First public land trip kicked my A$$

[Redoak47*]

I will be back for sure. I hear that it gets hammered during gun season though.

It does get a lot of pressure during gun season. But that is public land in ohio

 

[TreeCreep]

I finally ponied up and decided to go and bow hunt ohio public land this past November for a "Rutcation". My first time hunting out of New England. I was really hoping to see some rutting, chasing and experience an area with high deer density compared to the northeast. The area I have permission to hunt can get extremely challenging and pressured. My thoughts were if I only have a week to take off I might as well get away and try to increase my odds. Although I didn't fill my tag I learned a tremendous amount had some good encounters and will be going back next year because now its personal. A warm front, adjusting to pressure, and learning that I am extremely out of shape from the rolling ridges made things challenging. I now have a deeper understanding of thermals and hunting hills that I have been applying already to my home spots. Although there was plenty more that I picked up from the trip I am now fully committed to getting a legit tent and not sleeping in the bed of my truck for a week straight again. I have a new respect for the people that consistently fill their tags on public land every year, cause its a grind.

Happy Hunting.

Congrats man. I’ve done this in PA with limited success but all three were great learning experiences. One buck and three legal deer in range.
I also did a Ohio lodge set up - which was a disaster , wanted creature comforts but just wasted a lot of money for over hunted / private or ATV pressured areas. Not my deal. I had intended to diy but trip fell apart, Avoid these and also check out cabins or Airbnb’s if you have guys going with you. I’m in NH if you ever want to chat about it

 

[Weldabeast]

I was under the impression you should be in the stand before the sun came up.

Go ahead and forget u "learned" that...

 

[Buckkillr]

Ideally I'd say it's great to be in stand before sun up but deer move all the time. Slow pace even in crunchy leaves doesn't spook, sight/smell does. Ever heard a oppossum cruising thru? Noisiest damn thing there is and deer just watch um go by. My best example is watch some "The hunting public" videos, those guys are always on the move and successful

 

[Masswestern]

Congrats man. I’ve done this in PA with limited success but all three were great learning experiences. One buck and three legal deer in range.
I also did a Ohio lodge set up - which was a disaster , wanted creature comforts but just wasted a lot of money for over hunted / private or ATV pressured areas. Not my deal. I had intended to diy but trip fell apart, Avoid these and also check out cabins or Airbnb’s if you have guys going with you. I’m in NH if you ever want to chat about it

Roger that thanks for the help!

 

[Masswestern]

Ideally I'd say it's great to be in stand before sun up but deer move all the time. Slow pace even in crunchy leaves doesn't spook, sight/smell does. Ever heard a oppossum cruising thru? Noisiest damn thing there is and deer just watch um go by. My best example is watch some "The hunting public" videos, those guys are always on the move and successful

Yeah I definitely enjoy watching those guys, more exciting than watching a guy sitting over a food plot, they really grind for em.

 

[raisins]

I'm a new hunter (but old guy) so I have to ask -- what does that mean? I am hunting public in Northern IL on state parks -- when I have gone in in the morning at 4:30 AM -- I am not sure how to scout. Do you scout and set your stand up later in the morning? I was under the impression you should be in the stand before the sun came up.

Also, I am hesitant to walk around alot -- as there are TONS of leaves.

I am sure I am doing most of it wrong -- but it is fun and the learning process is cool.

thanks for any advice!

If you have pre-scouted or hunted there before and the best case is you even have your tree picked out, then being up the tree 30 minutes before first light is often good. But it is very difficult to walk into an area that you have only heard about or digitally scouted (OnX, google earth, etc) and set up before light and have it be a worthwhile spot. I used to try to do this and it is stressful and usually you end up in a bad spot anyways.

Unless you have an area/spot/tree picked out, then you are way better off hitting your hunting area at first light and then being able to have your wits about you and find sign and a good tree with cover and shooting lanes. Also, it allows you to plan your path and steps so that you aren't relying upon a deer to walk over your entry foot steps and not get spooked. This is also a reason why if I haven't scouted a place before, I tend to set up on the first sign that "speaks to me", otherwise you might end up trampling all over the sign and walking out of it only to have to circle back to somewhere you've already walked. Don't believe that rubber boots make this not a concern, they simply help some.

Of course, the idea behind hunting right at dawn and dusk is to catch feed to bed or bed to feed movements. This is more important before or after the rut. Once the rut hits, then bucks move more outside of those time periods.

 

[jerry_d]

If you have pre-scouted or hunted there before and the best case is you even have your tree picked out, then being up the tree 30 minutes before first light is often good. But it is very difficult to walk into an area that you have only heard about or digitally scouted (OnX, google earth, etc) and set up before light and have it be a worthwhile spot. I used to try to do this and it is stressful and usually you end up in a bad spot anyways.

Unless you have an area/spot/tree picked out, then you are way better off hitting your hunting area at first light and then being able to have your wits about you and find sign and a good tree with cover and shooting lanes. Also, it allows you to plan your path and steps so that you aren't relying upon a deer to walk over your entry foot steps and not get spooked. This is also a reason why if I haven't scouted a place before, I tend to set up on the first sign that "speaks to me", otherwise you might end up trampling all over the sign and walking out of it only to have to circle back to somewhere you've already walked. Don't believe that rubber boots make this not a concern, they simply help some.

Of course, the idea behind hunting right at dawn and dusk is to catch feed to bed or bed to feed movements. This is more important before or after the rut. Once the rut hits, then bucks move more outside of those time periods.

thanks -- exactly what I was looking for!!