Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

I haven't really thought of this, until now. The land I hunt (for the most part) abuts a county parks system that doesn't allow "hunting". The deer I hunt (and the turkeys) utilize this land for bedding and also MUST consider it a safe-haven.

Am I "Hunting" if I take my climber in there and "Scout"?

NO weapon........but I'll be camo'd from head to toe. Am I doing ANYTHING that the average nature lover isn't doing.....other than the vantage point I choose to take?

I will likely check in with my GW before I do this......but the information I "could" gather WOULD be important to me.

Would I be doing ANYTHING wrong? Unethical? People walk through this park all the time (though, admittedly.....NOT through the areas I'm considering).

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

No weapon...no hunting in my book.

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

If you are not carrying a weapon, and you have permission to be there, than a Game Warden could care less IMO

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

EVERYONE has "permission" to be there. It's a County park.

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

I can't see where there would be anything illegal about sitting in a treestand "observing nature", which is all you would be doing. If it were me, I'd take a nice camera so that if things got touchy, I could pass myself off as a "wildlife photographer". In reality, it wouldn't be a lie, and I could post some great pics here also.

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

THAT is the plan!

I've got one.....11 acre section of land.....that I DO NOT have permission to hunt (from the landowner). I CAN, however, scout this piece of property from the PARK side......and this information can be VERY valuable to me. I've spoken to these folks on several occasions (they even let me shed hunt on their property.....just WILL NOT allow hunting, there)....and they KNOW I'm hunting right on top of their property. I could scout this land from the park side, though......perfectly legal (I think).

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

people will just think your nuts....


So what do you have to lose Jeff??? [8D];)

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

Since you put it THAT way...........

NOTHING!;)

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

I agree! hahaha

I dont think theres anything wrong with that. Especially if it helps you bag a big buck, it only makes sense to do it

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

I "scout" several pieces of land that I don't have permission to hunt everyday. When I'm driving down the road and see deer on a piece of property, I stop and watch what they are doing, any big bucks, where they are heading, what time of day, etc..... Same thing that you want to do IMO.

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

As ridiculous as this may sound, be careful not to scrape up the tree with your stand. That is the ONLY thing I can possibly think of that someone could yell at you about. And, unless you are spiking the tree with bolts, I think you are fine!

Would be funny if some bird-watchers came by, or lovebirds! (Ha! Ha!)

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

I would think that for it to be considered 'deer hunting' you would have to be attempting to kill deer. If no weapons are present, obviously that would not be your intent. I do think it may become an awkward situation if you had to explain to some LEO just what excactly you were doing in there, though, and that you hadn't 'laid' your weapon down moments before he saw you.

I would think that scouting from the ground without any climbing device would yield the same results in terms of scouting.

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

I would call your Fish and Game just to make sure, but i would have to imagine that its perfectly legal to go and observe the wildlife. There is no difference in my mind if you were in a treestand observing or just watching from the ground. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

I did it here at a park and they were fine with it. I took in my climber and looked around. Gave me good info and some pics as well.

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

Montana Dave had the same thought as me. Hanging a stand would probably be your only issue.

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

Of course it's not hunting, but you have to make sure you're not violating some other law, like damaging trees or something in a park. If it's an area yo plan to hunt I think you'll do more harm than good. It's a known fact tht most big deer are shot the FIRST or SECOND time in a particular location. Everytime you leave a littel more evidence of your passing for the deer to smell or see. Scouting at this time of year isn't really going to tell you where they deer will be in Sept or Oct. I'd prefer to find a place where I can see a lot of ground and food without walking on it.

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

I'm really only talking about turkeys, right now. I might go in there once or twice in July/Aug......but nothing more than that. No need to. You're right, Dave........they change patterns from season to season.....month to month (sometimes) and sometimes even MORE frequently.

RE: Opinions: Is "Scouting"...."Hunting"
 

GMMAT, I hunt in a State Park and do tree stand scouting often duringthe off season, with camera. I've never even been asked what I'm doing by the DNR guys, although they do see me alot throughout the year.;)