Good whitetail ground isn’t always behind a locked gate or on a private lease. There are public spots out there—real ones—where you’ve still got a shot at a mature buck without shelling out thousands. You’ll need to work for it, but that’s part of the deal.
These public lands have the cover, the access, and the deer to make it worth your time. Whether you’re hunting deep timber or open prairie, each of these places offers something real—and that’s getting harder to come by.
Shawnee National Forest, Illinois
Southern Illinois doesn’t always get the spotlight, but Shawnee’s got the terrain and whitetail numbers to make it worth your time. Rolling hardwoods, thick cover, and ag fields nearby keep deer moving through. It’s got over 280,000 acres, so you’ve got space to roam.
Pressure can be hit or miss depending on the time of year, but if you get in a little deeper, you can still find pockets of unbothered deer. Early muzzleloader season here has produced some solid bucks if you’re willing to scout hard.
Wayne National Forest, Ohio
Southeast Ohio has been a sleeper for a while now, and Wayne National Forest is one of the reasons why. It’s split into three units across the region and totals over 240,000 acres. That’s a lot of ground to cover—but that also means more options.
The terrain’s a mix of hills, thickets, and old logging cuts—great bedding cover. Archery hunters especially stand a good chance here, and with smart stand placement, you can catch mature bucks cruising ridges come November. It takes some effort, but it’s worth it.
Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri
If you’re looking for big woods with a decent shot at solid bucks, Mark Twain delivers. It stretches across multiple counties in southern Missouri and has nearly 1.5 million acres of public ground. That’s a lot of places for deer to hide—and for you to hunt.
The oak ridges and creek bottoms give you natural travel corridors, and if you find food, you’ll find deer. Pressure’s not too bad if you’re willing to hike in a bit. Archery season is long, and the rut here can get real good if you time it right.
Black Kettle National Grassland, Oklahoma
Black Kettle flies under the radar, but it shouldn’t. This western Oklahoma spot has whitetails, open country, and very little competition. The terrain’s more prairie and broken brush than timber, but that makes glassing and patterning deer a little easier.
It’s about 30,000 acres, so not huge, but the layout works in your favor if you do some homework. There’s enough cover for bucks to bed and feed without getting bumped constantly. Bring good optics and a ground game—you won’t need a tree here.
Hoosier National Forest, Indiana
Southern Indiana doesn’t get talked about much, but Hoosier National Forest is a solid whitetail destination. It covers more than 200,000 acres of mixed hardwoods and thick understory—perfect bedding ground. The deer density isn’t sky-high, but the quality is there.
If you’re patient and don’t mind some hilly terrain, you can turn up decent bucks here. The early archery season is quiet, and rifle season gets busy, but with some effort, you can still find untouched spots deeper in. It’s not flashy—but it’s reliable.
Fort Pierre National Grassland, South Dakota
You don’t think of South Dakota as a whitetail hotspot, but Fort Pierre proves otherwise. It’s mostly grassland, but pockets of trees and creek bottoms hold deer. You’ll be glassing more than sitting in a tree, which is a nice change of pace.
It’s wide open, so wind matters, and you’ll probably do some crawling if you want to close the gap. South Dakota gives non-residents decent access and opportunity, and if you can adjust to the terrain, you might be surprised what you can turn up.
Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania
Northern Pennsylvania isn’t what it used to be, but Allegheny is still producing. It’s got over 500,000 acres of huntable ground and a mix of timber cuts, oak ridges, and thick cover. It’s the kind of place where bucks grow old if they learn to stay hidden.
Hunting pressure is a factor here, no doubt—but most folks don’t go far from the roads. If you’re the type to hike a few miles and sit all day, Allegheny’s got potential. Late October through the first week of November can be especially productive.
Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky/Tennessee
LBL sits on the state line and offers thousands of acres in both Kentucky and Tennessee. It’s managed for hunting and has a mix of hardwoods, fields, and thick creek bottoms. This place has produced some heavy bucks, especially on the Kentucky side.
Draw hunts are available for gun season, but archery is open to anyone. With a little effort and scouting, it’s not hard to find a pocket of deer. Some of the areas get pressure, but there’s plenty of space to get away if you’re willing to walk a little.
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Wisconsin
Up in northern Wisconsin, Chequamegon-Nicolet offers over a million acres of public access. It’s big country with a mix of swamp, timber, and old logging roads. You won’t see deer every five minutes, but the ones you do see might be worth the wait.
This is classic still-hunting and tracking country once snow hits. Bowhunters can find success early on scrapes and rub lines, and rifle season here still holds a bit of that old-school feel. If you want solitude and a shot at a heavy-bodied northern buck, this is your place.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
