Public Hunting land…

What time should a guy get to a public hunting land for the pheasant opener on Saturday in order to be sure your the first for the 9am start time? 7 A.M.? Or earlier?

If you were in Iowa, You better be there the day before. Many people were out waiting last year around where we hunted by noon the day before season.
good luck

If you were in Iowa, You better be there the day before. Many people were out waiting last year around where we hunted by noon the day before season.
good luck

5 AM

5 AM

Quote:

---

5 AM

---

your nuts…..

Quote:

---

5 AM

---

your nuts…..

no there nuts lol i bow hunt across the road from State land every year on opening morning of pheasant and I come down the road around 6 and there is always vehicles there! I just laugh and think how crazy they are lol

no there nuts lol i bow hunt across the road from State land every year on opening morning of pheasant and I come down the road around 6 and there is always vehicles there! I just laugh and think how crazy they are lol

Quote:

---

no there nuts lol i bow hunt across the road from State land every year on opening morning of pheasant and I come down the road around 6 and there is always vehicles there! I just laugh and think how crazy they are lol

---

We hunt ducks opening AM. All the oarnge keeps the birds moving.

Quote:

---

no there nuts lol i bow hunt across the road from State land every year on opening morning of pheasant and I come down the road around 6 and there is always vehicles there! I just laugh and think how crazy they are lol

---

We hunt ducks opening AM. All the oarnge keeps the birds moving.

Where we hunt, 90 miles west of the TC, opening morning, most state land is full by 8. 7am there’s a few spots taken, seems that’s when most start arriving. If I wanted a chunk in our area, I’d plan on being there at 6-630.

BIRDDOG

Where we hunt, 90 miles west of the TC, opening morning, most state land is full by 8. 7am there’s a few spots taken, seems that’s when most start arriving. If I wanted a chunk in our area, I’d plan on being there at 6-630.

BIRDDOG

Quote:

---

We hunt ducks opening AM. All the oarnge keeps the birds moving.

---

So I should go duck hunting on the public land that I expect to filled with Blaze orange?

Quote:

---

We hunt ducks opening AM. All the oarnge keeps the birds moving.

---

So I should go duck hunting on the public land that I expect to filled with Blaze orange?

Getting there early may ensure a parking spot but it in no way guarantees sole access to the field you intend to hunt. Some hunyuck will likely approach from other side minutes before 9:00. That is the exact reason I dont hunt MN opener any longer.

Getting there early may ensure a parking spot but it in no way guarantees sole access to the field you intend to hunt. Some hunyuck will likely approach from other side minutes before 9:00. That is the exact reason I dont hunt MN opener any longer.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

We hunt ducks opening AM. All the oarnge keeps the birds moving.

---

So I should go duck hunting on the public land that I expect to filled with Blaze orange?

---

Pheasant opener is one thing. Deer opener is another. I have no problem being in the slough for Pheasant. But Deer will test your nerves is you don’t know who or what’s around you. We have a few spots I feel safe for that weekend.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

We hunt ducks opening AM. All the oarnge keeps the birds moving.

---

So I should go duck hunting on the public land that I expect to filled with Blaze orange?

---

Pheasant opener is one thing. Deer opener is another. I have no problem being in the slough for Pheasant. But Deer will test your nerves is you don’t know who or what’s around you. We have a few spots I feel safe for that weekend.

Quote:

---

Getting there early may ensure a parking spot but it in no way guarantees sole access to the field you intend to hunt. Some hunyuck will likely approach from other side minutes before 9:00.

---

I totally agree.
State land is for everyone. It does not matter what time you get there. Some people do not respect first come first serve. It happens every year, guys sitting in the truck since 7 only to have somebody else pull up at 8:45 and making all sorts of noise getting ready. It pretty much shafts the early guys. Then both parties are angry because there is a competition for the best cover. It can and does get ugly. Not right but it is their right.
Not like I have ever been through it before
Opening weekend for me is spent on private land

Quote:

---

Getting there early may ensure a parking spot but it in no way guarantees sole access to the field you intend to hunt. Some hunyuck will likely approach from other side minutes before 9:00.

---

I totally agree.
State land is for everyone. It does not matter what time you get there. Some people do not respect first come first serve. It happens every year, guys sitting in the truck since 7 only to have somebody else pull up at 8:45 and making all sorts of noise getting ready. It pretty much shafts the early guys. Then both parties are angry because there is a competition for the best cover. It can and does get ugly. Not right but it is their right.
Not like I have ever been through it before
Opening weekend for me is spent on private land

Public land on opener is definitely a mess. Last year we started a new tradition of hitting public land first and then the private stuff second. Well, that decision was made at 8 am opening morning and finding public land was a joke. This year I am going to check a few public spots, if their full I’m going back to bed until everyone shows up for the real hunting. 600 acres of pheasant paradise.

BTW, I will throw it out there that the Sportman’s Connection atlas has all the WMAs, WPAs, and other public lands that don’t show up on other maps. I’m in WI getting all the sporting goods stores setup with the WI version and crossing my fingers that I will be back by opening morning.

Public land on opener is definitely a mess. Last year we started a new tradition of hitting public land first and then the private stuff second. Well, that decision was made at 8 am opening morning and finding public land was a joke. This year I am going to check a few public spots, if their full I’m going back to bed until everyone shows up for the real hunting. 600 acres of pheasant paradise.

BTW, I will throw it out there that the Sportman’s Connection atlas has all the WMAs, WPAs, and other public lands that don’t show up on other maps. I’m in WI getting all the sporting goods stores setup with the WI version and crossing my fingers that I will be back by opening morning.

Usually by 7AM around our area is fine. If you head West more the crowds thin out considerably.

Usually by 7AM around our area is fine. If you head West more the crowds thin out considerably.

I was as far west as you can go on second weekend last year and the WMA’s were like revolving doors. One hunter leaves and another enters. It was literally a joke given all the private land sitting untouched. You can get sole access to the first spot of the day but after that it gets difficult to find virgin field. I’m sure its better on weekdays but there is fierce competition for pheasant hunting.

I was as far west as you can go on second weekend last year and the WMA’s were like revolving doors. One hunter leaves and another enters. It was literally a joke given all the private land sitting untouched. You can get sole access to the first spot of the day but after that it gets difficult to find virgin field. I’m sure its better on weekdays but there is fierce competition for pheasant hunting.

I am not talking that far west. I mean West of where I live. You can get on good land without sitting there all AM. There are thousands of acres of public land and lots of birds.

I am not talking that far west. I mean West of where I live. You can get on good land without sitting there all AM. There are thousands of acres of public land and lots of birds.

Lucky you.