Newbie Public Land Tips

Hi everyone I am relatively new to deer hunting and don’t have access to any private land, despite attempts. I am looking at getting on some public land spots near me (southern MN) that don’t seem crazy busy, but will see once gun season starts. I have a few questions and am just looking for some general tips to do this safely as I have heard horror stories on public ground.

What are your tips on doing it safely to make sure I am visible to people and/or out of peoples shooting lines. I’m either going to be in a ground blind and put plenty of orange on top of it, or just sit leaned next to a tree (obviously with plenty of orange). Other ideas – not too comfortable carrying in a stand and putting it up myself?

Second question – based on your guys experience will muzzleloader season see more/less action than regular firearm from people in public ground? I’m fine with waiting until later and just hitting the ground during muzzleloader if there will be less folks out there, considering I am just learning here.

Thanks!

Public land can be challenging but successful. If you are going to be getting to and from your stand in the early morning or after shooting hours I would be sure to carry and use a flashlight. One with a red filter would be great. Be sure to move it from side to side often. The muzzleloader season should be much less populated on public land I would think. Just a a lot less people doing it.

Don’t let the horror stories put you off. Lots of exaggerating and one-upping goes on when it comes to public land hunting tall tales.

The key is scouting and going where others won’t. Also be counter intuitive. Don’t do things that everyone else does.

I would not dismiss a tree stand. Today’s hang ons are so lite I’d say they present a list of advantages.

Have a plan A, B, and C. It always may be the case that you arrive at area a and find a group of 10 has set up camp…

Good luck.

Grouse

I’ve hunted deer for 40 years and never hunted private land..always public, some years did great, some years not so great. Pick your times..mid week obviously best, like the other guy said, have plan A, B and C. If you are out opener or on the weekend expect to see people all over the place. If you can and you are hunting a large area, try and get in deep as early and quietly as possible since the late arrivals will move deer to you with the slamming car doors and talking..relax and good luck!

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

The key is scouting and going where others won’t.

This is absolutely true. Get away from roads, logging trails, ATV trails, etc and you will encounter less hunters and more deer. Its more work and more time consuming, but your success rate will go up.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Don’t let the horror stories put you off. Lots of exaggerating and one-upping goes on when it comes to public land hunting tall tales.

The key is scouting and going where others won’t. Also be counter intuitive. Don’t do things that everyone else does.

I would not dismiss a tree stand. Today’s hang ons are so lite I’d say they present a list of advantages.

Have a plan A, B, and C. It always may be the case that you arrive at area a and find a group of 10 has set up camp…

Good luck.

Grouse

Agree. People make hunting public land like quick sand and catching on fire…I have yet to find myself in quick sand and have never needed to stop drop and roll. People really exaggerate things.

I’ve pretty much hunted public all my life and can only recall two times that I felt over crowed or unsafe.

Flashlights are 100% a great idea when walking in low light conditions regardless of public or private. When using ground blinds, blaze that thing up… I don’t get why we need to be in blaze but can sit in something that’s supposed to conceal you on the ground…minus the very amount of required blaze.

More then likely you won’t run into someone but if you do, acknowledge them, and quietly slip away DON’T GO UP AND TALK TO THEM IF THE ARE HUNTING! Wave and move on.

–Go in extra early, most are lazy or afraid of the dark it seems, let them push deer to you.
–Go in deeper than everyone else, most are lazy, let them push the deer to you.
–Stay later than everyone else (i say all day), let them push the deer to you when they get stir crazy or cold and have to move around.
–Use numbers and do drives if you can, we have done really well doing drives on state land with 9 to 12 ppl.

I’m basically in the same boat as you ,I’m just starting out and had a lot of the same concerns as you I decided my best option was a hang on stand and tree pegs I found a 12 n half pound stand so it’s not overly taxing walking in a good mile to spots ‘ in my little experience I would say get a stand you will have better chances of deer not catching ur scent if ur in a tree vs ground hunting . I was hesitant of the hanging and hunting not being able to leave my stand on public , turns out I can get it set and torn down in minutes so that’s been a nice surprise for me , my advice find a lightweight stand mine came with all the safety harness to get it set, I should use the harness but haven’t yet I’m able to hold the tree with one arm and place the stand with the other, it also came with backpack straps so carrying it in the woods is a breeze over my backpack.lots of good stuff has already been said I can say again you will want to have plan a b c and d weekends are definitely busier down here I’m hunting se MN also ,and they are only gunna get busier with all the serious bow hunters finally getting started we’re heading into prime time right now I no multiple guys who’ve stuck studs on Halloween day so we’re not far off, I had the same questions about less pressure during muzzleloader ? I guess we will see how that goes but I’don’t plan on doing too much during shotgun seasons unless it’s perfect weekday situation it gets pretty busy where I’m at good luck to you this year . Speaking for myself it was a lot to pick up bow hunting but getting that stand set for the very first sit was an awesome feeling good luck this year