Comparing Public vs Private Hunting Land

When you plan for a hunting trip, you have to figure out what you will hunt and in what way you will hunt. Plan ahead and purchase all the hunting equipment you need at surplus equipment. After you figure that out, you have to decide whether you will hunt on public land or private land. Either option has its pros and cons. Here is a summary to help you make the best choice for your hunting trip.

Private Hunting Land Advantages

Private hunting land has grown in popularity over the years. Owners of vast pieces of land are making their open land available for hunters to enjoy. A major benefit of hunting on private land is that it is less likely for the land to be overhunted. There is less pressure on the hunter because they are not faced with a situation where animals are difficult to locate because the animals are very aware that they are being hunted, and they hide. The landowner can control the number of hunters using their land so their property will not be overcrowded with hunters. For any hunter who does not want to feel any pressure on the hunt, hunting on private ground is the way to go.

Fortunate hunters will be granted rights by the owner to use their private land. For those who are not lucky enough to get that right, they have alternatives. One option is by leasing private hunting grounds. Some landowners lease their private land to any hunter who wants to use their land. This is an easier way to increase access to good-quality hunting grounds for more hunters.

Landowners can make money from leasing their land, which means they can contribute more to the conservation and care of their land. This is good for the environment and the ecosystem because the hunting land becomes sustainable.

Private Hunting Land Disadvantages

The main disadvantage of private hunting land is the cost. For hunters who know the landowner personally, they might not have to pay, but leasing private land will cost money. Leasing goes by the number of acres you want, so it is important that you decide how much land you want to hunt on.

Public Hunting Land Advantages

There are different types of public hunting lands. These include lands owned by the federal government, the state, and by local authorities. Local public hunting grounds are managed by the government body that has jurisdiction in the town where the hunting land is. In general, local hunting grounds are less popular than land owned by the state or by the federal government. Less crowds means less pressure. Lands owned at the state and federal levels are also typically managed well.

On the other hand, some hunters actually like the challenge of competing with a bigger crowd of hunters. To them, it is an advantage. When they get their big trophy on public land, they can have lots of bragging rights!

Public Hunting Land Disadvantages

While some hunters welcome the challenge of the added pressure because it makes the kill more rewarding, for other hunters who don’t like the pressure, it is a major disadvantage. A large number of hunters on the same land makes it more difficult to have a successful hunt. Also, with so many hunters close together on the public land, there is a much higher risk of hunting accidents.

Here are some tips for purchasing hunting land.