Stinger-Hunter Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Hey Guys, what are your top issues with hunting public land? We hear complaints all the time about it being crowded and sometimes dangerous, I know. All public land isn't 100 acres with 75 guys wearing orange though. What are some of your top issues besides over crowded land and the occasional overhead ricochet? Here are mine: Negatives: 1. Game Wardens - doesn't matter if I'm honest Abe or not - they make me nervous. 2. Lots of traffic around the hunting spots, cars and trucks zipping around 3. Wannabe's walking around - weekend warriors who haven't read a book or educated themselves at all about hunting. Positives: 1. Public land is usually chock full of deer with good terrain and nearby food for the deer. 2. The brotherhood - yeah, there are lots of people, but usually they are committed, especially bowhunters (no comments please... :-) ) 3. Convenient parking spots (usually) sorry that was cheesy but I couldn't think of another one.. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Negatives: Cannot leave stands in place. Even in places where it is legal, they most likely will get stolen. State lands are not just for hunters, so it is entirely posible that you may spend the hunt watching hikers and mountain bikers or someone walking their dog, parading back and forth in front of your stand. It is also likely that you will see latecomer hunters crashing their way by your stand, grunting and sweating as they hurry to get set up. Not a real happy event when that magic hunting hour has arrived when you are expecting the deer to start moving. You have absolutely no legal standing to prevent other hunters from setting up their stand right next to yours. It's a fact that even large tracts of land, most hunters are competeing for actual small portions of it. Deer hot-spots are few and everyone knows about them. So you may be heading for that dream spot and find that several hunters are already covering it. On public lands, you have no legal right in some states to make any revisions to your hunting area. For example in NY it is illegal to cut or move ANYTHING that may be impeding arrow flight in your shooting lane. You have no legal right to do any habitat improvements. Positives: I don't have to pay the taxes. Chances are pretty good that the amount of land involved is something that I could never even hope to own. You don't have to put up with the possibility of posted signs or somebody's house suddenly showing up. No one is going to sell the land out from under you. In rare instances, the state does do some habitat enhancement. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Negative- I always have some dipstick walk in on me at the magical hour as doc calls it. I'd go as far as saying 3 in 5 hunts get busted by some idiot. Negative- I can't slap the heck out of the guy for ruining my hunt. Negative- Hunting pressure is high and uncontrolled. Positive- It's all I have to hunt back home unless I travel up to mom n dads. Positive- Most of the idiot hunters are too stupid and unskilled enough to actually kill a deer with a bow. ( Archery only area ) Positive- I've seen some nice deer on this property. Positve- I get to hunt it with some good buddies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 1. Game Wardens - doesn't matter if I'm honest Abe or not - they make me nervous. Game wardens don't bother me a bit. I follow the laws, so why be nervous. Yet I get that same nervousness you speak of every time I walk out of walmart and that greeter is eye ballin me lol. I know I didn't steal anything, but I always just wait for that alarm to go off and embarrass the crap out of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Positive - Public land usually comes in large packages Positive - Low cost Positive - You don't have to ask permission Positive - It will be available every year Negative - Almost impossible to properly manage herd age structure and buck to doe ratios Negative - Different hunting styles going on at the same time Negative - No vehicle access for removing downed game (some may see this as a positive) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Metal Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Negative - It's dangerous Negative - People are clueless (see #1) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I think Doc pretty much covered everything just a few to add from my viewpoint. Positives-Most people are only going to go in so far off the road. If you get there early and go in deep they push deer to you because the deer know where the least amount of pressure is...I'll be there and not the crowd. Positives-Plenty of Does if your meat hunting. Positives-Most of the land is laced with roads that are at least to some point maintained fairly well. Negatives-Most hunters on public land will shoot the first deer they see and a rack of any trophy size is rare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nut Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Positives. Pretty sure it will be there next year. No permission slip needed. Some are managed well when funds are there. You get to meet great people at the camping areas. etc etc etc Negatives People You will have people that feel they own certain spots and walk up and say it is theirs and it public land like the ones who leave stands up. You will have to know that you will get walked up on even if they know you are there somewhere. That does not tick me off too much since I expect it. Sorta goes along with previous sentence. etc etc about people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNhunterr Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I'm glad to have a public forest that has little to no activity on it. Granted it is a 3 hour drive, it does not make a difference when I plan on going up there anyways. I wouldn't even attempt to hunt the public land around me here in central, MN. Did it once and will never do it again if I'm not forced to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Out here the biggest trouble is the outfitters. I had one get really belligerent with me last year. He demanded to know how I had found "his" honeyhole. Others over the years have claimed to own the land or have leased it and wanted me off. They quickly realized the mistake they had made. ATV's are the other problem. Lots of traffic as obesity has taken it's toll on our population and we can't walk any longer. They drive everywhere. Good points are it's free and out here it's massive. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Negative: 1. Don't feel safe walking in in the dark. 2. One has to walk a long way to get away from hunters 3. Where I live the only large public hunting land is 3 hours away. The closer public areas are small and one has to apply each year to hunt them for one week and then a doe has to be harvested before a buck. Positive: 1. What the others have said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger-Hunter Posted August 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Doc really nailed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shedhunternick Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 I personally like to stay off Public Land. There are way too many hunters on some places for me to be comfortable with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyman Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 I mostly hunt public land. The biggest plus? I am willing to out work 99% of the other guys, so I almost always get an area to myself! :rockon: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAFIA HIT MAN 1942 Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Hunters will ruin your hunt on public land best to buy your own ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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