Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum anybody ever do a out of state diy public land hunt?

myself and two other guys are considering doing one next year .we want to go somewhere we can get over the counter tags ,thinking about ohio or kentucky so far . just wondering if anyone had advice from a trip they had been on. thanks

I have hunted in Indiana on Jasper-Pulaski. Hunted it a few days and on a private farm a few days. Everyone we talked to on jp was like, "why are you all up here, there are bigger deer in Alabama!" Of course you look at the kill sheet and pictures and they shoot everything that moves. I wouldn't go there if I were you. But, you can get tags for fairly cheap at any Walmart, and there are some big public areas to hunt in southern Indiana.

I did a DIY black bear hunt this last september in Georgia. I had an absolute blast planning everything - from studying topo maps to doing internet research on bear hunting. I was planning to go to the northeast corner of Georgia to the Chattahoochee WMA but at the last minute a few details fell through and I ended up hunting a WMA on the northwest part of the state. I didn't harvest a black bear but I had a great time and will be planning another trip next year.

A couple of things to remember: (1) Get a topo map. Study that topo map until you see it in your sleep. If you have a gps, use it in a 3-member team with your compass and map. This gives you courage to get away from the road more than just 100 yards or so. (2) Make some phone calls and square aqay food and lodging... thats a no brainer but if its overlooked it can kinda defeat the fun if a good meal isn't a reality. (3) have an extraction plan - if you knock something down where you're hunting a game cart is worth its weight in gold.

As far as states where over the counter tags are available don't rule out Missouri. I grew up an hour west of St. Louis and the hunting is PHENOMINAL up there! Deer and turkey hunters don't realize the paradise they live in until they move away... They only have a 10 day rifle season (happening now through Nov. 22). If you want to hunt Missouri, you need a good muzzleloader or to be a bow hunter. That said, if you're up for the drive there is lots of public ground whee you can reasonably have a chance at a great buck. I wouldn't try to go up north - thats so commercialized that you'd have a hard time finding a parking lot to hunt out of, let alone a full parcel of land. Central Missouri has a few good WMA's that you should check out. One thing I've always loved about Missouri - everyone forgets its there except the folks who know how good the hunting is!
Good luck in your planning - I hope everything goes well for you!

Todd and myself have a lease in Ill next to some public land. We have discovered that the public land is pretty good hunting and think next year we are just gonna hunt public lands. Check out the Shawnee National Forest in Ill.

Just watch for the game wardens and state police in illinoise they love to pick on out of staters, especially the state troops they are having some layoffs this year and are really trying to give people tickets, they are only allowing a 4over cushion for speeding and the judges are backing them. I have family still up there and i drive completely around the state through missouri to minimize my driving through that state. P.S. Missouri has awesome deer hunting.

Did one with a buddy about 7 years ago in West Va on public land we've never seen or stepped foot on before. We scouted on sunday and monday morning he stuck an arrow in an 8-point and tuesday was my turn with a 4 point.