Getting in and out of state land in the dark

[JSimon]

I have another question. Man, I'm full of them today. I'm wonder how those that hunt deep into state land get in and out quietly in the dark with no trails. I know the obvious answer is to take your time, but if I went in as deep as I would like to go, and as quietly as possible, I'd have to leave the night before!

Does anyone clear a good path? I'm nervous about doing that on state land because I would be tipping everyone off to my stand locations. Maybe in the future I should clear an inconspicuous path the last 100 yards to my  stands during the offseason? I've also used the reflective tacks which helps.

I suppose if you were very familiar with the land and where the deer will be, you could move fast through the "dead" areas and more slowly through the sensitive areas. But that kind of experience would require some costly trial and error over many years and I like to hunt quite a few different pieces of land.

Just some of my rambling thoughts tonight. Any other tips out there?

[tim roberts]

Spent a lot of time in the area.  Get to know the area like your own living room.

[Longbeard]

Hard part for us here in my section of WV is that we have a 12,000+ acre state forest that is QDMA (14" spread minimum) & some very good hunting, but they lock the gates shortly after dark.  Makes it hard to hunt till last light, get down from your stand, pack up, hike back to your vehicle & get out of the forest.  They've never locked anyone in that I know of, but the rangers don't like hanging around waiting for everyone to leave each evening.  There's really only one way in/out, so parking someplace else in not really feasable.

[Gottabow]

I think if ya go in deep enough going out any Deer bumped should recover with no it effect after dark.  Just my opinion.  When I bowhunted I used to go in pretty deep in the dark before light and it never really effected the hunt much.  I don't think Deer are bothered by a flash light as much as people think they are..again thats just my expierence and opinion.

[DeerSpotter]

And are state, it is pretty difficult to do that unless you are, in the northern part of the state.  A man was just shot in broad daylight because a nether hunter(using the term loosely) thought that his head was a squirrel.  The man that was shot was wearing camouflage in a tree stand.  The man that shot him did not take the time to look at if it was game.  He just heard a sound and shot it.

They claim that they will charge him with unlawful and reckless use of a firearm.  I think the only thing that say the man's life was in that particular state land 480 acres, you can only use fine buckshot, it's a smaller buckshot, and it's a wonder that he was following the law in that respect.

Most of the time these type of people shoot at anything and everything, you see them bringing out pillowcases with Blue Jays, woodpeckers, sparrows, squirrels and rabbits, anything that would fit in there, and anything that moves get shot.

The problem isn't going in deep, the problem is safety.  Every year, and are state we have four or five people that are shot.  Because somebody stupid.  Thankfully, I have just found the source for private land, most of the time, you'll find people that Hunt state land, will not go in very deep, and if they're following you, they won't follow you after the second mile.  I have had people follow me, and after a while, I just sat down on my stool, and I wait until they catch up to me, and then I ask them, where you stand, I've never gotten a straight answer out of any them, they usually start going to different direction after that, but that's only in bow season, I'm a lot more cautious when it comes to gun season.

Ever since we had one person shot, seven people over a stand, you have to be very cautious when it comes to state land, but that incident happened on private land, but it was deep in an acreage. last year, we had a man shoot another man, and bury the body on state land.

Sorry about my negativeness, but that's the way it is when it comes to state land in our area, there are state grounds, that whenever you mentioned the name, Carlos Avery, you get funny looks, and crazy stories, and " I would never go to that one " is the phrase you will hear a lot when you mentioned that one. I don't think it's going to get any better.  Not when we have rules and laws, that states will not enforce, because they cut back in state funding for people that are needed to enforce those laws.

I am sure there are a lot of people that Hunt state land and our area that never have incident, they're fortunate, maybe had been hunting just the wrong areas.  And I have been going in deep.  But what I find is there is no respect from other hunters.  It is a " I'm more important menu society" and it filters down to the hunting crowd.

BA

[Jeremy]

Here is CT, even clearing a shooting lane on state land is against the law, so check with your regs before doing any trimming.

I use a headlamp with a red filter on it when I'm walking in or out of the woods in the dark.  The deer don't seem to mind too much and it's kind of hard to for someone to shoot me when I have a red light on my head (red means STOP, right?   )

[Bill Carlsen]

On our recent moose hunt my wife and I wound up changing evening hunting stands each afternoon trying to keep up with the fresh sign. We used those little bright eye tacks as we went in and then on the way out we would simply remove them. Worked slick.

[Drew]

I go in earlier and and come out later, when i hunt state that is "busy".  Like mentioned before know the area, i can walk to my stands in the dark without a light, but i also trap the area so i know it very well.

Also a small flashlight with a red lens that casts little light, or just take a cheap flashlight and a black marker and go over the lens to knock down the output of the light.

[ks_stickbow]

find a good path in the during light. Learn the land marks. a stright shot is'nt alway the best way in or out.

[jbb]

Landmarks and topography are the key.  I used to have a stand pretty far back into the woods.  Followed a fire trail part of the way, then cut off down a hill, followed a dry creek bed for a ways, then went up a hill along an old fence.  About 3/4 of the way to the top, off to the left about 20 yards was my tree.  I could have taken a more direct route to the tree but this way was foolproof, I didn't need to worry about getting lost.  I guess you could also get a nice backlit gps receiver to help out too but that isn't my style.

[Gottabow]

BrokenArrow....I think I know the type that shoot Jay's, Sparrow and everything that they see...I don't think I would really call them People...more like animals and sub-human.  We have them in my area also..its one of the reasons I don't bowhunt this area anymore..there's hardly anything left in some of the smaller public wood lots.

[madness522]

One suggestion on using trail tacks.  Put them as high up in the trees as you can reach.  Most folks I know who use a flash light don't shine them up high and there will less chance they are spotted by another hunter.

[Matt Fowler]

I use trials, service roads and pipelines to get in far back then use trail tacs the last 100 yds or so depending on the spot. My furthest spot is just under 2 miles. that would be tough walking that that far thru the timber. GPS is another option.

[John Nail]

Sad to say, but if you hunt public land in Indiana, you had better have a flashing beacon on if you're walking in the dark. Double that in gun season. A couple of years ago, a guy bowshot and killed his own son in the dark.

[ethan]

We've got quite a bit of public land here in Tennessee.  There are several places that are bowhunting only.  They don't get much pressure to begin with, but once muzzleloader and rifle season start you've pretty much got those places to yourself.

[JDinPA]

Originally posted by John Nail:
Sad to say, but if you hunt public land in Indiana, you had better have a flashing beacon on if you're walking in the dark. Double that in gun season. A couple of years ago, a guy bowshot and killed his own son in the dark.

My god that is just awful  :(

[Jerry Jeffer]

I Hunt big State land. I start hiking in aroun 4 am. I do have some trails to follow initially. Once you get off the trail, you had better know your terrain. There are so many little ridges and stuff that can mess you up in the dark. I only worry about blowing deer out around my immediate hunting spot. Even then, If I go slow and quiet, I can get deer to show up after light. My biggest concern is having a bear sitting in my ground blind when I get there.

[LV2HUNT]

Bright eyes and a headlamp. If you want to keep your spot quiet do not start or end your brighteye trail where there is a lot of general traffic. Meaning for some of my spots my bright eye trails will not start till I am well away from where most people hunt. On the way out I will start the exit trails well away from my final point.

[JSimon]

Thanks everyone. That is kind of what I figured....no magic tricks.

I'll definately use the tips on the reflective tacks. I may clear a subtle path to my stands the last 50-100yards. Basically just snip some of the brush tight to the ground and move sticks and branches out of the way, but nothing that would be noticeable. Otherwise, I'll just have to use my best judgement when to slow down avoid spooking deer. I always use a head lamp with a red led for all of the reasons listed.

[ks_stickbow]

Simon....if your just going to do some minor cleanup....that is gonna be unnoticable...then why do it...all your gonna do is leave your scent.....just learn the rout....I used to carry one of those million candle power spot lights to get to some nasty spots I had picked out...now the flashlights are getting better.


I am blind in the daylight and even worse at night.....I cary a couple lights with me...if I get lost in the woods it's till morning...luckily here in ks there aint nuffin to eat me.