Public Land sightings

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carl1191
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Public Land sightings

Unread postby carl1191 » Sun Oct 20, 2013 1:34 pm

Hey guys, I'm just curious as to what percentage of hunts on public land that you actually see deer. I typically bat about 50% but the last few years have been more like 25%. I'm just trying to see if I'm that bad or is this the norm. Basically I hunt moderate pressured lands in Wisconsin.


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BigHunt
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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby BigHunt » Sun Oct 20, 2013 1:37 pm

Had a good early season for " deer "- id say 75%

Mature bucks on other hand...just one and I kicked himup walking out to Iisland in cattail s

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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby dan » Sun Oct 20, 2013 1:42 pm

I have only seen one buck on "open" public... I also saw one buck on a property I drew a hunt on ( semi-public) and one, which I shot, on private... So a total of 3 bucks so far.
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magicman54494
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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby magicman54494 » Sun Oct 20, 2013 1:48 pm

in the north woods over the years I average about one deer sighting per day. I have gone as long as 7 days morning and night sitting without seeing a deer. I'm hunting for a big buck and not just any deer so that really affects my numbers.

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hunter_mike
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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby hunter_mike » Sun Oct 20, 2013 2:11 pm

Probably about the same around 25%. I kick up more than i see moving naturally too lately

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Jackson Marsh
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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby Jackson Marsh » Sun Oct 20, 2013 2:13 pm

I'm not sure, but I know I've only seen two shooters....and one of those I jumped.

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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby ONE UP » Sun Oct 20, 2013 2:45 pm

I saw my first shooter tonight on public after close. I've seen 11 scrub bucks and sitting 2-3 times per week since the season opened. does have been teasing me all season staying just out of range :doh:
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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby Badger » Sun Oct 20, 2013 5:02 pm

I haven't seen much this year but it's mostly due to lack of scouting this year because I was looking at houses and thought I would move before season so I kinda slacked it.
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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby Dewey » Sun Oct 20, 2013 5:28 pm

Last year I had one of my best seasons on public land for bucks. Saw 21 bucks in 33 sits. Of those 21 bucks at least 1/2 were shooters. My longest streak not seeing any deer was 3 days. Saw at least one buck every day from Oct 31-Nov 11. I don't usually keep track of antlerless sightings because I am rarely targeting them but on average I would say I see one every 3-4 sits.

The trend the last few years is that I am seeing more bucks, especially shooter bucks and much less does and fawns likely due to hunting buck beds more often than not.

So far this year in 5 hunts I saw 3 bucks. Of those bucks I killed one 10 pt, bumped one slob bedded in deep marsh grass and the other buck was a 6pt coming out of his bed.

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Swampthing
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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby Swampthing » Sun Oct 20, 2013 8:50 pm

Ive seen 5 deer, all bucks no does. I average about one deer every 4 sits.

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carl1191
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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby carl1191 » Mon Oct 21, 2013 1:34 am

Man, some of you guys now how to get it done. I love the challenge of hunting public land, but sometimes its tough sitting most of the day and not seeing a thing. It's been tough for me to get out since having kids. The last 3 years I've only gotten out 5 - 6 times per season. I know from spring scouting that I'm sitting in good areas. How do you guys with families with young kids and work use the limited time that you have and still have success?
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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby keb » Mon Oct 21, 2013 2:22 am

1 unknow deer to dark, but only been 1,time getting ready to be off for 32 days, hope that changes.

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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby dan » Mon Oct 21, 2013 3:26 am

carl1191 wrote:Man, some of you guys now how to get it done. I love the challenge of hunting public land, but sometimes its tough sitting most of the day and not seeing a thing. It's been tough for me to get out since having kids. The last 3 years I've only gotten out 5 - 6 times per season. I know from spring scouting that I'm sitting in good areas. How do you guys with families with young kids and work use the limited time that you have and still have success?

You see less deer hunting "beast" style, but you see bigger bucks. I have gone 30 days straight hunting here without seeing a single deer. But you gotta take the area into perspective, when I travel to West of Madison and hunt the public I see deer every time out.
You gotta spend some time in the trees to kill, I doubt I would have much success on public if I limited myself to 5 or 6 days a year...
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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby Chris Conroy » Tue Oct 22, 2013 1:48 am

I've been out 5 times and have seen one shooter 8 point, one spike, and 11 does. This weekend I was out twice and saw 0 deer.

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Re: Public Land sightings

Unread postby wibow » Tue Oct 22, 2013 2:42 am

Been out for 3 evening sits...3does,1spike buck and a decent 8pt.

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