A lost spot

[island guy]

What would you folks have done with this situation?

I've been doing a bit of scouting and had kind of settled on a tiny flooded area of a large public hunting area. This morning I drove out to take a final look before the weekend. I was not alone. Another fellow was there checking out the same spot. I decided I would chat with him to see if we had our eyes on the same spot and ask if he was hunting alone, if he wanted to share the spot. It's very small but would be fine for two. Before I could get a word out, he went off on me. Said he was going to be sitting on that spot well before sunrise and if anyone else showed up there would be "h*** to pay".

At my point in life, I don't need the hassle so I just left. I think I'll just clean the garage this weekend and find something to hunt on during the week days.

I may be a wimp, but I just didn't feel like meeting up with this guy on Sat. when he had his shot gun in hand.

[Mark Christianson]

Call the local CO and have him tag along to listen from the bushes.

I don't honestly think I would have done it any different.

Its sad that people like him think they own the world.

[magnumthunder]

I Like Biglakebass's idea!! Never Know you might just got the spot to yourself the rest of the season!

[ChuckN]

Holy moly island guy!

This person has issues and doesn't deserve to hold a license IMO. Sounds like a threat. Don't be afraid to call the CO and talk about this. I would also entertain BLB's idea with the CO.

[Fish_Off]

It's sad day isn't it island guy when two hunters can't even share a spot anymore. I sure hope this isn't a sign of things to come for me this weekend.

[ATM]

island guy i have been hunting the same slough for five years on public land near wilmar. last year we got to the spot and there was 4 guys sitting on the bank. This was about an hour before shooting time. I asked them how long they had been waiting and they replied that they had been there since 2am. Then another guy says ya we saw u shoot some birds here last year so we wanted to get here early to beat u to the spot. All i could do is bite my tongue and scramble to find another slough. My opener this year will be on monday. I love having weekdays off wife is at work and there is less hunters to compete with. good luck Adam

[whitewolf6647]

What a tool!! Sounds like that guy has some serious issues. You did the right thing don't stoop to his level it's nothing but trouble. That right there is a prime example why I don't hunt public land on weekends. Like ATM said it's nice having weekdays off almost no one out on the public land and if you do happen run across someone especially around this area there's another wildlife area usually less than 2 miles away. There area getting to be alot more peole hunting during the week though I found the last couple years especially.

[Guest]

My cousin was kicked off his own land while deer hunting a couple years ago.. he is not a small guy, but had no interest in gunplay(as nobody should to settle dispute).

He was hunting well within the boundaries of his own property and was approached by another hunter insisting my cousin leave his own property in a very threatening way..

My cousin called the CO and shortly after he was there in plain clothes acting like he was a hunter and got the same treatment.. threatened..

The CO immediately had the guy taken away, and his vehicle was towed a few days later.. somebody wasnt happy about that conduct.

[BLACKJACK]

Good story That Guy, the guy got what he deserved.

island guy, a call to the CO would be merited here, maybe thats the spot the CO would monitor on Sat/set up a sting like biglakebass says. Guys like that need to be taught a lesson. They've learned that thru aggressive behaviour that they can intimidate 98% of the population. He's probably the same guy that tailgates and drives aggressively on the highway and had a big deer stand on public land, claiming that spot for himself. Call the CO.

Thats the bad part about hunting public land, how many hours before opener do you have to be there to claim your spot?

[Kodiak]

i would get there @2am and leave a big greasy pile for him! right in the prime sitting spot. Or take a handfull of shiny nickels or something real shiny and sprinkle them everywhere to make the ducks flair when they get close and see that shine! If it was me i would get there real early and set up shop with a couple buddies and make claim. If he gives you flak when he gets there just have a CO on speed dial and hand the phone too him. We dont need them types hunting with us!!!

[FOOT]

By all means there should be a CO involved. Tell him exactly what happened and ask him to come along. He may or may not be able to tag along but he should be aware of what's going on and may be able to stop by and check things out later on.

If he can't go with you I guess I would find another place to open. No need getting in a big hassle where someone may be hurt. It's too bad there are people out there like this, I hesitate to call them hunters.

I ran into a similar situation the 2nd day of the season in the early 80's when a friend and I pulled in to hunt a pot hole in the backwaters of the Mississippi. We got to the spot early and as we approached we saw about 2 dozen ducks on the water. Being very quiet we sat in the tall grass and waited. Soon a couple of boats came along and beached by ours. By their voices we could tell they were not happy we were there.

They approached us and said "what the h--- are you guys doing here, can't you see this is our spot. We left our decoys out overnight to hold it so you need to get the h--- out of here."

A voice from the tall grass sang out "Oh those are your decoys".

Yup it was a warden. Six guys tagged w/ leaving decoys out on public land, no plugs in their guns, 2 w/o signed Federal Stamps and lead shot.

My friend and I got the pot hole. It was after first light what with the ticket writting and decoy pickup but we still had a fairly good time after everyone else left.

Never did see those guys again in the backwaters.

[Willy]

I would have done the same thing you did. It's not even worth the hassle. Guys like that are why I for one, am getting turned off from hunting more and more each year. It's not worth the hassle and fighting that comes with hunting public land. Most hunters are good guys, but there is a good sized share of them that are like the guy you are talking about.

I'd love it if the CO's could take care of things like this all the time, but the reality of it is, most don't have time for things like this.

Oh man, stuff like this just [PoorWordUsage]es me off!

[Kodiak]

GREASY PILE eat chinese at night, drink big cup o coffee in morning.

[Sartell Angler]

GREAT story FOOT! I bet you were glad to hear that CO pipe in with those words.

The truth of the matter is that there are far too many wannabes out there who don't have any business being out there. A lot of them think that they own a spot and jump to conclusions if you even set foot near them. If these types were nonexistant in the field I guarantee a lot more friendships would be forged each season as small groups collaborated for hunts and singles paired up, etc.

Think about it--if you are a duck flying over a lake, which situation would you feel more comfortable with.

1) 5 groups on one small lake, each consisting of 2 dozen mallard decoys and a half dozen goose floaters

2) ONE group on the lake, with a ton of dekes?

Not only would number 2 be more effective, it would also open up the opportunity to make some new friends out there. My recommendation for this thread's starter is to get out there early and put a request into the warden. When the guy shows up, offer to share a blind before he has time to say anything. If he puts up a big fuss, inform him that you have every right to be there and that the game warden is in close proximity because you forsaw a bad situation with him. If he still doesn't calm down, tell him to take a hike. No moron in this world could stop me from hunting on Saturday, or any day of the season that I didn't have class or some other commitment.

SA/wdw

[Gus]

Personally, if I really wanted to hunt the spot I'd at least try to get out there before him. A call to the CO might not be a bad idea since he did threaten you. You could contiune to scout and find a new place or just hunt later in the season like you mentioned. Since it is public land you have just as much right as him. I'd make sure to have my cell phone with the local authorites and CO's number programmed just in case.

[Mark Christianson]

I feel sorry for the guy that shows up not even knowing this crackpot is there.

[Fish_Off]

These are the types of hunters that just kill me. They come out an hour ta a half an hour before shooting time and tell you ta get outta there spot because they were the ones that hunted it last year or some line like that. It's crazy to expect me to know where everone hunted last year and expect them to come back and be in the same spot. How am I supposed to know you hunted here last year and more importantly why should I care? sadly it is getting to the point where guys can't even go out and enjoy a nice day on the slough anymore.

"A bad day on the marsh beats a good day at work."

[radke22]

What about this scenario: You pull up to a place that you hunted the week before, your there 2 hours before you can legally put out decoys. As you pull up you notice that there is another truck waiting at the shoreline. You are set for speed, I mean the boat is in the water and dog and decoys loaded in 10 minutes. Just as you are about to leave one of the guys comes over and says that they have dibs on the point, the only point on the body of water. What would you do? P.S, there were 150-200 goldeneyes and bufflehead on this 2 acre lake the weekend before, 2nd to last weekend.

[set the drag]

you know what I would do is high tail my (Contact US Regarding This Word) out their before he gets their if hes not in the spot its not spoken for. happens all the time to me. someone asks were im going I say were and they say thats their spot to bad if I make it their before you remember speed kills.

[radke22]

Funny thing, they had a 10hp gas motor and I had a 30lb thrust minnkota. They were about halfway across thae lake and I hear the motor stop, they tried to start that thing for al least 20 minutes. My freind and I cruised right on by them (10 feet)and they kept saying "we get the spot". Seeing how they were there first, even though I could have easily made it there before them, I gave up the spot. They had a shoot that would rival any hunting video you have ever seen, flock after flock of goldies/buffies. We ended up with 12-8 drake buffies, 2 drake goldeneyes, and 2 hen buffies.

[FOOT]

Radke, were they physically sitting on the point? If not it's fair game to whoever gets there first. Just because they are sitting in a parking lot doesn't mean they can determine/hold a certain spot to hunt.

All of this has to be tempered with caution. I've had a "hunter" wearing a red parka threaten my dog and another promised if they ever met me out of the swamp they would kick the c--p out of me.

The guy who threatend my dog didn't stay around. I had a large Chessie and I guess he didn't want to tangle with her.

He wanted to hunt the same little island I was hunting with 2 other guys and there was no room. He came out at 11:30 and swung his boat into mine and told me to move over cause he was hunting this island as well. Lady (my Chessie) was fairly easy goign but there was something about this guy she didn't like so she sat up and let out one of those low deep growls. It surprised my and I think scared him. He said I'd better keep my dog in check cause he has a shotgun too ya know. Then he pulled away and went hunting somewhere else.

The guy who wanted to kick the c--p out of me later showed up at a local watering establishment. When I asked him if he was still interested he said no and that he has had a rough night the night before and bought me a beer.

Too bad we have people like these 2 that think they are hunters. I would bet they are also likely going to break the hunting regs anytime they think they can get away with it.

[radke22]

They were not physicaly on the point, but they were at the launch point first, and if it was me in there shoes, i'd hope to be treated the same way. The "golden rule" is somthing that I still believe in, but if I get f'ed over down the road things may change.

[B. Amish]

island guy:

just curious, you don't have to tell me exactly where this spot is, but is it northwest of fergus in the red river valley?

if so, i'll know to avoid it, 'cause i had thoughts of hunting there on opener.

[Riverratpete]

I'd like to know where you guys are hunting so that I can avoid running into situations like what you have described. I've hunted primarily public WMA's all over the state and yes even in the metro and never run into theses issues of confrontation/threats about a spot...IMO everyone needs to take a chill pill / deep breath when they get to where their hunting area and remember it's only ducks..its not that important in the big scheme of things and if it is that important who shoots where then them people need to get a life....badly. I mean really, are these people that pathetic...probably..probably the same people that get into road rage incidents, crappy relationships, can't keep a job to save their lives or have incredibly large egos' to go with their little D*&^$. Call the CO and let it go. Try and get a tab# or something also.

[thaJman]

Island Guy,

You should have said "well I am going to be out here at 1:00 AM, so if you can beat that it is all yours"

With no intentions of going back of course, but at least the miserable turd would be sitting out there most of the night.