Hunting Public Land

[MTCOMMER]

So how many of you guys hunt public land.  I was looking into all the WMAs around the state and there are alot of possible places that I would like to hunt.  I was thinking hunting around the Whitewater area - not this year, but in the future.  Anyone know if its pretty busy down in that area, I would assume it is with all those monster bucks running around.
IS it common to bring in a portable deer stand, or can you leave them up for a little bit?  I have always hunted private land, and will be this year, but might be looking to expand the season next year by hunting.
Anyone hunt on public land down there?  Is it pretty busy throughout bow season?  Any information would be appreciated, as i said, I am new to hunting public and am looking for some help in the future.  Thanks

[Mayfly]

Public land is Minnesota's best kept secret. Everyone will say oh this place is crowded, their dangerous etc... If you do your homework you can find a lot of good ground.

[MTCOMMER]

I figured there is so much land that it could be easy to find some nice places.  I got the idea from the Midwest Whitetail video, where Jared Mills was showing his public land hitlist.
I figured I would have a goot shot at a monster buck somewhere down her Winona, Olmstead or Wabasha counties.

[22lex]

It's pretty tough to find any public land in SEMN that won't be over-run come any of the gun seasons besides muzzleloader.

As for bowhunting, you can make it work, but I would focus on smaller chunks off the beaten path in winona co., or maybe even wabasha county. Olmsted is a drive for you, you're looking at 40+ minutes and leaving a whole slew of monster bucks to your backside in winona co.

I personally wouldn't leave any stand on any public grounds just for fear of getting it ripped off. Check your public areas out, find some good "climber trees" and plan some all day hunts on the weekends before gun season.

Also check out the wma's along the river north/south out of winona. I have heard of some monster bucks that hop on and off the islands.

At any rate, good luck and hope you find some decent places to go.

[Outdoors Junkie]

So how many of you guys hunt public land.  I was looking into all the WMAs around the state and there are alot of possible places that I would like to hunt.  I was thinking hunting around the Whitewater area - not this year, but in the future.  Anyone know if its pretty busy down in that area, I would assume it is with all those monster bucks running around.
IS it common to bring in a portable deer stand, or can you leave them up for a little bit?  I have always hunted private land, and will be this year, but might be looking to expand the season next year by hunting.
Anyone hunt on public land down there?  Is it pretty busy throughout bow season?  Any information would be appreciated, as i said, I am new to hunting public and am looking for some help in the future.  Thanks

I lived in Winona back in the mid to late 90's.  I bow hunted in the Whitewater area.  It was not too crowed back then.  I do know you must remove your stands every evening there.  Good luck!

[Mayfly]

I should clarify... I am speaking of Bow Hunting primarily not gun hunting.

[96trigger]

Good public bow hunting can be found in both Wabasha and Winona county.  You have the Snake Creek bottoms south of Kellogg, Whitewater WMA, and Krueger Park and the Zumbro Bottoms which are part of the Dorer Memorial forest. 

I am lucky enough to have a relative that owns farmland that borders Whitewater.  Bowhunting gets some pressure and there are alot of small game hunters in the area.  But bowhunting there is definitely feesible if you take 74 West off of Hwy 61, you can hunt just about anything along that road. The closer you get to Alba, the more populated it becomes.  There are some nice bucks in that area though.  The Zumbro bottoms off of Hwy 60 holds plenty of deer and they also have some nice bucks, and I don't think it recieves near the pressure from bowhunters that Whitewater recieves.  During the firearm season, Whitewater is really a zoo, but if you can get out there the week before, it can be some good hunting.  I would try and get close to farmland if possible. I also know that there are some fields within Whitewater that can be great spots to go. 

On the Friday before Firearms, it is a steady stream of cars heading down to the Elba area, it recieves alot of pressure and I usually do not hunt that area that weekend, but it is not that bad later on in the week.

As for stands, I leave my ladder stands up on my relatives property.  They are technically on his land, but plenty of people walk by them.  He only owns about 20 yards into the woods, and then its all public.  I have never had a stand get stolen, but I did lose a camera out there, even though it was clearly not on public land. It does happen.  They would have to drag the stand along ways down some very steep bluffs to steal them, but it could happen any time, and I would be disappointed, but not surprised. I would not put any stands on public land where there is easy access and leave them there. They will more than likely not be there the next time you go out. 

[Go Big Red!]

Stands must be removed nightly from public lands.  

Taken from the 2010 Hunting and Trapping regs pages 70-71.


Elevated Stands
• No person may take deer from a constructed platform or other structure
that is higher than 16 feet. This restriction does not apply to a
portable stand that is chained, belted, clamped, or tied with rope.
• In Wildlife Management Areas and State Parks open to hunting, only
portable stands may be used. Portable stand use is encouraged in
State Forests (see page 112).
• In Scientific and Natural Areas open to hunting, portable stands and
elevated scaffold may be used if it is removed each day at the close of shooting
hours and does no damage to trees or other vegetation.
Nails, spikes, screws or other devices that damage the bark of trees
are prohibited.
• Any unoccupied, permanent stand or blind on public land is public
and not the property of the person who constructed the stand. Any
use of threat or force against another person to gain possession of a
stand is unlawful.

[Go Big Red!]

And from Page 103:

Elevated Stands: A person may not construct, occupy, or use any
elevated scaffold or other elevated device for the purpose of hunting,
watching, or killing wild animals, except that portable stands may be
used if they are removed each day at the close of hunting hours and
do no permanent damage.
Prior to the opening day of archery deer
season, portable stands may be left overnight in a wildlife
management area by a person with a valid bear license who is
hunting within 100 yards of a bear bait site that is legally tagged
and registered. The stand must have affixed the person’s name and
address to the stand in such a manner that it can be read from the
ground.