Stand on Crown Land

[410001661]

I couldn't agree more Sinker !

It's much harder to turn the other cheek than be aggressive as your first instinct is to kick the guy out, but it's a much better thing to do to take the high road in these situations. You make a lot more friends this way instead of enemies.

The other guy will be grateful, and is more likely to help you one day if you need help, like loading an animal on your truck or giving you a boost when your truck wont start.

The other thing to remember is that hunting is not something that is handed down generation after generation as much as it once did. I know lots of new hunters that have no family history of hunting and have just 'taken it up'. In doing so they are not only learning the technical aspect of hunting (playing wind, stand placement, times to hunt, bush skills) but they are also learning the social norms of hunters (what to do/not to do, what to say/not to say) and this can take some time and sometimes all it takes is some kind words and encouragement along the way to make a great difference.

[Sam Menard]

The other thing to remember is that hunting is not something that is handed down generation after generation as much as it once did. I know lots of new hunters that have no family history of hunting and have just 'taken it up'. In doing so they are not only learning the technical aspect of hunting (playing wind, stand placement, times to hunt, bush skills) but they are also learning the social norms of hunters (what to do/not to do, what to say/not to say) and this can take some time and sometimes all it takes is some kind words and encouragement along the way to make a great difference.

Without proper mentors, maybe some of these new hunters aren’t learning proper etiquette.

[greatwhite]

Possibly but being nice is common sense.

[410001661]

Possibly but being nice is common sense.

......true and so is not sitting in a stand or using equipment that is NOT yours. Not to quote my mother but two wrongs do not make a right. Sometimes common sense and hunter edicate is not all that common amongst hunters - we see it all too often.......equipment thefts, equipment damage, trespassing, and regulation rule violations. Why do you think that is........entitlement, greed, or something else?

[MikePal]

Two local guys, lifelong friends and Hunters.... the greatest guys 51 weeks a year...but when it comes hunting absolutely a Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde scenario. They become complete a-holes with everyone. The neighborhood has hundreds of stories of their nasty antics thru the years. It got so bad they even divorced each other (1/2 owners of the camp) . Huge squabble over basically nothing. HaHa.

When it comes to hunting, a lot of guys lose their common sense

[impact]

I have a fond memory of sharing someone else's stand just about 40 years ago.
It was my first solo bear hunt in northern Quebec and was green around the ears about it.

I was staying at a decommissioned DEW base with a friend who had purchased a home there for pennies on the dollar and used it for hunting activities. We hunted a few days for moose together then went our separate ways.

I did some scouting in the general area and found a spot with fresh bear activity. There was also a ground blind that was unoccupied at the time so settled in around 3 PM that afternoon. About an hour later, here comes an old Westphalia van down the bush trail. It stops near the stand, the driver eyeballs me and proceeds on to do a u-turn down the trail and bogs the van down in soft sand.

Revving the engine, spinning tires and trying to jack the vehicle out with no luck after 20 minutes I said to myself "Oh well" my hunt is over now so might as well go and help him. I had a 3/4 ton Chev 4x4 at the time with a heavy chain and made quick work of pulling him out.

I asked him if the stand was his and he acknowledged but said that since I was there first then he would move on to another spot.
He also indicated that he had been working at getting a large bear that had been visiting the area and wished me luck in getting it.
What a classy gentleman this guy was I was thinking to myself.

Without hesitation I invited him to his stand and struck a deal. If the large bear showed up he would take it and if a lesser one did then I would do the shooting. Turns out that this was one of my most memorable hunts ever.

Turns out that Karl was a retired Lufthansa 747 and earlier ex Luftwaffe Junker ju 87 pilot during WWII.
His passion was bear hunting and he did this worldwide. All the exotic places he hunted like Romania and Alaska just to name a few.
He was dressed in his Bavarian hunting gear and even placed a plaid wool blanket on his knees to keep warm. He brought out a couple of the small airline liquor bottles and we cheered a toast to good health together. We quietly chatted and I remember how mesmerized I became with his stories.

Sure enough, at dusk here comes a bear. Karl put up his drilling on it, paused for a moment, turned to me and said "not my bear".
That was my cue to take the shot with my 30-06 followed by a second as it ran down a ravine. It expired there and after roping it I pulled him up with the truck and we gutted and loaded him into the back of my 3/4 ton.

Turns out that Karl was also staying at the base in another home just down the street. He offered and helped skin it the following morning in which I had a taxidermist turn the rug and head mount into my first bear trophy.

Moral of the story is be nice with the people you encounter. You never know how it could become the best hunt of your life.

[Ahuntr300]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful story Impact.

MikePal is right, most hunters are super nice and kind people that will go out of their way for you, but something happens at hunting time that turns them into monsters ready to destroy your tree stand with you in it LOL, and cut the tire valves off your truck LOL, in revenge for a small and temporary infraction by another hunter.

This fall if this happens to you, take a deep breath and think before you let Dr. Jekyll out.

[huntnmachine]

......true and so is not sitting in a stand or using equipment that is NOT yours. Not to quote my mother but two wrongs do not make a right. Sometimes common sense and hunter edicate is not all that common amongst hunters - we see it all too often.......equipment thefts, equipment damage, trespassing, and regulation rule violations. Why do you think that is........entitlement, greed, or something else?

Agree 100%

[huntnmachine]

I have a fond memory of sharing someone else's stand just about 40 years ago.
It was my first solo bear hunt in northern Quebec and was green around the ears about it.

I was staying at a decommissioned DEW base with a friend who had purchased a home there for pennies on the dollar and used it for hunting activities. We hunted a few days for moose together then went our separate ways.

I did some scouting in the general area and found a spot with fresh bear activity. There was also a ground blind that was unoccupied at the time so settled in around 3 PM that afternoon. About an hour later, here comes an old Westphalia van down the bush trail. It stops near the stand, the driver eyeballs me and proceeds on to do a u-turn down the trail and bogs the van down in soft sand.

Revving the engine, spinning tires and trying to jack the vehicle out with no luck after 20 minutes I said to myself "Oh well" my hunt is over now so might as well go and help him. I had a 3/4 ton Chev 4x4 at the time with a heavy chain and made quick work of pulling him out.

I asked him if the stand was his and he acknowledged but said that since I was there first then he would move on to another spot.
He also indicated that he had been working at getting a large bear that had been visiting the area and wished me luck in getting it.
What a classy gentleman this guy was I was thinking to myself.

Without hesitation I invited him to his stand and struck a deal. If the large bear showed up he would take it and if a lesser one did then I would do the shooting. Turns out that this was one of my most memorable hunts ever.

Turns out that Karl was a retired Lufthansa 747 and earlier ex Luftwaffe Junker ju 87 pilot during WWII.
His passion was bear hunting and he did this worldwide. All the exotic places he hunted like Romania and Alaska just to name a few.
He was dressed in his Bavarian hunting gear and even placed a plaid wool blanket on his knees to keep warm. He brought out a couple of the small airline liquor bottles and we cheered a toast to good health together. We quietly chatted and I remember how mesmerized I became with his stories.

Sure enough, at dusk here comes a bear. Karl put up his drilling on it, paused for a moment, turned to me and said "not my bear".
That was my cue to take the shot with my 30-06 followed by a second as it ran down a ravine. It expired there and after roping it I pulled him up with the truck and we gutted and loaded him into the back of my 3/4 ton.

Turns out that Karl was also staying at the base in another home just down the street. He offered and helped skin it the following morning in which I had a taxidermist turn the rug and head mount into my first bear trophy.

Moral of the story is be nice with the people you encounter. You never know how it could become the best hunt of your life.

Awesome story with a lot of great hunting ethics....thanks for sharing

[Sam Menard]

Impact, thanks for sharing your positive story. Made my day.