I have never killed a mature buck on private land but I have killed 2 that were ancient and 1 that was probably 3 and 1/2 on public land. It can be done but its tough and you have a lot of factors that you have no control over.The biggest difference is on private you can manage it so you have a lot more big deer running around. On public land for every guy that will pass a small buck you will have a guy that won't. I have been very fortunate the last 3 years and have shot 3 real nice public land bucks the last 3 years.It took me many years to do it. I can say that when you do kill a p&Y on public land you have done something that many hunters have not.