HIDDEN HOTSPOTS ON PUBLIC LANDS--your spot- my spot- or everyones spot!

[quavers59]

Though, I would post this as a good thought provoking Summer thread before the upcoming hunting seasons.  Stewart State Forest in New York is the place I will use to discuss this VERY COMMON situation. I have a number of SUPER HOTSPOTS at Stewart State Forest that are all a good 1 mile or more from a parking area. Some are well hidden by wetlands and off the beaten track. Yet sign of other Spring turkey hunters who have been here before and after me are evident. I have found ground blinds left by other Spring turkey hunters who must think no one knows about these areas. Black milkcrates as well. Sometimes camo mesh covering.It is highly possible that some of these turkey hunters are on this site and know the areas that I write about now.  I think this is very common in the Spring turkey woods nationwide. Everyone thinking that they have a hidden hotspot to themselves.   Everyones hotspot!! Hope everyone enjoyed the stobe back next FRI.

[Kylongspur88]

There no such thing as a hidden or secret spot on public land here.

I think the majority of people here try to walk in as far as they can to avoid others but it actually has the effect of crowding the areas people dont think will be crowded.

All you can do is scout and try to get in before someone else. 

[Greg Massey]

I think some State land does have hidden hot spots. It just has to do with knowning the lay of the land and the best way of covering that ground...but remember it's first come in getting to that hot spot...

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

They are surely a rare thing.  It's funny where I find beer cans in the middle of nowhere.  And then there's the guys who don't take down their orange flag tape from deer season.  They need to make flag tape in biodegradable form.  If it hasn't been invented and one of you do it then I want a piece of the pie.

[wvmntnhick]

They are surely a rare thing.  It's funny where I find beer cans in the middle of nowhere.  And then there's the guys who don't take down their orange flag tape from deer season.  They need to make flag tape in biodegradable form.  If it hasn't been invented and one of you do it then I want a piece of the pie.

It's already been done bud.


As for secret spots, I know of a place that's full of spots that people don't frequent often. It requires a heck of a hike and many are not willing or able to make it. Having said that, while the hike is a sure enough killer, the boat ride is short. Still, not much action there and we've killed several birds and deer in there.

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

Dang.  Everything has been thought of.  What about flag tape that doubles as toilet paper? Haha

[outdoors]

There no such thing as a hidden or secret spot on public land here.

WHEN I GO TO A SPECIAL PLACE THATS WELL OVER A MILE WALK I USE MY GPS
NO TAPE ..............I DONT HAVE A PROBLEM DURINE THE DAY JUST AT DARK TIME

[wvmntnhick]

Dang.  Everything has been thought of.  What about flag tape that doubles as toilet paper? Haha

That too. But I believe it's just toilet paper. 

[turkeyfoot]

Here in NC we are a very populated state and really no secret spots I just try to find spots that don't get hit as hard as others the demand definitely out ways the supply here. Always get kick when I walk up and run into someone and they say they didn't think anyone would walk this far lot areas have different access points with roads that connect so its hard to get away from people

[fallhnt]

Just hot spots. None are a secret where I hunt. They just have fewer hunters. I worked out a deal with a deer hunter. I get a ridge where longbeards roost in  Oct and he gets it all of Nov. I also had 2 guys tell me they waited for me to come out of the woods so they would not interfere with my hunt. If I see trucks parked in a spot I move on. I'm always amazed at the number of people who arrive after me and deer hunt.

[slwayne]

I have two "hotspots" on a local piece of public land that I frequent.  One is a good 45 minute walk from the nearest access point.  Not a difficult walk, just a relatively long walk.  The other is a 5 minute walk from a very heavily used parking spot.  I have seen evidence of other hunters in both spots but have never actually encountered another hunter (knock on wood lol).  I have killed six turkeys in the last six years, three in each spot.  Typically I'll start the day in the spot that requires a long walk and then move to the other spot if needed later in the day.  So the three that I have killed in the "remote access" spot have generally been taken in the morning and the three that I have killed in the "easy access" spot have been taken in late-morning/early afternoon.

[Happy]

Public Hotspot still exist. It may take some extra work and planning but it can be done. I have made a pretty good run on public land birds in my hunting career. And I have spots I have never seen evidence of another human. Still there is something special about going in and taking a bird out of an area you just watched hunters leave. For once you kinda feel smug. In my case it usually doesn't last to long so I appreciate it when I get it.