re: Camping out in public land prior to hunt

Bro, all the campgrounds are packed opening weekend of any season at Dewey W. Wills. Opening of squirrel season is the goat, hogs roasting at every fire.

I do this on the National Forest. Tent camp next to the truck off the side of the road, wake up and walk in to make the hunt. I usually don't hunt the same place twice so I end up driving away from the campsite anyway to make my remaining hunts.

I have thought about doing a 2 or 3 night "backpack" hunt where I go deep and stay in like you are talking about, but at this point in my life I ain't that mad at 'em. I would rather have my little generator, do some cooking and listening to music or the ball game at night. And, we have killed plenty (mostly) right off the road in obscure spots.

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bring a kayak or canoe look at aerial photos to figure out the places that can only be accessed by water and you will get a big one

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Go on! LOL

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People are everywhere.

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Is it really this bad? Or is it just certain WMAs during certain times of the year?

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If you're still seeing survey flagging you haven't walked far enough.

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Or you could just be too deep in palmettos to see them.

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Is it really this bad? Or is it just certain WMAs during certain times of the year?

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I have hunted at least 10 different public land places. I hunt and scout a lot, looking for that one spot where the deer hang out and no one else hunts there. I am still looking for that spot where I don't find signs that other hunter have also been there.

On one scout trip, we hiked over 1.5 miles from the nearest road [this is not possible on most places.] and when we started heading back, there was a flagging trail.

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I have hunted at least 10 different public land places. I hunt and scout a lot, looking for that one spot where the deer hang out and no one else hunts there

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The world got a hell of a lot smaller when onx came along.

Could say the same about GPS units in general but those were a bit more cost prohibitive and didn't just add on to something you already had in your pocket

I have only has a GPS for 12-15 years, so I have used a compass most of my hunting life. I mostly rely on the suns direction and knowledge of the area.

57 boomer - our dads were the gen that had those tall camper shells. They slept in the back of the truck. Travelled to various wmas. Red Lick Ms, Jackson Bienville, 3R, etc. Big bucks of the 70's.

The trend that has been going on the last 10 years is, private leases have become too expensive for many, and that gang had to go to public land. More & More every year. Now alot of the older public land guys gave up , passed, etc. and new recruitment has been about equal. Holidays which gun seasons are set around, are bad times for wma. Those that can bowhunt during the week, during non holiday times, have the best opportunity. For those with a Christmas / early January rut, the first Monday after new years day, is the time to stay all week. People done used up all their holidays, and must get back to work.

Christmas Eve and day, also very good days to shadow your doe groups. Many peeps must be back home at parties, family get-togethers.

Guys we are with bring them out every year—but hunt it religiously and have done so since it used to be private and cows were still ran on it. (before fed bought it)

You’ll never see a picture of a deer they kill or frankly see them in there.

Big deer still in there—but pressure has gotten so bad since 2010 it’s hard to get away from people.