Tx, now that you put your friendship in perspective, you got to ask, is it worth it to tick off a friend who is there for you in need. Those are rare these days. People goes bonkers over hunting. But in the big scheme of things, aid when you are out of a job is much more sincere gesture.

I would get a new friend. I mean, I have actually passed on bucks that were very nice because I had already killed one that year and let my buddy go and sit in the stand the next time to try and kill him. I get more enjoyment out him killing a good buck than I get out of it.

Geez..How much success has he had this year compared to you? I believe i have seen you pictured with several hogs and a few deer. He might feel jealous which is leadind to him protecting his little honey hole. He might feel as if the "rookie" that he helped in this sport is surpassing him. I'm sure if you tried to convince him that if the two of you work together on food plots on both sides of the lease, you'll both have a good chance at getting something. Sorry if this stuff has already been said. Good luck


Zach

He shot a 123 4/8" buck. I shot 2 feral hogs, a coyote, and a 84" buck.
He consistantly shoots quality deer,(110+), every year. In 5 years on the lease I have SEEN two deer that may go 100". He spent 6 hours on stand so far this year I have spent over 50.

He sounds like a lot of people I've seen over the years. He wants to hog all the good spots for himself and be the top dog. I'd say you two need to have some sort of rules to level the playing field. I can see not screwing upa good stand site of his, but he can't reserve the choice half of 300 acres. Put a reasonable minimum distance between stands and help each other, not hold one back. That said, he doesn't get these nice bucks year after year simply because he has the choice area. You know the old saying about the grass always being greener. If you have sign in your area the same deer are there more than likely. 300 acres isn't big enough to prevent deer traveling it all. You say it's the area, he probably says(and I expect he's close to right) that it's the hunter. There are NO lucky hunters that score year after year. The rifle bit doesn't impress me but you know what I mean. I'd ease in a little closer to him and try not to mess up his setups. You say he hasn't hunted much. That doesn't matter if you do the homework and there are deer there. Sometimes NOT hunting because of wind or whatever is the wiser choice to ensure success later on.

You are right. I am disappointed but is it worth his friendship? No, just something I need to learn to live with. That is why I think my best option is to make improvements.

That's ok, once he sees the Booners you'll be dragging out in the next couple years from your side, he'll even walk you to his honey hole stand.

It's too bad that you two weren't able to work something out. But you have your priorities straight and know it's not worth losing a friend over. Go ahead and start plowing and planting, the deer will come if it's the nearest available food option for them.

i am on the other side of the fence here. if i undertand this right, your BIL has been hunting the same spot for 20 years, youve been hunting it for 4 and now you want to hunt his spot?

i would be pissed if i was him, too. on less than 400 acres, the only reason he's CONSISTENTLY seeing more and better deer is because he's doing something your not. I share 300+- acres with a couple of my cousins. every year for the past 20 i get a decent buck from "my" spot. And every year they horn in a little closer, encroaching "my " area, and it's getting old. this year i found my cousins tree stand less than 50 yards from my stand. WHY?

I'm just trying to show it from a different perspective. 400 acres is small, man. All the deer he shoots could just as easily walked in front of you.

Just my .02

thanks
moose

I like Option 3, pull the deer and tell him to stay out of "your" area!

I agree with Rob on this one. Plus, it is never good to piss off the in-laws. I hope everything works out for you this season Greg. Hopefully he will come to his senses and share the spot a little. We had the same problem opening weekend on our lease. Two of the guys wanted to hunt a certain spot until I pulled out the contract all three of us signed that says the stands will be hunted over equally and no man has "his" stand. The standsare everyones. Best of luck to ya.