Who has successfully taken a deer on public land with a bow?

[atek3]

Last season, all my bowhunting friends who were successful did so on Private land.

The inability to leave up cameras, establish permanent stands, etc. played a big roll I believe.

atek3

 

[adelbridge]

I took a deer on an army bases that tested and licensed hunters to help with their overpopulation. I have seen forest preserves opened up to hunters to help with overpopulation as well. Those two options are pretty common in many parts of the country and give you your best chances. I have hunted many state parks and other types of public land hunting and I have seen deer taken. Be prepared to shoot the first thing you see because it might be the only deer you see. I have had my worst luck on land where anyone can walk in and hunt. In the some of the places I have hunted there have been more hunters than deer in the woods. Scout early like now and use an aerial map. Be prepared to go where no one else wants to go like deep into a swamp because thats where the deer will hide once the pressure is on. I once had a friend shoot a doe 50 feet from a public parking area in the state park. Deer do a better job patterning hunters for sure.

 

[Captcurt]

You just have to hunt them.

We have 150000 acres of national forest 5 miles from the house and have taken several deer with a bow. You have to hunt them like we did in the good old days when there was 10 to the square mile. You scout, scout and then scout some more. No cameras, feeders, and in some places, no treestands that will damage trees. You have to use strap on steps and not leave your stands for over a couple of weeks. Even then you might have them stolen. Then there are a few diehards who have gone back to the recurves. Sounds like fun. I may have to do it myself.

 

[tarosean]

You scout, scout and then scout some more. No cameras, feeders, and in some places, no treestands that will damage trees.

This.

Youve got to learn to pattern them find out where they are bedding, feeding & drinking. Its called Hunting not shopping.

With that said, Ive yet to take a deer with a bow. I only picked up bow hunting last year or the year prior and have been out of the country for the Deer and Elk bow seasons. I handgun hunted for many years prior on public land in S. CO & N NM and was quite successful (same distances). Ive taken a few hogs with a bow but nothing to write home about. It looks like Ill miss this Deer/Elk season too...

Your location (?) will also play a roll.

 

[T.R.]

All these whitetail deer were taken on public land within northern Maryland, USA. Hint: check out public reservoirs within archery only zones.

TR

 

[nmlongbow]

Bows are quite a bit different than compounds or crossbows.

I've shot several mulies and elk with bows from the ground on public land. Never been in a treestand, used a cam or hunted private land. Also shot an elk and a mulie with a compound 20 years ago.

Scouting, patience and basic woodsmanship are most important for me.

 

[infmp32]

I took mine on public land, buddies have too. Even with trail cams and permanent stands you have to have some idea of what the deer are going to do. There's no real good replacement for having your feet on the ground and doing good old fashioned scouting. Otherwise you'd just be placing your trail cams and stands on a whim. After enough scouting and figuring out where the deer go in the morning/afternoon I don't think it makes much difference if I fix a stand there all season or climb up a tree with one each morning.

Having trail cams out might give a little idea of what kind of deer are in the area, and a permanent stand might be a little less work to climb in and out of, but I don't think those are game changers.

 

[Captcurt]

I took mine on public land, buddies have too. Even with trail cams and permanent stands you have to have some idea of what the deer are going to do. There's no real good replacement for having your feet on the ground and doing good old fashioned scouting. Otherwise you'd just be placing your trail cams and stands on a whim. After enough scouting and figuring out where the deer go in the morning/afternoon I don't think it makes much difference if I fix a stand there all season or climb up a tree with one each morning.

Having trail cams out might give a little idea of what kind of deer are in the area, and a permanent stand might be a little less work to climb in and out of, but I don't think those are game changers.

I have to agree with infmp about the cameras. One year I had 5 bucks on camera for 2 solid weeks but everyone of them was at night. I finally killed one but it wasn't one that I had on the camera. Just because you have deer on camera and know that they are in the area doesn't mean that you will see them in daylight.

I had been hunting feeding areas but there was so many acorns that you couldn't narrow your search. There was only two areas with water on the 320 acre place that I was hunting and it was a dry year. The buck that I killed was going to water.

 

[dragon813gt]

Yes, there are two reservoirs by me. But the hike in is a mile or two. Got tired of dragging them out. Now I hunt a farm where I can drive up and throw them in. No bait and no cams any place I hunt. I hunt the Poconos every year but have yet to take one.


Brought to you by TapaTalk.

 

[Skyshot]

I usually take one or two during archery season in Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee almost every year. If I don't, It's certainly not because I haven't had the opportunity. It's usually because it's to hot for me to hunt comfortably or not having the time to put in. I prefer to use my hunting days when the rut is in.

 

[jrdolall]

Years ago I killed a lot of deer in Tuskeegee National Forest. At the time it was pretty low traffic, no 4 wheelers, and a lot less deer. I scouted hard in February and March and then went back when archery season began. I shot whatever walked by as trophy hunting was not in the game plan. Our archery season starts in October and 90 degree days are common so I gave up that hunting a while back. I don't see how you guys hunt in August and September when it is 100. If the heat don't kill you then the bugs will.

 

[MutinousDoug]

I'm a lousy deer hunter. I still hunt elk in Colorado and the deer invariably hear or see me before I do them. The elk? Them too but not so much.
I mostly muzzleload hunt lately but when I bow hunted exclusively, I carried both an elk and deer tag. Three elk and two deer with a bow on public land.
One thing I can make an observation about: if there are ATVs or open roads: the animals are few, far between and wary. Hike back into wilderness and it's a whole 'nother world.
Hunting from the ground is a tough game but I don't have the patience to sit in a tree, waiting...

 

[janobles14]

i have taken quite a few deer over the years on public land with my bow. i use a climber and have had the most success on the edges of thinned timber. ive also done well on the access roads in the deeper areas of the land. set up about 15 yards off the roads. the deer tend to use them just like people do! just find an area that is less traveled and is near water.

 

[rodinal220]

I have.The key is a lot of scouting.Try to find an area with game sign and less human traffic as much as possible.Scout,scout scout!! The best part of the hunting season for me is the scouting and preparation.Use topo maps from the DNR,compass,GPS and a notebook to keep records and details.

 

[BADUNAME30]

Bows are quite a bit different than compounds or crossbows.

I've shot several mulies and elk with bows from the ground on public land. Never been in a treestand, used a cam or hunted private land. Also shot an elk and a mulie with a compound 20 years ago.

Scouting, patience and basic woodsmanship are most important for me.

Yep, what he ^^ said.Ground level, face to face even.
THAT's huntin.
All on public land before i bot my own parcel.