Scouting, and a hunting diary, can help you learn terrain, cover, trails and animal habits.
Bear in mind that you must hunt well to see game on public land, often in rougher, more remote places than if on private acreage. In the West, local hunters with access to private land sometimes spend the opener on nearby public ground. That way, they save the hunting that's not in jeopardy and all the pressure puts game onto private tracts instead of driving it off where other hunters kill it. Late in the season, public ground that was raked clean on opening day can produce as local ranches get pushed. Remember that you need find only one animal and if public lands yielded the same bounty as private, people wouldn't pay for leases.
>> Refocus your attention. If you're out simply to collect trophies with as little effort as possible and without regard to cost, private land is your obvious choice for deer and elk. If the process matters as much as the product--if hunting counts as much as killing--you can have a wonderful time on public land. You'll camp in places unmatched on private tracts and prowl the thickets solo if you wish.
I prefer to hunt alone, not only because it generally boosts the odds for a kill, but because I like the freedom to try new techniques, explore new areas and indulge my hunches. On private parcels, solo hunting may not be allowed; often you're under constraints that limit your methods. I've hunted on property where I was not allowed to move from a tree stand or to wander from established roads on foot. Some hunters may find those rules acceptable. I find them onerous. For me, half the fun is poking around fresh coverts and climbing ridges. Exercise matters; so does new scenery and the feeling that I'm making my own luck. When snow allows, I like to track game.
>> Tap locals for information. Ask where you might get permission to hunt on private land, then where you might find game on public ground. Ask farmers and ranchers, game wardens, delivery truck and school bus drivers--anyone whose job puts them near where you intend to hunt. Be specific in your requests; if you get "Don't know" for an answer, well, at least you've tried. If their information pays off, reward your sources with a Christmas basket of goodies. You'll want updates next year, and someone who's willing to help is even more valuable if he knows what you need in advance.
Don't ever go where you're told not to go, or where your source says he is hunting, unless you're invited. Even then, keep a distance from your host in the field. What will he think if you shoot an animal--especially an exceptional one--nearby? Respect your sources and you'll retain their cooperation.
>> Keep a hunting diary. A record of your own experiences in an area can tell you more than any local contact. Try to figure out why you were successful or saw no game, why someone else killed and you didn't, what prompted animals to move, how grazing and logging, fire, storms, moon phases and hunting pressure seemed to influence game migrations and daily behavior. Diaries are useful anywhere, but they're of particular help on public ground because you can't control or predict hunting pressure or land use.
