d_rek
Well-Known Member
Question for you guys scouting public land...
I have put about 18 miles on the GPS odometer on public land near me. This is public land about 1hr north of major metropolitan area in Michigan, which is one of the heaviest hunted states with high hunter densities. In those 18 miles I have found some incredible looking spots. At only one of the spots i have tagged have I found other hunter sign (someones pop-up blind, obviously from last season) about 100 yards away, and a tree a few hundred yards away in a different direction.
Is this normal?
It's almost too good to be true. Of those 18 miles I have only discovered 2 other locations where I knew of people to be hunting. No bait piles, no climbing sticks, no leftover hang-on stands, no reflective tape/tacks...
Are hunters that diligent in removing their gear after the season is done? Or are these spots just that overlooked and remote? Of course a few of them the access was poor and/or challenging - getting on hands and knees, ascending/descending steep ravines to creek bottoms, outskirts of cattail marsh with 8-10" of standing water but none are more than 1mile from road access.
But still I feel like there's no way that I have covered that much ground and not unearthed more hunter sign.
I want to steel myself against the eventual and expected encroachment next season when I hunt some of these spots.
What do you guys think?
Regards,
d_rek
I have put about 18 miles on the GPS odometer on public land near me. This is public land about 1hr north of major metropolitan area in Michigan, which is one of the heaviest hunted states with high hunter densities. In those 18 miles I have found some incredible looking spots. At only one of the spots i have tagged have I found other hunter sign (someones pop-up blind, obviously from last season) about 100 yards away, and a tree a few hundred yards away in a different direction.
Is this normal?
It's almost too good to be true. Of those 18 miles I have only discovered 2 other locations where I knew of people to be hunting. No bait piles, no climbing sticks, no leftover hang-on stands, no reflective tape/tacks...
Are hunters that diligent in removing their gear after the season is done? Or are these spots just that overlooked and remote? Of course a few of them the access was poor and/or challenging - getting on hands and knees, ascending/descending steep ravines to creek bottoms, outskirts of cattail marsh with 8-10" of standing water but none are more than 1mile from road access.
But still I feel like there's no way that I have covered that much ground and not unearthed more hunter sign.
I want to steel myself against the eventual and expected encroachment next season when I hunt some of these spots.
What do you guys think?
Regards,
d_rek