If you’re just getting into public land hunting for whitetail, or have hunted for a while and still want more hunting options, there’s a few easy ways to find spots close to home where you can tag a good buck. With lease pricing many hunters out of private land hunting, this makes knowing how to quickly find and evaluate new areas an extremely valuable skill. I’ve been hunting public land for over 14 years in Michigan and several other states, and at first really struggled. After a few years I figured a few things out, and since then have been very successful on finding and shooting mature deer consistently. So, I’ll share what I’ve learned with you in part 1 of this public land series, where we’ll drill down and focus on the first step in the process of “how do I find public hunting land near me?”
Finding Public Hunting Land Near Me:
1. Use a Good Old Fashioned Atlas
Just twenty years ago the primary way to find your way around was with a map book, or atlas. I remember this clearly growing up, and they are still made today for states and are relatively cheap. The good thing with atlases is that once you buy them, you have them, and you don’t need cell service or have to worry about your battery dying on your phone – a problem with apps which we’ll talk about in a minute. Yes, these lack gps quality detail, but via the big green blobs you can quickly identify the public land areas, roads to access them, and even elevation changes, swamps, ridges, and basic features to begin scouting when you get there. Having a physical map is a great way to get started finding new hunting spots near you, and also a great backup for if other methods fail.
2. Try DNR, HAP, & WIHA Maps
Depending on your state, a simple search on your phone or computer of your DNR website should reveal a slew of maps of public hunting land you can view or print. Many times you can select your county, and a list of wild game management areas will pop up to choose from. These also may be shown on an interactive map. Some are detailed, some not, but once selected these can again show you basics like parking lots and access points and many can be printed for the field – so you aren’t wondering when you get out there if you’re on public or not. Also, some states have very detailed and interactive web versions that can be quickly updated and help with scouting, which we’ll discuss in the next video. Either way, these DNR maps are a great resource because they should be updated, accurate, and tell you exactly where you can hunt near you. These also include Hunter Access Program (HAP), and Walk In Hunter Access (WIHA) which are privately owned but for public hunting lands you can access.
3. Search BLM & National Forests
Similar to DNR interactive maps, there are similar lands open to public hunting that aren’t managed by the state, but are federally managed. Bureau of Land Management offers hunting on 99% of its land, which is a huge resource to tap into. They also have interactive maps you can easily search to find hunting opportunities, just make sure to check the local office to make sure where you are is open to hunting. (For more on APPROACHES to public land hunting, get our free guide HERE)
4. Utilize Phone Apps
These are very popular now and for good reason – the many features they offer users. This is not an article about all the features, but they can be very helpful for finding clearly labeled public hunting land (state, BLM, and National Forests). Some have free versions, and most are paid that for a monthly fee you can unlock ways to see updated public lands and details about it. With the gps in your phone this makes it super simple, even in the field, to drive around and locate the exact locations and boundaries of these areas you can immediately hunt near your home.
5. Word of Mouth
The local coffee shop or diner is an old tactic, but still plays especially in small towns. Most locals know the area if you don’t, and can point you in the right direction if you’re simply nice and polite. Also, they can give you information of which areas are over-hunted, and maybe a potential honeyhole to check out – shortcutting your scouting process. This tactic could also get you far and potentially into some private land hunting if you strike up conversation with the right farmer. In this day and age of being technology and me-focused, this actually has a lot of potential long-term benefit.
6. Join a Hunting Community
There’s a good chance there’s a local gun club, Field & Stream branch, NDA branch, or some sort of local hunting and fishing group near you that you can plug into. These groups have members that have been around a long time, and are probably going to be open to sharing some spots you could check out – maybe not their hot spots but at least point you in the right direction. Even Facebook groups can be a good source, that is IF you trust who you’re asking (be careful with that one, as there’s a lot of bad information out there). Joining the Deer IQ private Facebook group would be a great way to start – a trusted and vetted group of hunters that are willing to help. Join that HERE.
So, those are 6 great ways to find “public hunting land near me.” Once you find a few spots nearby, the next step is finding the spots there to actually focus on and hunt. How do you find THE spot with seemingly endless options (something I struggled with early on)? In the next post we’ll dive into that with some practical things to weed out the bad, and pinpoint the good spots for you to set up to take a good deer hunting public land for whitetail! (make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss that HERE)
For specific help where you hunt, consider a strategic hunting analysis with Deer IQ. Both virtual and in-person options are available – inquire about that HERE!
