huntin public

[DEERDOWN]

I only have the option to hunt public land. So today someone was parked in the spot Ihad seen a nice 8 point. went to another stand to find out this feller got the deer I had waited for.

 

[Main Beam]

and

 

[ImThere]

Im sure there is a point to your story? But im not seeing it

 

[mike243]

The early bird gets the worm

 

[Gravey]

Part of public hunting. He had probably seen him too.

 

[Robtattoo]

OH NO! Not YOUR deer!?!?!?!

 

[sgtwebb1]

Any time I'm hunting public land, WMA, whatever, I ALWAYS make sure I'm parked at least an hour before I plan to walk in.
Not just parked, but have my tree stand sitting ready to strap on, pack ready, weapon ready.
At the first hint of a headlight, I'm a vapor trail.

Almost every time, I'm in there first.

Sleepy, but first.

 

[high country]

I hunt public land exclusively, Cherokee National Forest. Matter of fact the 8-point I just killed Friday was taken in a spot where someone had already beat me there. I went hunting anyway, hoping I would run into them on the way in which I did. Made sure I was not hurting their hunting or them mine. It paid off big time for me, killed a very nice 4-1/2 year old 8-point. Point being, just because someone is hunting on or near where you might be, don't just give up, that deer may have came by you 1st. You wouldn't believe how many times I've had people come in on me, shot a deer near me or set up beside me and I still kill mature bucks year after year. Don't get frustrated, no matter what, stay put and tell yourself they'll leave before you will. It's public land, you have as much right to hunt there as they do, just be courteous to their position.

 

[Shed Hunter]

I decided to try my public land spot today to see if anyone one else was hunting it. Headed in at 4:30 and had a guy walk in 15 minutes after me.. flashed my light and he left. Seen 7 deer where he was standing.

Don't let other hunters worry you, just try to be there first.

 

[Bone Collector]

yeah if there is a good one dont think your the only one that knows about it. be there EARLY!

 

[Wompuscat]

Public land hunters can be morons, but not this time.

 

[Josiah]

I try to get there super early, sometimes I will see someone in the parking lot or near the road. When that happens we normally talk about which direction we are going so we don't hunt on top of each other. You always have to have a backup plan when you hunt public land.

 

[airdawg11]

and keep in mind, that if a dominant deer is shot in an area, another one will quickly take over his area. Plus this time of year, you never know when a different monster will cruise by that youve never seen.

 

[jetwrnch]

Pattern the hunters and not the deer, then hunt the escape routes. Let other hunters send the deer to you.

 

[BlackBelt]

Ha! I had a group of 7 atv's slowly cruise by my stand at 4:50pm last night.
Thts just part of it sometimes. It used to bother me when stuff like that happens but i guess i've mellowed a bit with age.
There will be other days and other deer.

 

[fishboy1]

In much of the public land areas I hunt we COUNT on other hunters to move deer to us.

As long as I don't have bullets whizzin by me, other people in the woods doesn't bother me.

Now the jackwagons who don't scout, just follow you in and hijack your spots, that is annoying.

 

[MattR]

Yea, we get ticked off at people for walking in on us, driving four wheelers, and everything. We are spoiled as hunters, lol, i wish the world would shut down for at least a week so i could hunt in peace. Other folks dont understand it, they think its 'not that big of a deal' , they are wrong. I know how you feel though, with my luck the one time, literally, that i got in late, someone was in my spot and killed one from it. Hunters always have to be on top of their game if they expect to hunt public land and kill big deer. You have to take all the precautions to get the big deer on public land

 

[Nimrod777]

They're your deer when you pay the land tax, and then only nominally. Public land is where I hunt exclusively as well, and my only defense against finding someone in my targeted area before me is to get up MUCH earlier than I want to (ugh), and to have a working knowledge of several areas, providing me with Plan B-E.

But what helps me MOST is that I have a network of TNDeer friends who are great men, and we share information about locations, sightings, harvests, and newly scouted areas. I only killed one deer last year, but that network has made my hunting more enjoyable now than it has been for years.

 

[Hangnail]

PSA - Natchez Trace and ATVs

If anyone here knows someone that hunts Natchez Trace and takes an ATV with them, ask them if they've got their $2,500 fine money saved up if they take them off the maintained roads. There seems to be some hunters that can't read. I've made it my business to be an unpaid Nark of epic proportions when it comes to this. If you can't physically get a deer out with your back, don't shoot it. There isn't a road that is open that requires an ATV. Grow up and follow the rules or pay the fine. It's that simple. I understand there is a designated ATV area somewhere on the south side of I-40. If you can't stand the thought of deer hunting without using your ATV, hunt down on the ATV course.

To those with disabilities, this was not aimed at you.

 

[ford4wd08]

Re: PSA - Natchez Trace and ATVs

hunt during the week

 

[ImThere]

Re: PSA - Natchez Trace and ATVs

If anyone here knows someone that hunts Natchez Trace and takes an ATV with them, ask them if they've got their $2,500 fine money saved up if they take them off the maintained roads. There seems to be some hunters that can't read. I've made it my business to be an unpaid Nark of epic proportions when it comes to this. If you can't physically get a deer out with your back, don't shoot it. There isn't a road that is open that requires an ATV. Grow up and follow the rules or pay the fine. It's that simple. I understand there is a designated ATV area somewhere on the south side of I-40. If you can't stand the thought of deer hunting without using your ATV, hunt down on the ATV course.

To those with disabilities, this was not aimed at you.

I have been know to tell myself, a guy got "caught" baiting on the wma fence line where i hunt and his only defense and i quote was "i want to know who told on me i have been doing this for 5 years" lol

 

[LB FANATIC]

Any time I'm hunting public land, WMA, whatever, I ALWAYS make sure I'm parked at least an hour before I plan to walk in.
Not just parked, but have my tree stand sitting ready to strap on, pack ready, weapon ready.
At the first hint of a headlight, I'm a vapor trail.

Almost every time, I'm in there first.

Sleepy, but first.

^^^^^^^^^^^^ This, every single time on public land, every season

 

[BigD_625]

Public land deer should go to the ones that work the hardest. Not always the case, but sounds like it was this time. Hope you get a big one!!!

 

[Scioto]

My ability to get out to my public spot will be limited this week. Hoping to hunt Wed and/or Friday, but both days will have to be afternoon hunts. Although being the earliest in the morning may mean you will hunt all day, it's not always the case. I'm thinking driving in around noon will give me the benefit of where the all-day hunters are parked and probable areas they are hunting, while the lunch crowd has left the field. Since the lunch crowd has moved their feet, I'll take their seat. I always prefer to get in at least one hour before sunrise, but if I can't I think early afternoon is the second best option.

 

[DRP]

I don't have access to private land to hunt either. I put in time scouting an area that I didn't think received alot of pressure. I got in my stand an hour before daylight Saturday morning only to have a guy come walking in from behind me at 7:45. Another one came walking through at 9:15. Guess I need a new area to hunt.

 

[JeepKuntry]

Re: PSA - Natchez Trace and ATVs

Usually when I hunt public land, I'm in my stand an hour before daylight. I usually take a quick nap then. The birds chirpin wakes me up.

 

[catman529]

Re: PSA - Natchez Trace and ATVs

if I find a big buck on public land I'm gonna shut up about it and probably sleep in my truck overnight and get in the woods at least an hour before crack of dawn. If I find big trees rubbed, or actually see a big buck, that will be my focus on public land for the rest of the season, since i have 1 buck tag left and want to make it a good one if I can.

 

[NateUK]

Re: PSA - Natchez Trace and ATVs

I got to my spot on public land late last thursday. I drive in and a guy is there. He says he's headed the same direction as I was going to go. No problem...there was a spot I'd been wanting to check out anyway. Thankfully, I found a lot of great sign in the new area. I hunted that spot this morning and had a great hunt. I didn't shoot anything, but I saw deer and learned a whole lot more about the deer in the area! I guess the lesson is that sometimes haven't to move away from your comfort zone can be a positive.

 

[Spikes Tactical]

Happens on private land too... Deer travel - other people hunt.

Keep hunting and good luck.

 

[catman529]

I should bring up the time I kilt my first longbeard this spring. I got there first, set up in the field corner near the roost. Another guy came in after me and set up a blind and decoys 350 yd across the field. I had birds all around me and 3 gobblers crossed the river to me and I got busted at 5 yards on the river bank so they headed across the field to the other guy's decoys. He shot one, they didn't fly, they just walked back in my direction and I shot one, 12.5 inch beard. The other guy was just visiting from Arkansas for the week. We both got pics and walked out together, both with a gobbler over out shoulder. A hunt never to forget.