Hunting Private or Public?
 

Hey guys, so I have recently been granted had the permission to hunt on this farmers land, of which it borders public land up here in upstate New York. Both property has lots of sign and I see lots of deer whenever I drive past, as I have not yet hunted at either of the spots yet.

My question is should I hunt on the public land or the private land? The farmers apparently grants permission to whoever asks to hunt on his land because he told me that he gets about 50-60 hunters each year who hunt on his land. I don't know how many people hunt on the public land, but in the specific parcel i want to hunt, I can't imagine it will be close to that number, I am thinking a lot less, like maybe 10. So I don't know what to do. 50-60 hunters seems like a lot for one guys private land, so I'm not sure hunting on his private land will be practically the same as hunting public. Any advice would be helpful, thanks!

If you are going to have 50 or 60 hunters using the private land you just got access to, it will be little different than the public land that borders it. You don't say how many acres the private property is but it sounds too crowded for any kind of quality hunting.

That's allot of hunters. Take a walk around and scout it out. Then you'll just have to see who actually shows up come deer season and adjust your plan accordingly. How big are these properties?
-Jake

If he is basically granting carte blanche permission to hunt on his land, I don't see how he even knows who is there and whether they are legal or not. Unless the guy owns thousands of acres, that place sounds like a nightmare and dangerous to even be around.

See if there is a natural funnel between the two. Might be a good idea to set up there if one exists. Kind of like having the best of both worlds. But if I had to choose one or the other, I'd take the public land if it will have less pressure. I've taken my best bucks and bulls off public land.

Reply
 

Yeah, i figured that was a lot of hunters. I don't have an exact number but he owns somewhere between 200-400 acres.

I think ill just stick to the public land that borders, probably all those 50-60 hunters all think they are clever hunting on private and won't step on the public.

Or they will hunt the border hoping the guys on public land will run the deer on to the private.

I would hunt the public land. I assume less people and more land on public grounds in your situation you described.

Try the private land during the coldest parts of the late season. I bet 50-60 hunters will dwindle down to 0-5 hunters.

50-60 hunters on 200-400 acres :party0007: Shoooot I'd be on that public land right down from the best funnel between the two I could find!!! That many people will chase every deer outta there on their way IN to "hunt". I don't know if "driving" deer is legal in your state but that will be pretty dang close to the definition of a deer drive!

And here in Michigan in the lower while there would be 40 to 50 hunting the private land the Public land would have several hundred hunting on it. Best to wait for the second week mid week and for the late Muzzle loader season if you don't own your own place of have a place where the numbers of hunters are limited to one for ever 20 acres at least.

:D Al

Always have a nearby backup
 

You won't know until you know. Bad, I find, to depend on one property, unless you own it.
And for some properties I never went back to. Don't know what the owners did.
Some places get more hunters than on scouting day. Good to know the difference and be prepared to move.

Thanks mates, i think i will stick to the public land and its funny too because what you were saying about the funnels actually works in my case. There is a great tall grass trail that runs on the border of the properties which is surrounded on both sides by tall maples and evergreens. Probably hunting over that on the public land side will do me right.

Thanks

Hunt where the other guyz arn't .....................

In fact, use those other "hunters" to your advantage !!!

+1 Sheridan!

I just want to throw out some ideas that would have been important to your decision making. You stated you haven't hunted either property, so you don't really know what the pressure will be 'til you hunt it. First question would be how much land is available to hunt in that locale and how many other hunters may come to it because there is no access in other regions? Secondly would be what seasons/weapons do you hunt with?
I would prove to myself what hunting competition there actually is before I'd speculate. Speculating only cuts you out of property that could be very productive.

Hunter density may be great on both properties. If that were the case, I would find the good areas where others may be less inclined to travel. I would search for this on both properties. There are many hunters that don't scout land like they should but just show up. Use what scouting skill you have to your advantage. The funnel concept is very good but have a back-up. A lot of times others may be thinking similar to you. Concentrate also on food, water, bedding sources. Also, try to locate areas where deer may lay down but receive direct sun on really cold, snowy days. The extra effort you make will separate your success from theirs.