There is an ongoing debate in recent years over which offers the best deer hunting: public or private land. Like everything else in life, there are pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages to both, but when push comes to shove it really boils down to the property in question. In general terms, public land is often construed as offering less desirable deer habitat, fewer deer, lower quality deer and higher hunting pressure. Private land is perceived to deliver just the opposite, but that isn’t necessarily true. Some private properties have excellent deer habitat, plenty of deer, and offer equally plentiful opportunity, while others are not so blessed. The same is true of some public lands. It goes both ways.
Whatever the philosophy or preference, one thing is certain. Access to private property, especially private property that offers good deer prospects, is growing more and more difficult. Some private owners just don’t like hunting. Some are weary of guns being fired on their land, especially when there’s livestock on the
