Look for drainages, creeks and draws. The deer will use them like highways. Also oak flats, preferably white oak. The most critical thing about public land is to scout the other hunters. Once the season starts, the deer will go wherever the hunters aren't. Sometimes that's deep in the woods, but sometimes it's not. Of most hunters are humping deep into the woods, the deer will hang out close to the roads and entry points. Best public land buck I ever killed was about 50 yards from a main logging road in a 3 year old clear cut. If there is logging there, 3 to 5 year old clear cuts are awesome.