Originally Posted by Rawhide67
If you want a rugged, traditional experience, NY Adirondack Mountains. Literally thousands and thousands of acres of public land, and few people, if you get away from the roads. Any buck you get there will be well earned. There are some absolute bruisers in those mountains, and you will work your tail off getting your kill to the road.
That sounds a lot like Michigan’s UP. Deer are few and far between but there are more mature bucks on public land than other parts of the state. Miles and miles of public wilderness to explore usually without seeing other hunters all day if you get a few miles out of town and walk in off of the two tracks a bit.