Don't be THAT guy!

[LightningBG]

Just curious, why hunt ON the property line and limit your shooting area by 50%. Common sense would tell me to back off a little cover a larger area. Unless you plan to shoot across property lines?

Seems to me, if you want to cover as much area as possible, would want to be as close to the property line as possible. (with your back to it).

[LightningBG]

So, lots of people complaining about the neighbors. I'm just wondering where people should be going on their own land?

Lets take terrain out of the equation, because its impossible to quantify.

So here we have Johnny B Good and he's go his 20 acre plot that he's been saving up for for the past decade.... There are other hunters in almost all of the adjacent property.... Where should Johnny set up?

[tunrevir]

Good debate and good suggestions and points to take into account. Some serious, some funny but unethical(I loved the mothballs idea). As I said to start the post. The guys in reference are within their legal right to be where they are. I think that in both instances it was more due to laziness then woods savvy as to where they set up because they didn't have to clear shooting lanes when they could shoot along/over the fence. I haven't had a chance to actually speak to one of the hunters but did get a chance to speak with the second guy and had a civil conversation with an amicable end result. I don't want to get into a peeing match with anyone and respect their right to sit where they do but I may have issues with them walking on to get a deer when we are hunting adjacent to them. As I stated before, if they did a bit of work clearing shooting lanes and backed off the line say 20-30 yards into the woods I wouldn't have even brought it up but seeing the stand where the guy cleared brush to the fence leads me to believe he will shoot over the fence if the oppurtunity presents itself. Yes, I can be a turd and sit and police the line but have chose to leave him be untill I get a chance to actually talk with him. I have found stands on my property on numerous occassions even though it was posted and actually saw guys that had the cahones to sit in them while I was on stand(one thirty yards from me and another 60 yards from me)! That in part, is why I erected a single strand fence to keep some folks honest. In all the years I have been here, I have had one person actually ask for permission which I granted because he asked and was respectful of my conditions. I have collected a half dozen stands off my property and had two people actually call and come get them. The others neglected to call or come get them which leads me to believe they knew exactly what they were doing. My name and number is on the no trespassing signs. I have kids that are starting to hunt and things may get a bit crowded in the future and I would hate to see any accidents happen due to stray shots so I have that on my mind as well.

Tunrevir~

[wildernessbob2063]

I think Option 3 maintains the quality of hunt for all those involved. You can't tell me that someone who owns 20 acres and sets up on the edge is just hunting their own land. If hunting their own land was the goal they would not have decided to hunt the line.

What’s actually happening is Jonny B Good is inviting his 4 buddies to hunt with him on his 20 acres which leaves them no choice but to hunt on the line because they don't have enough room. I've got ANOTHER neighbor who thinks this is a viable option. Let me tell you, I COUNT the days until the gun season is over.

[shortfatguy]

I think Option 3 maintains the quality of hunt for all those involved. You can't tell me that someone who owns 20 acres and sets up on the edge is just hunting their own land. If hunting their own land was the goal they would not have decided to hunt the line.

What’s actually happening is Jonny B Good is inviting his 4 buddies to hunt with him on his 20 acres which leaves them no choice but to hunt on the line because they don't have enough room. I've got ANOTHER neighbor who thinks this is a viable option. Let me tell you, I COUNT the days until the gun season is over.

So what if Jonny hunts alone and doesnt have any trails through the middle of his land but there are many along the edge but o his property? Maybe he put the time and effort in and scouted for the best area and it just happens to be close to the edge. Maybe he has the best stand location for the prevailing wind with his back right on the line. Why do people have to be suck jerk-baits? What some of you have done or suggested is rude and a crime. It is called hunter harrasment. If there is evidence of tresspassing or shooting across the fence call the CO. Until then leave him alone!!

[LightningBG]

I personally hunt a 10 acre parcel with no problems. I am not set up on a property line due to terrain, but if the terrain warranted it, I would for sure. I also hunt a 90 acre parcel and I have to be more careful on the 90 than the 10.

I'd pick #2 above.

I would choose this option strictly for the safety of those around me. I want as much area as possible out in front of me to minimize the chance of a bullet coming anywhere remotely near someone else.

[Bear55]

Lightning you bring up a good point about safety. However if you are just talking about covering more ground at a specific range (say 100 yards) you will do yourself a favor by hunting within 75-100 yards of the property lines and be able to cover another 100 yards further into your own property. Your coverage lines seem to favor option 1 & 2 but may not accurately cover as much area as option 3.

Your safety option might also mean the safest path for your bullet which is important but it could also put you in harms way if you have neighbors shooting at the property lines.

[LightningBG]

Bear, I agree with all of that.

[bikeoutback]

I'm glad some of you are not my neighbor... I'll keep the neighbor's I have. I only have 40 acres and have 3 of us hunting it. Stands are set based on scouting and 4 of the 5 are well inside my property lines. My 5th stand is very close to the north east corner, however can't be 100% sure where the line is as it's not staked. I discussed this with my neighbor prior to hunting season. I'll mention I'm the new guy in the neighborhood and only been here since September and this was the 2nd time I had even talked to him, first was when I was looking at buying the house and land. His exact words: "I'll honor your stakes if you have it staked, otherwise I could care less where the exact line is at just don't litter on my property. If you want I can set you up here and here also as I only bow hunt." Not talked to my neighbor behind me but have heard he's much more of a "stay off my property at all costs and times" kind of guy which is fine and I'll respect that also. But I prefer the relationship I have with my other neighbor. I'm hunting the corner and possibly over his property as it's very hard to tell but he also bird hunts my property as I have better bird habitat. Each of us stays respectful of the other's land but at least we don't have these arguments over the property line.

I didn't grow up with land, I grew up in the cities but I did grow up to at the very least respect my neighbors. Most of my neighbors have been friends that as kids we played together and as adults we have fun doing BBQs and watching kids grow up. What ever happened to communities where people were friendly and helped each other out??

[vitalshot5]

Exactly!!!!! If ya see me shoot on your land call the CO....until than kiss off!!!!!

[Stcloudangler]

+1 ^^^^^

[InTheNorthwoods]

An awful lot of selfish comments on this thread in my opinion. As long as someone hasn't done anything wrong, I say its nothing to worry about. If you didn't want someone sitting in that spot, you should have bought the neighboring land yourself.

The neighbor owns his whole property right up to your property line. There is no buffer zone that neither party are not allowed to utilize. IMO, it's a heck of a lot easier to be friendly with your neighbors than it is to start childish whizzing contests with each other.