Guides
Practical guides for public ramps and public land
Short, useful reads — not fluff. Pair these with the map search and checklist tools.
How to find public hunting land near you
A practical workflow to locate public hunting land: state wildlife apps, PAD-US layers, walk-in programs, and what to verify before opening day.
Boat ramp etiquette: get in, launch, get out
Simple ramp manners that keep lines moving: prep in the lot, clear the lanes, handle courtesy docks, and what to do when someone is stuck.
First-time public land hunting: what actually matters
A no-hype checklist for your first public-land hunt: licenses, orange, maps, parking, pressure, and how to pick an easy first unit.
How to read PAD-US access labels (and what they do not mean)
What Open, Restricted, and Closed mean in USGS PAD-US, why hunting may still be illegal on “Open” land, and how to use Public Access listings safely.
How to plan a boat day using public ramps
Pick a waterbody, shortlist public ramps, check trailer parking and wind, and build a simple timeline so you are not launching at noon into a thunderstorm.
Public land packing list: hunt and fish day trips
A realistic day-pack list for public land: navigation, safety, weather layers, and the small items people forget until they need them.
Verify before you go: a 10-minute pre-trip check
A short verification routine for ramps and public land—fees, closures, seasons, weather, and how to avoid a wasted drive.
Cold-weather boat ramp safety
Ice, slick planks, kill-switch discipline, and hypothermia basics for late-fall and winter launches at public ramps.
Taking kids to public land and public ramps
Keep first trips short and fun: easy ramps, short walks, safety roles for kids, and how to pick low-pressure public places.
Public access vs private land: stay legal
How to tell public access from private property, what “open to hunting” signs mean, and how to avoid trespass near ramps and WMAs.