How to Find the Best Public Deer Hunting Land Near Me

Back when I started hunting, the spots I went to were ones shown to me by family members or close friends. At that time, they were to be kept a secret and guarded with your life.

Today, public hunting land can get crowded, putting more pressure on deer and leading to frustrating, going-home-empty-handed experiences for hunters without the right tools and insights into finding the hunting spots that still yield a harvest.

So, how can you find those hidden gems for a successful public land deer hunt? Keep reading for my best tips!

It's Not Like It Was Back in the Day

When it was time to head out to one of our "secret" spots, I remember my father and I taking my mother’s car so that other hunters wouldn’t know that it was us parked at specific public land access sites. In a small town setting, everyone pretty well knows everyone and the vehicle that they drive.

We used to visit the local department of natural resources or the forestry office to view maps that showed government properties. Driving down public roads looking for those famous forestry road gates and parking lots was another option.

Those days are in the past for the most part, and a new era has been born. However, with any form of change, we have to learn how to adapt or be left behind. Those secret honey holes have been discovered, and many spots have become heavily pressured or overcrowded.

How to Use HuntWise to Find Public Deer Hunting Land Near Me

I hear a lot of old-time hunters complain about the new hunting apps that show public land and the many different features that they have to offer. To me, those hunters haven’t learned to adapt to this new era of hunting and scouting.

Sure, your old favorite spot might be burned, but that doesn’t mean you can't use HuntWise to your advantage. It just takes a little time to understand all the app offers and how to use it to find the best spots.

The way I have utilized the app was first to locate public hunting ground.

It’s easy! All you have to do is:

• Open the app.
• Click the tab icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, which looks like two squares stacked on top of one another.
• Go to "Layers" and scroll down until you see your state.
• Select the state and choose the "Public Hunting Lands" option.

There are many other options to choose from: anything from public trails, public parking, WMA (Wildlife Management Areas) properties, county boundaries, hunting zones, and prescribed fire areas, to name a few of my favorites.

Then, select a hunting area with your ideal terrain and features after app scouting, and go scout it out in person. That is how you get an idea of whether the property is ideal for you or not. 

Pre-Season Scout the Area

When scouting a new potential property, I not only look for particular game signs, but I also scout for human activity. Look for tree stands, ground blinds, trail cameras, trail reflectors, and any other human intervention or disturbances.

Don’t let these finds discourage you from hunting or continuing to scout the land. Search for the spots that many people don’t venture to. If you find game sign in the area, then you can bet those animals realize where the majority of those hunters are and when they are in those woods — especially if there are established hunting areas, for example, ground blinds, tree stands, or game cameras. 

Odds are those areas are being hunted often, and the person is traveling the same path in and out each time. Animals wise up quickly to such circumstances, and it’s best to use that to your advantage. The game doesn’t leave the area but rather avoid those areas where human activity becomes frequent.

Then, Scout During the Season

To determine how the game is avoiding detection is where scouting during the season comes into play. Start by using the app to scout, and hopefully, you dropped some pins marking those other hunters' spots.

Look for topography close to those spots that an animal may use to avoid detection. Low spots, thickets, and ridges are good places to start. Drop a few pins on some points of interest and get back in there to scout again.

Don't Settle for "Easy"

Your average hunter is going to seek out the easier access lands. It may be because they are out of shape, scared of the dark, pressed for time, have bad cell phone reception, or any other form of deterrent to not go the extra mile.  Like most things in life, success doesn’t come easily without putting in the work.

Personally, when scouting access to public deer hunting land near me, I look for steep, rough terrain. Lakes and rivers are another preferred feature of mine. They provide easier and quieter access with the use of a kayak or small boat.  

What to Look for When Scouting

How can you identify good deer hunting spots? Here are a few of my favorite tips.

In the HuntWise app, mark any and all signs that you discover, regardless of whether they’re big or small. It may not seem like much, but taking note of every detail could help solve where and why the game animals are using that spot.

HuntWise has a multitude of reference pins for any of your needs. Start by dropping a pin where your vehicle is parked. Then, mark your game sign according to what you find. Rubs can often lead you to a buck's bedding area. So, I mark every buck rub with a pin, attach a photo, and even the year it was made.

Food, Water, and Cover

Also, take note of food sources. For example, every oak tree in the forest could be loaded with acorns, but that "one" oak out of hundreds could be preferred over the rest.

Water sources are also crucial, and I’ve taken note that most bucks seek out water over food during the rut.

A favorite of mine would also have to be a cover with an ideal wind setup. A deer's best defense is their nose, and they tend to use the wind to their advantage. 

Interpret What You've Marked to Pick Your Spot

Once you've scouted and identified an ideal spot, reflect back to HuntWise and the pins you have dropped.
 

• Do these game pins have a pattern?  If so, then start deciding where to plan your hunt.
• Are you a mile from your vehicle?  If so, is there a closer location you can use as an access point? Start looking for other public roads that may give closer access to the land. That can be the difference in a half-mile hike or a several-mile one.

It’s also a great idea to check your state's hunting regulations, which you can also get to through the HuntWise app. You can also go directly to a state's department of natural resources online page. The rules can vary significantly between states, so make sure you're up to speed.  

Enjoy the Outdoors (With or Without an App)

Most importantly, with or without an app, share the great outdoors with our youth, a friend, or a family member. Being outside in God’s beautiful creation, observing the sun rise, watching the squirrels scurry, taking in the fresh air, and hearing the forest come to life is the best part about being outside.

Download HuntWise to Find Public Land Deer Hunting Near Me

If you have not yet downloaded the HuntWise app, now is the time! It's still possible to find good public hunting land without an app, but again, you may be at a major disadvantage to those hunters who do utilize it.

I know that without HuntWise, I would’ve wasted countless hours of blundering through undesirable woods searching for my preferred hunting topography. The pre-season summer months are a great time to get into the app and use it to find the best public land deer hunting near me, so your fall season is a success!

Download HuntWise and enjoy your first week of exploring for free!