Public Hunting Etiquette
 

I recently had a couple of things happen over the last ten days and need to know what "appropriate etiquette" is and some advice onthe situations.

First, I've only hunted on public hunting land once before two years ago in the same spot I am now. The first time, I hunted the entire season and never saw another hunter, which was great 'cause it is a sweet spot. However, last year I was in Afghanistan and couldn't hunt that sight (or anywhere else). So this year, I set up a stand in the same sweet spot (intersection of two good paths in the woods about 40 yards off a corn field). Unfortunately, the word must have somehow got out 'cause this year, in the last 12 days, 4 others have put up stands within a 50 meter radius of my stand. In fact, on Saturday, as I was walking in, some guy was sitting in his (newly placed) climber stand 5 yards from the point where I jumpthe fence to head into the woods to get to my stand. Now this was about 330pm. Not wanting to be rude, I said hello and complimented his truck (which was pretty nice) Later, I started wondering if maybe I should have said nothing and just walked right by...he was hunting after all and noise is obviously to be avoided. Also,with some many standsin the area (my stand has been there 5 weeks, the rest within the last 12 days) is there any chance this sight is even still huntable or should I just go searching for another siteeven with the peak of the early rutjust days away(2 years ago I saw 13 bucks of various sizes in 3 days in this location).

RE: Public Hunting Etiquette
 

I had a fellow walk up to me, so I waved to him to let him know where I was. He just kept walking towards me so I whistled quietly. He finallylooks up, at 20yrds.He's a wiping the sweat as he ask's medirections.I had to respond, which didn't make me happy. Especially when it's 4:30PM and he should be on stand somewhere already. This guy obviously didn't know the woods, and how to KEEP QUIET!! Etiquette? Pffft![:'(]:D

RE: Public Hunting Etiquette
 

Unfortunately there isn't much ettiquette on public land. I've always hunted public land and run into people at least twice a year. Normally one out of the two "meetings" ends with a "My bad, didn't realize you were here. They've been coming out at about blank time, good luck" and one of us walks away. The other one usually ends up with someone doing a drive (during gun season) or still hunting right through my setup. I have a general rule where if I see vehicles parked at a spot I wanted to hunt, I move on to the next spot - but I hunt several small parcels of public land that can't really be hunted by more than 1 or 2 people.

RE: Public Hunting Etiquette
 

Only had one run in on public land. I used to hunt it about 50/50 with our farm, just becuase it was closer.

It was 2 years ago and I had been hunting a really nice 3.5 yr. old 8 pointer that I had seen 3 days straight from this stand. I climbed into my stand and looked up the hill and saw a guy in a climber. He was about 60 yards away and offered to climb down and move on. I was very thankful.

He continued over the ridge and out of sight. I thought all was good until I cimbed into my stand the next morning. Theguy hadshot a deer and drug it down right by my stand and all around it. No telling what else he did to the area.

RE: Public Hunting Etiquette
 

I didn't know there was such a thing.

I had some peckerhead walking around, snapping branches and finally beating on something about 80 yards behind me last year....about an hour before sunset! I finally yelled out at him to please be quiet. Needless to say, it totally ruined the rest of the day.

RE: Public Hunting Etiquette
 

That's too bad, but like I said - there isn't much etiquette on public land. It still amazes me how rude and downright nasty people can act towards each other. Luckily, in my experience, everytime I've run across someone with a kid with them, they've been really cool and apologetic - showing the youngin how you're supposed to act. Last year I showed a guy and his son where I had been seeing a lot of deer and told him to hunt it for a spell. Hopefully that kid will remember that years down the road and will do the same for someone else and that persons youngin.

RE: Public Hunting Etiquette
 

Hey Husker, are you hunting in Nebraska and where at approximately? I live in Lincoln and run into similar problems on public land. It is frustrating sometimes when you see other people walking towards you when on stand. I have hunted public land the last five years, so I guess I am getting use to seeing people. There are times when I get upset when I see people moving around during optimal times, but generally, it hasn't affected me too bad. I really try to be patient and understanding since everyone has the right to be there just as much as me. Plus, there have been so many times that I have seen deer literally minutes after someone has walked by, that I don't get too worked up anymore.

RE: Public Hunting Etiquette
 

MJ,

No, I'm actually hunting about 40 miles W of Des Moines. But there are frustrating people everywhere...guy walked in at 505pm after I had been in my stand quiet as can be for the previous two hours [:@]. I hope I have your good fortune to continue to see deer in this spot in spite of the recent run on this location. Otherwise, it might end up a pretty fruitless year.

RE: Public Hunting Etiquette
 

I had a similar run in on public land in IL. I was in my stand in an area I scouted fro some time, never saw any sign of other hunters during that period, I thought it was well off the beaton path. I got in early on opening of gun season, and about 15 mins before first light I see a flashlight headingtowards me. The guy getsabout 30 yds from me and flash him my light to let him know there's a hunter in the woods. He proceeds to walk right up to my tree and tells me he's going to hunt right behind me but he'll face the other direction!! I didn't know what to say, he went about 50 yds past me and went up a tree. This is gun season and the guy is only 50 yds away, banging his stand right at first light. What an ass.

RE: Public Hunting Etiquette
 

I hunt public land about half the time and I run into fellow hunters all the time. Saturday morning I was sitting on my tailgate getting dressed and a Toyota full of 5 muzzleloader hunters pulled in right next to me! At first I was a little nervous, but the guys got out and all introduced themselves and asked where I intended to hunt. We all discussed our preferred hunting locations and we all agreed to give each other space. It turned out pretty good because I heard three of five of them fire. I guess I'm saying that if you show people respect, and respect for the sport, you are likely to receive respect in return.