Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

Went out Sunday to locate my spot. Got to the state game lands up in huntingdon county off of route 26 and made the 3/4 mile trek back the road to where I head down into the hollow. As I walk up there were two guys headed over to walk down in the same trail I was on. Talked to them for awhile and the three of us figured out where we were going to set up so we didn't mess each other up. These two seemed like really decent guys and we parted ways. As I'm down in further now my uncle has three guys from York county walk up to him as they start to follow my trail in. One guy is drinking a heiniken. They ask whats up and he tells them I'm down in setting up for the following day. The drunk guy then says "well, looks like I'll have to sit close enough to him and develop a sudden case of the coughs". Well, the next day comes and I'm up against the tree when about 20 minutes later I see a light heading my way so I flash my light at him, it's one of the three from the day before. He then proceeds to put a climber up in a tree 30 yards from me. (nevermind the thousands of acres surrounding us). At 7:20 I hear the deer coming from over the hill to my left and watch as this guy lifts his gun and fires. The deer take off and come into my line of sight at 50 yards. The last one is a decent 8 and I took two shots, hitting him with the first and dropping him with the second. We walk down together and see the deer is clearly mine (he aimed at the neck because he "didn't want to wait for him to step into the opening"). Boy, did I ever enjoy dragging that buck up past those three boneheads. I've never heard the F word that much in my life. Oh yeah, according to the guy sitting in my back pocket he's hunted there in past years so he wasn't moving just because I was there.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

No, I don't think it's you. As a group I am sorry to say that hunters have to be some of the most ignorant people I have ever met. It doesn't surprise me in the least that we are stereotyped the way we are. A perfect example of why gun control isn't always a bad thing is to observe hunters and how they handle firearms or any other weapon. Can scare the daylights out of anyone that has at least half a brain!

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

thats the reality of PA...dad and i had a honey hole for a couple years. we took a good number of deer from it in a few years. opening day 9am were dragging my 6pt and both of our 2 does. we had snow and came across a group walking around...who walks around at 9am opening morning that isnt dragging?? whatever...the next year we are there way early like always...more then an hour before light. about 10 minutes before light here they come...a whole group. we shined our lights to let them know where we were..they shined their lights back and kept walking!! it broke light and they surrounded us!!! dad and i both killed deer but it wasnt like it used to be...wed see 20+ deer by 10am easy. that year we seen a couple and that wasit. could hear the deer busting the idiots all around because they set up bad...havent been back since. they had to follow our drag marks back to our spots[:@]

im about fed up with PA hunting...good thing i graduate college in 2.5yrs:)

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

That stinks when stuff like that happens. It has happened to me in the past. Unfortunately in the world we live in, theres not enough time to do the things you enjoy, and people get lazy, rude and ignorant. Up here you see it alot when you are striper fishing, both on a boat and shore. People come up and mug you all the time. The guy should have move on when he saw you.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

Public lands are notorious for this unfortunately. Some of my worst experiences occurred on public land during spring turkey seasons, but I've had some real idiots set up around me on private land too. One year, I had 3 hunters surrounding me at 30, 45 and 50 yards on opening day of gun season. I had shined my lights at them, but they never flinched. Funny thing is, only me and two friends had permission to be there![:@]

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

I've tried to go for the harder spots in the last few years to avoid that stuff, although if you went 3/4 mile, that would usually do it, so you had some hard-core a-holes on your tail!

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

man i glad i hunt the areas i do.i NEVER see other guys.if i do they with me.i couldnt put up with that crap.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

Same thing happened to me yesterday. It is 430 pm and I am waiting for deer to come down the hill. It is their natural routine. Guy is walking INTO the woods. He isnt leaving he is coming deeper into the woods at this time. I wave to him to let him know I am there, he acknowledges me and keeps coming. Ok now Im mad, eitquette tells me that he should backtrack and drop down. He doesnt, I look off to my left and there is a deer coming my way, the trail I am sitting on. Deer stops to look at him. He keeps on walking. I pull my gun up on the deer to see if it was a buck( I didnt have a doe tag). If I see horns Im shooting. Deer doesnt give me a chance, deer takes off down through the woods and I gave the good ole son-of-a-buck out loud so he can hear me. I look down and he has his gun pulled up, I said dont you dare.........BAMMMM! I yelled out Thank You. This guy isnt even 50 yards from me. He runs down to look for a blood trail. He must not have hit the deer cuz all he did was walk in the same area, for about 20 minutes. I know it is public land and he is entitled to the deer just as much as I am but what happened to hunter etiquette. You dont walk up to another guys stand and shoot a deer...............Oh well, what can I do? Just go back saturday and get a nice buck and chalk it up as a lesson learned.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

Its idiots like them that don't help our sports reputation. I don't even consider them hunters in my book. I call those types "Want a Be's". They want to be hunters, but don't have enough brains to figure out how to hunt, and respect others, and the sport. I got NO use for them type of people.
Here's what my brother did to a guy this yr. My brother was setup in his portable at our property line bordering public land. Well down in from the nearest road, where few public land hunters bother to wander. Thinking when they come in they'll push deer down his way. Well 1hr after light here comes a heavy set hunter down the boundary line on the state side. He walks right to my brothers setup, stops, and says Hi. Then proceeds only 30 more yards, and sits down. My brother figured being over weight he was only taking a rest. But when he started setting out his gear my brother figured yup another "Want to Be" can't figure out anyplace else to go in 1,000 acres of public land. So my brother climbed down, walked over by the nearest tree, towards this guy, and proceeded to drop his pants, and do his business. The guy says man you gotta do that right here. My brother says you gotta setup within 30yds of me when I need to go #2!!!

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

read my post..what you folks have to understand this is PUBLICLAND..i know best spots to hunt,does that mean i have right to chase other hunters away because i know the good spot and i have hunted there for 42 years??

DO I HAVE RIGHT TO PUT UP STAND 3 DAYS AHEAD OF OTHERS OR ORANGE RIBBONS TO MARK MY SPOT??

do others have right to come into my spot i have hunted and tell me to get out because they put their stand up 3 days before me??or put those ribbons all over woods??marking THEIR spot..

we have to understand, good ole days are over..blame the PGC/DCNR for this mess..do to the PA DEER ERADACTION PROGRAM deer are getting less..hunters are scouting and finding the deer that are left are all in one SPOT..so, tons of hunters all in one area..

i hated it also..i dont like hunter in MY SPOT but i have no right to tell them they cant hunt there..its PUBLICLAND..

as for being a good sportsmen,ha, you think hunter is going to leave area if he saw buck in it on publicland so you can have your spot..NOOOOOOOOOOO..

those days are gone..

i will be filing charges against some out of state hunters if i coonttinue to be harrassed hunting in MY SPOT i have been for 42 years that i DONT say word when a hunter set up his stand 20 yds from me and told me to leave..

oh, by the way, i got huge 8 point,20 inch spread next to this hunter that told me to leave HIS SPOT..he was 20yds from me all day..i did not care because its PUBLICLAND and none of us have RIGHT to tell another hunter to stay away because you were there first or as me, 42 years in that spot..

i feel for all of you, been there done it but we all have to wake up ,its PUBLICLKAND, if any blame it should go to PGC/DCNR for this doe killing that is making hunters greedy..

WE AS SPORTSMAN HAVE NO RIGHT TO TELL ANOTHER HUNTER WHERE HE OR SHE CAN HUNT..get use to it and get over it..this is way it is and if harrassment continues, i believethat our hunting will end or laws will have to be put in effect..

again, days of good hunting, great sportsmen,getting along in woods are gone..

GREED is taking over now..

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

That behavior has been going on on public land since the beginning of time, it sure isn't new just because of the deer population situation.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

sproulman, I'm pretty sure we all agree with you regarding the "my spot" issue. That is the point I was trying to make. Just because someone tapes off a spot the day before the season doesn't mean it's theirs. However, if I am set up before dark the opening day of the season and another hunter is walking towards me I would hope SOME people would have the courtesy to move away after seeing me. Also, just because someone has hunted a spot for 11 years doesn't mean on year 12 it's automatically theirs. They should be happy for taking a buck there for the past 11 years not because someone else finally found it. The way I see it the "spot" belongs to the first person there the morning of buck season. I don't care if you have hunted that tree for 30 years and it has a big freakin' sign on it with your name in neon lights. My money paid for the right to hunt that spot just the same as his did and if I got there before he did then maybe he should have had a few less heinikens the night before. By the way, I even talked to one of these guys the day before and they said they were all hunting high on the hill so I told him that I would drop in deeper so I didn't interfere with them. Funny how they decided to drop down in with me. I guess they couldn't stand an "outsider" coming into "their" spot and taking a deer so they figured they'd set a treestand up beside me to try and get a shot at the deer before I did.:eek:

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

The whole point here is disrespect for other hunters, and to me it also becomes a safety concern. I'm sure everyone realizes public land belongs to each, and everyone of us. Nobody owns the public woods except the state. But I highly doubt the states intentions of offering their land for the public was for hunters to setup within close proximity of another hunter. When I go upon public lands if I even see a hunter, no matter where he's setup. I always go another way. I'd never ever consider setting up within a few yards of another hunter. I totally don't understand the hunters that do this. Why in your right mind would you want to sit next to another guywith a gun that you don't know, and possibly compete for the same deer. Why would anyone want to take a chance on causing a possible safety issue as well. I certainly don't know how that guy shoots. With all the hunters that like to fly lead I want to be as far away from other hunters as possible.
Therefore I don't except such actions as this. Its my butt, and I don't find it very enjoyable. I certainly wouldn't find alot of pleasure in hunting next to a guy even if I did shoot a deer before he did. Hunting isn't a competition to me. Disrespecting others like that just makes us all look bad. Hunting is about enjoying myself, and I certainly don't enjoy hunting like that. Actions like this is exactly why I enjoy bowhunting more, where I don't have to deal with so much ignorance. Come gun season I stick to my own land, and only adventureontopublic lands when I know alot the hunters have given up, and are not out.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

My buddy and I built a nice duck blind on a wildlife management area about 15 years ago. We hunted for about 3 weeks straight. On the fourth week we were running behind getting to the WMA. We paddled all the way accross this pond only to find two other guys in the blind we built. Oh well first come first served. We moved a couple hundred yards away, pulled the tin boat up into the tall grass and got a few ducks, no big deal. If more people would have some respect the world would be a better place.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

I know you guys are in PA, but thought I'd add my 2 cents. I hunt public land in MD, and had alot of the same problems, I was set up in a hot spot on public land by 6am on opening day, a van backed into the woods to within 20yds of me, he gotout, saw me, than proceeded to get back in, slam his door and gun the engine out of the woods. 1 hour later a hunter walked 10 yds in front of my blind making a whole lot of noise. Yes it is public land, but at least have a little consideration for your fellow hunters.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

here in pa.lately,if you have hot spot ,you will not be alone..i have come to understand i will have hunters 20 yds from me hunting this area..

my concern is the hunters that say they were there each year,its their spot..or they put their ribbons out week ago or put their stand up a week ago ..

i have been in my spot for 42 years..i had hunter try to chase me out because he was there for 4 years..i did not try to chase him out, its PUBLICLAND..

also i dont agree if i have my stand in their ahead of you that you cant hunt there..just because someone puts up stand or orange ribbons, ITS NOT ANYONES SPOT..

by putting up stand,or ribbon, or getting there before daylight to beat others,in my opinion,DOES NOT GIVE ANY OF US RIGHT TO TRY TO CHASE ANOTHER HUNTER AWAY FROM THAT SPOT..

i dont like it also when i see hunter BUT its not my land,your land, its PUBLICLAND and anyone can hunt anywhere they wish..

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

I'm ever so happy I don't hunt Pa[:'(]

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

No! them folks are over the place

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

Yea yourabsolutly right but I think thisthread was mostly comprized from Pa people, that's all I ment.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

yeah, you're right Rick but don't think the entire state is like that. This is just my experience from this past year. There have been other times when the hunters I ran into where curteous and respectful and we all had a good time in the field.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

i am CURTEOUS one..does this mean i am good guy if i let them push me out of area??that is what those that want you out feell..

if you leave, they are happy and if you dont they will piss and take no.2 in area..

i seen it..this is most of hunters i am seeing now..not to get off the subject..i was hunting sgl 252 in lycoming county,pa..for pheasants..

i had my dogs..i was where no one was, i thought..i saw 6 guys lining up to put on phesant drive..i was there FIRST standing in field hunting, they came 1 hr later..

they yelled,GET THE HELL OUT OF WAY BUDDY, YOU COULD GET HIT WITH SHOTGUN, YOUR IN OUR WAY..down field they came shooting at pheasants..i ducked down as pheasants were flying low and i got out of there..

not to go into more details,do to lack of deer, pheasants this is what its turning into now here in WMU 2G..

i have crews following me to see where i go hunting as i get nice buck usually every year,then they come in to area i hunted for 42 years, pout up ribbons, stands, crews and then try to chase me out..

yes, pa is terrible place to hunt in WMU 2G..i predicted this would happen when deer became less..

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

Seems none of this is unique to PA.It occurs in every state from what I hear and read and my own experiance.It all brings back memorys of hunting state land for 25+ yrs.Some good memorys and good deer - BUT - some real sour memorys. There are some real Brutes on State Lands.
You gotta put up with alot of *!&$#@B@%S$ to get EM!

I agree that it don't make a hill of beans if you've hunted the same old oak tree portable stand for 20yrs.If a guy gets there before you do - Tough Luck.Sooner or later your honey hole will get found.Around here its most often because guys can't keep a secret about specific areas that hold nice deer. Lo and Behold - here comes the "intruders".

That's just the pitfalls of hunting "open" state land and "sharing" with other most often unknown hunters.

BTW - If your a fisherman ALL this is a Ditto !

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

Badthing and people often happen to good people [:'(]

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

you are correct..i could have said to the new hunters,being i was there for 42 years,HEY, THIS IS MY SPOT AND I WAS HERE AT 3AM IN DARK..

I DONT BECAUSE ON PUBLICLAND YOU CAN HUNT ANYWHERE YOU WANT..

just because i have hunted this spot for 42 years does not mean its mine..its stateland..

these NEW hunterscome into area i hunted all my life and say,GET OUT, I WAS HERE FIRST, BEEN HERE FOR 4 YEARS..

i got news for them, NO ONE IS GOING TO CHASE ME OUT OF MY SPOT I HAVE BEEN IN FOR 42 YEARS..

same on sgl252 ,no hunter is going to chase me out ..again, most i am seeing now are disgusting hunters..it seems good ones have given it up or are sick..

if i have spot,i dont care if someone sits right next to me..i know that deer are less and will be in 1 area..i know this ..but no one is going to chase ole sproul out of woods because i am little older than them and not a ignorant person..

good times are gone, i understand that too..its no wonder young kids dont want to hunt with ignorant hunters that i am seeing now in woods here in WMU2G..

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

I would find another place to hunt unless you and some buddies are willing to go up there and open a can of Whopp Ass in the woods.

To me - it would not be worth the stress to argue or fight with a bunch of nitt witts with loaded guns in hand. I've been there - done that - it makes thing worse most of the time.

sproulman - You know what they say "What Goes Around comes Around"

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

I think it totally has to do with the color orange....people get stupid when it comes to this color. You see stupid, ignorant behavior when people see orange in the woods and you see stupid, ignorant behavior when people see orange on the highways. It has to be the orange!

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

i will never leave my hunting area..in fact, i asked to be buried on a piece of leased land near this spot..

dcnr said its not allowed..if i get cremated i hope to be put in this area,if allowed..

so, you can see how deep this is in me..my uncles /dad,9 of them hunted there, all gone..i am last of the big crews and i am not going to be pushed out of area that has so many memories..

no one is going to harrass me out of the hunting area that i love so much and has so many memories..at times, i can see my brothers and uncles and dad coming over the ridges in fog..

past is just like its here now but ,sadly, its not real.. take care!!

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

How's this?
Where we hunt in the ANF, you have to walk over an hour on gated roads to get to where we used to park. About ten years ago my Dad got a nice 8 point at his usual spot he likes to hunt. A cocky young goof came to the sound of the shot and told my Dad that he shot this guy's deer he has been scouting. What a laugh! how many times did this guy actually walk a two hour round trip to scout this 2.5 year old deer?
So anyway, the following year, we get in there and discover that this guy and his family have camped overnight back in there so they could beat us to the spots we hunt.
Well, the joke was on them because they got NO bucks for all their trouble. We have never seen them since.
If we get a nice buck back there, we always wait till after dark to cart them out because if anyone sees you with a nice buck, the following year the valley that we normally have to ourselves is loaded with hunters. The joke is on folks like this because in that area, we seldom if ever get a nice buck in the same spot in consecutive years. They get frustrated at their lack of instant success and move on to steal somebody elses favorite spot. I know that an individual does not own a spot there but to try to squat on another hunter intentionally is just like stealing. I would never do it. I know where the old timers like to go. Even if they get a nice buck I would never dream of trying to move in on them. There are plenty of good stand sites. The woods change from year to year and there is always a good ambush point that is waiting to be discovered.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

Okkeee - Dokkeee - Do what you gotta do and good luck.:)

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

livbucks, problem now is there are not many GOOD SPOTS..if they know as you say that you are good hunter,they will camp in that spot..

we had to bury our bear guts because of hunters that would sit in that spot from that day on..

again,my complaint is not a hunter that comes and sits in my spot..its PUBLICLAND nothing we can do about it..they are welcome..

my problem is ones that say its THERE SPOT because they hunted there for 4 years or they put their stand up 1 week before me or HUNG THOSE ORANGE RIBBONS ALL OVER WOODS SAYING, didnt you see those orange ribbons, thats my spot!!

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

Probably one of the biggest reasons that more and more ignorants are infecting the public grounds is because they have ingratiated themselves to private landowners, who in turn post their ground because of them. More and more posted property equals more of the ignorants on the public ground. Everyone is correct who made the comment that courtesy and a little respect for fellow hunters is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. I'm glad I was able to hunt back in the "good old days", when a calmer attitude was more prevalent. I'm slowly getting more and more disgusted with the situation as it's developing anymore. The slobs are going to ruin it for all of us. They will be PETA's and the anti-gun force's window into what they portray the hunting population to be. Sorry situation.

RE: Do I attract ignorant hunters?
 

i never thought i would see day that a deer was so important to get that hunters would act way they do..

here is what i saw, i saw hunters pushing dead trees over paths to keep hunters out,i saw hunters running, yes running at6 am first day to beat other hunters into woods..i saw hunters put up ribbons and say, this is my spot..i had hunters tell me to get out ,most were out of state hunters that tried this..i saw hunters jump out of pick-up truck in middle of a drive, get out the ribbons,run down the woods to get in the drive all while stringing out the ribbons so they knew how to get back to truck..then leave and let 50 ribbons hanging on laural..

i had out of state hunters after i harvested my buck in area i hunted for 42 years say, you are a disgusting sportsmen, we were here first today,you saw our ribbons from 3 days ago all over woods, sproul, your DISGUSTING..

well, i got news for them, i will be there for my 43 year next year..same spot, same area, they are welcome ,its PUBLICLAND,BUT DONT EVER THINK I AM LEAVING..

ps..one of the out of state hunters said, i got 3 doe and buck before i came to pa..isnt that something!!