Public Land Not So Bad

[bweyer]

I always seem to read or hear about public land almost as a negative for deer hunting. Seems to me some people think you need a lot of private ground to have good hunting. I'd like to see some pics of some public land success. I'll start it off.

[wildlifeminnesota]

i with you on that!!! I have a 40 ace private  land and I see to all way going on public land and in up with a trophy, it all in timing,,, as when and where in you area, being in a good spot at the right time (home work) when no one is there) at time them places can be overwhelm with people but at the same time they can be no one there,  

[GRIZ]

I have no pics for the fuser but have one spot that tween me an 2 other friends has produced 53 bucks since 1983. Not one of us has ever seen a doe there either. To make it even better a hunter trail 80 ft away have watched many hunters walk right by us without seeing us. Most are not big but respectable, best was a 6 X 6.

[bweyer]

Some nice deer wildlife. 53 bucks since 83', the honey hole. Gotta be more then three of us that have success. Anyone else?

[markn]

I have some cousins that hunt alot of public land in West Douglas Co. and do quite well. I've hunted ducks on this land also and done very well with them too.

[Outdoors Junkie]

My family only hunts public land (by Upper Red Lake).

I also included a picture of the first buck my son shot (this year) on public land in SD.

Here are a few picture's of big deer we have gotten over the years. The biggest buck (last picture) is one my grandma shot.

[The General]

My friend is still bow hunting and saw 23 deer last night on public land.  He said one was a very nice 9 but wasn't close enough to get a shot.

[Nick]

I just started hunting the public lands in my neck of the woods in south central MN this year.
Unfortunately my hunts in MN were unsuccessful. Not that there was a lack of deer. I saw a lot in the WMAs, but only had a clear shot on 2. Neither of which I was going to take because they were very young does. Judging by size, I'd guess one of them to be a first time mother with last Spring's fawn in tow.

Just an opinion, but I don't think the public lands are bad, as such. It's a matter of learning the herds' movement patterns and unless you spend a lot of time in those areas, there's a lot of guesswork involved.

Also, where I live, there are thousands upon thousands of acres of privately owned fields full of rolling hills. A lot of places for the deer to hide in plain sight.

Despite being unsuccessful, the hunts were very worthwhile. I learned a bit of the herds' movement patterns, know where the heavy traffic on the trails is, found several good places to hide, and know where the wild turkeys congregate.

[deadeye]

Nick,
Sounds like you had a very successful and enjoyable time to me.  Not every hunt ends with a kill but most end with you having learnd something.