State Ground

[deer_slayer08]

I have been scouting a piece of state ground that was timbered about a year ago. I have been watching this part of ground for three days. I have seen four different bucks and three does. I usually dont hunt state ground because of too many people. But i was thinking about trying that spot the first day. Tell what you think? Should i try it or stay out?

[Doc]

I have been scouting a piece of state ground that was timbered about a year ago. I have been watching this part of ground for three days. I have seen four different bucks and three does. I usually dont hunt state ground because of too many people. But i was thinking about trying that spot the first day. Tell what you think? Should i try it or stay out?

I hunt state land and have generally done quite well. However you have focused on the proper problem ....... too many people interfering with whatever patterns you may be able to pick up on. Too many people busting up those patterns before you can capitalize on whatever you can learn about the deer that inhabit that parcel. I have concluded an entire night's stand only to find out that another guy had quite innocently been standing upwind just a short distance away. I have entered the last hour of the hunting day 9that magic hour when deer movement begins) only to watch another hunter or a group of hikers, or some mountain bikers going right through where I had hoped the deer would be coming from. Yes, state land can be tough hunting and frustrating. But over the years, I have learned that I have to be just a bit sharper and not only pattern the deer, but to pattern the other human users of the public land. I've had to learn where they typically go and more importantly where they don't go. I've had to learn how the deer react to human intrusion. It's not easy, but it's not impossible either. The challenges can be huge but the rewards can be also. We tend to think that just because public lands get hammered during gun season that there cannot be any deer left there the following year when we come in with our bows. nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that the older deer size things up real quick when the orange coats fill the woods and they find sanctuaries outside of the high pressure areas. Those moves are not permanent, and they are always back there long before bow season arrives. Sometimes it seems like the gunners "kill 'em all", but in reality, they never really do. So if you are seeing some nice deer on a particular parcel of public land, don't hesitate to hunt them. But while you are, take note of what and where all the main human traffic is taking place, because when those deer that you are watching seem to disappear, you will have a pretty good idea of where to look for them.

Doc

[deer_slayer08]

Thank you Doc for the info. Im going to go sit in a ground blind to watch the pattern of the deer. I have a good idea of where they are come from and going to but just want to make sure.

[suro25]

Doc great response I agree you can harvest nice deer on state ground.. I hunt state ground and a couple things that helps me out is I try to get into the woods way before everyone hits the woods, and then I sit longer in my stand. usually when they are coming into an area or leaving an area there is a chance that the will push the deer in your direction. I also hunt farther points in the area most hunters are lazy and not willing to walk as far to get to their stands.

[deer_slayer08]

Well I went and set in a ground blind last at the spot. I set from 430 to dark and i saw 18 deer 7 of them were bucks the biggest one was a deceat size 9 point. I had them with in 5 steps for the ground blind. I think it is going to be a good year.

[Stickslinger]

Just remember it is state ground, you might not be the only one watching this area, ever notice any other cars parked around that area or footprints? I have scouted state ground around our area and thought I was the only one around only to find out later that there were a couple of other guys hunting the same area. I try and hunt state ground during the week and avoid weekends, opening days, etc. As stated in an earlier post If others are hunting near that area I would learn to pattern those hunters and learn when they are entering and leaving the woods. It doesn't take a deer long to learn when people are entering and leaving the woods. Glad to see another hunter from my neck of the woods, I live in Frostburg. Good luck

[Nickel]

If you think it is a good spot then try it, but when I scout state land I look to see how many others are scouting also.