The first time I scouted public land seriously, I spent a weekend just walking ridgelines and marking every rub, bed, and hidden water source I could find. I used satellite maps to avoid obvious access routes and focused on the ugly stuff—steep draws, thick cover, places no one wants to hike into. My boots were trashed by Sunday, but I came out with 3 solid ambush spots and a fresh appreciation for how deer actually move in pressured areas. I scout hard post-season, set trail cams early, and map food sources like mast trees and browse lines. The trick? Think like a buck avoiding pressure. I’ve found more action on gnarly terrain no one else wants to hike than I ever did near open fields. It takes effort, but man, when it works... it's pure magic. What’s your go-to strategy for finding a hot public land setup? #hunting #PublicLandHunting #DeerHunting