WT Deer Hunting on Pvt vs. Public

[cnelk]

Want to get some input / thoughts on a topic.
There are multiple parts to it.

1- Private Land Hunters ONLY
You have prime private land to hunt WT.
What is your MINIMUM sized buck you will shoot?

2- Public Land Hunters ONLY
What is the MINIMUM sized WT buck you will shoot?

3- Would you rather hunt Pvt land where there is opportunity to seeing/shooting a 170\" buck over a 130\" public land buck?

4- How much would you pay for access to Pvt land to hunt to shoot a 170\" WT buck?

 

[OldMan]

Not the answer you want. In my area the whitetails are deer the DOW want to get rid of so they won\'t breed with the muley\'s. So, I will shoot any buck. No restrictions for the hunt, because it an either sex hunt.

Even so. I\'m not a trophy hunter, so I would shoot any legal buck for food.

 

[bowhunter]

1) I look for something at least 125. I passed mid to upper 130s last year.

2)On the public land I hunt. I would take a 100 inch.

3)I would rather shoot the 170 but I know a 130 is great for public. I would be happy with a 130 public any day.

4)I wouldn\'t pay much. I am a poor hunter. I would be just as proud of a 130 public or 140 from my private as paying to hunt somewhere. I am not out to impress anyone. I have several P&Y bucks just hanging in the garage, basement, and in the house. I have not registered any.

 

[iccyman001]

1) Depends on my location state wise and surrounding area. If I was in Kansas like someone I know, with access to prime deer land with no pressure, then I am not shooting anything 140 or less. However, if I am surrounded by hunters, pressured land, or I am in a state with smaller deer, then I would hold out for a mature buck (determined by that area. Could be a 150\" in Kansas or could be a 100\" in Maine)

2) This one is similar to my first answer. First it depends on my location, then it depends on my freezer status, and finally on how much I have scouted.
The freezer status is pretty self explanatory. If I need meat, then I am shooting the first ok buck I see that looks like he has some meat.
If the freezer is good to go, then I am holding out.
Next we have location. In Oklahoma where I hunt, I know there are bigger deer and lower pressure. So I am holding out on bigger deer. I have two tags so again, if the freezer is looking good, I am holding out for a 125\" minimum in Oklahoma. Where I hunt in Mass and Maine though, it\'s a whole different story. If I don\'t kill the buck that I see, he will be in someone else\'s freezer come shotgun season, so I will not be too picky.
Finally ties in all of those, plus scouting. Oklahoma I have down and scouted very well. I know the inventory and I know what to pass or keep.
However, lets say I go do a Nebraska trip or Missouri trip this year and I only have a week to hunt. Well I just paired anywhere from $225 a tag in MO to $500+ in NE. I also don\'t have much scouting in the area, so I am going to shoot any fair buck that I see. Now depending on my freezer situation again, fair buck could mean I am passing things 110\" or less.

3) Public land 130\" any day hands down for me. This is a tough question to answer because these are two different types of hunters I think. Both very skilled we have the person who really enjoys quality deer management on the other hand we have the guy who makes it a goal every year to harvest a mature deer from public land. The reason I chose public land is I enjoy battling them in their conditions and to add to that I am battling other hunters.

4)I\'ll tell you what, whenever Tim gives me a $ amount to come hunt his prime land, I will let you know. :haha:

 

[mainebrdr]

Interesting questions Brad. I can only answer question number one in my particular situation if you are talking about whitetails. I hunt only private ground because of where I live. I would have to drive a ways to get to public ground. As far as what is the min. size I would take, that has changed with my ageing. As I get older, the experience involved is taking on more importance than size. If there is something unique or different about the animal or the circumstances involved leads to a great hunt, that is what is most desirable. So to answer the question, probably in the 140\'s would be my minimum right now.

Question #3 is interesting from the perspective that no guidelines were given as far as cost or availability. So all things being equal, how many would choose public over private?

#4 I would pay very little if any for a chance to shoot a 170 class buck. Yes, I know, Francis is saying \'That\'s easy for you to say\' but hunting has always been for enjoyment not accomplishments. Also If someone tells you they can get you a shot at a 170 class whitetail, look closely and you\'ll see some tall impediments to creature movement!

And Dan, that whitetail rack I held a few weeks ago is an absolutely great one coming from either public or private and from anywhere in the country! But seriously, the white t-shirt has got to go!

 

[iccyman001]

And Dan, that whitetail rack I held a few weeks ago is an absolutely great one coming from either public or private and from anywhere in the country! But seriously, the white t-shirt has got to go!

I am so excited for this upcoming year! I am going to try as hard as I can to take two more nice bucks from that same area.
I\'ll be going in with a 125\" minimum for starts.

I had at least 5 to 8 that I was watching last year that were around the 110-130\" area, a few in their 40s, and I think another that might touch low 50s.
So I am antsy to see what they will be looking like this year.


As for the camo, I make no promises..... :lol:

 

[cnelk]

Thanks for the replies and input guys.

Some more questions:

What would be the biggest differences of a 130\" buck on public land and a 130\" deer on private land?
Is the buck less cautious on private land? Would the buck on public land more nocturnal?

 

[iccyman001]

Thanks for the replies and input guys.

Some more questions:

What would be the biggest differences of a 130\" buck on public land and a 130\" deer on private land?
Is the buck less cautious on private land? Would the buck on public land more nocturnal?

So many things could go into this Brad. If the private property that you\'re hunting is big enough where they have both their bedding area, travel route, and food, zero pressure, no trespassers, and you hunt them properly, then the deer could be calm.

However, certain areas of public land that we all hunt, they are just as low pressured because no one in their right mind would go after these deer

I think the common denominator for both of these areas is pressure.
The amount of pressure and the way people hunt can push a buck to go nocturnal if they know something is up!

But lighter pressure without scaring the bucks too much, then they are going to follow their natural cycles I.E pre rut, rut, peak rut, post rut, etc..

 

[mainebrdr]

Brad, around here I don\'t think there is much difference. Some of the private land around here gets hunted harder than public. People buy 40 acres just so they can hunt deer, then hunt it hard all season and wonder why they don\'t see deer after the first week of the season.

Whole books have been written on the correlation between cover, pressure, and deer populations. Not much different than elk in that regard.

A quick related question. Does anyone remember an old hunting related TV show called Diamond Adventures?

 

[iccyman001]

Tim,

I always tried to imagine how much land I would actually need as a minimum if I were to ever buy a property for whitetail.
My current minimum is about 250 yards, depending on location.


Ultimately I would to buy a large plot of land that backs up to a GIANT plot of BLM/State/ other public land.

That way I have my own land, private access to the backside of public land, and a good chance at QDM.