Public Land Etiquette

[mbhunter]

If a hunter like that is never corrected, they may learn that they're doing nothing wrong. I would have politely let him know he was f'ing with my day.

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[RiverRat88]

As a newbie this is almost a crippling fear of mine, messing up someones hunt. If im still hunting squirrel or grouse and see someone ill try and make eye contact, slight wave or something and im gone. I dont want to be that guy as i wouldnt want it happening to me when im at that point. Plus i respect other hunters so if theyre already there well too bad for me they deserve it. One thing ive noticed when bumping into people lately who are headed to or from their stand/blind or people going to setp up or check trail cams is that most people are real nice. They say where theyre set up and where others are so i can try and keep a distance but also say its ok we all deserve a chance as long as we respect eachother. Even got some good tips whuch were honest and have exchanged numbers to keep eachother posted on how it went. I no longer avoid certain tracts when i see a few trucks but im mindful and respectful

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[trimmer21]

As a newbie this is almost a crippling fear of mine, messing up someones hunt. If im still hunting squirrel or grouse and see someone ill try and make eye contact, slight wave or something and im gone. I dont want to be that guy as i wouldnt want it happening to me when im at that point. Plus i respect other hunters so if theyre already there well too bad for me they deserve it. One thing ive noticed when bumping into people lately who are headed to or from their stand/blind or people going to setp up or check trail cams is that most people are real nice. They say where theyre set up and where others are so i can try and keep a distance but also say its ok we all deserve a chance as long as we respect eachother. Even got some good tips whuch were honest and have exchanged numbers to keep eachother posted on how it went. I no longer avoid certain tracts when i see a few trucks but im mindful and respectful

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Nicely done. Respect and consideration for others is what it's all about. You've learned your lessons well. Move to the head of the class.

[Deer Wrastler]

one of my best days for deer sightings was right after the owner of the property beside the one I hunt crashed through the bush and spooked 8 deer in my direction. Then after an hour all the deer started slowly creeping back towards me....then end of legal light happened however an inconvenience it bumped deer my way and this is private property...I would expect the worst on public land. Have not and will not hunt public....find private land its out there....if your reading about the Eberharts youll soon learn that pre season scouting is king and that involves asking permission. Chris Eberharts book is most informational on how to scout for private property. Everyone has the option to hunt private land you just have to hunt down willing owners and sometimes be willing to drive an hour or two. The hard work put in getting private access will make hunting less effort then if you were on public land in the long run. ie leaving a treestand/trail cams/baiting is much easier on public land not to mention competition and controlling the safe areas on the property. We never enter the bedding area cause we arent allowed in the bush but the field and connecting routes to the bush are on property we can hunt and we take deer every year in the same spot and same stands.

[line052]

Twice during rifle season last year on Crown I had new hunters walk within 20M of my stand (did not see ladder stand). Both, in an act of self preservation made me wait until they passed me with guns pointed the other way to speak out.

Both were in the middle of the open field, taking 3 steps and watching the wood line...... in the middle of open field..... Nothing I could do, but say hi, and be friendly.

The second group of two male hunters were so new...they still had leg stickers on Under Armour hunting bibs and coats...plus the butt stock and forestock still had the Savage Axis 2, stickers. The kicker was the perfectly formed and cut beards that beckons to a Starbucks Hunter urban outdoors man, right down to the quilted sheep wool dog ear hats in Hunter orange...

Guns in Axis, 7MM and 300 WSM, if I remember right. Lots of power to kill deers they said...

[MikePal]

I've had guys come by me twice, on ATVs, while I was my stand...they stopped, chatted and then left. No word of a lie, within an hour, on both occasions, I had a deer come into the shooting lane and I shot them.

I figured it was the noise that attracted the deer, they're curios creatures.

So having a few guys walk by may be like dogging, they may flush a deer your way.

[trimmer21]

The best way to hunt public land is to find a quiet spot where there's decent sign,set yourself up,sit down and don't move around. Let other hunters that are bush bashing put Deer up in front of you. There's nothing wrong with hunting public land in that manner. It can be highly productive.

[ride.lift.shoot]

Some good advice and good stories here, thanks guys. This won't deter me from hunting public land, I just needed to vent to some folk that would understand. My wife just said "so what..."

I like the "Starbucks Hunter urban outdoors man" description, top notch!

[Deer Wrastler]

its just as frustrating having trespassers on private property...last year had 3 pheasant hunters walk right past my blind and got them all on camera.

If I hunted public land I would find the escape routes the deer are using and setup down route of the likely spots they would get spooked or bumped from other hunters. When the deer on my property get spooked they really only use 2 or 3 escape routes which are also on routes to secondary bedding areas. Just through watching them get bumped and documenting where tracks are going to and coming from you can use it to your advantage...over time on the same property they're pretty predictable.

[Bonkers]

The fact that some of the comments here show anger at people getting disturbed by other hunters hunting public land is hilarious. They have every right to be there just as much as you. You're in Southern Ontario what do you expect? If you don't like seeing other hunters then its time to invest into some backpacking gear. Strap on some good hiking boots, grab a bivy, some freeze dried food, a map and start walking kilometres away from the closest trailhead. Yes it may require a lot of work but it's worth it in the end to get away from the crowds. The animals are far less pressured