GOOD QUESTION! Because its a guaranteed spot to fill my freezer with meat, which is the #1 reason I hunt. If i don't have to buy meat from a grocery store all year long, then I had a good hunting season. Hunting the lease is enjoyable, but its NOT a challenge.

Plus its a good place to hang out with friends. When i hunt on public land its solo ops.

I'd happily drag your deer out of the woods if I were there. When I hunt with my dad and his friend (both are in mid 60's) I consider it a right of passage, and privilege, to haul their deer/elk out for them.

Hunting public land in Colorado is a LOT different than public land in Texas. In Colorado, you can see for miles at times. In Texas, you're lucky to see 20 yards in front of your face.

It's not about who's more noble, about ego's or anything else. It's about what YOU" enjoy. Personally, I enjoy hunting private and public. I will happily sit in my tripod and watch my feeder, but after you get one on public land in Texas, and public land in Colorado, it made feeder hunting seem Real Tame. Not to say I don't enjoy it or judge anyone, But after NOT getting one after 6 years of hunting public land, and then Finally get one on public land for FREE, sitting under a cedar tree on a game trail from 10 yards with a bow, that was pretty cool! The allure is being able to fill my freezer without paying some high dollar ranch or land owner to do it. Hunting in Texas is VERY expensive compared to a lot of other states. I can go elk hunting for 1200$ in Colorado and have a reasonable chance of coming home with something, a decent lease in Texas will cost you 2-3k, easy. Many of you probably spend upwards of 5-10k per year. Thats crazy to me. I don't care about horn size, i want to EAT. And of course I want an opportunity on a mature buck, if possible.

The Indians would have been happy to have wild hogs to eat and feed themselves with too. Which is why I refuse to leave them lying on the ground, It seems disrespectful to our ancestors to leave good meat on the ground to rot.

[/quote]
Exactly, just I'm better than you bs mindset. If that's how you feel go "HUNT" public and compete with everybody for your little 3 yr old scrub buck. I'll keep hunting my way for something worth talking about.

I've got a lease with no feeders or blinds and see 20+ deer a sit. Still don't think a 110" public land buck is superior to my 140" buck killed without feeders, you couldn't pay me to waste a buck tag on a 110" deer, no matter public or private. [/quote]

Yes you don't have any "I'm better than you" in you at all. [/quote]
Get tired of the bull chit comments, you're one of the best at it. Look back on my posts you won't find any saying my lease or deer is better than anybody. Hell you won't find a pic of any of my deer on here or Facebook. When a man claims his puny public buck "is better" I take offence to that. I'm not fat, I am a little bit redneck, and I don't sit in a warm blind over a feeder. To claim you're better at hunting because of where or how you do it is just trying to convince yourself a subpar deer is better than it is. Archery guys burn me up too claiming a 120" with an arrow is better than a 150" with a gun...ok sure it is, whatever makes you feel good about your deer I guess. [/quote]

You sound like a california cupcake.

Can't we all just get along???

We all love to hunt, or we wouldn't be on here. To each their own, however you fill your freezer is entirely up to you, just enjoy your time in the field.

THF wouldn't be fun without a little kicking the hornets nest every now and then

BTW I don't mean to disrespect or judge ANYONE. Hunting is great. In fact, don't even bother hunting on TExas public land, it sucks and you're better off on a high fence somewhere.

you know how much meat the Indians left on the ground for buzzards? they killed for hides and the tounges and left the rest laying on the ground plenty of times.


Nice ideology though

Well by most accounts they used Every single part of whatever they killed. I'm sure there were some exceptions but by and large the Buffalo provided everything from hides, meat, tools, thread, rope, etc etc. Atleast for the Comanches. I can't speak for every tribe.

Last post but had to. This is a public land buck I was chasing this year. Just to prove a point....There is much better to be had, they are smart on public land though, they get hunted harder and lots of them are nocturnal which makes it really tough. Which is why it feels so good to finally get one

Hey now, your gonna ruin his Disney-fueled FantasyLand

I don’t have any Indian ancestors and I don’t have a problem feeding hogs to buzzards and coyotes

And those accounts are mostly bullchit.

They needed meat they killed a few, ate what they could and left the rest unless they could preserve it and carry it off. Many were killed just for hides and tongues and that was it.

To think they only killed exactly what they could eat and that they used every part of the animal every time....well I have some ocean front property you may be interested in if you buy that story.

Btw the Indians were not proponents of public hunting land

Then why do you do it? Is there a rule where you hunt against spot and stalk? Go sit in or under a tree with no feeder if it makes you feel better.

So you can't see more than 20 yards hunting in Texas?

You don't have a clue when it comes to hunting Texas based on your post.

If your all about the meat and keeping cost low you couldn't live in a better state. There are axis does available in the classifieds now for $350.

Pitchfork predator you are exactly right!

Texas has many different regions all of which vary greatly from one another.

He must be hunting east Texas. No wonder he doesn't like it.

Interesting topic.

tt85 I don’t get your mindset about the elk you killed.
Sure, that particular hunt was easy as far as the shot goes - but you put yourself in a position to kill a big-a** elk on public land (maybe an OTC tag but IDK).
Success rates for public land elk in CO are very low. You beat the odds.

Cite your sources.

Lol ok sir.

Yes,Yes thats exactly right...East texas it is

Yes sir! That's exactly right. Go ahead and keep telling everyone that. Thanks!