I cannot say if the place was ever open to the public, as as far as I know, they kept the place private, as they had too many issues with things being stolen, as the property bordered a popular trout stream so, always had folks walking down stream and well, sticky finger issue's
so, come hunting season, they never let anyone hunt that wasn't family or a close friend?
when I took over the place in late 90's the fence was still standing in about 90 %, minus a few spots where tree's fell on it, and or they dumped field rocks on it
but I was always amazed at how easy the deer there jumped over it
even crazier there could be a opening 20 yards away and they would still rather jump over it

I almost think that its genetic's in the herd there after 40+ yrs of jumping fences like they did, the deer there are world class jumpers now LOL

at first I was like MAN< this will be easy hunting, just set up near a opening, and they HAVE to use it, block the others up and easy pickings
HAHA< was I wrong, would sit in a my stands watching fence line, and just watch deer after deer jump the fence in random spots every evening?
and be scratching my head wondering why they liked to jump over using an opening, ever one's NO where near a tree stand or the likes
yrs of just doing it I guess, they didn;t view that fence at all as a problem?