Public Land Tag Draw

[Uxas]

Why? I personally prefer it, especially compared to states where everything is leased land and pay to play. There’s always someone with more money than you

I have seen it get ugly when two people hit the same target.

 

[Uxas]

I hunt public like it's mine. I won't purposely bother others and I scout mid day but other than that just hunt it. The funny part about public is everyone goes back as far as they can thinking that no one else is but it seems like everyone does just that.............lol.

I hunt where the sign is.......Killed a really nice buck years ago 200 yards from the sign in cabin on a public draw hunt. I have also killed deer right beside the public firing range because no one hunts that either. Just hunt where the sign is.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I hunt public like it's mine. I won't purposely bother others and I scout mid day but other than that just hunt it. The funny part about public is everyone goes back as far as they can thinking that no one else is but it seems like everyone does just that.............lol.

I hunt where the sign is.......Killed a really nice buck years ago 200 yards from the sign in cabin on a public draw hunt. I have also killed deer right beside the public firing range because no one hunts that either. Just hunt where the sign is.

Agree, I’ve hunted deep, I’ve hunted close, but you can’t be successful if you don’t hunt where the animals are.

I’ve never had the issue of 2 people shooting the same animal at the same time. If I get into too many people I’ll go elsewhere. I’ve seen people sitting in my deer stand, told them it’s mine and went elsewhere. I’ve found other’s stands/cameras while scouting and left the area (unless I was on a specific animal). I’ve had other hunters bump an animal I was after out of the unit I was hunting early am opening morning. I’ve killed a couple studs that other hunters bumped. One actually came out of the neighboring state and met his fate a few hundred yards over the state line.

For me it comes down to cost/time/opportunity. Public land has afforded me a lot of opportunities to hunt different species, or states at a very low cost giving me the ability to hunt more places and species. I’m ok sweating a little more, walking a little further, being less comfortable, sleeping in dirt or mud, eating freeze dried food if it affords me a better opportunity to hunt and be successful, or to save a little money to put towards a different hunt.

 

[JimP]

i agree with the others on public land. That is all I have hunted here in the US for 60 years.

In that time I have seen stupid people that I have stayed away from. I have also taken a few B&C quality animals.

Plus if you have the money to spend on a private land lease or are able to pay for land owner permits then by all means go ahead and do it, but it isn't necessary.

 

[Hunt anything]

Texas has OTC mule deer but most land is private so you may need to hire an outfitter, California used to have OTC black tail deer tags but it may have changed, lots of public land to hunt there. Some states have landowner tags that can be bought from the landowner.
I haven’t done any of these hunts in a few years so this may be out of date.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Texas has OTC mule deer but most land is private so you may need to hire an outfitter, California used to have OTC black tail deer tags but it may have changed, lots of public land to hunt there. Some states have landowner tags that can be bought from the landowner.
I haven’t done any of these hunts in a few years so this may be out of date.

You’re right about Texas for OTC Mule Deer and most being on Private Land. Public land tags are a draw and odds might be worse than sheep tags. There are occasionally some inexpensive Muley hunts offered but most outfitted hunts in TX are in the high side, especially for trophy quality to price. I live in Texas and don’t Mule Deer Hunt here. I’ve looked at a lease or two in Texas Muley country but find it too far to drive for me to justify. From a cost ROI perspective, I personally feel its better if I invest 2-4 years in points/applications in another couple states. I have a better opportunity at a better deer and get to hunt multiple states and times over the same period of time.

Can’t confirm on Cali since I haven’t hunted there yet.

Landowner tags are available in a bunch of states but really command a premium especially in a unit with any decent potential. The cheapest landowner tags are typically in units with little to no public land and many states also restrict landowner tags to that parcel of land.

 

[steve white]

Well, this has been depressing.....OTOH it highlights what an open opportunity and comparatively competitive pricing accrues to African hunting!

If I could go back to my college days when hunting Alberta and other places in Canada for hugh white tailed deer was just taking off--AND I could have prevailed upon some school buddies from there to hunt locally, what good old days they would have been.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Well, this has been depressing.....OTOH it highlights what an open opportunity and comparatively competitive pricing accrues to African hunting!

If I could go back to my college days when hunting Alberta and other places in Canada for hugh white tailed deer was just taking off--AND I could have prevailed upon some school buddies from there to hunt locally, what good old days they would have been.

I run through this same dilemma every year. We are pricing future generations out of hunting.

I decided 2 years ago if I gave up my deer lease, I could financially swing a Plains Game or other international hunt, like Spain every year. Fuel costs over the year basically cover my airfare. I use miles to pay for that, so I roll that savings into a couple of opportunity animals the bush gives me or into my D&P/Shipping. Money saved on groceries/eating out while at the lease takes care of the daily rates. Corn/Protein covers the rest of the daily rates and some trophy fees, while my actual lease payment covers the rest of the trophy fees ...... at least that's how I've justified it in my mind since I don't have a wife to justify it too.

I'm down to applying for more premium hunts and rotating a couple of species/tags around every 2-5 years so I've always got a tag in the hopper. I might physically hunt less days each year, but the quality of my hunts, and how much I hunt those days goes up. I'm also always hunting new places and species.