It's public land,BUT do I knownly take another hunters spot???

[Benny]

Ok last year I posted about the guy who moved in right on top of me.

He is sitting about 100 yards away and up a 30 foot high hill from me.I can't see him nor can he see me and I doubt he has found my chair I use to sit on.

He has to be facing right at me just by how the hill is situated, and last year he was shooting up a clip a day out there.

Now here is my delema, do I just stay where I am and hope the guy knows I am there this year again?

Or do I get up early enough to drive around the mine dump and beat him to that spot so I can take away his vantage point from over the woods my party hunts in?

I would rather not be like him and think I own the woods just because it is public grounds, but last year when I went to let him know I was just down in the woods from him he wasn't very nice.

Told me that he had every right to be there and that there was plenty of woods between us.

I think the rest of his party hunts up the road about another 1/4 mile, but that is also over looking the same woods we hunt.

Well let me know some of your thoughts on how to deal with this guy.

Benny

[catman71]

you are both right. how about that for an answer? In his defense, when a guy goes out looking for a new spot before the season you have no idea who is where every opening day.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Wow. its a safety issue.. From what you say, I doubt he will change his mind. To me, it really depends on how good a spot this is. If its a wooded area, 100 yards whould be safe.. However, my life is worth a lot more than a deer, no matter how big it is. I know how safe I am.. I do not know how safe everybody else is! I love hunting deer, I love my life more!

[matthothand]

I bowhunt public land and I like to distance myself from other hunters. Last year as I was scouting I found a great area but the second night I hunted I saw another guy walking out of the woods. I never spoke with him and just decided to hunt my other 4 spots. I just didn't want someone else cutting off any deer movement to my stand. If I were in your situation I'd get out and scout and find more than one place to hunt and try to distance your self from other hunters. Let them hunt the obvious spots and once the deer realize they are being pursued they will flock to hiding places. Hopefully your hiding place. Depending on the amount of property you have to work with go in deep (most public land hunters only go a quarter mile from the nearest trail or logging road) and get away from the other orange. The deeper you go the less the hunting pressure will be and hopefully that will improve the quality of your hunt.

[Benny]

I wish it were as easy as moving on to another spot.

I can only post my side of the story as I don't know this other person at all.

My familly has been hunting this same parcel of about 90 acers since my Grandfather was a kid, well over 65 years now.

Up until about 2000 or 2001 it was private land, the two remaining brothers who owned it had a fight one year over who was going to pay the land taxes.

The taxes never got paid for a few years so the county forclosed on the land, and turned in the old home site into a sand pit for work on highway 169.

I tried to buy it a few years back but it went up for auction way to high of a value, so no one bought it.

Now as we all know it is "public land" so this guy does have his right to hunt it and so do I.

Over all I really don't care that they are up on top of the mine dump, which by the way isn't public land!

But he is with in 100 yards of the ridge I sit on, I spent many years working those woods to figure out where the deer always go through at no matter what presure or weather conditions.

Now it isn't safe to sit there if he shoots in my direction, although odds are he would be shooting more down ward or off to the sides as the pines are thick right in front of him.

The loggers came in and wiped out over half the wooded areas so we are down to a 1/4 mile by 1 mile swat of pines and tagalders that the deer run through.

My father is on a ridge to the West of me and my brother is to the East each about 300 yards away and slightly North.

I sit on the groud on an old wood office chair, my father has a small 6 x 6 shack we built for him that we trailer out each fall.

My brother is the only one with a tree stand, but he said it is rotting out to bad to use this year.He is going to move further toward the mine dump and still South East of me by 300 Yards.

The hunters who moved in on us are on Mining company land that was posted at one time.

We have had permission to hunt it for 35 odd years as my father was a truck mechanic for them for 38 years till they closed down.

I called the CO last year but was told that the mine has to call him to make the people leave,and that the guy is legal accept for the tresspass.Unless he harrasses me, then the CO can tag him.

I did try to talk to the guy above my stand, but he was addimit about not leaving because it is a good spot to cover several areas the deer travel through when pushed.

Now if I move to the West I run into my father or the other guy's party on the other side of the mine dump.

If I move East I push into my brother, my neighbor, and one more of the other guy's party.

I can go North maybe another 100 yards before I run into the old clear cut, which isn't to bad of a spot but you have to watch where you shoot because it is clear cut to the main road where houses are located about 1/4 mile away.

If we all pull up and move we have to scout out three seperate spots to set up, and run the risk of doing just what this guy did to us.

Now my point of veiw is that we are well established and were there well before this party got there.

Even though it is "public land" I feel we shouldn't have to move out.

So I see no reason other than I don't want to be like this guy, to get there early and take his spot away.

I do it duck hunting, as do a lot of people while duck hunting.So there isn't any real diiferance from that.

Well my soap box is getting week, I better step down now.

Benny

[Neiko]

If you want that spot bad just get there really early and sit in his spot. Tough situation when you have a nice spot on public land. Good luck.

[subzero]

The problem is you knew he was there and still decided to hunt close to him thinking that because you had been there for years the spot is yours. Then when you told him you were there you expected him to say he would leave and find another place to hunt. It sounds to me like he found a place to hunt and didn't know you were there and still probably doesn't know exactly where you sit. Public land who has the right to hunt a place and how far away should another hunter be. I am sure there will be hunter saying 100 yards is fine and still others saying that at least a quarter mile is needed to be safe. Individual judgement call. I see both sides of this story and they are both right.

[jbdragon17]

So many "what ifs" when hunting public land. I hunt a particular clear cut by myself and have been for the past 3 seasons. I like the place but have only had moderate luck so far. Every season I fret about the possibility of other hunters being in my stand when I get there. It is a chance we take. I have had it happen before. I have always asked the other hunter if they built the stand. Fortunately they have left.

In a perfect world people would only hunt out of stands they made or hung themselves being aware of other hunters. Good hunter ethics would make everyone happy. I would not want to take someone’s spot. I didn’t like when it happened to me. This year I am going to hunt the same stand. Going out this weekend to check it out. Hopefully it is still there

[NELS-BELLS]

Its public land! I don't care how many years a person has hunted that spot. They don't own it. To me that means first come, first serve. Get up a little earlier and beat him to the spot. I bow hunt on public land 90% of the time and if someone is at the spot I want to hunt when I get there, I let them have it and move to another spot. I wish people would do the same for me but some people think they have a claim on a certain spot because they've hunted there for umpteen years.

I know that some people will be angry with me on this but I am glad that they are no longer allowing permanent stands on most public land.

Nels

[BLACKJACK]

nels, you hit on exactly the reason that permanent stands on public lands are wrong! The minute someone puts out a permanent stand, they claim that piece of PUBLIC land for themselves and woe to the hunter that might have hunted that spot previously or some new hunter that comes along and wants to hunt that spot - on PUBLIC land owned by all of us. It should be first come, first serve only.

[FL SNIPER]

I agree its first come, first serve. But it's like fishing...you get out and fish a spot and sometimes people respect that you were there first and give you some space and other times they pile in right on top of you. Granted it's a little different because it's fishing and hunting with guns/bows is more dangerous...and also the other hunter might not even know you're there. But you get what I'm saying...you're dealing with all kinds of people. I see no problem with getting there first and taking the spot. If the person piles in on top of you (legally of course)...you have to then decide is it worth it to stay in that spot. I guess just get there first and hope for the best....that's about all you can do. Good luck and be safe.

[fishin58]

I have no idea the locale of the land or how its accessed but couldn't their be some kind sign up sheet for an area kind of like duck hunting, like when they have their numbered boxes, its a little rediculus but it would probably take some of the big questions out of the problem and maybe stop some of the quarrling over spots and you wouldnt have to worry about fighting over one spot and also trying to climb the same tree some guy is already in in the morning!, just a thought from my desk.

[lunker651]

I agree with Nels-bells. First come first serve, it's public land. But you do have to be 100yrds apart from each other. I think that's in the dnr rules. Public hunting is for everybody to enjoy and have fun. It don't matter if you hunted there for 10-20 years, if it's public land everybody has the same right to be there as you. If you don't like that they are there, move on to a different place. TOUGH LUCK!!!

[WB make the CUT]

Well, here we are out in the field. There is no teacher like experience, but here is some food for thought.

The BOWHUNTER'S CREED

In trying to adopt your own code of responsible behavior when bowhunting, it may be wise to consider the following statements, which make of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation's

"BOWHUNTER'S CREED".

I firmly resolve, without reservation, to uphold the following bowhunting principals :

That I will support national, state, and provincial regulatory agencies and conservation organizations in the propagation and

Management of all game.

That I will at all times actively support and promote hunting with the bow.

That I will abide by current game regulations and at all times conduct myself as a sportsman so as not to bring discredit to the bowhunting fraternity.

That I will respect landowner's rights.

That I will assist all bowhunters in locating places to hunt, but I will not impose myself knowingly on another bowhunter.

That I will enjoy the challenge of the hunt and will study the habits of the game I hunt.

That I will use legal archery equipment and will search long and diligently to track down and recover any wounded game.

That I will not undertake or commit any act which could be considered as detrimental to the ancient and honorable art of bowhunting.

( This was taken from the International Bowhunter Education Manual….. student handbook)

Class working on reading signs

photo by Mark Albaugh

The UnWritten Law......

One of the most important decisions, bowhunters face is often who has claim to an animal. A responsible bowhunter will always follow the "Unwritten Law of the Bowhunter". Though there is no legal ties, its enforcement lies directly with the understanding and true sportsmanship.

This unwritten law is sometimes called the rule of first blood or mortal wound. This means that the first person to wound an animal in a vital area causing sufficient sign to trail and recover shall claim said animal. If the first hunter feels he would not have been able to recover the animal due to the superficial nature of the wound, he should relinquish the right to the second hunter who had made the vital wound. By the same token, if you come upon an animal, make all attempts to locate the rightful owner, through back trailing inquiry, and any other means.

No responsible hunter wants to claim an animal rightfully taken by another archer. Also no animal is worth bitter words or confrontation. It is better to give up an animal you know is yours if the other hunter insists is his.

These are just some of the topics covered in our class. From scouting, reading sign, scents & lures, to ethics and game recovery, each class is filled with many useful and important things for experienced as well as new bowhunters.

BACK__HOME__NEXT

[lichen fox]

Well said!! Hunting public land can be a challange in certain areas...especially if you happen to be the new guy in the woods! As for "written laws" pertaining to distance appart on public wildlife management or other state lands, there is no "law" pertaining to this. When I hunt public land, I always make a very consious effort to notice signs of other hunters...tracks pulling off the side of the road, ribbons & broken branchs along trails into hunting area's, etc....I don't want my chances spoiled anymore than the other people using public land...If it means driving 20 miles farther down the road...so be it.

[ZOKU]

I agree with Nels, too. Public land is just that... public land.

[decoy]

Yeah, I am somewhat in the same situation. I am going to hunt state land this weekend and did some scouting on the property. Found several nice permenant stands built here (which are illegal of course.) they are very ellaborate and would be quite comfortable.

I wouldn't mind hunting out of any of them. Should a guy go in the a.m. of opener and see if anyone is there? Of course if there was someone I'd slip away as quietly as possible.

The second problem is, what if I am (hypothetically speaking) in one of these stands, and a guy comes up claiming it is his and wants me out now? I'm just wondering if I should try this out or just stear clear.

Thoughts?

[Eric Wettschreck]

I guess you have to ask yourself if an arguement and the badness of the whole experience is worth an opportunity of sitting in that particular stand. That is a very personel decision for everyone. For me, the answer is no. I know it's public land and we're all entitled to it, but I'm not about to argue the fact with another guy. Especially if he has the nads to tell ya to get out. For me it ruins the experience and it just isn't worth it. On the same note, I'm not going to argue with another fella over a deer. If he wants the darn thing so badly he can have it. I'll go shoot another one, hopefully.

Having said all that, public land is just that, public. Meaning everyone owns it and everyone has a chance to use it.

Good luck to ya however it pans out hopefully everyone will have a good time.

[decoy]

I just looked in the regs and you're not even allowed to "occupy" a permanent stand on state land. Page 126.

Guess I'll get out the "tree lounge."

[Neiko]

Decoy that reg is for WMA's not State Forest.

[pikerliker]

Ethically you don't knowingly take any other hunters spot, whether it's legal or not. Just move on and find another spot. My best spot I ever found was because somebody had plopped down where I wanted to go and I looked for and found another spot. I shot 4 bucks in 2 years out of that spot that I was "forced" to move to. There's more than one spot that holds deer!! I'ts not worth getting into a confrontation over a bleeping deer hunting spot especially after what happened in Wisconsin last year. Just think of it as an opportunity to find something better.

~piker

[lawdog]

In my opinion, nobody has "their spot" on public land, so I don't see how you can take someone else's spot. That's the whole deal with it being public. You don't know if someone will be planning to come there or not on the opener because some one that used to hunt there might have moved on and/or someone new may have scouted and found it. That's the chances you take on public land.

Whoever gets there first hunts it and whoever shows up when someone else is already there should just accept that and move on.

[almostthere!]

Benny,

It is public land. If your spot is good, what I would recommend is getting yourself a protable treestand. This way, you will be off the ground and safe in the trees. One hundred yards is a long ways off if there is woods between the two of you. Plus, your spot must be better than his since you've been going back to it year after year. Just ask him to consider not shooting in your direction as you will be doing the same.

Happy hunting. Stay in the trees and stay safe.

[pikerliker]

Lawdog in response to your statement about not knowing how you could ever take somebody's spot, there are times when you do know where somebody hunts on public land. Our party has hunted in public forest lands for 30+ years. There are other partys who hunt by us also. We know in general where the other partys hunt, have thier stands, etc. They know where we hunt. There is normally always respect paid to each group as to where they are hunting, where guys stands are, etc with some crossover. I would never get up at 4AM and go put my stand where I knew somebody from another party was hunting and say "Naw Naw Naw Naw Naw, It' public land and I can hunt here if I want to". That's childish and disrespectful in my opinion. Even if it is legal. Just my two cents. That being said, I still would move on if somebody was in "my spot". I'd just go find another one that was better.

~piker

[lawdog]

PikerLiker, don't get me wrong, I'm in no way saying you shouldn't be decent to people, and particularly in your type situation where you guys have hunted the same areas with the same guys and try to cooperate with each other. That sounds like you are doing things just right. BUT, my point though is more to the new guy that happens to come to the same area. He moves there, scouts all summer and finds a spot, that may well be "your" our "your neighbor's" spot there. He has every right to go there, because those aren't "your" spots. This attitude that you are somehow entitled to that piece of public property because you've been using it for a while is what got this whole Benny situation going and caused this thread and last fall's on the same topic. Last year this guy moved to a new spot and Benny was offended because it was "his" spot and this guy shouldn't be there. Now this year, he's assuming "his" spot will again be affected and he's wondering if he should move to the "new guy's spot" first so he doesn't have the same situation. NEITHER one of these guys has more rights to either spot than the other. New guy didn't take "his" spot and he couldn't take new guy's spot...both spots are PUBLIC land open to whoever shows up first!