friendly stand placement?
 

I was out scouting some of my familys land and found a sweet spot on the edge of a thick cedar swamp about 100 yards from a field. I pick a great tree and started clearing some lanes. When I took a break and walk around the swamp a little further I found another stand about 75 yards from where I want mine. After a little research I found out that I know the guy and last year he bagged a 7 point and a doe in two afternoons. I am courious if I should:
A. Hang my stand and hunt it like I dont know he is there
B. Move out and find a new area.
I dont really want to kick him out because it has bow hunted on the land for years and is a neighbor of the property. What would you do?

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

I think 75 yards is more than ample room. Heck Ive had guys hang stands within 20 yards of mine. 75 I dont mind 20 I don't like. I dont think I would hunt my stand the day he will be in his, but I hang alot of stands. Some people dont have that option. I would hang it and work it out so that you are not stepping on each other. Do remember he was there first.

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

I frequently hunt with in 75 yards of my friends. One spot three of us are with in 50 yrds easily in a triangle. The spots we hunt offer the deer and some great laughs during our hunts. I would suggest some type of coordination between both of you to make it a success.

Good luck

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

I think 75 yards is plenty of room. Out of courtsey you may want to leave a note attached to his tree to inform him your set up next to him so he dosn't go postal if he happens across your stand. I'm would wager a bet since your family owns the land it won't be an issue. Also if he only hunts a few days as it sounds you'll likely not have much contact unless you hear each other shoot. Then it would be polite to help drag;).

If you went through the trouble to find out who owns the stand why not contact him?

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

If it was my family's land I would ask him to move it. But that is just me. I am greedy that way when it comes to hunting. You can't ever tell just who you are out there hunting with. You don't know if they take wild shots or make a lot of noise on stand or leave scent everywhere etc etc. Therefore, I don't want them on the property ruining my hunting. Spots are limited and I take this stuff serious and I don't want someone else interfering with that. I don't mind sharing my spots with friends (and I don't use that term loosely) and family but I don't want anyone else around them. But, since you don't want to kick him out I would recommend that you go and talk to him and tell him what you are thinking about. Tell him you got your stand up and then found his stand. That way there won't be any hard feelings. If he gets rude about it, you may just change your mind about whether you want him hunting there at all;)

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

I think 75 yards is to close without his ok. I wouldn't want to be able to see him and if there isn't enough room between you for deer to get through unnoticed then I think you're to close, unless all parties agree its ok.

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

ditto silentassassin. 75 yds is WAY to close IMO.

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

I never like another hunter to "shortstop" my deer travel lanes. How do you guys deal with the wind? Someone's going to bust the deer. Do you have any need to hunt or fish on his land? Maybe you could work a deal to reciprocate access privilidges. If not get rid of him. There's never a lifetime guarantee. I'd not get rid of him if you're just going to hunt it a year or two then move away or hunt better land. At the least let him take your does not your bucks.

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

Does the guy have permission? Is he actually on your family's land?

If he has hunted there for years, it's tough to pull his permission, assuming he's a decent guy.

Put yourself in his shoes. How would you like to be treated. I guess I would understand if there just wasn't room on the property for two guys, but I wouldn't like it much.

Can you think of a way to use him as an advantage? Maybe find another spot that deer would go to skirt or avoid his stand?

How much does the guy hunt? Does he only hunt afternoons? I would talk to him about it. Don't ask him where you can hunt. Tell him where you will be hunting, he may be agreeable to avoiding you, either by hunting deifferent times, or by moving his stand. H

Remember, he is the guest, not you.

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

I think 75 would be ok if you had some communication with the other hunter. Depending on your wind conditions there might not be many days where you both would be on stand.

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

Thanks for the advice.
The way the swamp is positioned he will access his stand from one side and I will access mine from the other. I have walked around the swamp and there are only two good trails out. He is camped out over one and I have found a good spot over the other. If anything this guy would help my chances because if deer wind him they should circle around my way. On the other hand if a buck walks by him thats one less buck that I will be able to shoot. There is tons of room on my land( 75 acres) but this is absoutly the best spot I have seen and I have been all over the land, twice. There are last years rub lines, fresh tracks an old scrape and a mud trail.
Chance are good that I will never see this guy, I just dont know it I want to chance it.

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

I think for bow season you are OK being 75 yards from one another, but I would prefer to hunt farter apart. I'd approach the guy and discuss the situation or coordinate hunting times/dates, etc. I have often hunted with my buddy and we've been about 50 yards apart. We both have the same style, hunt smart, quietly, hardly move in the stand, etc. It's neat to watch deer come into the area and be too far away from you, but watch the action first hand as your buddy manuevers and gets a kill. Sometimes I think this is better than actually bagging one yourself!

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

Big-

75 acres is not a ton of land depending on the terrain. If it's my families land ex. my fathers land - I'd ask him what to do. He gave permission.

If it's my "family land" ex. wifes cousins brothers land and he don't hunt. then you should let the guy know that you are going to hunt it, where you will be and he can decide if he wants to move his stand or not.

Permission land is drying up all over the place. Family usually comes first and most guys know that - that's the way it is.

-Disclaimer, If this guy mends fences, farms the land, or helps your family out on a regular basis to secure his hunting spot- Just because you're family, IMO, doesn't give you the ethical rite to "kick" him off his stand.

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

That's your opinion. If I own anything (which I do) that gives me the ethical right to do whatever I want with it, including kicking someone off or just not letting them hunt. If he had put in his work for this year I would let him continue to hunt this year but I would inform him that next year he's out on his can. Myself or my family would have paid for the right do that;)

RE: friendly stand placement?
 

SA-

Please don't read anything into my disclaimer-

It's not Bigs land it's his "family land". How would you like your relative (IE family) kicking off your best friend who helps out on the farm, was in your wedding, was there for you when you got divorced, takes your kids fishing, etc, etc? Big should make sure he's in the right on that issue prior to making the call. You took that out of context and applied ownership where there is only family given permission.

If the guy drives on the fields, is an unsafe hunter, and is a general butt crack, then by all means take his stand down and leave it in his yard with a bag of dog poop tied to it! I was makeing sure that Big checked with the "family" before doing something that can cause tension during what should be an enjoyable fall of hunting.