No I wouldn't be happy about it, but it is a risk you take hunting public land, he has the same right to be there as you. Would it be any better for you if he did just walks around the area half the morning looking for another spot farther away from you? More than likely not, the overall pressure is going to screw you up more then just the one guy being by "your spot" Most of the time I leave the public land I hunt to the days I take off during the middle of the week, less people to potentially ruin your hunt.
If you think your situation is horrible leave. Just as an example four years ago a group of 5 wisconsin hunters came and were hunting the same public land I hunt, put up a bunch of treestands a week before and were there hunting the same week I took off from work during the prime rut. What did I do, I went elsewhere, no reason to hunt the same land they were as public land deer know which I'm sure they did with 5 guys in there every day and they move elsewhere, at least the big boys do. Public lands can be great hunting or they can be frustrating and horrible hunting, sometimes in the same year. Take it for what it is.

I often hunt public land, and I've found that you can sometimes use clueless hunters to your advantage. Basically, a guy that rams around dropping scent all over and generally pressuring the deer is telling you where not to hunt. Use that knowledge in combination with what you know of the lay of the land to find the likely areas where the deer will relocate to.

There's an older fellow that bowhunts the same property as I do, and we have a cordial relationship based on passing each other in the parking area each year. I know where he hunts each year, and he completely overhunts his stands because he relies on ladder stands and hang-ons that he never moves. He'll hunt these same few stands many times a week for months at a time. I simply move my climber stand in response to whereever he is...and I see far more bucks (and deer in general). He's a nice old guy, and he has no clue that I rely on him as my one-man deer drive.

I chatted with him the other night and he was complaining how he hasn't seen a single buck yet. I didn't tell him that I had two in at once (out of range, but at least I'm dialing in on them).

I agree that public land is just that, public. I hunt a large tract of public land and have numerous spots picked out to hunt from and only hunt during the week. I rarely see other hunters. I NEVER mark my spots in any way, shape or form. I am familiar enough with the area to find my way to all of my spots in the dark. I have always gotten a kick out of all of the bright eyes, surveyors ribbon, etc. I see in the woods. People might as well put a sign up that says " lazy people hunt here". When gun hunting public land I do about 95% of my hunting from the ground so I can bug out for a less disturbed spot at a moments notice. I hunt as far from parking areas as possible so I rarely get disturbed. You gotta play the game on public land.

Well said you do have to play the game. 95% of the hunters out there are lazy. I don't remember the exact statistic I heard once but it was something like 90% of hunters won't walk more then a 1/4 mile from their truck/atv to hunt. I may not have that exactly right but I remember it being pretty ridiculous in my mind.

It's guys like you that make me want to get out my limb saw, walk to the base of your tree and start sawing away while your still in the tree. I agree you can't "claim" a spot on public land such as marking it, but all be damned if I am already there and someone like you walks in, see's me, and go ahead and put up a stand within eye sight of me, you are going to have serious issues. Most Public land is pretty fair sized, and to think some jackass is that rude and has no values as a hunter to where they can't say "sorry, didnt see you here, I will go over here 100 yards"...I suggest you get to the woods earlier if you "want" that spot so bad.

Public or private...if other hunters have the same rights I do on a particular track of land, then I will hunt anywhere I want or think they are not, with plenty of distance. If they move in on me, I'd ask them to back off....if they didn't, I have enough confidence to find a spot even better. I'm not going to waist my stand time next to a jackass who I believe is not as good of a hunter as me.

If someone marks something before me I would never or hangs a stand before I ever showed any interest or evidence of wanting to hunt the area, I would not hunt it. But that is me...

The fact of the matter is, their are always those pricks out there who don't give a flying !$#@ about anyone else. Just make sure when they're dragging one out that you show them the same respect when they ask for help...and make sure to invite your buddy with the military green uniform and the shiney badge to join you at his vehicle while you wait for him to drag it out alone.

You must of mis read my post but it stated if I got their before you 2 hours before light, not that I would put my climber up a tree when you were in the stand. Sorry can't just go putting stands up claiming spots on public land. What's stopping someone from putting up enough stands or orange tape per the original post in an area to completely take it over. Should I just not hunt that public land since he has 10 stands hung all over hell and hunts twice a season. Sorry its public land its first come gets the spot. I'll never use your stand but I can hunt the same spot if I get there first. Of course I probably wouldn't unless I knew the guy wasn't using it that day as the chance for my hunt to be ruined would be high. Point of all my post is its public land not your hunting spot

Between this quote and others on this thread thought it should be said that this kind of stupid crap gets people seriously hurt. Doesn't matter if they take your spot or ruin your hunt its not worth injury or life. I've seen it done and had it done to my stands. I was lucky enough to catch mine. Pucks trepassed on private land I hunt and loosened all the stands of mine they could find, all because I turned them into the game warden for breaking the law and they got caught and fined. But I've heard of others that weren't so lucky and got seriously hurt from their stands being set up to fail by another "hunter" that was pissed at them for something like this.

Sorry, my fault, I did misread it I agree, the 1st one there has the right, even if marked.

Doesn't seem to be any escaping people like that. A never ending stream of punks that need some adjustment. Turning them into the law doesn't seem to do anything but aggravate the situation.

Prosperity is a tough thing to live with.