Public Land Lessons – #1 Distance Is the Best Filter
One thing public land keeps teaching me, year after year, is that most guys don’t want to walk very far. They’ll hunt hard — just not far. And I get it. Time is limited, work wears you down, and sometimes you just want an easy sit. But distance has quietly become my best filter. If a spot looks good on a map but requires a long walk, a steep climb, or a pain-in-the-neck access route, most people cross it off right away. That alone makes it worth another look. Some of my better sits haven’t been in perfect spots — just places that required effort.
The Walk In Matters More Than the Tree
Early on, I focused too much on the tree itself. Straight, cover behind me, shooting lanes — all important. But on public land, the walk to the tree matters just as much. If a spot is close to a road, has an easy trail straight to it, or looks “too good,” chances are someone else already thought the same thing. Now I pay more attention to where people stop walking, where trails fade out, and where access gets uncomfortable. Those are the areas deer seem to feel safer moving in daylight.
I’ve Killed Deer Nowhere Near Where I Thought I Would
Some of the best sign I’ve found didn’t line up with my expectations at all. Not on the ridge top. Not in the obvious funnel. But just off of it. Down a bench. On a side hill. Past where I originally planned to go. More than once, I’ve ended up seeing or killing deer because I kept walking when my plan said I was already far enough. Public land bucks don’t read maps. They read pressure.
Distance Doesn’t Mean Miles — It Means Effort
This lesson isn’t about hiking five miles every sit. Sometimes it’s crossing a creek no one wants to cross, side-hilling instead of staying on the trail, or walking an extra ten minutes past the “good enough” tree. Small effort changes can put you in a completely different game.
What I’d Tell My Younger Self
Stop worrying about how far the walk sounds and start worrying about how close other hunters are willing to get. You don’t need secret spots. You need overlooked ones.
Final Thought
Public land doesn’t reward laziness — but it doesn’t require insanity either. Just a willingness to do a little more than the next guy. Most days, that’s enough. Lesson learned. On to the next one. Stay safe out there, fellow DIY bowhunters. And if the walk in sucks… you might be in the right place.
