Pvt. v. Public: Advantages v. Disadvantages? Is it "elitist?"

[Dave Workman]

Do you hunt private or public land?

Why? What are the advantages?  Disadvantages?

Do you feel like an "elitist" for hunting private land?

[rougheye]

I will hunt wherever i have the best opportunity . I dont really care whose land it is . Even though it is nice to get away from the crowds . That said , I almost always hunt public land .

[Ray]

Lots of timber co. land is private. But most anyone can get in there...

I hunt wherever I can. Most of the time that will be on state or federal land but have hunted timber co. lands.

[Sagedawg]

 I hunt both, but mainly it private land. I have worked hard to build freindships with the landowners, who allow me acess to their property. I do what I can to help them out with chores or whatever needs to be done, as I feel it shows I respect and value for the oppurtinity they have given me. I feel the the biggest advantage that is offered is , very low hunting pressure, compared to public land  as well as increased chances for filling your tag. I dont feel like Im above anyone else, because they can go and knock on the doors the same way as I have, you just need to be willing to put the time and effort in .

  Sage

[DeKuma]

For me it is all about pressure.  I get to hunt my own land and the surrounding without running into another hunter every 5 minutes.  It does not make me feel elitist at all.  My chances are really no better than anyone elses.  But having the woods to myself and knowing I will not run into someone else makes it worthwhile.
I hunt a lot of NF and Timber lands as well.

[addicted]

private land is crap. you should all stop using it and give me your private land contacts for safe keeping

i hate hot weather, traffic, and crowds.  so getting away from everyone else is nice. cuz everyone loves seeing that guy scope you from across the canyon 

[Bean Counter]

I hunt both, but mainly it private land. I have worked hard to build freindships with the landowners, who allow me acess to their property. I do what I can to help them out with chores or whatever needs to be done, as I feel it shows I respect and value for the oppurtinity they have given me. I feel the the biggest advantage that is offered is , very low hunting pressure, compared to public land  as well as increased chances for filling your tag. I dont feel like Im above anyone else, because they can go and knock on the doors the same way as I have, you just need to be willing to put the time and effort in .

  Sage

Its only eliteist if you surround your property in barbed wire and point a gun at every hunter who has the courtesy to come knock on your door in the early summer asking about the fall.. Otherwise, I agree that the bond forged with a landowner by a respectful, grateful hunter is one of few traditional (good) things left in the world. 

There's little better in this world than a landowner who views wildlife as being owned by the public at large, and a hunter who gives back to the one who lets hunter access.

[12Gauge]

I hunt Public land.  Private lands, like hunting ranches are really to expensive more or less $600 and up & up.  If I had to spend that much money, I would rather hunt at Safeway.  I am saving up though for a down payment for land just to hunt in.

[cascademountainhunter]

mostly public land but i try and hunt where theres not very many other hunters.....prolly like most people

[DOUBLELUNG]

Both.  I feel more like an elitist by applying for nonresident tags out of state, than by hunting private land.  With one exception (a crazy old coot who leased his 40 acres of wetland waterfowl habitat exclusively to a friend and me for $40/season), I've never paid cash for access.  I have brought boxes of fresh apples to people who don't usually get them, hunted coyotes, branded and herded cows, fixed fences, patrolled for poachers/trespassers, and babysat for landowners who let me hunt - but it's never been a quid pro quo, more doing something good for someone who has done me some good. 

[DeKuma]

I could not afford to pay for a lease to hunt, but do not have negative feelings to those that do.  If my family did not own the property I hunt, then I would be forced into all public or door knocking.

[robodad]

I am one of the free ranging public land crowd dodging do it your selfers I guess, I enjoy hunting in the crowds, for one because it gets the critters moving and another there is nothing more pleasing then pulling a nice buck out of an area that is covered up with people, sort of like the guy that drops into the hole you have been fishing all day and in two casts has two fish !!   

[Vek]

I've never hunted private land, and don't plan to.  I guess I look at that like a flyfisherman looks at fishing with worms. 

Private land doesn't tend to have the type of terrain I like, and that happens to be the type of terrain that keeps everyone else out.  "Private" in a different way, I guess. 

[rasbo]

It costs me 300.00 a year for a key to over 160,000 acres.The gate is 12 minutes form my house,I get my fire wood there also.Economics for me,I hunt public land eastside for elk.Not an elitist an opportunist.

[saylean]

Like most of you, I hunt where ever I can. Private, public, etc.

The key for me is, trying to get away from people (at least a little bit)...dont care if I see a ton of animals or not. Just happy to be out.