Public vs Private land.....

[wkyhunter]

Just curious ..... which do you prefer?
Turkey hunting in Kentucky Private or Public land and why??
If you hunt out of state same question.
In Kentucky, I hunt both including a small farm I own. But, I actually prefer to hunt public land. I guess it because I learned to turkey hunt on public ground and enjoy being able to move around more.
Out of state its been all public ground. I don't have the contacts to hunt private out of state and don't want a guided hunt.

[teacher]

It's mostly public land for, but not by choice.. We used to have a real nice spot on public ground, but as the years go by, more and more people have found my sweet spot.. Got cut off twice last year as I was working a bird, someone slips right between us and shoots.. If they were there calling, thats one thing, but I hate doing all the work and never hear a sound from another hunter till they shoot.. Finally killed one on the last day last year behind my parents house..

[bigd33]

I love both, but on public I can go to the west coast offense run-n-gun..

[turk2di]

I would much prefer private ground when possible simply because i hunt public so much it would be nice to hunt a place to myself. When Peabody all but disappeared, i lost a huge chunk of my hunting spots & a large swath of my turkey hunting soul!!

[MikeKy]

I prefer private ground. Never hunted turkeys on public. I like it to be just me against the bird, not me against the bird and the rest of the world. I also feel like there's less chance of getting shot on private and I'm highly in favor of not getting shot.

[Gobbler Getter]

I prefer private ground so I don't have the worry of someone cutting me off while working a bird. I hunt Ft Knox every year and do my best to try to go the extra mile to get as far away from other hunters as possible. I can tell gut wrenching storys of people ruining hunts for me so it is best to avoid that situation if possible. I have a hunting lease and some of the locals who live close to it have my birds call shy on opening day almost every year. So I guess my point is, can you really have a private place where some yahoo can't ruin it through ignorance or just plain spite.

[huntmadd]

I prefer privet but have killed a lot of birds on public.Just have had a few hunts screwed up on public where people try to cut you off when working a bird but that's public hunting.

[WaterDog88]

I have killed some good birds on public, but prefer to hunt private. I have only really had one bad public land experiance and it was when some yahoo shot a bird out from under my 12yr old couisin I had been working during youth season. The guy was not a youth and I called the C.O :mad:

[Iceman35]

I think everyone would prefer their own private paradise. All but one of my birds has been on heavely hunted public ground. Yeah, its tougher, but,being a self taught turkey hunter, has really made me focus on improving my skills. I've tried to figure out where most of the birds go without anyone calling to them, and go there, which a lot of people just won't take the time to do.

[Double B]

I have killed a bunch of gobblers on public in Ky and In and really prefer it due to the huge blocks of acreage and opportunity. I have hunted some private stuff, but settin a decoy in a hayfield is just not me. And I can't stand sitting in a blind! Rather run n gun. Sure I've had some problems with pressure from other hunters but you can get away from them if you're smart. Plus I refuse to pay to hunt (lease). Just my preference.

[hollandhunter]

Finding a good peice of privat land to hunt/Lease here in south central is almost a joke! I have been looking for a piece to lease in south central kentucky for years and everybody is either totally against hunting or have it already leased for the next 10 years or they hunt it theirselfs. One of these days I hope I hit the lottery and I will be able to buy a hunting spot!
:mad:

[Step and a Half]

It's public land for me. If you hunt public land very long you WILL get cut off at some time or another. We were cut off two time last year, while working birds.

[Iceman35]

It's public land for me. If you hunt public land very long you WILL get cut off at some time or another. We were cut off two time last year, while working birds.

I second that. I try to get to the parking lot way, way before anybody else and try to get to the opposite side of the turkeys from everyone else. Seems to work a little better. I get cut off a little less and the turkeys don't seems to mind.

[AOBHUNTER]

I'm fortunate to have permission for some private land in Falmouth and Dry Ridge, I love it. I tried a public do it yourself hunt in Florida without much success, alot of traffic came through, most weren't hunters. This year I'm trying for a private land hunt in Fl. but a do it yourselfer. Wish me luck.

[turkey]

Public land just depends what day of the week and year...it is a cheap method to hunt...no up keep, property expense etc...if only sportsmen would hunt it that be great...instead you have to put up with and beat joe blow...find the hills and loose the hunters best public land advice I can give...

[WaterDog88]

find the hills and loose the hunters best public land advice I can give...
Thats some good advice...

[stratos907]

I have been hunting turkeys on Peabody for 15 years and I love it. It has shrank quit a bit but still very good hunting. I learned to turkey hunt here when it was still virgin. But now for a hunter to come from private hunting conditions, or a new hunter to learn it can be tough an frustrating. You have to be willing to hunt two hills farther and two hours longer than the next guy. Persistance kills turkeys on public ground.