Public land is where a lot of bowhunters start. It's open to everyone, which is the good news and the bad news. This guide covers what research shows about where hunters go, how to get away from the crowd, how to scout and what rules to check. It's general, so always read the rules for the ground you hunt. Sources are at the end.

What research says about pressure

Penn State researchers flew aerial surveys over a large Pennsylvania state forest during deer season:

  • Hunters cluster near roads. Deer hunters were nearly three times less likely to hunt an area for every 500 meters (about a third of a mile) farther from a forest road.
  • And on gentler slopes. Every 5 degrees of added slope made an area 1.5 times less likely to be hunted.
  • 87 percent of deer hunters hunted within half a kilometer of a road.

In a related Penn State deer-forest study on that same forest, hunters did best at 500 to 1,000 yards from the nearest road and on 10 to 20 degree slopes. The researchers caution that you can't take that map to the bank, since some of those spots are too thick to hunt.

How to find low-pressure spots

From the National Deer Association:

  • Go the distance. Spots more than half a mile from roads or trails often see few other hunters, if you can make the walk and the drag.
  • Look for the thick stuff. Sanctuaries tend to be the thickest, swampiest, most remote areas.
  • Don't skip the obvious. A thick spot right by a trail can get overlooked because everyone drives past it.
  • Check small or odd-access pieces. NDA notes hunters gravitate to big, easy-access blocks and overlook awkward access points.
  • Move if it's not working. NDA suggests moving your stand after an unsuccessful weekend so you don't educate the deer.

Scout from home, then on foot

I use onX Hunt. A mapping app shows public land boundaries, terrain and satellite views, and lets you mark spots before you walk in. See how to use onX Hunt and terrain saddles and pinch points.

Stay mobile

A saddle is one mobile way to hunt, since you carry it in and out each time. See the saddle hunting setup guide and first season switching to a saddle. Stay tethered from the ground up. See saddle hunting safety.

Rules to check before you go

Public land rules vary by state and by property. Before you hunt, check:

  • Seasons, tags and legal hours
  • Whether stands can be left overnight, and whether screw-in steps or tree damage are allowed
  • Blaze orange rules if seasons overlap
  • Baiting, trail camera and vehicle rules
  • How tracking dogs and recovery work. See blood tracking apps and dogs.

Other good options

Questions hunters ask

How far from the road should I hunt? In the Penn State study, hunters did best at 500 to 1,000 yards, but that's one forest. NDA says over half a mile often gets you away from most hunters.

Is public land worth it for a beginner? Penn State found most hunters stay near roads, so walking farther can put you in less-pressured woods.

What do I check first? The regulations for that specific property.

Sources

  • Penn State, "Bear and deer hunter density and distribution on public land in Pennsylvania": https://pure.psu.edu/en/publications/bear-and-deer-hunter-density-and-distribution-on-public-land-in-p/
  • Penn State Deer-Forest Study, "Goldilocks": https://www.deer.psu.edu/goldilocks/
  • National Deer Association, "Finding and Hunting Public Land Sanctuaries": https://deerassociation.com/finding-hunting-public-land-sanctuaries/
  • National Deer Association, "Scouting Large Blocks of Land Fast and Effectively": https://deerassociation.com/scouting-large-blocks-of-land-fast-and-effectively/
  • National Deer Association, "Finding Un-Pressured Deer": https://deerassociation.com/finding-un-pressured-deer/