Well I went to eastern shore Maryland the last 2 years, had a lot of nice bucks on camera but between the 2 years, 28 sits, I think I saw 4 deer total, the scenery sucks, its just thick pines, can't find bedding areas or food sources, only good thing was I didn't see a lot of hunters. I don't think I'm going back next year. That being said I'm looking for suggestions on an out of state bowhunt that is reasonable driving distance, where I can at least see deer, pass up on small bucks, be able to pattern them and not stare at a million pine trees all day. I'm hoping funds will support a guided hunt but I'm up for a dyi state land hunt if i can find a area that there's not a hunter in every tree also. Thinking about Ohio or possibly pa. I don't need to see world class deer, I'd be thrilled to be in an area where I could harvest a 120" deer. Anyone do a public land bowhunt in pa or Ohio and has any input? Hunting pressure, deer observations, what to scout for? Ive only hunted south jersey so ive learned to find the oaks, then a swamp, set up on the edge of the swamp where they bed and catch them heading to the oaks, im not familiar with hunting mountains or anything. Or anyone hunt with an outfitter that they would reccomend that would have openings the 2nd week of November?
suggestions on out of state bowhunt
jerseybowhunter
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Well said my friend. I agree with you 100%. I try to shoot 1 or 2 a year, public land in nj, shot some very nice bucks throughout the years, but I get that same awesome feeling if it's a stokes 6 pt that I hiked in 1 or 2 miles in to get, or the big 10 I been chasing all bow season up on the ridges. I'm always happy, and grateful I can still do it. They are all trophies. Enjoy the time in the woods while you can
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Semi-automatic?
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There is a lot of great public land in Ohio , and I would bet the nay Sayers wouldn't sell ohio so short if they went to just one Ohio big buck scoring.
it takes a buck over 180" to even get a mention in the papers out there.
since they only allow 1 buck per year there are as many mature bucks there as anywhere.
dont rely on seeing all the better bucks posted up as locals shoot many big deer that don't even get scored.
do your homework and hunt some of the public areas around the remote lakes and you have a chance at the deer of a lifetime
it takes a buck over 180" to even get a mention in the papers out there.
since they only allow 1 buck per year there are as many mature bucks there as anywhere.
dont rely on seeing all the better bucks posted up as locals shoot many big deer that don't even get scored.
do your homework and hunt some of the public areas around the remote lakes and you have a chance at the deer of a lifetime
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The job I'm on now superintendent is from wisconsin. Just seeing the pictures he showed me from this year had me want to quit my job and move there
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Well, you're in the game. Most guys like myself, who saved, and sacrificed a lifetime to buy some property to hunt, will tell you it's not that easy. Lol. Many guys just got frustrated dealing with the nonsense that occurs on public land. Also the real satisfaction is not in the actual harvest, but in the land improvement. I get happy when I see older class deer, as well as quail, pheasant, turkey, rabbit, and ducksSemi-automatic?
thrive on my ground due to my land improvements.
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"Easy" is relative. Compared to what? Shooting a big buck on your own farm land is "easy" compared to state land, but "hard", when compared to high fence. You can also make it "harder" on your own land by only shooting the biggest or by using challenging methods. I think it is great that you have your own place and enjoy hunting there. Like you said you are in it for the total experience. [up]
The only guarantee is a fence hunt. These guys who have never hunted free range in the mid west are making total assumptions of what the hunt is all about. Watching hunting shows in the big buck states makes it look easy. It takes them weeks and sometimes months to put a 30 min TV show together. I've been hunting the mid west at a quality outfitter for 14 years. As luck would have it I killed 1 Booner. Contrary to popular belief the boomers aren't behind every tree.
Sorry I can't help with the OP question. My only suggestion would be go deep on public land where the big bucks live.
Sorry I can't help with the OP question. My only suggestion would be go deep on public land where the big bucks live.
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Have no experience on a mid west but agree about big bucks in Ohio. Met a couple guys down the shore (they were on a family vacation). They showed me bucks that were 160-170s. They talked about them like we talk about 100inch 8 pointers. They had private land. They couldn't believe we could take 6 bucks a year and why we would even consider it.
I will tell you who would not be happy NJFW with one buck means no buck stubs which means no $$$$ for our great state and that's why it will never happen ..sad but true
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Last time I looked Wisconsin had the highest concentration of P&Y / B&C take in the country. Buffalo county being the top.
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All of the states mentioned can produce some huge whitetails. However, most will agree that the majority of these bucks are taken on managed farms or on outfitted hunts where outfitters have minimum antler restrictions in place. The deer get bigger when you let them grow and on public land, you have no control over anything. I think you could kill a big deer on public ground but you have absolutely no control over anything. Its a big gamble. You can scout a spot all summer long and never see another hunter until you pull in to your parking spot to find several vehicles already parked at your spot you have been scouting. I think if you want to hunt public land and kill decent deer, you need to do your home work. You need to decide on an area that first can grow the type of buck you are after. Listen to chatter on various websites. Check out topo maps. You will need to scout these areas to get off the beaten path away from hunter pressure. It could take years to find the perfect public land hunting spot and even then, you have no control over what happens. Some guys who hunt public ground, especially non residents who pay good money for tags, feel they are owed an animal because they bought a license. As a non resident hunters hunt slowly slips by, his minimum standards start going down and by the last day, a buck they could shoot in their home state suddenly hits the ground because you cant go home with an unfilled tag. This happens all over where just anyone can drive in and hunt. You can kill a good buck on public ground, but be prepared to invest time(years) to tweaking stand locations and one day, it may come together for you. I would at minimum do some research on an outfitter in an area with some public ground you may want to hunt . You will have a good starting point for your trip, and maybe spend an extra day or 2 to scout some public ground while you are out there hunting. Meet some of the locals, they may provide you with some good info you wont find on any hunting sites, you may even find some ground for lease from some of the locals you meet. If your after a big buck, you first need to hunt where they live. Narrow it down to an area and in a few years you will hopefully find your spot. Jumping from state to state based on others opinions is a waste of time and money. Do the homework, get yourself into an area and fine tune it. Spend some money up front and reduce the learning curve
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I think tcook is exactly correct. [up] Very difficult to get a big one on public easily, unless you are very lucky. As he said, it could take years; you have no control; it's a big gamble; and you have to do your homework. These are all the factors that make the taking of a big buck on public land so frustrating, but if ultimately successful, so satisfying.
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If I was in a position to manage my own land in the mid-west that would be great..
That being said " I dont and probley never will". But to kill a quality buck on your own- scouting/skills/luck
on land you obtained permission or state land. Far out weights any buck that you lay your money down and the
Outfitter says " Sit Here"... Even if he measures less.. Its your name on that animal... Just my opinion
That being said " I dont and probley never will". But to kill a quality buck on your own- scouting/skills/luck
on land you obtained permission or state land. Far out weights any buck that you lay your money down and the
Outfitter says " Sit Here"... Even if he measures less.. Its your name on that animal... Just my opinion
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Some people are watching too much tv if you think killing a mature whitetail is easier because you are hunting with an outfitter or on managed land. Hunting is a pay to play sport. You are paying to hunt land where people actually pass deer and let them reach their potential. Ive killed plenty of deer on state land growing up. As I get older, I look to get away from the nonsense and spend my time and money hunting areas where there is a much better chance at killing a mature whitetail. A mature whitetail is a mature whitetail no matter where he is, state land, outfitted land or managed land. They dont come easy, you need to put in your time no matter where you are hunting and guess what, you cant kill something thats not there to begin with.
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Maybe I watch too much TV, but I think it is easier killing a mature whitetail with an outfitter or on managed land. :tennis:I can see your point if you are talking about all the work you have to do managing your own land.
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I too am looking for a out of state inside of 10hr drive on my own deer hunt.
Have always hunted NJ ME PA NY DE.. Looking at the not so secret Ohio.?
Maybe drive a little farther? Seems like the South East corner gets hammered?
I will also count on going the extra mile in the woods cause i know 3/4 of the people dont..
Have always hunted NJ ME PA NY DE.. Looking at the not so secret Ohio.?
Maybe drive a little farther? Seems like the South East corner gets hammered?
I will also count on going the extra mile in the woods cause i know 3/4 of the people dont..
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I've been looking into it a lot, for anyone who has done a out of state public land hunt, how long do you plan your hunt for? I figured I'll drive out in the spring to do scouting/shed hunting then go back in October to do better scouting and hang stands then stay 7 days? Should I plan for longer?
Also for anyone who has hunted this terrain, what do I look for when scouting? Do the deer travel the ridgetops or down in the bottoms? Creek beds? I never hunted hilly terrain so I have no idea where the deer travel
Also for anyone who has hunted this terrain, what do I look for when scouting? Do the deer travel the ridgetops or down in the bottoms? Creek beds? I never hunted hilly terrain so I have no idea where the deer travel
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