Need some advice
This will be a long post, but I would like others objective opinion. I have been hunting a farm for 10 years. It is an elderly friend of the family. Located in Todd County, KY it is approx 1,000 acres with 800 acres in productive crops, 120 acres of grass fields that typically hold runoff and maybe 80 acres of small wood lots. There is a 400-acre area that receives no hunting pressure. It holds deer, but we have never hunted it. We have taken some true trophies off the farm over the years. Until this time last year, three of us had permission to hunt it and we always had a spot or two for a fourth guest. Our stands have been in place for years and we all have a sense of ownership. Well, a friend of the granddaughter has now obtained permission to hunt. With the additional person, we have asked everyone to stay in a zone on the farm. I asked that he limit his hunting to a 200-acre field that I had hunted and offered the 400-acre area. The remaining area had more woods, but would be shared with the remaining three hunters. We would hunt our area and he could hunt his. We would not crowd him and would appreciate the same. He is a new hunter and likes to stalk deer with a bow from up wind, cannot sit still, etc.
Saturday morning, our newbie decided to bring two guests. I had given him permission to hunt my one of my stands stand last week, because I was out of town. At 8:00 his buddy come walking through the woods with no hunter orange, unfamiliar with the property lines and well out of the are we had designated. I could not be there, so most of this was taking place via cell phone, but two of the guests were from out of state, younger than the date required for an orange card and I do not believe one had his orange card or a license. Words were exchanged and it got pretty ugly. I informed him that we had zones for safety purposes that his actions were wrong and showed a general disregard for others. He informed me that these guys were all “friends” of the family and completely legal. That he should have the same access to our stands and the areas we are hunting that we do. He does not know where all of our stands are. I basically told him that we have been pretty accommodating thus far, helping hang stands, moving off a portion of the farm so he has it to himself and if we really wants to go there, I will jerk my stands and let the land owner know that due to actions of this individual and his friends, I do not believe it is a safe place to hunt. I have a very good relationship with this person and she has made it clear that I should treat the farm as if it were my own and as if I was her grandchild. The safety issue is a huge concern as her son was shot and killed in a hunting accident many years ago.
Do I pull my stands and ruin it for everyone. I have the support of the other hunters? Do I call the CO and ask him to stop by and check the guys next weekend. I am not willing to let someone come in and take my stand. As a newbie and guest, like myself, his sense of entitlement is not what it should be. Maybe that comes with time. He seems to have more entitlement than appreciation for the farm and our sacrifices. I have told him all our stands are now off limits. I am thinking about telling him he can hang a stand anywhere, so long as it is not within 150 yards of an existing stand. The wood lots are so small, this would be impossible. I have also thought about placing a policy that no walking through the wood lots after youth weekend and though gun season. The woods are too small that the deer are being pressured. I have also thought about declaring a few stands “Gun Stands” and no one can hang a stand within direct line of fire from this stand. I hate all this crap.
A final note. I work my tale off all week for the few times I can go to the woods. Dealing with this type BS makes me want to give up hunting. I cannot enjoy it when I have to worry about some idiot walking under my stand.
I’d be interested in anything you have to add?