Al, I was in NO way trying to say that you were not being truthful - FAR from it! You were shafted and you should be disappointed with your "friend" - All I was hoping was that it was just a case of "since you did good in that area of public land, I'll setup somewhere over near there and see how it goes" type of thing and not done with malice. From you remark about him claiming YOU honed in on HIS area - well that's enough for me to hear! Dissolve this type of friendship immediately. I mean in the woods - he may be a very good guy away from the woods and a good guy to talk hunting with, just not where the hunting takes place. I have not had the displeasure to experience this, but on public land I met up with another tye of slob hunter. I shot a 4-pointer it ran about 50 yards and diedand before I could get up to it a guy stepped up to it and shot it in the head, didn't gut it and dragged it off to his truck and took off with it. I was 14 at the time and it really soured me on hunting public land. I have not hunted on public land since then. This happened in SGL179 in Aleppo TWP, Pennsylvania.
Just make sure that if you do find a "Honey Hole", just keep it to yourself and Trusted (and I mean Trusted) friends ONLY! Horrible way to learn a lesson.
Good Luck, my friend! I'd hunt with you anyday!