#2161414 - 11/12/10 12:10 PM
public land blues...
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justonebuck
Spike
Registered: 11/09/10
Posts: 45
Loc: tn, , blount county
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So Ive been hunting hard since the season opened. All day sat, all day tues, wed evening, and then this morning. All on public land, and so far I have only seen one person, and one deer. Now I hear kill numbers are up, processing coolers are full, guys are seeing deer "every time I hunt". Are these folks all hunting leased or private land? Should I drive farther west to see some deer? Really struggling to find deer on the public land here in East Tenn..
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I was born with nothing, and still have most of it left!
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#2161422 - 11/12/10 12:16 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: justonebuck]
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Carlos Viagra
16 Point
Registered: 11/20/04
Posts: 12934
Loc: Cumberland Plateau
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I've had the same trouble from time to time- public land is not easy.
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Do not be slothful- for yesterday and tomorrow are thieves of today.
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#2161423 - 11/12/10 12:19 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: Carlos Viagra]
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156p&y
10 Point
Registered: 10/23/01
Posts: 4097
Loc: Franklin Tn
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I'm hunting private land but even hunting private, I didn't see a single deer all of bow season, until the very end. This weather is terrible for forcing noctural animals even more nocturnal
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#2161426 - 11/12/10 12:21 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: Carlos Viagra]
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Poser
14 Point
Registered: 07/28/10
Posts: 8174
Loc: Tennessee
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Besides two does I spooked yesterday on my approach, I haven't seen a deer on public land since last Saturday, despite being in good setups. I've been on a evening hunt schedule this week. I'm going to take today and tomorrow off and switch back to mornings on Sunday.
With the amount of dry leaves on the ground, its difficult to go anywhere in the woods without alerting the entire area.
_________________________
It doesn't have to be fun to be fun. Wild & crazy, can't be stopped. Only the strong will survive. Keep your knife sharp and your skillet greasy. http://www.GoCarnivore.com
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#2161427 - 11/12/10 12:22 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: 156p&y]
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VolDoug
TnDeer Old Timer
10 Point
Registered: 11/05/99
Posts: 3458
Loc: Plateau
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I am not seeing much either, and I am hunting private land.
You aren't alone.
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#2161434 - 11/12/10 12:26 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: 156p&y]
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tndrbstr
16 Point
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 12157
Loc: knox co tn
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Hey your paying your dues friend...and its not just public land either. It has been speradic this year most everywhere due to differant things. Some folks have so many acorns that the deer aren't movin as much..I am on the opposite end, The place I hunt has been void of acorns for the last three seasons and the deer are just not on the place at all...but thats the way it goes some times. good luck to you.... 
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#2161437 - 11/12/10 12:27 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: VolDoug]
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156p&y
10 Point
Registered: 10/23/01
Posts: 4097
Loc: Franklin Tn
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I've also noticed that 99% of my pics are at the dead of night. I have still yet to capture a mature buck on trail camera during the day. I probably should go buy a lotto ticket after I shot that huge deer on Saturday, cause I got luuuuuckkkkyyyyyy.
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#2161458 - 11/12/10 12:38 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: 156p&y]
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WRbowhunter
8 Point
Registered: 02/22/10
Posts: 1464
Loc: collierville,tn
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This passed weekend was pretty good on public land. Deer just seemed to wake up with the colder temps. I hunted the last 2 days and things slowed down a lot. Did see a racked buck yesterday while hunting with my son but he was a little out of range but that was it for the day.
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"Vegetarians are cool. All I eat are vegetarians"-Ted Nugent
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#2161495 - 11/12/10 01:28 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: WRbowhunter]
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AndyW
10 Point
Registered: 10/21/10
Posts: 3432
Loc: Allardt, TN
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I hunt 110 acres of private land and the deer sightings have been very sporadic. Locations that are usually very productive have been spotty, and to be honest I've only seen 4 bucks worth shooting all season long...and I hunt a LOT because its out my back door. Hang in there.
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Don't mess with me. I'll run with scissors and not think twice.
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#2161524 - 11/12/10 02:01 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: AndyW]
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WMAn
6 Point
Registered: 11/05/10
Posts: 786
Loc: Williamson County
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justonebuck,
One thought is make sure you are not hunting the same area day after day. On private land, never hunting the same spot two days in a row is a good rule of thumb. On public land, it is a must. It is also easier on public land since you typically have access to a larger area.
_________________________
"I will remain what I am until I die, a hunter, and when there are no buffalo or other game I will send my children to hunt and live on prairie mice..." - Sitting Bull
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#2161545 - 11/12/10 02:48 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: WMAn]
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rastubbs
4 Point
Registered: 01/05/09
Posts: 432
Loc: Dyersburg, Tn
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I have managed to let the encore take down two does on public ground so far. Haven't been able to see any deer on my private place.
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#2161587 - 11/12/10 03:22 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: WMAn]
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stik
TnDeer Old Timer
16 Point
Registered: 03/12/99
Posts: 18428
Loc: lenoir city,tn
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justonebuck,
One thought is make sure you are not hunting the same area day after day. On private land, never hunting the same spot two days in a row is a good rule of thumb. On public land, it is a must. It is also easier on public land since you typically have access to a larger area.
i have been hunting the same stand all week, seeing deer every time out. i don't buy into not hunting a stand 2 days in a row.
_________________________
experienced hunters know its not just a bushy white tail, its a big middle finger.
nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught
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#2161593 - 11/12/10 03:28 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: rastubbs]
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khawk
6 Point
Registered: 08/20/08
Posts: 917
Loc: Wears Valley
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Seen a little Buck on my lease in Campbell co. That's the only deer I've seen up there in 5 outings. Killed a doe at catoosa during the archery hunt and seen a doe and a spike yesterday. I'm at catoosa for the gun hunt. Walking in his evening, I seen a shooter making a scrape but like someone mentioned, all the leaves didn't allow me to close the distance to get a clear shot.
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Bowtech Destroyer Black Ops 340
Easton Axis 340
Slick Trick Magnum 125 grain
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#2161809 - 11/12/10 07:05 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: WMAn]
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harvester
8 Point
Registered: 09/24/09
Posts: 1343
Loc: Morgan County
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I've seen 8 deer all season. I've hunted private and public. I killed the first two deer I saw, the next to had dogs running them or I wouldn't have saw them. This past sunday I saw four, three does and a very nice buck. Don't give up, walk farther, scout smarter, go where no-one else will. Most people that I have found out, won't go much farther than 200 yards away from their vehicle.
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#2161932 - 11/12/10 08:47 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: WMAn]
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EastTNHunter
8 Point
Registered: 03/08/10
Posts: 1200
Loc: Rhea Co., TN
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3 of the 4 deer that I have killed this year have been on public land in E. TN. I wouldn't say that it is easy, but hard work pays off. BTW, 1 was a nice 7 point that I was very proud of that had already been knicked by a hunter on the leg earlier in the day.
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#2161955 - 11/12/10 08:53 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: stik]
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WMAn
6 Point
Registered: 11/05/10
Posts: 786
Loc: Williamson County
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justonebuck,
One thought is make sure you are not hunting the same area day after day. On private land, never hunting the same spot two days in a row is a good rule of thumb. On public land, it is a must. It is also easier on public land since you typically have access to a larger area. i have been hunting the same stand all week, seeing deer every time out. i don't buy into not hunting a stand 2 days in a row.
There are always exceptions to the rule. Just like the guys who have a 4 point come in from down wind and say that the wind doesn't matter. My experience and the experience of the hunters I know who are really successful on public land is that your best shot is the first time you hunt a stand. Besides, when you have thousands of acres as you do on most WMAs, why would you hunt the same spot everyday?
Oh yeah, doesn't the wind generally change from day to day? It can't always be in your favor hunting the same stand.
_________________________
"I will remain what I am until I die, a hunter, and when there are no buffalo or other game I will send my children to hunt and live on prairie mice..." - Sitting Bull
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#2161957 - 11/12/10 08:54 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: WMAn]
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easy45
18 Point
Registered: 11/06/07
Posts: 23868
Loc: Medon
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I haven't seen a deer on public land this year
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Work to live, Live to hunt
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#2161985 - 11/12/10 09:34 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: easy45]
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Poser
14 Point
Registered: 07/28/10
Posts: 8174
Loc: Tennessee
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For bow hunting, I never hunt the same stand more than once a week, with the exception of the rut. If you are gun hunting, you can likely get away with hunting from the same spot more often since you don't have to be as close to the deer.
My hunting journal from the last couple of weeks looks pretty brutal: Since 10-25, I've hunted 9 times and have seen 3 deer: A young 4 point, a mature 4 point and a mature 8 point.
2 of these deer were on the same day and I killed the 8 pointer. I have spooked some does on my approaches, but I didn't count those as formal sightings.
I guess it depends on how you look at it, but that's the realities of public land hunting. Again, the leaves are so incredibly loud this year that it is nearly impossible to slip into the woods undetected. In past years on some of the properties, I have used creek beds which generally have water in them to get close to my stands, but those are all bone dry and full of leaves as well. I suspect, part of the difficulties with pressured deer right now is that they are staying locked down because we sound like garbage trucks driving through the woods.
Regardless of my lack of deer sightings, I have confidence in my pre season efforts and am making adjustments each time to intercept deer still moving in daylight. Sometimes you just have to hunt a certain spot to confirm or deny your suspicions and, just because you didn't see any deer, doesn't mean that you didn't learn anything. When I took a public land buck at the beginning of the month, I had hunted that WMA 5 previous times this season with no sightings. Each time, I changed my tactic until I finally got it right. Yes, its certainly more inspiring and confidence building to actually see deer every time you hunt, but on public land, the sheer perseverance is what will pay off.
_________________________
It doesn't have to be fun to be fun. Wild & crazy, can't be stopped. Only the strong will survive. Keep your knife sharp and your skillet greasy. http://www.GoCarnivore.com
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#2161997 - 11/12/10 09:48 PM
Re: public land blues...
[Re: Poser]
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BlackBelt
10 Point
Registered: 08/09/08
Posts: 2616
Loc: SouthWest TN
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It should rain this weekend, and that will quiet the leaves somewhat. We need some weathering on those leaves to quiet them down. This time of year I don't worry about the deer that bust me going into my hunting site. I can't do much about that. I just try to make sure they don't announce my present to the world by blowing and 'alarm-snort' as they leave. If they do that, blow a 'snort-wheeze' sound back to them and they usually will stop and shut-up, even if they eventually continue to walk away. At least they aren't warning all the deer in the area.
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