Good public land for deer and Turkey

[retrieverman]

I know the OP said public land, but if I was looking for a place to hunt, I’d seriously consider this.
OKC Sportsman's Hunting Club

 

[Dorkus]

If you want close and looking for dove and duck only, look at the two OKC lakes. The problem is, during duck season it is “shock and awe”, especially on weekends.

 

[kirk1978]

The 1st time I hunted public land I never saw a soul……until I shot my buck.

I looked up towards a fence and there were at least 6 hunters lined up watching me. I asked one of them where did ya’ll come from, he said when we hear a shot we go running towards the sound hoping someone missed.

Just then someone shot and that sucker took of towards that shot. Talk about feeling like I had a target on my back, I got the crap outta there.

Reminds me of catching fish, look up and you have 3-4 new friends standing next to you.

 

[Familyguy]

Thank man for the info, I don’t want any ones gps coordinates, just some info on general areas. I will look into the controlled hunts though and I will continue to scout out areas around me. Hopefully I can find something worth while to hunt but sounds like public lands will be fairly barren.

 

[dennishoddy]

Also, nothing can beat boots on the ground especially if you have a drone to take with you!

Did I read scouting with a drone is not legal?

 

[Hirschkopf]

At the end of the 2022 deer season, I constructed a spreadsheet of the # of deer harvested per square mile, arranged high to low by OK county. Perhaps it may be of use to the OP to decide which public land to scout/hunt. I was pleased to see McIntosh County, were I'd just purchaced some land was roughly in the top 3rd.

https://www.okshooters.com/threads/2022-deer-pics-chatter-excuses.342526/page-84#post-3934857

 

[OKRuss]

Did I read scouting with a drone is not legal?

I'd have to look Dennis. I thought if not during hunting season then ok.

 

[makeithappen]

If you archery hunt, you'll have a lot more options, especially with our very short gun season that's even shorter for public land.

One thing to note, which seems obvious, so call me captain: you live in the metro area of the largest population in the state and every hunter in the city wants to hunt close by to maximize how much they can hunt.

Success on public land near okc is doable but you have to put in a lot more effort, get up earlier, go farther, stay later...

Best of luck in your search.

 

[Familyguy]

I don’t mind traveling for good land, just trying to avoid long ass drives if possible. But people have pointed me into a good direction so I’ll be sure to follow up

 

[Ready_fire_aim]

If you’re willing to deal with a 3 hr drive and camping there is lots of public hunting land out in the South East part of the state. Lots of Texans come to hunt the area