Do you fear public hunting areas?

[MCNSC]

Haven't hunted public land in a few years, as I have had access to private land. But hunted it a few years before that. And was in a lease for many years before that. I agree some if not most leases get more hunting pressure than public land. On a lot of Saturday evenings I would be the only one truck on a mile long gravel road. Saturday mornings there were more people but never felt crowded   The only issue I have is not knowing where the other folks are.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I am not afraid on Public land.  I hunt it often.

I know guys who go to Ohio and do well on public land.  I think you should give it a go.

at times I have a  red bandanna in my pocket to wave at hunters.  It usually takes me several weeks to pattern the hunters.  once I do, I then start to see deer as they are changing their patterns around the hunters as well.

[hawkeye n pa]

No!

[Cory Mattson]

started using a light exiting after dark and wearing florescent green or bright orange T shirts when scouting and moving stands. This is directly due to the muzzleloaders being given two weeks of our bow season and the compound crossbow being legalized during bow season. We had a death soon after crossbows became legal.

[LongStick64]

I'm forced to hunt public land and I seek areas no one in their right mind would want to hunt, it's the only way to carve out a piece of turf I can feel confident won't be over hunted by the masses.

[Hickrylb]

Longsticks64 , that's a great idea .I have a spot in mind like that.

[Cwilder]

Some areas I hunt. I can see my truck from the tree others I have to walk in about a mile just to get to where you can hunt. I do like to find area that have hard access but I also don't overlook those close spots either  

[Beau J]

Now you guys got me thinking.. I  forgot about crossbows being legal in MO this year. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to use my headlamp when I'm  walking out? It sure is hard to imagine how someone could mistakenly shoot someone else but we've all heard the stories about it happening...idk...BeauJ

[Firstlight]

I never like public lands with a bow during rifle or pot season.  I guess it depends where you live and hunt.

I've run into pot farms in the Fall when living in California which is always sketchy and I always felt the drinker - gun hunters hit it hard on the weekend.

I usually was abel to hunt weekdays so that worked out.

[Sawpilot 75]

Several possibilities to this question and most depends on location. I have hunted public ground in several states over the years and have had no issues. I usually scout areas not very accessible or at least they will make people work then I get there first and leave last. Sounds simple but it has worked for me. If people are willing to work and get in deep public hunting is as good as any.

[Black Hills]

Though permission on private land can be obtained, most land-owners around here want to charge for the opportunity - - especially those land-owners in or adjacent to the USFS controlled Black Hills.  Aside from hunting private land that is owned by acquaintances from High School - - and I don't like imposing on their friendship that way, the only other option is public land.

Around here, that means on the Nat'l Grassland or in the Nat'l Forest - - all of it is controlled by USFS.  Very little BLM in this area, and those portions that are BLM are a wild free-for-all.

Around here, bow season means sharing public land with mountain bikers, motorcyclist, ATV's, Quad's, side-by-sides, and a plethora of idiots.  The rifle elk season coincides with archery deer and goes for a month.  At least those guys lucky enough to draw a rifle tag are pretty cautious, I still make sure to wear a light on my melon on the way in/out or anytime light is faded.

The rifle deer season is a different story...  I make it a point to wear an orange vest when I'm moving, and it goes in the pack when I'm on stand - - especially when I know other folks are around.  As for quiet pockets, my best honey-hole is only about 400 yards from a well-traveled USFS roadway.  Another honey-hole that isn't quite as productive is on the edge of a development with lots of traffic & people.  It works well enough for first and last light hunting, but is pretty dead when all those people are moving.

Hunting public land doesn't scare me as much as sharing the road with so many yay-hoos... But, it does force me to hunt with certain precautions.