well crowds are something that can effect anyone any where even on private lands, as it changes patterens of deer, I have private lands I hunt and once the prime time dtates get cklose, people trespass, and or just pressure the edges, so
to me the best way to avaoid crowds is to hunt dates before the mad dash
and to be honest, the few couple days of archery might be the best time to kill a big buck, as there the most on patteren they have been all yr
and many many public lands these days have food plots, cover and water
so to be honest, the ebst bet to avaoid crowds and up your chances at a big buck, might be hunting the first week
and getting on them while many folks are planing there rut hnt?
just a thought!
there is no way I know to predict what and where people will show up, but odds get in your favor the farther you walk in from the road, as most hunters are just lazy to do so
but then again, small public lands that many folks just over look due to being so small can be hot spots
when you scout, you also have to learn to scout for signs of people/hunters not just deer
that can help a lot on not getting set up on , on public lands, look for trash, reflective markers or tape, tree's that have been climbed, or branches that have been cut off the ground
I always did a real good 100 yrd or more search of the area's I liked, so as not to get set up some morning and have a guy walk in at daylight and climb a tree 50 yrds from me(had it happen many times sadly in the past)
if you learn to read hunter sign good, you can actually learn to use it to your advantage
like getting in extra early and set up 200 yrds past these folks, and let them push deer to you when they ome in!
good luck
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