is done on private land now!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? Ive not hunted public land before but dad has. He went over in the mountians here in WV a few years ago. 35000 acres. They walked for ever he said to get out of everyone elses places and the year before they saw some monsters up there but that year they didnt see a single deer. I would love to go over there and hunt some whitetails but who knows. But he never mentioned anything like claiming an area or anything like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwillard Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? Here in MS we can get permits to put up stands but that still doesn't claim your spot. If someone wanted to they could put a stand up on the tree beside yours. I haven't ran into anybody that rude yet but it could happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailkiller Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 Re: Public Land Hunting? when i first started hunting that is all i could hunt(public land) and i was content , alot of headaches but i wanted to be hunting! now that i hunt private land i have no desire to hunt public land!!!!! if you do hunt public land monday through friday are the best days,,, weekends are packed...good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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