The latest cool thing in deer hunting is public-land whitetail hunting. At one time, few did it. Even fewer talked about doing it. Today, it’s all the rage, and everyone is flocking to it. At least, they say they are on the socials.
As a result, it seems finding a mature whitetail on public land is getting more difficult by the season. More hunters are hitting public lands. Many properties are receiving less habitat management. And in some cases, deer populations are declining. All told, consistently tagging a respectable public buck each season might seem like a tall order to fill. Fortunately, with the right mindset and effort, it can be done.
STEP 1: SELECT BETTER DESTINATIONS
Let’s face it. Some states are better deer hunting destinations than others. If you reside in one of those states, great. If not, that’s unfortunate. However, you can still travel. And if that’s what it takes to find quality public land, consider it.
Obviously, some states have reputations for renowned public lands with mature whitetail opportunities. Places like Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and Ohio, just to name a few. These places certainly aren’t secrets anymore. But there are lesser-known states that are quite honestly underrated. Some of these include
