How often do you see deer on public land

[Altiman94]

It's really intermittant for me.  I have spots where I usually can see deer in numbers but typically smaller deer and rarely a buck.

I have other spots that I won't see as many deer, but when I do it's typically a good deer.  

So it depends on my mood where I'm wanting to hunt and how much time I have to do it.

I moved to a new area just about 3 years ago and the first year I hardly saw any deer.  I got really discouraged and decided to put in a lot more time scouting the next year.  It paid off and I've been seeing better numbers ever since.

[Tedd]

North Central PA.  approx 1 deer sighting every 4 days.  Maybe less.

[rwbowman]

I see more hunters than deer where I hunt, but avoid them by moving deeper into the woods. As far as deer, I see deer about 2 out of 3 times I'm out. Last year was a way different story, though, with about 75% of my time in the woods went deerless (my own fault for wanting to setup so far from hot food sources to avoid hunters).

[southernarcher]

It depends on the game land. On some areas I see game every outing,  and on others I don't. The one I've hunted since the gov shutdown, 2 hunts 8 deer 1 hog.

[Knawbone]

Often....... like anywhere you hunt, sometimes the game is there and sometimes not. Also, like anywhere you hunt, you have to get to know the land and how the game is using it. The better you know it, the better your chances of encountering your target.

[LongStick64]

This year has been tougher than others so far for me. I'm not seeing the same numbers that I used to see. Spoke to one of the DEC officials in my zone and he said they are having a hard time convincing hunters to take Does, everyone is buck crazy. I'm not sure it's the complete truth but I'm sure it's not far from the truth.

[RETARMY06]

I hunt on a military post too, Fort Gordon GA. BTW I used to live in Wisconsin, way up north near the U.P. border. Anyway I see deer pretty close about once every three times I hunt. This is my first year bow hunting deer since 1980 - I don't see nearly as many as the guys who have been hunting for many years, much of it right here on Fort Gordon. Those are the guys who see more deer in one week than I will see all season.

[Joshua Polland]

Thanks for the responses. To those of you that offered me words of encouragement, thank you but please don’t feel bad for me. I work full time and have 3 boys under 4 years old, for as much as I get out to scout and hunt I’m quite happy with the number of deer I see. I just posted the question after sitting at my buddy’s property. I was on the edge of a corn field and saw approx 15-18 deer, all over 100 yards away. It just got me to thinking about how different it was from sitting in the woods along a trail intersection or other spot. Usually, when I’m out in the woods, I’m happy if my stand puts me near something one out of every 2 times. Then at least I’m on the right track. RETARMY06, I had orders to go to Fort Gordon a few years ago but ended up in DC. After 3 years there, I begged for the chance to get to Wisconsin, we love it here.  I have not made it up near the UP yet though, hopefully I will make it up there before I leave.

[Mint]

I'd say two out of three sits i see deer.

[Hoyt]

In the National Forest Area I'm hunting behind my house it varies from yr to yr.

This yr I've been seeing them in the feeding spots I've been hunting it's been every day from  one to 20 a sit.

[ChuckC]

My spot in the marsh is so tight that if the deer is more than 20 yards away, I won't see it.  There may be 100 deer there, but I can't see them.  

On an old farm I used to hunt, I could see a couple hundred yards in some directions and I always saw deer, nearly every sit, but they may not be very close at all.

This year seems to be a bit tough.  I killed a deer my first sit and now have not seen another after numerous additional sits.  Gotta move ever deeper into the marsh.  That's OK, been there, done that before.  

Its getting cold now, no more skeeters to concern myself with.

Its time to be in the woods !
ChuckC