New hunter has question about hunting spots on public land
09-26-2010, 03:11 PM
#21
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 45
If you think he has a great spot, try and figure out the way the deer approach it from, and follow those trails back to where they come from. do it when he is not hunting it though so you don't ruin it for him. Then once you find your spot, find a different way into it so you don't bother the other guy. 
09-27-2010, 09:17 AM
#22
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 320
The other thing to look for on public land is what I call 'habitual' stands. Look for stands that people use very frequently...and avoid them. The deer, at least the bigger bucks, will avoid them too. They're often the ones that are in easy-to-find spots, close to roads. If you see a lot of signs - or hunters - indicating that people are there a lot, that's a habitual stand...if you can see the signs (well worn human trails, old stick blinds, bait piles, etc), the deer definitely know they're there!
If you find stand locations that are burned out by other hunters, you can treat them as deer bumpers. Basically, deer may still use the general area, but will tend to avoid traveling directly through the areas that have been heavily hunted. You want to hunt those trails that lead around the habitual stand locations. Keep in mind that they're often more faint than the heavily used summer deer trail that a lot of hunters like to plop down on.
If you find stand locations that are burned out by other hunters, you can treat them as deer bumpers. Basically, deer may still use the general area, but will tend to avoid traveling directly through the areas that have been heavily hunted. You want to hunt those trails that lead around the habitual stand locations. Keep in mind that they're often more faint than the heavily used summer deer trail that a lot of hunters like to plop down on.
