Public land hunting — is it worth it
Hunt public land in PA because I can't afford a lease. Gotta go deep. This year trying going further from trailhead.
Public land hunters — what works for you?
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Hunt public land in PA because I can't afford a lease. Gotta go deep. This year trying going further from trailhead.
Public land hunters — what works for you?
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Different situation since I mostly hunt my own land and neighbors, but I do hit public WMA for hogs sometimes. Same principle applies - get away from easy access. Hogs and coyotes use the same escape routes the deer do. Look for water sources and thick cover away from parking areas.
PA public land can be tough but there's deer if you work for it. I hunt SGL 176 and 33 mostly. Like you said - gotta go deep. I use OnX to find the nastiest terrain nobody wants to walk through. Creek bottoms, thick laurel patches, steep hollows. That's where the old bucks hide during rifle season. Also hunt weekdays if you can - weekends are a zoo.
Public land elk hunting for 30+ years here in MT. You're on the right track going deep - most guys won't hike more than a mile from the truck. I usually pack in 3-5 miles and set up a spike camp for a few days. Glass early morning and late evening from high vantage points. The elk are there, they're just where most folks won't go. Pack light but bring good glass... my Leupold VX-5HD has spotted more elk than I can count.
Facts. I switched to the same thing about 3 months ago and it was a game changer.
Solid post. I've been thinking about the same thing lately. My HK VP9 has been my go-to but I'm always looking at other options.
I had the opposite experience honestly. But everyone's different I guess.