I hunt both public and private lands
Unless you have access to thousands of acres of private lands, which may be more common out west.
Generally public lands gives you way more oppurtunities
I hunt 50 acres private land in upstate ny
And hunt public lands in pa and ny
I like hunting both .
State lands may get crowded near common parking areas, but walk deeper into the lands, or find access points down back roads and rarely see another person.
Even in high population areas like pa and ny
Even when have my own land to hunt I often go to the bordering state lands to hunt.