Where do you hunt?

[OneCam]

We here from Iowa Hunters and what type of ground you hunt on?

[muddy]

i would really be curious to know who the public ground guys are...

[lxshooter]

I hunt a hunk of public land and it's amazing how many nice bucks are in there. 90% of the other hunters don't put forth a effort to get to the back of the land. In one night I saw over 50 does and 3 bucks that were over 130. The only bad thing about hunting the public land is the other guys that just walk around kinda screw you over. That's why I hunt private property over public most of the time.

[alaskanwhtail]

I hunted public ground before for one season and at the end I had my treestand tossed over a 200 ft cliff. what I dont understand is thatI was super deerp and on a cliff edge and why would sombody cross three steep ravens and out to my stand cut the lock take all my tree steps and straps. Its a home made one made outta 2 by 4 lumber and plywood in the design to be a portable. I thought it was bad getting it in there but when it came to getting that tree stand, forget it...

[lxshooter]

Alaskan- we had the same kinda thing happen in california when I lived there. On the base I was stationed was a portion of land that was over 10,000 acres of public hunting. I worked with the Air force game and fish dept. and kept getting reports about treestands and blinds being demolished or stolen. We ended up catching a group of 8 people walking through the area at night looking for treestands or anything related to hunting. Come to find out that they were anti-hunters and despised any one who killed innocent animals. This story has a happy ending though.... they got charged with tresspassing on federal land, criminal mischief and best of all theft. These were all federal charges. It was great to see the look on their faces when they were read their rights. http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[deadeye]

http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif

[DOR]

mostly public ground for this guy alhough i have a few private chunks that are pretty sweet.

[blake]

While I hunt mostly private ground, I do bow hunt several small tracts of public land here in S.W. Iowa. There are a lot of does on these tracts of land and during the rut there are some really nice bucks chasing the does. Also during the early season there is very little hunting pressure during the week, more pressure on the weekends. However when the shotgun season rolls around the deer are moved out of them very quickly by large hunting groups.

[PupChowMN]

Being that i am from Minnesota and full time college student i don't really have any contacts with land around here i am often forced to hunt public land. As stated before if you get back far enough in from roads and other hunters the hunting can be very good. I have seen some monsters and ended up shooting a 160 class in the fall of 2001. Deer don't know what land they are on public or private (as long as you keep tabs on other hunters which is a lot of work on public) you will be ok. But all it takes is one person to screw everything up.

[alaskanwhtail]

I was on a natural buck travel route when bucks would be strolling high noon to get on the shelfs of the cliff to beed. It was a 163 buck I was after and I had some stands hung all on public land. This was a spot where man wouldnt travel for safety reasons but I had this monsters pattern down until I harvested a lesser Buck but a good one... My brother even said why so deep, but i guess I wasnt the only one back there. There was no sign of human there as long as I can remember. When I come back to my home state you bet your butt I'll have a stand there and I hope the heck that guy doesnt fool with my property again cause he'll be on film. Along with the deep river bottem monster!!!

[firedog]

Hunted public ground last year for the first time in a quite a few years. Well, let's just say I was a little short on equipment one morning when I tried to find my treestand. I'm sticking with private land as much as possible. Less thieves to worry about.

[Bakes]

I don't hunt public ground but I was under the understanding that you had to remove your stand after every hunt. Is this true in Iowa?

[Limb Chicken]

Nonres,
You are suppose to, however it is rarely done. Some individuals feel if stands are left it gives them the right to steal them which tells a lot about their character. A perfect reason to get a lone wolf alpha hang-on and some sticks! http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[muddy]

i was under the impression that you could leave stands in from 10 days before season to 10 days after season closes. taking them down and putting them up EVERY time seems a bit much. this is a law that i'm going to need to look up before season i think!! http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Limb Chicken]

muddy,
I must have been thinking about duck hunting... sorry an old waterfowler never dies... Here is what is written under treestands... It is the screw in steps that can't be used...

------------------------------------------------------------

You may not construct a permanent tree
stand on state public hunting areas, or drive or in
any other way place any nail, spike, pin or any
other metal object into a tree on a state public
hunting area to construct a blind or to provide
hunting access to a location above the ground.

[muddy]

bummer...i gotta buy some new strap on treesteps now...dangit all!!

[Limb Chicken]

Lone Wolf sitcks muddy!

[muddy]

tie on tree straps = approx. $30

lone wolf stix = approx what? $100 or more??

i'd have a hard time squeakin' that one past my better half!!

[Bakes]

Muddy,
Where are you getting strap-on's for $30 ?

Ezy Climb Strap-on's 4 steps = $30
for 12 steps that's $90 bucks.

Buy the stix and help support our site at the same time PRICELESS. http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[muddy]

lone wolf doesn't cut any deals on iowawhitetail from what i know...

[Liv4Rut]

nonres, the strap on steps muddy is talking about is the ones you buy at walmart for 4.87 a piece, if you find them on clearance somewhere between $3-3.50. with 90 bucks you could get 18 steps @ 4.87, which could easily get you 2 stands set up @ 20 feet high, its all just personal preference, i hunt with sticks, screw ins, and strap on steps, sticks are the nicest for climbing the tree but if im on public and walking 30-45 minutes, 10-15 strap on steps work alot better for me, the crazy trees i will be hunting in river bottoms have tons of turns and twists in them and when i have to bend those sticks in crazy ways, it makes me kind of scared to climb those trees lol http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[gds]

I hunt public ground arround Saylorville.I usually only do these hunts on the days I can't make the 1hr drive to my private timbers.While I have harvested and seen some nice deer over the years I have become more and more frustrated with outside factors.This year I had what I am sure were Meth cookers chase a nice buck away from me.I had 4 wheelers scare deer on 3 occassions.Had 2 squirrel hunters shoot shot in my tree.Had a fall turkey hunter point a shotgun at me.Had crow hunters come and set up within 100 yards on 3 mornings(in 3 different areas each time letting off at least 30-50 rounds.Had a guy training a dog come within 20 yards,blowing a whistle continuosly every 10 feet.Had a guy come in 30 minutes before the end of shooting light and set up a tree stand 50 yards from me and start to hunt.I think that I definitely prefer private ground.
OA

[River1]

On state ground you can leave your stands up through the season if you are a gambler.

Federal ground, you have to pull them evertime you hunt.

[firedog]

Thanks for clarifying RiverBttmBoy. I had hunted public ground in Nebraska and didn't think leaving my treestand up overnight was a crime. I will have to check into that a little more on our side of the river. I don't think screw-in steps were prohibited in our area. The park ranger never said anything to me about that.

Maybe I should invest in a good climbing stand for the public ground hunts.

[meredith]

muddy.... i hunt public ground. all the deer i have shot were on public ground... we just bought a house that next to public ground..so thats where hunt

[wings2106]

I hunt at Camp Dodge in Johnston and i also hunt in colfax/mingo area. I also have a place in michigan i hunt deer up there at.

[alaskanwhtail]

All I hunt is public land, if you go in deep rewards can be tramendous...

[Littlefeather]

My family has two farms between Waukon and Decorah in NE Iowa.

Public lands and also family property.One of my uncles has property right next to a wildlife refuge.Also north and south of town.

[GobblerGetter]

Private ground in south-central Iowa.

[Deaner]

I hunt the hillsides and ravines north of Decorah Iowa.