So I am changing it up this year.  Not going to my normal deer camp (long story made short, mental health is a vicious mistress to a camp member and I no longer want to go there)


So this year I have a few guys that are getting a cabin and hunting public land in MI.


I drove out there a month ago.  Found a nice area that had some trails and poop.  Put my camera up and had a ton of deer come in.  Only issue is that they always came in at night.  Even the 11 pt buck that I really really want.

So I go up a week ago and move my camera.  I go a mile away and find 3 trails that converge into one in a pine plantation type real.  Rows and rows of pines. I set the camera up, facing the trail.
Nothing.  No deer.  Nothing at all.  Maybe it’s an old trail?

I doubt I will be able to head back up there before deer camp.

Any ideas what to do?

If your public land is anything like around here. You can scout all you want, pick a spot and when you go in on opening morn someone will be in that spot. Unless you go at least a mile from the parking lot.

Pretty tough to plan a hunt with limited information and on public land. You just have to go and be in the woods.

Yea. I agree.  I guess the question I was asking was, if you showed up on day 1 with the info you have, would you be more inclined to
1: hunt the night spot
2: scout elsewhere

I am going to be there for 5 days of bow season before gun season starts.  Once gun starts, the deer tend to go nocturnal.

If it were me I would start at the spot that you have pictures of deer even if it’s night pictures. There are deer in the area and you never know when they will show.  
I killed a ten point last Saturday that I had only night pictures of. That’s not the normal bug I got lucky knowing that he was in the area.  Good luck with your hunting and let us know how you do.

Thanks.

Ditto.

As the light comes up you'll see orange in every tree around you.

Its too late this year, but in the future follow the trail at least a mile from where you anticipate parking.  This will weed out the lazy, but depending on your terrain you might need to invest in a deer-cart or sled.

I'd start at the night spot, but be prepared to still hunt.

Ehhh.  Our public land isn’t that big.  I tend to put a hill or a creek between me and the parking lot.  It drops 99% of the people.  That 1% and I laugh about how we are the only ones crazy enough to go here.

Hunt the area you’ve scouted. Don’t assume the pattern from a month ago will apply this month or next. Temperatures, dietary changes, rutting, and hunting pressures can have significant effects on their routines.

Good luck this season on public land.  Plan you entry & exits carefully and you may end up with an unintentional drive as others push deer to you.

Hunt the camera location but use photos and check the map.  Can you determine where they might be coming from?  If they’re always coming in from a certain direction, check aerials and topos looking for cover, water, bedding etc