Best Resource For Public Hunting Land Info?

[emrah]

Ok, I hope I'm not the only one confused about where to find public hunting land. It seems for us guys that do not live on a farm, have friends that have farms, or family members who've owned farms for generations, finding info on accessible hunting land is kind of confusing.

I live in Chaska and know the local areas pretty well (Minnesota river areas, Carver, etc.) But I really want to hunt deer above the "rifle line" during firearms season.

I'm looking for a one-stop shop for info on public hunting lands. It seems that there are SOOO many overlapping government agencies (gee, imagine that....) so even a call to the DNR leaves you with more questions than answers. WMA's, reserves, USFW land, etc.  Some overlap and NO ONE knows who has authority over what and where. 

But I digress...  All I'd like to do is find an online resource for clear-cut, well-defined maps for hunting areas, like say, near Brainerd. Something that says: "...here's where the boundary is. Here's where access points are. Here's what you can hunt here and when..."

Why is this so hard? What I'd really like to do is find a campsite near public hunting land for this firearms season.  Am I asking too much?

Thanks,

Emrah

[bonecollecter82]

There is a book you can buy for public land I am almost positive you can even pick it up at a walmart
It shows everything in the state

[bonecollecter82]

Here found it
http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/atlases/

[nontypicalhunter]

Have myself a couple of them books, great resources, lots of info. You won't be disappointed if you purchase them.

[OWLL Oak Wood Lakes Lodge]

Just FYI -- If you ever want to hunt South Dakota Public Land -- The South Dakota Game Fish and Wildlife Department put out a free magazine size brochure year;y of all the available public hunting (walkin/federal waterfowl) areas.  You can download it off their website for free as well, here is the link. 

http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/areas/maps/default.aspx

Good Luck tipping over a huge buck this year over in Minnesota!

Goodfellow

HUNT DAKOTA @ Oak Wood Lakes Lodge (OWLL)
www.owllhunting.com

[emrah]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info.  I've seen the books around. I think I'll have to shell out the $$ for a couple.

Emrah

[jbrown]

better yet is a plat book from the county where you hunt.I hunt in Cass county,here is the book for there.free,and online.The other counties should be outthere ,too.

http://www.co.cass.mn.us/platbook/platbook_web.html

[stevejedlenski]

lots of places to hunt, get a plat book for the best detailed info but make sure you call on any tax forfiet land to make sure it hasnt been sold. as far as campgrounds, not to many still open for firearms season but theres usually forestry campsites around state forests. a real pretty one is Rock Lake campground near pillager (few miles west of brainerd) but if you find a state forest theres likely a forestry campground close by.