Forums46
Topics539,018
Posts9,744,219
Members87,136
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
Public VS Private
#4794608
11/30/13 10:57 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 91
Wood Duck
OP
Outdoorsman
|
OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 91 |
We have always hunted public water in ETX and NTX. This year, we traded in our CenTex deer lease for a waterfowl lease in NTX. Mind you we are not wearing them out, but it is so nice to drive up and set up on proven water without the worry of competing for a public spot. I think I'm officially getting old.
We still hunt public, but it is nice to have a weekend sure thing.
Anyone it there doing the same?
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Wood Duck]
#4794619
11/30/13 11:02 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830
beaversnipe
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830 |
You are not getting old, you are getting smart. I had some terrific hunts public during the week. But the weekends? Oh my.
There is just not enough public places in north texas, and the oil/gas business screws everything up. Heck they even had 7 earthquackes in azle the last 2 days...fracking anybody?
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Wood Duck]
#4794622
11/30/13 11:03 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,574
Guy
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,574 |
I hunt private for the relaxation, and public for the adventure.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: beaversnipe]
#4794635
11/30/13 11:09 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 25
Hudsonbrother
Light Foot
|
Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 25 |
Only water fowl I've ever hunted is public. Bet it is nice to have a private spot.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Hudsonbrother]
#4794660
11/30/13 11:21 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 391
Going Green
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 391 |
So nice to roll up to my place 30 min before LST, chunk out my dekes, park the truck and walk 50 yds to the blind and shoot a strap of birds. I don't really do public down here. I'd like to keep waterfowling a relaxing activity. Michigan is a different story, just way more places to hunt.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Hudsonbrother]
#4794695
11/30/13 11:40 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943
Ben Lilly
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943 |
Only water fowl I've ever hunted is public. Bet it is nice to have a private spot. No, its like shooting deer at a feeder. I wont waste a dime on pot shooting private ponds next year. The quality of ducks goes way up on public land and the number in the bag doesn't suffer much. Its nice for the duck salesman to get your easy 6 but not much sport to it. im sure other more experienced guys will disagree with me.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: beaversnipe]
#4794718
11/30/13 11:48 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228
Jeff Elder
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228 |
You are not getting old, you are getting smart. I had some terrific hunts public during the week. But the weekends? Oh my.
There is just not enough public places in north texas, and the oil/gas business screws everything up. Heck they even had 7 earthquackes in azle the last 2 days...fracking anybody? Just what does the oil company have to do with public or private Dutchman?
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Ben Lilly]
#4794725
11/30/13 11:50 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,191
Water Turkey2
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,191 |
I'm too old to fight public. I roll out of bed, grab the coffee and honey bun and calmly drive to my lease 20 minutes away. No rush,no worries, no Barneys.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Ben Lilly]
#4794726
11/30/13 11:50 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228
Jeff Elder
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228 |
Only water fowl I've ever hunted is public. Bet it is nice to have a private spot. No, its like shooting deer at a feeder. I wont waste a dime on pot shooting private ponds next year. The quality of ducks goes way up on public land and the number in the bag doesn't suffer much. Its nice for the duck salesman to get your easy 6 but not much sport to it. im sure other more experienced guys will disagree with me. Im so glad in less than one full season in your career as a duck hunter you have mastered all things duck hunting. You should have a TV show or book to share all your knowledge of all things waterfowl that you now have mastered in such short time. You are like a duck hunting wonder!!
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Jeff Elder]
#4794733
11/30/13 11:53 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943
Ben Lilly
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943 |
Only water fowl I've ever hunted is public. Bet it is nice to have a private spot. No, its like shooting deer at a feeder. I wont waste a dime on pot shooting private ponds next year. The quality of ducks goes way up on public land and the number in the bag doesn't suffer much. Its nice for the duck salesman to get your easy 6 but not much sport to it. im sure other more experienced guys will disagree with me. Im so glad in less than one full season in your career as a duck hunter you have mastered all things duck hunting. You should have a TV show or book to share all your knowledge of all things waterfowl that you now have mastered in such short time. You are like a duck hunting wonder!! Thanks Captn J, hows sales going?? I bet they are lining up to buy them duckies.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Ben Lilly]
#4794749
12/01/13 12:01 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 391
Going Green
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 391 |
Only water fowl I've ever hunted is public. Bet it is nice to have a private spot. No, its like shooting deer at a feeder. I wont waste a dime on pot shooting private ponds next year. The quality of ducks goes way up on public land and the number in the bag doesn't suffer much. Its nice for the duck salesman to get your easy 6 but not much sport to it. im sure other more experienced guys will disagree with me. I'd hardly call it "pot shooting". Interested to know how ducks that fly into a public spread are harder to hit? Or maybe its just the fact that you're competing with everyone else? Duck salesman... never heard that one before.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Ben Lilly]
#4794763
12/01/13 12:11 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 733
ArkansasTraveler
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 733 |
This is my first year on a lease. My numbers are way higher in this first split, than all of last season. It's awesome to be able to show up with only enough time to throw out dekes and have a cup of coffee. Plus you know how long your spot has been rested. No jackwagons to deal with. It's really nice.
There is definitely something to be said about fighting a crowd and taking a limit off public, but private sho is nice.
Rooster, your almost as full of it as the beav....almost.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Going Green]
#4794767
12/01/13 12:13 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943
Ben Lilly
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943 |
My luck just hasn't been any better on private. We hunt public and do well comparatively. I'm just finding out that I like the challenge more. They aren't harder to hit but I personally feel a bigger sense of achievement on public. I see the attraction and spent a lot of $$ hunting private for this season but my favorite hunts have been with a few friends on public land so far. Not sure what else to call guides that set you on a baited pothole out at the farm...no offense intended, we all sell something for a living.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Ben Lilly]
#4794778
12/01/13 12:17 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 733
ArkansasTraveler
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 733 |
They key is to pick up a handful of private spots to rotate in with public. Private on weekends, public in the week.
Oh and the art of knocking on doors is still alive! Got permission to hunt a pond from a guy we never met yesterday. Duck city son!
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Ben Lilly]
#4794779
12/01/13 12:17 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228
Jeff Elder
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228 |
My luck just hasn't been any better on private. We hunt public and do well comparatively. I'm just finding out that I like the challenge more. They aren't harder to hit but I personally feel a bigger sense of achievement on public. I see the attraction and spent a lot of $$ hunting private for this season but my favorite hunts have been with a few friends on public land so far. Not sure what else to call guides that set you on a baited pothole out at the farm...no offense intended, we all sell something for a living. Nice. So your guides in Parker county that you duck hunted with baited??? WOW!!!!
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Ben Lilly]
#4794785
12/01/13 12:19 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,398
Pittstate
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,398 |
Depends on where you live and quality of public. It is just like growing big bucks to me.....plant the plots and they will come!
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Jeff Elder]
#4794790
12/01/13 12:22 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943
Ben Lilly
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943 |
My luck just hasn't been any better on private. We hunt public and do well comparatively. I'm just finding out that I like the challenge more. They aren't harder to hit but I personally feel a bigger sense of achievement on public. I see the attraction and spent a lot of $$ hunting private for this season but my favorite hunts have been with a few friends on public land so far. Not sure what else to call guides that set you on a baited pothole out at the farm...no offense intended, we all sell something for a living. Nice. So your guides in Parker county that you duck hunted with baited??? WOW!!!! no sir, they are as reputable as you
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Ben Lilly]
#4794791
12/01/13 12:23 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,090
brock2013
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,090 |
My luck just hasn't been any better on private. We hunt public and do well comparatively. I'm just finding out that I like the challenge more. They aren't harder to hit but I personally feel a bigger sense of achievement on public. I see the attraction and spent a lot of $$ hunting private for this season but my favorite hunts have been with a few friends on public land so far. Not sure what else to call guides that set you on a baited pothole out at the farm...no offense intended, we all sell something for a living. People with private work just as hard as hunting public so the sense of achievement is the same IMO. You don't just walk up on a tank and shoot, you build blinds, scout your tank, plant millet, etc.... You still have to work as hard for private as you do for public. I have and hunt both and have had great hunts on both.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Ben Lilly]
#4794793
12/01/13 12:24 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 391
Going Green
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 391 |
Interesting perspective Rooster. I can't say I agree with you. I get the sense of accomplishment thing, but I get the same sense of accomplishment from working on my property and creating habitat (read: not dumping a truckload of corn in a pond) and love the fact that I don't have to fight with people to enjoy it. You don't just get to do that with public land. Sounds like you've been hunting with some pretty shotty guides if thats what your view on them is. You might have a different opinion if you walked a mile in their shoes.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Going Green]
#4794795
12/01/13 12:26 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943
Ben Lilly
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943 |
I can say that every guide I've hunted with worked hard...so the clients don't have to.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Ben Lilly]
#4794797
12/01/13 12:27 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228
Jeff Elder
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228 |
My luck just hasn't been any better on private. We hunt public and do well comparatively. I'm just finding out that I like the challenge more. They aren't harder to hit but I personally feel a bigger sense of achievement on public. I see the attraction and spent a lot of $$ hunting private for this season but my favorite hunts have been with a few friends on public land so far. Not sure what else to call guides that set you on a baited pothole out at the farm...no offense intended, we all sell something for a living. Nice. So your guides in Parker county that you duck hunted with baited??? WOW!!!! no sir, they are as reputable as you Then why guides and bait in same sentence? Kind of weird you say that
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: Jeff Elder]
#4794818
12/01/13 12:38 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943
Ben Lilly
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943 |
I'll refute the "baited hole" comment. As far as guides I've dealt with, they all work hard. Jeff, you did more to assure a good dove lease than most anyone I have met, Dan has put me in front of more birds than anyone and the Tech boys work their azz off to make it happen. Ive just come to realize its not what I am wanting. I like the challenge of beating public land and all it brings. I did it last year and its what got me addicted to this. Its a forum, I gave my opinion on Public or Private.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: beaversnipe]
#4794880
12/01/13 01:08 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830
beaversnipe
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830 |
The same ducks are flying private or public. We can show you some horrible private places right now, where you have to try out all tricks in your bag to get them in. (Excluding bait of course) I love public and agree with above comments, just don't like the crowds and barneys skyblasting and overcalling. And public is no longer first come first serve. Seen many topwaters setting up 50 yards away from you right at lst and skyblast and overcalling. It sucks, its not challenging, its rude, selfish and annoying One day i will buy my own place and put a sign at the gate that will read: Public hunting only Tresspassers will be prosecuted to the fullest extend of the law. That way i will feel better
Last edited by beaversnipe; 12/01/13 01:20 AM.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: beaversnipe]
#4794937
12/01/13 01:35 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 778
TxHunter96
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 778 |
The same ducks are flying private or public exactly. The few times I've hunted private this year, it was nice not having to worry about someone setting up close, skyblasting, overcalling, etc. Private land doesn't guarantee a limit, that's for sure. Like someone said before, private land is good for relaxing. I've hunted public all my life for various game, and have loved it. I like having options open, where I could hunt a different spot every day of the season if I was inclined to. There's a sense of accomplishment when you take an animal as a result of your hard work and scouting.
Any creature in my vicinity that possesses an explosive penis is going to be killed.
|
|
|
Re: Public VS Private
[Re: beaversnipe]
#4794943
12/01/13 01:38 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,045
David Maas
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,045 |
I have a couple of leases that would drive you to drink, but it is nice when the season wears on to not deal with some camo clad, black hoodie wearing, magazine cover wanna be.
It is also nice to see 100's of birds in the air circling wanting to land, picking out quality birds to eat, sharing time with the kids and not having to worry about some 1yr wonder(not you 1yr, the rookies) ruining it for them.
I'll take a private place over any public hot spot anyday.
NRA Endowed Patriot Life Benefactor GOA Life Member TSRA Life Member NSCA Life Member
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|