I’ve been hunting on public land for years and I have seen just about everything you can imagine. Think 4 a.m. boat launch races to duck holes and the occasional hot head that says, “you’re in my spot.” But those occurrences are only a small part of my experiences. Most of them include unforgettable sunrises, time spent with friends and the peace and quiet of the woods that everyone needs once in a while.
Over the years I’ve hunted with a few folks that own property adjacent to the wildlife management area I frequent. Their camp is a 10-minute fourwheeler drive from the property line where they then walk in, miles from any public access point. Essentially they have the woods to themselves. If a few buddies were deer hunting on their lease, a few others who wanted to squirrel hunt simply walked over to the state land. Heck, that routine actually pushed a big, beautiful buck in velvet over to a buddy during bow season. From what he described, it was a 10-point, one of the biggest he’d ever seen. He missed, but that’s another story.
They’ll also run rabbit dogs on their property during the tail end of rabbit season, after they’re done deer hunting for the year. Their dogs have freedom to roam the few hundred acres they lease and then transition over to the nearby public land. That’s where they really get on the rabbits. And what a deal that is. In addition to their lease, there’s about 45,000 acres of state land available to them.
While my friends’ situation is pretty ideal, not every private landowner has public property bordering their own. But even land a few miles away is beneficial. Having quick access to other duck ponds or more deer woods extends the acreage you have available to hunt. Below, we’ve listed four available private parcels of land that are excellent for timber or crops and hunting and fishing. The fact that there’s public land access nearby only sweetens the deal.
Waterfowl Property in Missouri
This property located in central Missouri is a waterfowler’s dream. It’s got access to Horseshoe Lake and Jones Lake meanders across the property with excellent fishing for bass, catfish and panfish. There’s tillable ground that has been rotated between corn and soybeans. Nearby, there’s a good mast crop like oak trees that provide food for whitetails. A half mile away is the Schell/Osage Wildlife Conservation Area, a 1,425-acre haven for waterfowl that’s offers excellent hunting opportunities. There’s also 900 acres of fishing ponds and lakes available to anglers.
Recreational Property in Michigan
This property is suited for all sorts of outdoor recreation, from hiking to hunting. Thick ground cover and rolling hills are full of whitetails, and spring fed drainages offer great water sources. It’s surrounded by thousands of acres of state land, which means less neighbors and more acreage available to hunt. There’s a mandatory antler restriction in this county, so you’ll have a good chance of spotting some nice bucks. Down the road are ski resorts, miles of snowmobile or ATV trails. If golfing and beaches are your sort of thing, several small towns and resorts offer these amenities all summer long.
East Texas Land with Homesite
This property is almost 10 acres of east Texas woods that’s prime for a home. There is good road frontage, community water and electricity available. The town of Huntington is only 7.5 miles away. Angelina National Forest is just north of the property, offering more than 150,000 acres of prime public land, and Davy Crockett National Forest to the east is another 160,000 acres full of turkeys, deer and waterfowl. Nearby Sam Rayburn reservoir and Toledo Bend are world class fisheries known for trophy bass.
Whitetail Property in Indiana Hill Country
There’s nothing like southern Indiana hill country, and this property is ripe with whitetails and turkey. It’s 124 acres that’s bordered to the north by hundreds of acres of bottomland crop ground, while to the south is 18,000-acre Jackson Washington State Forest where hunting opportunities for small game, deer, turkey and waterfowl are excellent. Over a half mile away runs the Muscatatuck River where teal and wood ducks frequent during the beginning of the winter migration.
