Public Land Lessons- #4 : Parking Lots Teach You Everything
Before You Ever Step in the Woods
Public land starts at the parking lot. Trucks tell stories. License plates. Boot tracks heading the same direction. If three guys walked straight in, guess where the deer aren’t. I stand there longer than most people. Looking. Listening. Deciding if I’m going with the crowd or away from it.
The First 300 Yards Matter
Most hunters hunt the first 300 yards the same way. Straight in. First big tree. Same elevation. I’ve learned to either dive off immediately or walk past the obvious stuff on purpose. Deer learn patterns faster than we give them credit for.
Pressure Creates Opportunity
Pressure doesn’t ruin public land. It reshapes it. Deer slide into overlooked pockets. Nasty stuff. Edges nobody wants to deal with. If you keep hunting where it’s easy, you’ll keep seeing what everyone else sees. Humans close: I’ve turned around and gone home just based on a parking lot. Best decision I made that day.
Thick edges are a great place to set up near. Deer will usually travel the open area parallel to the thick for easy walking. When alarmed, it's only a short jump to thick cover.
Final Thoughts:
Don't get discouraged if the parking lot is full… I tend to walk a good distance to where I'm usually all by myself. I always say it's good exercise. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Till a week or so into the season I'm in alot better shape for the longer hikes in. Carrying my gal. of coffee, 7 sandwiches and 1/2 of a pie gets much easier with time…😂 Good luck out there in the woods my fellow DIY'ERS. Feel free to leave a comment on your strategy, or tree meal…
