How often do you see deer on public land

[Joshua Polland]

I do most of my hunting on military installations which are similar to public hunting in terrain, lack of crops and the added pressure. My question is, how often are you seeing deer on stand during the early archery season?  I usually see something within 60 yards every 2-3 times that I go out. Obviously, it differs depending on where you are, I’m up north in Wisconsin. Thanks for the input.

[Easykeeper]

I have quite a few deerless outings in the big-woods public area I hunt.  I don't keep track but the times when I don't see any deer are probably about equal to the times I do.  The times I actually get a good shooting opportunity (right deer, right place) is pretty low...but high enough to keep it interesting.

[Orion]

I hunt in far northwestern Wisconsin.  Agree with Easykeeper. I don't see deer as often as I do, and that's on all day sits during the first three weeks of November. Doesn't have much to do with hunting pressure though.  Not a lot of bowhunters there.  Just not many deer there due to hard winters, wolves, bear and mostly bow and gun hunting over harvest of does.

[buckeye_hunter]

I hunt public land in Ohio. I usually see 1 to 3 deer. Sometimes I don't see any, but there is usually 1 anyway. This is well down from about 6 years back when I used to see at least 3-7 each sit.

-Charlie

[BEN]

I hunt public land mostly (Woodbury) and my sightings have gone down drastically over last 5-6 yrs.  
This past Wed-Thurs. I spent 16 hrs. in a stand over the 2 days...saw 1 doe+1fawn.  Saw a coyote and had 2 huge turkeys 5 yds away though--pretty cool.   I'd say Not seeing deer prob. outnumber 2 to 1 ; deer close enough to shoot---way less...

[Sarah]

Been hunting exclusively public land for two seasons. I see small numbers of deer pretty consistently. More does than bucks, but last year I did see 3 or 4 nice bucks. Usually I saw more deer when I'd scout on Sundays than when I'd sit. This season I've been out three times, and I've seen deer every time, average is about 3 per trip, all does.

[Bear Heart]

I have lots of trips when I see no deer.  Blacktails in low numbers with high pressure and no crops.

[jsparky93]

On one of the public areas I hunt I stopped counting at 25 last Monday evening,tonight I saw 2.

[MOstate]

I see deer almost every time that I hunt. What i try to do is find the little spots no one else thinks is worth their time. My own little honey hole is 160 acres, 20 of which are woods and the weeds are over my head on the walk in (over a mile). Some spots just require a little more attention than people are willing to give.

[r-man]

I see deer every time I go, wma's are fine , you just have to scout. State land, or what ever its called where you live, is a fine resource and should be taken seriosly.  
   I have never found any reason not to hunt state lands in Nj, NY,kty, sc, and Pa.  I also see yotes in these lands as well, but they fear me more than the deer do.

[Centex]

I have seen deer every time I have visited Lake Amistad National Park in Del Rio, TX.  Lots of low scrub brush so I may just be able to see farther than more heavily wooded areas.

[VictoryHunter]

I see deer every time I hunt on public land, usually three or more per sit.

[Biathlonman]

It's very rare not to at least see deer, I hunt public land in Kentucky and Ohio.

[RedShaft]

on a good week i will see deer 3 times a week or so. but normally im lucky to see deer even once in a week and have gone 1 week 2 weeks easy before seeing a deer.heard reduction n tons of hunters have thing on state land somewhat scarce. that does not count shot opportunity which is around 1 a year. sometimes no shots. but i have had multiple shots in a season before

[RedShaft]

if you are asking that question, im sure your sigting are way down. do not get discouraged as it dont reflect your ability to hunt, you cannot kill or get on game easily when its just not there. breath easy as im sure it is not you.

[JamesV]

Obumma closed my hunting land.

[cahaba]

I see them quiet regularly on WMA land. The last time I hunted one I seen 2 bucks and four does.

[Cwilder]

I see a deer just about every sit on the federal land I normally hunt. But since the shut down. I haven't really been hunting much.

[ranger 3]

Here in IL, I have been out 4 times and haven't seen a deer and no sign. I have hunted this same place for 25 years and tree but this year there just no sign.

[J. Holden]

I don't see hardly any deer on the state lands I hunt, up by me anyway.  The pieces I have close are open to the public or there's pheasant hunting the rest of the week.  I'm lucky if I see a deer when I can get a permit for the land or get in during due to high hunter numbers.

Now if I travel an hour + I see more deer.  I think the county I hunt in has so much private and county owned land, can't hunt the county land, that the deer have plenty of places to go to survive the season.

I get very discouraged at the options I have close to where I live.  Someday I'm gonna move...

-Jeremy