hunting etiquette

[Ryan 09]

how close is too close to be hunting/baiting?

[Rob Stewart]

This spring turkey season I got to a spot of public land and parked in the ONE spot by the road and walked in.

I quietly setup my decoys in a perfect Killzone right where I'd almost called in a Tom a couple weeks before. I was in the corner of the public land near a field and about 50 m from the property line.

At first light I unencased and loaded my shotgun and started to make some light clucks.

About 20 min when by and some jackass hunter walked down the trail toward my Killzone. I saw him and swung my shotgun away and whisper-shouted "Hunter!". He didn't hear so I repeated "HUNTER!"

He stopped and waved his hand in the air but didn't indicate he saw me at all. I watched him cross behind my decoys and head toward the property line.

At this point I had to assume the jackass was somewhere to my right and had set up between me and the private property in the direction I last had a turkey come from. He was either in my sights or I was in his!

I got up, packed up my and walked briskly down the trail back to my car. I won't pretend that I was quiet at this point.

When I got to my car he had parked creatively squeezing in beside me.

I went to another public spot and set up but didn't have any luck at all.

THAT is an example of too close.

If a plot of county forest has one spot to park and I get there and the spot is taken, well TFB for me and I go elsewhere.

If the jackass who didn't follow common courtesy had come up to me that morning we could have arranged something where I knew where he was and where our arcs of fire where.

I had a similar incident where I showed up at a spot to small game hunt and a guy was showing up to bow hunt deer. It's 1500 acres so after talking for a few minutes in the parking lot we went our separate ways.

Wouldn't you know it that we met up deep in the woods! We exchanged numbers and texted each other that day to coordinate our hunts not interfering with each other. I now chat with him fairly regularly and plan to hunt together this year.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[ride.lift.shoot]

Rob Stewart, I think I've shared this story before on the forum, but I had similar occurrence in your neck of the woods last year, I went in about an hour before first light, I get situated in my climber and about 15 minutes later another hunter is walking directly to my tree. A whisper yelling match ensues because he initially thought I was in his climber. Turns out he had left his there from the previous night knowing he would return in the morning. I went in to hunt the spot I had killed my buck the year before, not knowing or seeing that there was a climber attached to a tree about 20 yards away. We came to resolve and when I returned to my truck later that morning I had a note with the guys number, I called him we were both respectful and apologized for the mix up and now text once in awhile and when hunting try to make sure we're not bumping or blowing out each others location. It's nice to know there are still reasonable people out there. Hunters are a fairly marginalized group as it is, so there are no reasons to have adversaries within our community.

[finsfurfeathers]

So to the guys that hunt deer and or turkey ever thought of taping a sketch of the area with a mark to where your set up too the inside of your car window? Would definitely help the next guy coming in to assess to stay or go.

[Snowwalker]

The guy could have been heading deep in to the private land next door were he has permission( lets just assume the best) and would have not been anywhere near you.

The problem was he did not talk to you, or even seem to care. If he was headed to the private land and he knows he will be far from where you are, that still did not help because you can not safely shoot till you know it is safe to do.

Just a quick" hey sorry, I am just cutting through to the land next door. I am going to be down over the next hill and along way from you." Problem solved.

[ride.lift.shoot]

So to the guys that hunt deer and or turkey ever thought of taping a sketch of the area with a mark to where your set up too the inside of your car window? Would definitely help the next guy coming in to assess to stay or go.

That's a good idea. However, for me personally, I'm willing to share my location with someone I've developed a rapport with, but not willing to share it with anyone that pulls up at the trail head for the first time. My time spent scouting for the perfect spot would be wasted if the next guy just goes in and sets up because he knows where I've been.

[finsfurfeathers]

That's a good idea. However, for me personally, I'm willing to share my location with someone I've developed a rapport with, but not willing to share it with anyone that pulls up at the trail head for the first time. My time spent scouting for the perfect spot would be wasted if the next guy just goes in and sets up because he knows where I've been.

yup its a catch 22 , as a bird hunter I got no idea if that park car is a hunter, mushroomer, or whatever so in I'll go. If I know someone is sitting somewhere more inclined to avoid that area.

[FishHog]

Unfortunately that’s the game of hunting public land. You have no more right to be there than anyone else. It sucks but if you can’t live with it find a private spot

[ride.lift.shoot]

Totally understand that, and never claimed to have more right to it than anyone else. That doesn't mean I have to advertise via a window sticker the areas that I choose to hunt within that public land.

It's really not worth getting bent out of shape over someone else using the land, I hunt public land and accept that other users comes with the territory. That said, there are ways to amicably interact with others when crossing paths, which is what the OP intended to discuss in this thread.

[Rob Stewart]

Unfortunately that’s the game of hunting public land. You have no more right to be there than anyone else. It sucks but if you can’t live with it find a private spot

Yep. And that's why I moved on. That's also why I'm not a dick and push myself into a small plot I wanted to hunt when I get there and someone else is already there.

I moved for safety but also cuz he was probably gonna get "my" bird anyway.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk