I have that same feeling too. My dad owns 40 acres thats connected with 240 acres that my uncle owns. We can hunt all that and I can also hunt another 40 that a family friend owns. I still hunt on public tho because, like in your situation, I want to hunt with friends. I like to hunt the public so that I don't over hunt my area and why not utilize it? I mean it is public land and we all have the right to hunt it.