Correct me if I'm wrong BT but was the public land you were hunting on out in the western part of the state?I read and hear there's good populations out there on public lands
Public lands here in the southwest are often spoken of as being great hunting by the locals. Generally followed by alot of cussing the game commission or snickering.
As for reading great things about public land hunting, I hear grand reviews of any wmu mentioned by a few pgc supporters, even super reveiws of the very worst units in the state on a couple of boards on a daily basis. Id suggest taking them all with a grain of salt. Not calling them liars either. Just very skewed "different" perceptions based on their values which include things most of us hunters dont necessarily share as being highest priorities.