Next Step Outdoors

By Aaron Olsen

Often times, we feel bound to our geographic location. We have roots but we aren’t trees. We have the ability to get up and go anywhere in the world. One goal I set for myself this year is to take an out-of-state bowhunting trip. After checking out several outfitters and honestly questioning how it would feel to shoot a trophy buck on highly managed private land with pre-hung stands and doing none of the work myself, I opted instead to plan a 100% DIY public land hunting trip.

I’m currently writing this article with a fresh perspective, as I just went through most of these steps for the first time myself, including driving 12 hours across the country to scout a state I had never stepped foot in previously.

1. Decide – Maybe years of frustration are driving you to try something different. Or maybe your adventure sense is tingling and you want to experience something new… Maybe you realize you’re not getting any younger and still haven’t bagged that buck of a lifetime. In any case, the first step is making a decision. Although there are still many decisions to make, once you make up your mind that you are going to do a DIY public land hunting trip, half of the battle is won already.
2. Research – After hours of research, it was evident that there are a lot of great opportunities for public land hunting in many states in the midwest. If you ask 5 different people what states are the best destinations, you will likely get a different “Top 5” from each person. Some things to consider are:– What time of the season do you want to hunt?  Some people automatically plan their trip for the rut phases. Others are looking to extend their seasons and elect to choose a state that opens earlier than their home state, or they may consider a late-season trip once the storm of gun-season has settled.– How much public land is available? It is no secret that some states boast an abundance of public land and in some, it is in high demand. Anything West of the Mississippi River is typically a safe bet due to lower population densities, however, states like Ohio, Wisconsin, and Indiana still have bountiful opportunities if you are willing to get off the beaten path. I like the Onx Hunt app for looking at public land because you can also view the maps on your computer once you make an account.
   – What counties have the best opportunity for trophy whitetails? People lie, numbers don’t. Once you have decided on a specific state, check out the historical data for P&Y entries for each area. I usually google North American Whitetail’s “Best Spots for Bowhunting Trophy Bucks” articles to view the heat map for the All-time total number of P&Y whitetails taken in that specific state.
   Here is an example of the article for Kansas.– What kind of terrain do you want to hunt?  Having hunted in the same two counties for 99% of my life, it was a real shocker experiencing the terrain halfway across the country. Different regions offer different types of hunting. If you want hills, go to Southern Ohio. If you want swamps and Marsh, test your skills in Northern Wisconsin. Whatever flavor of topography and environment you are looking for, you can find it if you go to the right state.
3. Budget – Travel, lodging, tags, food, and gear are your main expenses for a hunting trip. For many of those categories, the bigger your group, the less it will cost per person. Carpooling, camping, and preparing your own food are excellent ways to save money. If you do not feel like roughing it, you can typically find low-cost hotels even if that means driving a bit further from your target area. Something else worth exploring is Airbnb, which is essentially renting out someone’s home or cabin for the duration of your trip. This way you have access to a full kitchen, as well as laundry if you are a scent control freak. Aside from gas prices and distance to each state, the main difference in cost per state is your hunting license. In some states, hunting licenses cost over $500 once it is all said and done, whereas others you can buy over-the-counter tags for less than $200 out the door. Before deciding on a specific state, make sure that you can, in fact, buy tags over the counter. States like Iowa require several years of applying to get drawn for a tag if you are a non-resident.
4. Cyber Scout –  This step is all about narrowing down where you will be traveling to and ultimately, hunting. Once I decided on a specific state, reviewed the P&Y heat map, and determined a general region of that state, I began looking at my public land options from the comfort of my computer. While some people will say to look for the biggest chunks of land and others will say to focus on the over-looked smaller pieces, options are always a good thing. My goal was to find several public land parcels all within a short drive of each other, all while being a good distance away from any major cities. Once I had identified a group of public land pieces, I dove in on Onx Hunt. The time of the year you plan to hunt should determine what you are looking for while you cyber scout. In the early season, you should be trying to figure out how you can catch a buck traveling between bedding and feeding. During the rut, I would focus more on terrain funnels and potential doe bedding areas. Similar to the early season, if you plan on doing a trip late in the year, you can likely count on the deer in a bed to feed pattern.While looking at the maps and aerials from a deer’s perspective is crucial, what is even more critical is looking at the maps from a hunter’s perspective. Locate parking lots, access routes, and trails. The majority of hunters will not wander far from their truck and if they do, they will probably be right off of one of the main trails. Any steep hill or water feature will also deter the average Joe from traveling any further. The further you go, and the more obstacles you cross, the better chance of a mature buck living in that part of the property. *Please keep in mind that there are no “never” or “always” rules* You hear story after story about how a 5.5-year-old bruiser was shot in an overlooked patch of woods right next to the parking lot, however, as a rule of thumb I would try to get to where other people are not willing to go.
5. Get Boots on the Ground – The best time of year to make a trip to your selected hunting area is as soon as the snow melts. The reason for this is all of the deer sign that was preserved in the frozen earth under a blanket of snow will still be visible and there will not be leaves or foliage preventing you from seeing while you scout. In areas where it doesn’t snow, the sooner after hunting season ends the better. If you time your trip right, you can also pick up some shed antlers indicating what kind of bucks made it through the previous years hunting season. In person, you are able to validate your findings from your computer cyber scouting sessions or cross things off the list. If you find areas with lots of hunter sign and tree stands on every tree, you can move to a new area and recalibrate. If you cannot make time to scout prior to heading to a new area, it is encouraged to scout for the first day or two of your hunting trip if you can swing it. For many of us, it is hard to sacrifice time on stand to stealthily scout the woods you could be hunting but the extra work is what can make the difference between calling up your taxidermist or eating your tags on the drive home.
6. Digest – While drinking from a firehose exploring a new state for the first time, it can be hard to put all of the pieces together in the field. This is another reason I recommend Onx Hunt. It is well worth the cost to be able to revisit all of the land features and waypoints you marked from the luxury of your home computer. It is much easier to connect the dots and then plan your attack.
7. Gear Up – Aside from your typical hunting equipment, one of the most important things is your stand. In today’s age of mobile-hunting, a lightweight hang-on stand and sticks is a necessity. Another popular option is a climber stand. Both have pros and cons, however, I believe portable hang-ons like the Lone Wolf Alpha or the Hawk Helium XL are dominating the market because you aren’t as limited to what trees you can get into. On the flip side, in a climber stand, you can climb as high or low as you feel comfortable without having to haul in additional stick sections. Regardless of what style, brand, or set up you buy, you are going to want to practice and make sure you are comfortable setting up and taking down your stand until it becomes second nature. There is nothing worse than getting to your spot during season and struggling to get set up. This usually results in excess time, noise, and sweat (stink).
8. Execute – This is the one step on the list that I have yet to do. The upcoming season will be my first time hunting out of state and as it sits right now, I will be hitting two different states aside from my home state of Michigan. During my time here in Michigan, I have dedicated my season to hunting almost exclusively public land. I truly believe this paradigm shift is going to help me grow as a hunter and in quantum leaps. If you have ever felt stuck or frustrated or disappointed, I encourage you to follow me on my journey and plan one of your own. Take the NEXT STEP…