How to Hunt Around Gun Pressure

In my home state of Mississippi, gun season basically runs from the week before Thanksgiving to the end of January. On public lands, six of those weeks might be dedicated gun season, while the remaining weeks only allow primitive weapons. However, the Magnolia state has, for better or worse, determined that “primitive” means any single-shot rifle with a .35 or larger caliber, and, no, it doesn’t have to be a muzzleloader. I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing primitive about a break-action centerfire rifle to me. For private lands, the laws give even more liberty. You can hunt with your weapon of choice from opening day to the close of the season, which totals about ten weeks.

While gun hunting pressure presents its own challenges, it doesn’t differ all that much from hunting pressure in general. Sure, you’ll have more folks in the woods than you would during archery season, but the underlying principles still apply. Deer still have to move, you’ll just have to figure out where.

Sleep In

Unless I’m hunting on a weekday or somewhere I’ve previously been, I’ll arrive fashionably late. Not only do I catch up on sleep, but I can cruise around the public areas to see where most folks park, which is typically where you expect. However, it also shows me the spots that people overlook. This doesn’t mean these areas don’t have hunters in them, but there’s a good chance they’re vacant.

I don’t mind crowded parking lots during archery season, but I avoid them like the plague during the general gun season for obvious reasons. When I do find a spot that isn’t crowded, I either find success or deer still doing deer things. This doesn’t mean you won’t find the deer in heavily pressured areas, but the odds aren’t in your favor.

If you do decide to take inventory of where everyone hunts, you can use this to your advantage by anticipating where the deer might take refuge. You’ll have to have a solid knowledge of the general landscape and how deer use it, but try to position yourself between other hunters and where the deer need to go. The overwhelming pressure might just send a good one your way, and it’s a tactic that still-hunters use in places where deer-dog hunting thrives.

Try the Road Less Traveled

Influencers, YouTube creators, and digital mapping have made public land hunting more accessible over the past decade. While everyone benefits from this on a personal level, it has also increased hunting pressure on the landscape. Just when I think I’ve found a hidden gem, I’ll spot a treestand. No matter where you hunt, you’ll likely find other hunter sign or have someone walk through your setup. It’s inevitable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find places that are overlooked or hard to access.

There’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to overlooked spots. These could be a hundred yards from the road or two miles. Map scouting can help you locate these spots, but you’ll have to put boots on the ground to figure out what the landscape actually says. I’ve done this dozens of times. I’ll pick a spot on the map, but when I actually scout it, I’ll find that most of the deer sign pops up in places that don’t necessarily stand out on the map.

You’ll also want to avoid the pitfall of hunting big buck black holes. Just because you’re hunting an overlooked spot doesn’t mean you’ve hit a gold mine. Some areas are empty for a reason. If you don’t see the deer sign, don’t waste your time.

Look for Archery-Only Areas

If you’re trying to get away from the gun-hunting pressure completely, look for public lands that only allow primitive weapons or archery equipment. A lot of solid, federally managed refuges don’t allow rifle hunting. Your state might even have a few wildlife management areas that only allow archery hunting.

Not only can you get away from the gun hunting crowds, but you might find better hunting and age class of deer, thanks to regulations and potential antler restrictions. Sure, you’ll run into the challenges of bowhunting late-season whitetails, but if you’re okay with that tradeoff, go for it.