If you’re satisfied with the public or private ground you hunted last year, great. But did you lose permission to a farm, or lose a lease, or get tired of the pressure and lack of deer on a WMA near home? If so, start looking for new ground now.

I could write a book on how to search for good hunting opportunities on the vast array of public lands across the U.S., but here I offer my best piece of advice. Think small. Most small to mid-size and out-of-the-way WMAs or state forests in rural areas have much less pressure than larger public spots near cities. When you’re investigating larger national forests or BLM lands, with tens or even hundreds of thousands of acres to roam, search for remote pockets of ground that are miles off the beaten path and hardest to access via back roads and trails. These hidden gems have less people and pressure. Check state DNR websites and hunting apps for info and maps.

Jump on Google Earth or an app like onX Hunt, and investigate private property boundaries and terrains that look to be in prime deer country. Then ask around work, and knock on doors; you might get lucky and nab permission on small piece of private dirt where deer are eating a farmer’s crops or a homeowner’s shrubbery. If you find a great opportunity, think about paying a lease fee to lock up and hunt that ground.

Whether you go the public or private route, I can’t emphasize how important it is to start looking now.