Public Land Hunting Behavior

[RAGGED EDGE]

...... and there's just a heck of a lot more people in the US. I'm ready to move to WY and I suspect the good folks that were born and live in WY are starting to get tired of others moving in.

It's a great place, but DON'T expect it to be the "be all and end all". There are sacrifices and unintended consequences to everything.

 

[misterc01]

And THAT is why a friend of mine set up a duck club. They have five members, and made an agreement with several farmers, and they have it all to themeslves. Anyone else tries to come in the, farmer calls the Sheriff and has them removed for trespassing. I helped them set up thier blind a few times, so I get an "invite" to shoot with them.

 

[milo-2]

...... and there's just a heck of a lot more people in the US. I'm ready to move to WY and I suspect the good folks that were born and live in WY are starting to get tired of others moving in.

I am sure you will be welcome most places you would move to in WY. Decent people always fit in unless they pick an unfriendly area on their own.
Make no mistake, WY is changing some, and yes, outside influence a heavy factor in that.

 

[P7M13]

I just wish I could see the expressions on their faces and hear their conversation after the shot.

When they tell others of their trip, probably something like, "we saw it first and the ba'tard shot it way out before it came into responsible shooting range!"

Make no mistake, WY is changing some, and yes, outside influence a heavy factor in that.

Yeah, Pinedale sure changed from the last time I was there. Prolly wouldn't recognize the Hole, what we called it. I hear it's billionaire-ified and now just called Jackson.
Park City, UT is unrecognizable from what it was like in the 80's.

 

[LanceS4803]

That is why I gave up rifle hunting in UT.
People will ride the trails until they spot your orange. I have watched them start looking in the direction I am facing, check it out, and if acceptable to them they then climb the hill to approximate the view from my glassing point.
No orange with MZ, and far fewer people.

 

[Bravo 4]

I usually won't hunt public land on opening weekend of rifle deer season in Arkansas, unless it's a limited draw management area. Everybody and their grandmother is out roaming the woods and it sounds like Baghdad did up teen years ago. My favorite is when someone looks at you through their riflescope. Had one fella (in Colorado) playing ready-ups with his rifle at the side of the ridge I was perched on one time (this was after getting to an area first and speaking with him and his buddies when they came by), and he accidentally fired a shot. I say accident by the look on his face and the speed to which he exited the area.

 

[P7M13]

My favorite is when someone looks at you through their riflescope.

Opening day 2009, I've already been in the woods a few hours. Lots of chanterelles, fresh deer droppings, but no sign of elk. 50 yards from coming out of the woods, I can hear a road hunter tromping the gravel. I hear him get excited, so I start yelling "man here!" at the top of my lungs. I made the mistake of thinking he'd hear me - should have just discharged my rifle into the ground.
While I'm still yelling and walking towards the road, I watch him step into the game trail, fumble with his rifle, pull up and draw a bead on me. Glad he didn't squeeze off a shot. When I reached him, I think he was riding more adrenaline than I was.
Edit to add:

I have watched them start looking in the direction I am facing, check it out, and if acceptable to them they then climb the hill to approximate the view from my glassing point.

Betcha those pukes have no idea what a sonic crack from a magnum rifle sounds like. A buddy I hunted with in the '80s would have no hesitation to shoot over their heads in their direction to both scare them and hope they would come confront him so he could deliver a good beat down. On more than one occasion, I witnessed him deliver a lesson in common sense.

 

[Rum River]

Eight years ago in Colorado on a guided elk hunt. Outfitter had leased a nice access point to public area, our camp was seven miles from the trucks. We're saddling up for a 1 hour morning ride in the pitch black when four or five hunters on horseback slowly ride through the middle of camp. Our guide (20 something Iraq vet) caught up to the leader and had a conversation none of us could hear. They pulled off the trail and sat in silence as the three of us passed. If I remember right they waited a bit and continued on - but we never saw them again. Turned out it didn't affect our hunting. Total of five hunters in our camp filled out with a 4x4, two 5x5's and two 6x6's.

 

[DavidleeCole]

LOOK WE ALL PAY TAXES FOR PUBLIC LAND ITS OURS AND NO ONE PERSON'S LAND.

IF YOU WANT PRIVE GO AND BUY IT OR LEASE IT.

WITH THAT SAID!!!!!
All I hut is public land why buy or lease its ours and there is plenty of it. I personally put in the time scouting, game cameras, salt licks were legal hang stands you know all the leg work.

On opening morning I know that before I step out the door it's a BLACK FRIDAY EVENT so I dont get hung up on it!!! Sucks but that is your personal hunting ethics.

If some one drives by, walks by or is in my stand then I have other options preplanned. And if someone is in my stand they will soon have a person climbing up the ladder and sitting next to them. That's how it is.

WE RUN THE CRAP OUT OF DOGS ON DEER HERE IN ARKANSAS. you will be hunting then hear them coming and bam there is a nice buck from 2 miles away right there. Shoot it and wait the dog hunter will be happy if you offer 1/2 the deer to him ITS THE UNSPOKEN RUEL your part for killing his part for running.

If someone is right by you well JUST BE FASTER WITH THE KILL SHOT, CRAP OR GET OF THE POT.

YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE PERSON WITH A DISIBALTY THAT CANT GO ANY FURTHER OR A KID THAT WALKED ALL THEY CAN. OR THE OLD MAN TRYING TO GET IN ONE LAST SEASON OF HIS LIFE SLIPPING ROUND ON HIS 4 WHELLER.

BE HAPPY FOR THEM THEY ARE SUPPORTING HUNNTING AND OUR 2ND AMENDMENT.

yes it sucks but get to know the people who routinely hunt "YOUR AREA" GET A NUMBER text and see if they are on their stand on plan on being on it. Plan your hunts.

I have several people I will text at different times and check some have kids and I want them to have a good hunt and bonding moment.

Some older men I send big buck pictures and where abouts so they have a shoot IN CASE ITS THIER LAST.

And the dog runners I tell them were I saw a deer cross so they have a chance and who knows they will probably run it over me too.

ETHICS STARTS WITH YOU AND THEN FLOWS OUT TO OTHERS WITH YOUR EXAMPLES ON HOW YOU HUNT AND DEAL WITH IT.

Worst thing is arguing and getting heated with a LOADED FIREARM IN YOUR HANDS.

"DONT BE THE PERSON WHO THE NON GUN OWNERS USE AS AN EXAMPLE TO TAKE OUR RIGHTS AND ARMS AWAY."

 

[azsugarbear]

Lots of threads on this. No justifiable reason for poor/unethical behavior. Just because it is public land is no excuse. I grew hunting out west on public land, because that's about all there is. I have seen the problem getting worse over the years. Never used to be like that. Lots of web info on how to hunt, how to judge and go after huge trophies - but very little ever said about hunter ethics. Young guys like to call it competition; an old guy like me calls it a recipe for disaster when bad behavior rears its ugly head and both parties have loaded guns.

 

[manitou]

Seems common decency and ethics have fallen by the wayside in this age. Lots of people suk.
The world would be a better place if more folks would show a little decency toward each other.

 

[Almondgrower]

Couple hunters park next to our truck, walk in our snow tracks on the way in. Spot us sitting in our spot. We have a long stare down. Then they climb a short bit above us, set up just above us, and start glassing. Literally within 50 yds of our set up.


Sounds like that was a perfect time to verify your data on your dope card/dial up on some distant rocks !!

Unfortunately it happens , seams like more and more these days ! Thank goodness there is some respectable hunters still around .

 

[Almondgrower]

Sounds like that was a perfect time to verify your data on your dope card/dial up on some distant rocks !!

Unfortunately it happens , seams like more and more these days ! Thank goodness there is some respectable hunters still around .

 

[Doodle]

Same thing happened to me a couple years back.

I was in place well before sunrise and concealed very well. 30 minutes after sunup a couple dudes roll in making a bunch of noise and set up shop about 50 ft downhill. When I stood up to leave they whistled at me like * I * was the @sshole.