I have never hunted public land and I'm really happy from the stories that I've heard. I hunt four different farms in Indiana. 20, 57, 80, 120 arces, only myself, my kids and grand kids hunt this land, I'm always with anyone who hunts the land. I own two of them, family owns the rest. The ladder stands have been up for years. One farm in KY 200 arces family owns, several members of the family hunt this land and it's close to the Indiana land and home. 800 arces in SC close friends own this land and we hunt it us pretty hard in Oct and Nov. I consider it a family get to gather rather than a hunt.
Only problem with owning your own land is keeping the general population and their ATV's off your property. They think they own it and you should let them destroy it.