Hunt a little deeper in the woods and you can get away
from those guys who horned in on your spots.

I for damn sure will not mark my trees anymore. I would say that okay these hunters just wanted a spot to hunt on the last day, but during shotgun seson the same 4 hunters came into the woods at about 7:00am and set up 35 yards away from 3 of us on the first morning concidence or dickheads.

find private land

Walk softly and carry a big gun...or just make accurate shots.

I'm with some of the others here, These hunters went into the woods and saw your markers and said "that has got to be a good spot". If your going to mark an area you need to do it so others don't notice. Your best bet probably would be a gps. You have every right to be mad, but there is nothing you can do about it, it is public ground.

Why not mark bad areas with you ribbon. Or use them as a way to make the others push deer to you. Seriously public land is rough and first come first served each day. I agree with some of the others that it is first come first served but why not use the other guys to your advantage. Use some bright eyes or some ribbon but use them as markers for areas where you know that anyone walking onto them will push deer in your direction. Shell out a few bucks and go for the GPS. Going deeper into the public land is where you should have some success and then be ready when 10 am rolls around and the guys head out of the woods for lunch sit tight chances are the extra movement will generate some deer movement. Hunt all day it will only increase your odds pack a lunch and grab some just in case paper should you need it. Most folks generally won't venture out that far and chances are the deer will run or gravitate to where there is the least pressure. Only alternative is to talk to land owners and see if you can get permission on public land.

Landowner whose property we hunt on requires 8 hours of work from each member of the hunting party. He usually won't hold us to a strict clock but having 6 guys weed and mulch his flower beds really makes it look nice and saves him a ton of weeding so he is happy as a clam to let us off with only 4-5 hours each. Also we have chopped down trees for him and a few other things but you get the picture.
a few hours of work is but a small price to pay versus scouting public land and then having joe six pack come and sit at the spot you have high hopes for. Good Luck and happy hunting.

I like your thinking cableguy leave good spots unmarked and mark the bad spots to flush deer towards me, I think I have found next years scouting method. Thanks!

Edited by - Bucky10 on 01/21/2003 11:40:20

Man I feel your pain. All you can do is try elsewhere.
If your stand was already in place I would definately say
something. (and then remove my stand as noisily as possible.)
Hunting public land is a pain at times but after you pattern the other
hunters you can usually find good spots away from the crowds. Most hunters dont want to walk very far so most of my spots are over a half mile from the nearest road or across a creek. I used to put ribbons up to mark my spots but it ended up attracting the out of town
hunters that didnt know the area. I did get a couple of deer
during the bowseason but the other hunters aggravated me
so much this year that Ive quit hunting this season. Even though
the season doesnt end until february.

Quit marking your spots...buy a compass, learn to use it to get in and out in the dark....

Public land is just that...open to the public. I've had packs of fox hounds run through on me, small game hunters, duck hunters, hikers, bikers...you get the pic...

If I saw another stand where I planned to set up I'd go the other way, but I go in in total darkness and out in the same. I'm not likely to see it..Say something to me...P-off!

~Will Hunt For Food~

I hunt public land and like most hunters when I see a place that is mark I move on down the road. I do have my own spots that I love to hunt, but I do not mark them. I know my way around very well. I will take close friends and family but most people couldn't find their way back if they had to.

In the National forest you are only allowed to put up a stand for three days. I am sure people do not always go by this but that is the law.

BUCKY i also hunt public land and it seems that when you start dragging out two or three deer past other hunters the area you once thought of as your honey hole has become crowded with other hunters scouting and setting up stands in the middle or end of the season. i hunt as far back as i can about 1 1/2 miles back i started dragging the deer out at about 11 o clock usually most the hunters have given up by then try to use a dolly, they will follow drag marks.dont tell anyone where your hunting but if they do start hunting where your at nothing you can do. dont tell them of your success