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Thread: Public vs. Private

  1. #11
    Senior Member Griz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ajupsman View Post
    In 2011 we hunted the week of Oct. 30rd. We didn't see much rut action going on until the end of our hunt. We still saw quite a few hunters but not quite as many as we saw this year when we hunted the first two weeks of November. I think to really avoid the hunters on public land you'd have to hunt early or late season and that's not as fun. We are willing to make the 14 hour drive to see the rut action you have in Ohio. We don't have that at home.
    I agree with you a 100% on being in Ohio for the rut. But the big question is when is the Rut!! Its not at the same time every year, as you know from your experience. I happened to see a few more deer and had my chance, but according to someone I know who hunted the same area I did. I missed the peak rut. He said it started end of Oct and went into the 1st week of Nov. So, all we got was left overs I guess. he also said he saw 85 bucks in a 10 day period two yrs ago. This year he was there the same time I was and saw 8 bucks in a 1 week period. He was hunting the same ground. I know this person and he's a good big buck hunter. He kills some really nice bucks in NH. So as you know thats an acomplishment. Being working men, its hard to take more than 7 to 10 days for the trip. So its the luck of the draw on whether your there for the rut or not. Blackbeard had some info from deer and deer hunting that was pretty close to being right. So whats up for next yr?
    what goes around, comes around. (I sure do hope so)!!

  2. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Griz View Post
    So its the luck of the draw on whether your there for the rut or not. Blackbeard had some info from deer and deer hunting that was pretty close to being right.
    he got the info from Charlie Alsheimer, he does rut predictions and is pretty d*mn good at it too, he wrote a book with all his predictions and I don't have the book on me but I had to laugh at his prediction for next year. If I remember correctly he said it's going to occur in mid october, however he said with the late/early (i forget which again I don't have the book on me it's at home) full moon the rut could also be extremely late like the third week of november. Therefore it makes planning a trip to ohio a crap shoot haha

  3. #13
    Senior Member Griz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by teej89 View Post
    he got the info from Charlie Alsheimer, he does rut predictions and is pretty d*mn good at it too, he wrote a book with all his predictions and I don't have the book on me but I had to laugh at his prediction for next year. If I remember correctly he said it's going to occur in mid october, however he said with the late/early (i forget which again I don't have the book on me it's at home) full moon the rut could also be extremely late like the third week of november. Therefore it makes planning a trip to ohio a crap shoot haha
    Thanks, you just made me feel alot better for next yr. HaHa! I quess it really doesn't matter to me. Hunting in Ohio is so much better than hunting here at home. Tough to say but its the truth. You guys are lucky, lucky.
    what goes around, comes around. (I sure do hope so)!!

  4. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Griz View Post
    I agree with you a 100% on being in Ohio for the rut. But the big question is when is the Rut!! Its not at the same time every year, as you know from your experience. I happened to see a few more deer and had my chance, but according to someone I know who hunted the same area I did. I missed the peak rut. He said it started end of Oct and went into the 1st week of Nov. So, all we got was left overs I guess. he also said he saw 85 bucks in a 10 day period two yrs ago. This year he was there the same time I was and saw 8 bucks in a 1 week period. He was hunting the same ground. I know this person and he's a good big buck hunter. He kills some really nice bucks in NH. So as you know thats an acomplishment. Being working men, its hard to take more than 7 to 10 days for the trip. So its the luck of the draw on whether your there for the rut or not. Blackbeard had some info from deer and deer hunting that was pretty close to being right. So whats up for next yr?
    Pretty sure we're headed back to the same area and the same dates. Going the first 2 weeks of November fits in to my schedule better than going in October. We'll make a few adjustments to our game plan and probably try to do more scouting than we have in the past. Although it's hard to resist the urge to get in a tree the first day.

  5. #15
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    Been hunting Ohio for 6years now, time wise I'll always be there on Nov. 9th. Scouting is the key on public land. good luck

  6. #16
    Senior Member Griz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ajupsman View Post
    Pretty sure we're headed back to the same area and the same dates. Going the first 2 weeks of November fits in to my schedule better than going in October. We'll make a few adjustments to our game plan and probably try to do more scouting than we have in the past. Although it's hard to resist the urge to get in a tree the first day.
    I find if you scout without a tree stand on your back, you can't get in the tree. Its so hard to do during the rut, you feel like your going to miss something if your on the ground.
    what goes around, comes around. (I sure do hope so)!!

  7. #17
    Senior Member mrbb's Avatar
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    well a little late getting here, and so far a lot was covered but here in my 2 cents
    I have been doing DIY hunts in over a dozen states for over 20 yrs, on both public and privates lands I either rented or paid to have some private lands to myself while I was there to help avoid the walk ins and ruining a far off hunt
    But I have killed the game I was after 90% of the time on both public and private lands hunts
    when going in cold, its always best to do as much reserch as you can before planning the hunt or going there, like google earth, talking to game depts on areas you like/thinking about trying, to even calling a few local gun stores or butcher shops in them area's
    ALWAYS take what you hear witrh a grain of salt
    then really look over area's with aerial photo's all so much easier now than just 10 yrs ago too!

    doing a DIY hunt isn't walways cheaper or better or worse than doing a guided hunt, I have been doing a DIY hunt in ohio for 10+ yrs, and typically a hunt will run me over a grand, and I again go in cold, where some outfitted hunts can be had for about $ 1250 and up and many include meals and lots of stands to pick from, , leaving you a lot more room in the truck on the way down, its hard to fit as many things as you would like traveling/driving to hunt(much better than flying however for sure)
    I have private lands I hunt here at my home state, I have LOTS of deer, too many
    so far the past 2.5 days of rifle season here on 13 hr day sits I only seen 2 deer, if I didn't know how many deer I have I would think the place sucks, but they just go nocturnal from pressure
    like I believe they do in may many other places
    which is just saying, cause you and your buddy didn't see many deer, doesn't mean there not there

    pro's to private lands
    you can have a better idea on who/how many are hunting it, but trespassers still happen! and people will crowd the borders, so unless you own TONS of acreage, pressure will still effect your deer a LOT, so thats not a as big a pro as many might think

    pro, you can plant food to hold attract deer all yr, build safety area's to ry to save deer and allow them to age, you can set up stands and leave, you can monitor lands better with camera's and just watching, IF close enough to do so
    all the while hopefully making the lands more attractive to deer/wildlife
    you can enjoy the lands all yrs too!
    Pro private lands, and maybe the biggest to me
    is you can set up your own QDM practice, and HOPE your bucks make it to a size you want!, and thats a BIG hope if you don't own huge acerage!
    Pro's to public lands
    there are thousands of acres of hunting lands, some WAY better than some private lands too, comes down to you finding them, and in most states MOST deer are kiled on public lands, so there are lots of deer on them too!
    the state pays(well hunting lic's sales do to so thats you and me)
    to maintain them, plant food plots on them, and buy and add more all the time as they can
    hunting pressure can both work in good and bad ways, same as on private lands
    if you learn how to work it in your favor it can be a BIG possitive tool

    Con's to private lands
    they cost money, and unless you own enough land you will not be able to protect your deer on them, as they will walk to other lands you have no control over, aka you pass on a size neighbor doesn't end of that one!
    the better you make your lands for wildlife, odds are locals will know about it and try to sneak on, or surround the borders, or worse Poach on it
    I am sure a large percentage of land owners will fell this one
    and unless your there 24/7 it will happen with out you knowing about more times than not!
    and again, unless you own a ton of acre's hunting pressure will effect your lands as they will public lands, all the more so in area's know to hunters on both sides

    con, leaving stands set up, camera's out
    well on both private and public, they can get stolen so thats a wash to me more or less but still a con!

    Public lands Con's
    you just never kbnow who will show up or when, or where they will set up, some guys will set up spitting distance from you and nothing you can do but move!
    over all pressure, can be tons higher at any hr
    finding a great spot is harder, as its just as possible a great spot was found by others and come the ay you want to hunt it, so can someone else
    quality of bucks can be some times lower, as many public lands have no QDM practice going on, so if its legal it can be killed

    other wise its all hunting
    the better you are at reading sign and scouting for set ups the better you will be, and FOR sure how lucky you are comes into play on both!
    I think its on average that only about 15% of hunters kill there deer, on both public and private lands, last time I looked
    so going home with a tag is more normal than not!!
    its hunting no matter where you go, its up to you to pick the better places to try and then lern to be better
    sorry about the long!

  8. #18
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    mrbb, It may have been a long post but it was a good one. My buddy and I have only been doing this for two years now but I think we're getting a feel for what we need to do in the future. First we need to scout more. Like Griz said, if you scout without your stand on your back you can't climb the first tree you like. I think the biggest key is to get as far away from the normal hot spots as possible. Just because you see rubs and scrapes on the field edges or 100 yards from where you parked doesn't mean they were made in the daylight. Like you said it's still hunting no matter if it's private or public land. There's no magic potion. I think if we continue to scout areas on the computer and on foot we can up our odds and our deer sightings a little. Heck, maybe even an early season scouting/hunting trip for a few days might not be a bad idea. Of course our wives may disagree but that's also another fun part of hunting.

  9. #19
    Senior Member radicalxl's Avatar
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    Most definetly you need to put in the foot work. You can look at all the maps you want and it may look like like it would hold alot of deer, but thats not always the case. You don't see the pressure put on that area on a map. You don't know the kind of deer it holds either, they may not be up to the standards you have set.
    I have strong opinions about God, Guns, Guitars and Harley Davidsons, I can remain open minded about everything else.
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  10. #20
    Senior Member mrbb's Avatar
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    hey in the early yrs of hunting Ohio, a 7+ hr drive for me, I used to make some trips in the summer to go ask local land owners and scout and see what crops were planted where , and called it a vacation of sorts
    might be able to get the wife or other half to tag along to make it an easier sell too
    there are tons of great places in Ohio to have great odds on public land
    I think too many folks get hung up on needing private land to enjoy and be successful , and its just so not true
    just hunting the begining of the season ups your odds a lot on having lands to yourself, and unpressured deer, and on a good note it allows you to learn the area and if you don't do well, lots of time to get a second trip in again can sell the other half on the fact you already have a lic and tag you paid good money for LOl

    I would also highly suggest talking to park rangers on your trips to where ever you hunt, they can be super nice folks ancd can tell you where deer are and even maybe lead to private land access on crop damaged lands and or just folks they know if asked will allow
    you get out of things what you put in

    and theer are tons of cabin rental places in prime hunting areas that have better than average lodging to get the other half to come too, good fishing in Ohio too! lol
    good luck!

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