State wildlife management areas are exactly that: managed for wildlife. They often offer better hunting than big, old-growth forests. (Shutterstock photo)
November 19, 2025
By Al Raychar
Let’s face it: Killing a whitetail buck isn’t easy. Even with all the gadgetry and technology available to hunters these days that promises to make the endeavor easier, putting a buck on the ground is always a challenge—and perhaps never more so than on public land.
Like many hunters, public land was the only option available to me when I started out, and until I had to opportunity to hunt some private property, I never realized hunting deer on public versus private was such a completely different ball game. For starters, public land does not always boast the best deer habitat or hold as many deer as a well-managed private tract. On top of that, every piece of public land is unique, and most of us don’t know the public property we hunt as well as we should to get the job done.
This doesn’t mean public lands are not worth hunting. To the contrary, public dirt can provide great opportunities, especially during the rut , when mature bucks go a tad bonkers, do things they wouldn’t normally do, make mistakes and provide a thin advantage to hunters.
But even during the rut , success on public land rarely comes easy. It took me years to realize that, but when I did, stepping up and being a little more dedicated by adhering to the following ten tips made all the difference.
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1. PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND I know it’s been said many times, but unless the Hunting Gods are watching over you, the odds of walking into a wildlife management area, state forest or other public property for the first time and killing a buck are extremely low. You’ve got to invest time scouting and getting to know an area because that’s exactly what it is: an investment.
As you look for bedding areas and travel corridors, rubs, scrapes and other sign, keep in mind that things can change from week to week. Acorns, beechnuts and other desirable hard mast might be readily available in an area one week but gone or depleted the next. The same goes for water sources. Bucks don’t have to drink a great deal on a daily basis since they get water from food, but they will take advantage of it and usually include water in their routine travels. Habitats change. It’s important to be aware of those changes, so plan to scout as much, if not more than, you hunt.
On most public land, the hunting pressure tends to be highest Friday through Monday. Hunt mid-week if you can, and be sure to sit all day. (Photo courtesy of Bear Archery) 2. HUNT DOES, KILL BUCKS If you only got to be amorous four to six weeks every year, you’d stick close to the ladies, too. Most hunters looking to kill a mature buck overlook the does, concentrating instead on identifying where bucks might bed, feed or travel. Those things can prove important, but it’s the females the big boys are looking for. When I started seeking out does during the rut, I started killing more bucks. This is especially true during the peak or tending period of the breeding season, when bucks are most active and have their mind on little else, but it’s also true during the early seeking, chasing and post-rut periods.
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3. HUNT THE FOOD All deer have to eat, and although food may not be top of mind for a buck during the rut, it is important to the females. During scouting forays, locate food sources and keep tabs on them throughout the season and especially during the rut. As previously mentioned, abundance and availability change as the season progresses.
4. BE CHOOSEY With that in mind, I am somewhat choosey when it comes to the public properties I decide to hunt. Not all public lands are created equal in terms of offering the best habitat for deer. National forests and many state forests are typically among the largest public lands open to hunting, but they are just that: square miles of large, mature forests with high canopies that restrict forb and browse growth down where deer can take advantage.
Deer will be found in these areas, but there will be fewer of them. If a national or large state forest is the only public property available, look for sections that have been thinned or even clearcut in recent years. In many cases, wildlife management areas are specifically managed for wildlife. On some, food plots are established and maintained with native crops to attract and enhance wildlife production. On others, prescribed burns have been conducted to remove invasive plants.
5. HUNT WEEKDAYS Many hunters these days only have weekends to hunt. Some might stretch the weekend by leaving work early on Friday or going in late on Monday, but free time to pursue their passion is limited. They say you should hunt every chance you get during the rut, and while I generally agree, I typically put more importance on timing when I hunt public land, especially properties that see a lot of pressure.
Most public lands open to hunting are busiest on weekends, which is why I opt to hunt them mid-week, with Wednesday and Thursday being my favorite days. By Wednesday, deer have had a couple days to settle down after the weekend rush, and not a lot of weekend warriors can get out as early as Thursday. I’ve killed public-land deer on weekends, particularly during the rut, and there’s little doubt I will again. But I have really noticed a difference to the quality of the hunting midweek.
Rather than try to anticipate buck movement during the rut, focus instead on doe groups. After all, they’re the bucks’ focus now, too. (Shutterstock photo) 6. HUNT ALL DAY Whenever I do hunt, I hunt all day. Prior to the rut and after it peaks, there are times and areas where deer seem downright nocturnal. But whitetail deer are primarily crepuscular critters, meaning they are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk. Most times, even at the start of the rut, this holds true. But as the rut moves closer to its peak, bucks are increasingly out and about doing their thing at any hour of day and will remain highly active all day long until things cool down. One of the biggest bucks I ever killed was arrowed during the peak of the rut at noontime as I ate a PB&J in my treestand. A doe had walked by, stopped briefly and looked up at me before trotting off, but the eight-pointer on her tail made the mistake of stopping.
7. LEAVE THE CROWDS Most hunters I know only hunt the edges of public lands. I’m not sure if it’s because they don’t know the area well enough to go in deeper (which goes back to the importance of scouting), because they believe the activity and crowds closer to the fringes will move more deer and create more shot opportunities or because they’re just lazy. Whatever the reason, human activity greatly affects doe activity and can alter their normal movements and routines, which in turn affects buck activity.
The most successful public-land deer hunters I know are those who have taken the time to find the best ambush locations off the beaten path, well back and away from the crowds.
8. HAVE A BACKUP Nowadays, finding private land to hunt in many areas is becoming increasingly difficult, making public lands more important to more hunters. For many urban hunters, public land is the only available option. For these and other reasons, many public lands in the East have become crowded. On several occasions, I have hiked into a hunting area only to find another hunter already there. It’s why I have made a point of having at least two other areas scouted out as possible destinations.
Additionally, food sources change, and as they do, doe and buck movements may change as the rut progress. Some locations are best hunted with certain wind directions or weather conditions. It’s always good to have options available.
Small properties of a couple hundred acres are common throughout the East, and many of them boast surprisingly good hunting. (Photo courtesy of Bear Archery) 9. SMALL CAN BE GOOD I’ll be the first to admit I enjoy and prefer hunting big woods on public lands that offer lots of space. But neglecting the smaller properties that cover a few hundred acres or less can prove to be a major oversight. This is especially true of town parks, lands abutting public water impoundments, conserved lands and smaller properties near urban areas. Many serve as sanctuaries, offering prime bedding areas and reliable food supplies for deer in congested areas where human development and activity is high. This is one instance where size really doesn’t matter. A friend of mine killed his biggest buck ever a few years ago on a small, public town lot covering barely 100 acres that abuts our local Walmart parking lot.
10. BE PATIENT Regardless of the date on the calendar or what stage the rut is in, patience is a deer hunter’s biggest virtue. Most public lands hold fewer deer than private, hunting pressure is generally higher and the doe-to-buck ratios often tip toward more does than bucks—especially big bucks. Therefore, not only must we plan and hunt harder and smarter, but patience can also determine success.
This article was featured in the November 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .
