Well tomorrow will be my first experience hunting public land. Rifle is sighted in, I have my safety orange, and I am ready to go. I will be hunting Osceola National Forrest. I plan on spending all day in the woods. I'm going to get there at day break, scout around, and get up in the stand. I have been on Google earth and got a couple spots in mind. Get down around 11:00 and scout a little more and get back up in the stand till dark.
Any last tips or things I need to know or watch out for?
Be safe and have fun. :rock_on
Well I didn't see a thing. Got there at day light Friday. Found an area where pines met swamp. Found a descent rub so I posted up about 75 yards away. Stayed there till 12:30 took a break and got back up at 2:30 till dark. Figured I should try it again early in the morning so I spent the night at Ocean Pond Camp and was back up in the stand the next morning till about 10:00. I had thought for sure I would see something, but I didn't. Got down drove to onother spot. I hiked way back in the woods to onother spot on edge of swamp and pines. Posted up around 11:00 til 2:30. Nothing. I feel I definetly put the time in but nothin was movin, or maybe that's just the way public land goes. There is just soooo much land (265,000 acres) every spot looks good it is hard to determine where to go. I was surprised at how little hunters there were. The only time I saw another hunter was at camp and there were probably only about ten people. I assume it was because of late season or cold. Even though I didn't see anything my spirits are high and I can't wait till next season. I think there is definetly a good chance to harvest some game on public land. I think the key is scouting pre season, getting a spot way away from any other hunters, and sitting long hours.
good for you you put in alot of hours, know it's not easy esp in the cold. keep putting in the hours and eventualy it will pay off.
