Opinion Needed public versus private for the opener?

fish_hedd · 11-12-2009, 08:22 PM

i have the option of hunting wooded travel corridors on otherwise wide open private land (with a rifle) on saturday and sunday, or hunting a tract of public land with heavy oaks and cedars, and lots of ravines (with a muzzleloader). they're only 6 miles apart, so travel's not an issue. i think the public might be a vacuum for deer that get bumped off other property, but i've never hunted the private and regardless of where i go, i want to put some meat in the freezer.

i was actually thinking of hunting mornings and evenings from a ladder stand on the private, and doing some still-hunting and short stand sessions on the public during mid-day.

any thoughts from wily veterans of Nebraska deer seasons past? i've shot plenty of deer back in Michigan, but this is my first season here.

any opinions or insights would be appreciated -- hunt safe this weekend!

Alex T. · 11-12-2009, 08:31 PM

if the public ground will get used by others along with other private grounds in the area,I'd be on private ground all day and not leave the stand/blind. Most deer will get pushed around very early a.m.(I'd be in my stand about 2hrs. before shooting time to beat the guys that were hunting the properties around us) while guys are walking to their stand/blind,after guys get tired of being in the stand/blind and leave late morning for a break,again early afternoon when guys head back into the area,and then lastly when guys shoot in the evening or decide they had enough for one day and leave that dreaded 15 minutes before the end of shooting time cause "they ain't gonna see anything those last few minutes".

Add in the pre-rut/rut and God only knows when the wall hanger will move by your stand. If ya just want meat in the freezer,show up and shoot the first doe ya jump up.

Alex

fish_hedd · 11-12-2009, 08:41 PM

the first big doe i see get to walk almost out of range before i blast her -- wouldn't want to miss a chance at her boyfriend. just cuz i'm filling the freezer doesn't mean i would object to more antlers on the wall...

columbus_area · 11-12-2009, 10:11 PM

If you are going to be the only one on the public land, give it a shot. possible showers on saturday should keep them in the timber and cover. If you're going to be sharing it, I'd stick with private land. As for your thoughts on moving back and forth between the places, I'd pick one and hunt it. They say that the best time of day to hunt the rut is mid day, would hate to miss a shot at "the one" because you got out of your stand early.

mkirk · 11-13-2009, 04:58 PM

Dont count on being the only one on the public, it would be a miracle if you were the only one there during deer season. I would take any private ground even over the best public durring deer season.

slab master16 · 11-15-2009, 09:44 PM

hunted some brand new public land in cedar county all weekend almost every set up i got walked through now thats just a prime example of nebraska public land for you... did shoot a doe but had to hit it on the jog at like 400 yards

**fishinwithdad** · 11-16-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish_hedd

i was actually thinking of hunting mornings and evenings from a ladder stand on the private, and doing some still-hunting and short stand sessions on the public during mid-day.

So what did you go with? Were you successful?

I also hunted public land. I had a doe spook because of voices nearby as she walked to me. That was my best chance at a deer on Saturday. I also had three different people walk through the woods within sight of my stand. I will try harder to find private ground next year... that or I will just stick with bowhunting and say to heck with rifle season.

columbus_area · 11-17-2009, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slab master16

hunted some brand new public land in cedar county all weekend almost every set up i got walked through now thats just a prime example of nebraska public land for you... did shoot a doe but had to hit it on the jog at like 400 yards

Not trying to come down on you by any means, but that doesnt sound like much of an ethical shot IMO. Glad you got her and congrats on the doe.

slab master16 · 11-17-2009, 01:26 PM

i was in a shooting house with sand bags not much to it

fish_hedd · 11-18-2009, 09:34 PM

[QUOTE=fishinwithdad;261099]So what did you go with? Were you successful?

went to the private, as i'd never hunted it before -- just a couple pre-season scouting trips. saw 2 button bucks on saturday (before 8am), but couldn't get a shot at either of them. no luck on sunday. didn't even hear many shots at all either day. been too busy at school this week to get to the public -- oh well. my mantra these days is "PhD... PhD..." sometimes its all that keeps me going...

fishcatcher · 11-18-2009, 11:03 PM

just wondering. how were you in a shooting house on public land?

slab master16 · 11-19-2009, 02:02 PM

up there the land used to be leased until this year and the people who used to hunt it built one and just left it there with chairs and everything in it. pretty sweet spot watched alot of deer out of opening morning and until waves of orange started walking through

11-12-2009, 08:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
fish_hedd fish_hedd is ready for open water. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 157 Thanks: 187 Thanked 44 Times in 26 Posts	public versus private for the opener? i have the option of hunting wooded travel corridors on otherwise wide open private land (with a rifle) on saturday and sunday, or hunting a tract of public land with heavy oaks and cedars, and lots of ravines (with a muzzleloader). they're only 6 miles apart, so travel's not an issue. i think the public might be a vacuum for deer that get bumped off other property, but i've never hunted the private and regardless of where i go, i want to put some meat in the freezer. i was actually thinking of hunting mornings and evenings from a ladder stand on the private, and doing some still-hunting and short stand sessions on the public during mid-day. any thoughts from wily veterans of Nebraska deer seasons past? i've shot plenty of deer back in Michigan, but this is my first season here. any opinions or insights would be appreciated -- hunt safe this weekend! __________________ <°)))>< <°)))>< <°)))>< <°)))>< Get out into God's country.....you'll find Him there. 2010 Counter: haven't been out "Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the mountains and the stars up above. Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth." -- David Polis

11-12-2009, 08:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
fish_hedd fish_hedd is ready for open water. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 157 Thanks: 187 Thanked 44 Times in 26 Posts	the first big doe i see get to walk almost out of range before i blast her -- wouldn't want to miss a chance at her boyfriend. just cuz i'm filling the freezer doesn't mean i would object to more antlers on the wall... __________________ <°)))>< <°)))>< <°)))>< <°)))>< Get out into God's country.....you'll find Him there. 2010 Counter: haven't been out "Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the mountains and the stars up above. Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth." -- David Polis

11-12-2009, 10:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
columbus_area columbus_area has no status. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 71 Thanks: 13 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	land If you are going to be the only one on the public land, give it a shot. possible showers on saturday should keep them in the timber and cover. If you're going to be sharing it, I'd stick with private land. As for your thoughts on moving back and forth between the places, I'd pick one and hunt it. They say that the best time of day to hunt the rut is mid day, would hate to miss a shot at "the one" because you got out of your stand early.

11-15-2009, 09:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
slab master16 slab master16 is scratching on the slate call Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 179 Thanks: 41 Thanked 18 Times in 14 Posts	hunted some brand new public land in cedar county all weekend almost every set up i got walked through now thats just a prime example of nebraska public land for you... did shoot a doe but had to hit it on the jog at like 400 yards __________________ -wiebs-

11-17-2009, 01:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
slab master16 slab master16 is scratching on the slate call Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 179 Thanks: 41 Thanked 18 Times in 14 Posts	i was in a shooting house with sand bags not much to it __________________ -wiebs-

11-12-2009, 08:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Alex T. Alex T. is kinda diggin' the brown stained waders Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: under the doors of a laydown blind Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 5,255 Thanks: 0 Thanked 585 Times in 389 Posts	if the public ground will get used by others along with other private grounds in the area,I'd be on private ground all day and not leave the stand/blind. Most deer will get pushed around very early a.m.(I'd be in my stand about 2hrs. before shooting time to beat the guys that were hunting the properties around us) while guys are walking to their stand/blind,after guys get tired of being in the stand/blind and leave late morning for a break,again early afternoon when guys head back into the area,and then lastly when guys shoot in the evening or decide they had enough for one day and leave that dreaded 15 minutes before the end of shooting time cause "they ain't gonna see anything those last few minutes". Add in the pre-rut/rut and God only knows when the wall hanger will move by your stand. If ya just want meat in the freezer,show up and shoot the first doe ya jump up. Alex

11-13-2009, 04:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
mkirk mkirk has no status. Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: lincoln Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Dont count on being the only one on the public, it would be a miracle if you were the only one there during deer season. I would take any private ground even over the best public durring deer season.

11-18-2009, 09:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
fish_hedd fish_hedd is ready for open water. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 157 Thanks: 187 Thanked 44 Times in 26 Posts	[QUOTE=fishinwithdad;261099]So what did you go with? Were you successful? went to the private, as i'd never hunted it before -- just a couple pre-season scouting trips. saw 2 button bucks on saturday (before 8am), but couldn't get a shot at either of them. no luck on sunday. didn't even hear many shots at all either day. been too busy at school this week to get to the public -- oh well. my mantra these days is "PhD... PhD..." sometimes its all that keeps me going... __________________ <°)))>< <°)))>< <°)))>< <°)))>< Get out into God's country.....you'll find Him there. 2010 Counter: haven't been out "Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the mountains and the stars up above. Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth." -- David Polis

11-18-2009, 11:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
fishcatcher fishcatcher is ready for some turkey hunting Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 170 Thanks: 12 Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts	just wondering. how were you in a shooting house on public land?

11-19-2009, 02:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
slab master16 slab master16 is scratching on the slate call Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 179 Thanks: 41 Thanked 18 Times in 14 Posts	up there the land used to be leased until this year and the people who used to hunt it built one and just left it there with chairs and everything in it. pretty sweet spot watched alot of deer out of opening morning and until waves of orange started walking through __________________ -wiebs-

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