How to Avoid Common Hunting Mistakes on Public Land

If you’re serious about getting results when you hunt – and who isn’t? – it’s important to make every day in the woods count, writes Jake Horton in a gohunt.com blog post.
Horton talks about avoiding common mistakes made by hunters on public land in the West, but his tips also apply to any deer hunters making plans for their 2022 excursions.
Here’s a rundown of his tips:
- Hunt hard every day. Wasting time, starting the day late or not being alert on your hunts can all hurt your chances for success.
- Don’t be overly picky when you decide which bucks to pursue. As Horton says, unless you are on the trail of a once-in-a-lifetime buck, seek consistent success.
- Always be ready to shoot. Horton describes several situations when he had barely gotten off the road when he came into contact with quality elk – but he wasn’t ready to shoot.
- Make sure you have the proper emergency equipment. And make sure you coordinate with your hunting partner so no one gets lost in the woods.
- Be ready to take care of your meat if you have a successful hunt. One tip: Always have a cooler full of ice in your truck.
Here’s one more tip beyond the ones offered by Horton: Think about having a home base for your hunting activities. Contact one of the recreational land sales experts in the PotlatchDeltic Preferred Broker Network, who can help you find the perfect tract for you.