first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

Hi all you deer hunters!
First I have to say how great this sight is this is, all my questions always get answered before I ask them. With that said I know everyone will give advice and let me know that all hunters arnt @$$holes.
I am from Minnesota and hunting Whitetails. About 2 weeks before hunting we went to Floodwood MN. There is some State land up there that they say is great to hunt on. So we found a spot that we thought would be a great plact to build a stand. There were trails all over this area. There was swamp on one side and pine trees on the other and She was going to build her stand on top a little hill full of Popal trees. We walked around the area and saw no other deerstands or markers.So she built her stand . We put out a salt lick with molassas and sugar on top of it. We did this in 2 spots. I myself wanted to try a Pop-up Blind.
Ok so 430 am we were up and ready to head out for the big kill. We drove out to our spots. She helped me with my blind and went on her merry way.
I looked over the spot where i was but decided to move because there was a trail going right through my blind. So I moved up on the ridge about 15 feet from the trail. I sat for a little while and watched the mice and birds.Then I herd this loud russleing a little ways from me.....I grabbed my gun took off the safty. And I watched a Black bear stroll by. I was scared...I never hunted before.Camping yes never seen anything wilder than a fox. Ok so the bear moved on and so did I.
As for my hunting partner....i was sitting once again and herd a shot from her direction....I turned on my radio to see if it was her....nothing. Well after sitting for 5 hours and not seeing anything she came out opf her stand and we had lunch. So she was telling me of another hunter that had built his stand about 50 feet from hers. She saw a doe and he says something loudly and the doe ran off...she said pretty much the whole time he was making all kinds of noise and staring her down every half hour.So we decided to go somewhere else for the evening hunt.
Well needless to say I go set up my blind about 2 pm in a great spot I thought. Right by pine trees and a small lake. I am sitting there for about a half hour and 2 trucks pull up and they decided this would be a good place to sight in there guns. About 100 yards from me. I knoe they had to see me. I wasn't that hidden. So that went on for about an hour.
Well needless to say....almost every hunter we came across were kinda rude and snotty. Are all hunters afraid of women hunting. My friend has been hunting for 30 years or so and has been elk hunting in Colorado twice...and shot a cow...and has shot many deer. This was my first time. So it wasnt like we didnt know what we were doing.
I guess Minnesota nice doesnt include hunting. There are 2 weeks left of hunting here, I really would like to shoot my first one one of those weekends. I just wanted to share this with all of you to see what all of the great hunters had any advice. thanks for reading.
Dr_Pepper

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

Dr Pepper, I am the only woman at my deer camp and let me tell you yes some men(not all) are intimadated by women hunters. I think they feel like we should be in the camp cooking and not out hunting. If this had happened to me the first thing I would have done is stand my ground. I wouldnt have moved. Maybe I wouldnt have gotten a deer that day but by golly neither would he. He was trying to intimidate her so she would let him have the spot and it worked. And as for the guys sighting in there guns you should have called them on it. I would have gotten up and said something. Most men would have just moved on. Dont get me wrong there are alot of men out there that respect women hunters but there are some that don't. I have been hunting all my life and have run across alot of them that dont like women hunters. It isnt as bad as it use to be. Please don't let the men stop you from hunting. You have just as much right to be there as they do. And I do know how you feel about the bears. I had 2 come to the base of my deer stand 2 years ago. I was scared too. I just shot over there heads and they ran off. It is illegal to shoot them here. So my advice to you and your freind is stand your ground and keep hunting and hopefully you wont run into anymore a$$holes out there for awhile. ;)

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

No not all hunters that way. Just like anything else there is always a idiot around. I wish my wife could hunt yet.She was very good at it when she did.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

I suppose I wouldn't be too excited about having my treestand already up and someone coming along and sitting in a tree 50 feet from me either (man or woman).

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

I find this in just about every public hunting area you always seem to run into the slob hunters who think they own the place and they become real arse holes. I am not afraid to tell them what I think either.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

I truely believe not enough people "wig out" anymore. Because if they did more people would have better manners than to act like this. If that guy would have done that to me, be it public property or not, I would have waited on him at the base of that tree and stomped a mud hole in his @ss even if it requied wrapping my gun barrell around his head in order to do so. It's called an attitude adjustment and it'll work every time (to borrow a line from Hank Jr.). Yea, you may go to jail for a couple of days and pay a few fines but think how much better you will feel and how much better off society will be. I bet that guy would never pull that crap with another living soul as long as he lived. Sometimes you just have to take one for the team (the human race) and kick someones teeth out. Yes, it's harsh but you either let people get buy with that crap and become a victim or you fight back. I personally would have waited at the bottom of the tree and when they got one step from the bottom I would crack them in the knee with my stock and then I would have proceded to beat them until my hands were sore at which point I would have kicked them until my feet were sore at which point I would have made a hasty retreat from the area. You can call me whatever you want but if you don't come messing with me then ai don't "wig out" if you do come messing with me, you better have a sack lunch. If there were more people in the world like me you wouldn't have to worry about people acting like this.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

LOL dam silent having a rough day??;) I'm not saying I would've acted like the guy did, but don't you agree that 50 feet is a little close? What happens when a deer comes by? Both open fire and a race out of the stand to see who claims the deer? I honestly don't know what the ethical thing to do in a situation like that is. I hunt private land and never been an issue for me. But what do you do if someone climbs a tree that's 50 feet away from you? I can't picture myself sitting there hunting.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

Well this is the differance between woman hunters and men. As a woman you cant very well wait on a man to beat the daylights out of now can we. But we must stand up for ourselves anyway. This is why men try to push us out of the way. They know that physically we cant make them move. But we can be just as irratating as they can so I say stay there and make sure he doesnt see any deer either.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

Perhaps we all think too much.

Id suggest you next time start to act a little crazy...sing..singing is good....maybe some Christmas Carols. Then do some jumping jacks....maybe hold rifle up to your eye and go BANG BANG then laugh hysterically...act like someone is with you...have a conversation, tell them to hush....and every now and then point gun right at his tree base...slowly raise it uo the tree till he is in scope...then giggle...


Please dont judge all hunters by this moron.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

Crazy is good.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

stomping mudholes and crazy laughter while pointing your gun at the tree he is in......yep. sounds like hunting on state ground;)J/K. good luck with the jerks and stand your ground

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

My wife hunts and most guys I talk to thinks that is awesome. I think the experience you had didn't have anything to do with your sex but rather hunters trying to stake claim on spots. Biggest issue to public land hunting. Some guys are just plain greedy.

I have always approached anyone who comes upon me right away with a big smile on my face. My first question is "how's you hunt been going so far?" after some intial pleasantries (hopefully) I ask where he and anyone else in his crew REGULARILY hunt. That's the key. If they have always hunted a specific area for years I leave. I ask how far thier "area" extends. If I get an unreasonable answer which basically doesn't give me any options I will ask where they are planning to hunt that particular day. I will then advise them where I will go.

Only once I had to explain the difference between private and public and the spirit of cooperation.

Most times they wish you a good hunt and everyones territory is staked out for the day.

I couldn't imagine just sitting there looking at each other. That might seem quite passive but is so confrontational in a different sort of way.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

Using sugar and molasses is illegal in MN.......

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

It is hard to find nice out in the hunting woods. You should run into some nice folks.

I think using radios is illegal also.....

Pop up blinds on public land isn't safe either.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

No one knows how to deal with the insane...

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

2 years ago my wife and i built her a ground blind 3 days before gun season opened, well opening morning we get to our stands and about 20 minutes later here comes joe blow this guy was your typical slob hunter,, he walksa up to my wifes blind and starts to crawl in now for those who have never met my wife she is 5'10" and takes no guff from anyone (raised with 5 brothers) well this sorry piece of human trash starts yelling at her to get her arse back in the kitchen where a woman belongs, that was his biggest mistake at this point my wife turnd on her radio and all 5 of our hunting party heard every word she said, she even went as far as threatening to send him home to his wife with a rifle shoved where the sun dont shine, lol,
well the closest to her was a friend of ours his name is moses and he is in his early 70's well he persuaded this moron that trying to intimadate my wife was futile at best , so mr slob hunter left. well i was perched about 40 feet up in a huge white pine and after about 15 minutes of calm on the radio here he comes sat at the base of the tree i was in i very nicely asked him if he had just got a tongue lashing from a gal in a ground blind which he replied yeah just some sorry arsed b&*%^ well i then let him know that it was my wife he tried to intimidate and that he was in the wrong, well he moved on and sat about 75 yrds east of me
and both of us where overlooking a swamp well as the sun started coming up this guy kept looking at me in his binocs i guess he thought i would be more of a pushover lol ,,, well at about 9 am here comes 4 deer thru the swamp i saw him looking only thing was he couldnt see the deer as they where in a ravene that runs thru the swamp, i had 2 doe tags and as well a buck tag so i decided to take my shot i dropped the scrub buck in his tracks the does didnt even budge so i filled a doe tag as well.
i then smoked a cig and then let everyone know i had 2 down and about 5 minutes later here comes my wife and the rest of the gang we got the deer drug up to the edge of the swamp when this guy walks up and says hey you shot my deer :D:D to which my wife replied if you had scouted thew area before opening day you might have gotten a deer but when you guys come out and look for the bowhunters stands and try to push your way in your gonna get an argument,, well needless to say that was 1 unhappy guy but since then he has changed his tactics and has learned that hunters arent alone and that there can be favorable rewards if we all try and just get along,, by the way this guy has begun bow hunting and has even joined our hunting party he finally realized that sometimes you are better having more than yourself to deer hunt with sorry so long winded

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

thankfully i have never had it out with any guy over a spot, i would definately stand my ground though, and Lord help him if he gets mouthy and tells me i should be in the kitchen, mmm mmm mmmmmmmmmmmmm, that would urk me something fierce........i'd be waiting for him when he checked out that night for sure if i didnt get to say what i wanted too out in the field , with a couple of protectors close by, lol........i've heard my sister go at it a few times and i'm telling ya, she dont back down......if she was there first , it's hers...dont blame her, thankfully most of the men i have met in the woods have been great, i hear the whispers, but that is ok, the ladies that hunt out where i do keep up with the guys that continually bring out critters .....i think it's harder to gain a man's respect in the woods, but when you do, it's forever....i'm sorry youre first time had a damper put on it.....dont let one jerk ruin it for you or her......

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

You people are so cool....We are going to go hunting again this weekend.
We are hoping alot of hunters filled there tags this week to give us a chance to fill ours.
I was not aware that the sugar and molasses was illgal. Well if I were hunting bear I would have been set. We read the hunting regs. and didnt see anything that said we couldn't. But thanks for letting me know. I dont need trouble yet....lol
A friend of mine was telling me a story of how a hunter was shot because he was telling another hunter to get outta his stand.
Thanks for all your replies I wish I could hunt around or with others like yous.:D

I love this sight!!!!

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

Good luck to you and your friend this weekend. And happy hunting.:)

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

Standing up for your rights is a good thing....but I would absolutly never, and I mean never, point a rifle at another hunter. Even as an intimidating factor......one of the 2 of you may just end up 6 feet under...and that would really ruin a good hunting season....forever!!!! Good luck with the rest of your season....hope ya bust that big buck!!! Remember there are some real nut cases out there in the world and it don't take much to make them snap......be real careful out in the sticks when every where you go there's folks packing heat!!!!!! You don't want to end up being one of this years statistics!!!!!

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

i agree with the pointing of the gun comment. Quick way to get yourself shot. I've always tried to take the high road in similar situations. Called in more than one gobbler only to have someone else shoot him before he gets to me. One basta#@ even came to thank me after he took a long beard with 13/4" spurs. I just kinda grinned and asked for his address so I could send him a bill.
I would probably go into a loud chorus of "Dixie" if some SOB set up within 100 yards of me in the deer woods. Eventually they'd get sick of my awful voice and move on at which point I'd go silent and hope the deer thought that him leaving was me and feel safe to come out. If they still let good ol fasioned fist fights happen I'd certainly partake but sad to say there are too many nitwits who'd just as soon shoot ya. Ya'll be careful in them woods and hope your freezer gets full!

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

Hun, come to Wisconsin to hunt, were all more than happy to share with you or anyone else for that matter, especially women and youth. Good luck to you.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

I've hunted in MN a few times and most (all?) of the folks I've met have been nice and reasonably considerate. I mean, on public land, really it's first come first served, even if you build a stand. That stand is on public land and if a person comes across it, you don't really know if it's a currently used stand or if it's one that was built a couple of years ago and abandoned at this time. You also don't know if the person is going to use it that particular day - and certainly if you build a stand, you can't expect it to "reserve" that spot every day, even if you aren't hunting. It's public land and the other guy has as much right to use it as you do.

On the other hand, I personally would tend to stay away from a stand if I found one in the woods, but I don't subsribe to quasi-personal areas on public land. I feel that if you build a stand on public land, you take your chances.

In fact, I might even venture to say that the regs specifically state this about permanent stands (some regs preclude building perm. stands at all!). You can probably look it up in the MN regs.

That's why I would never build a stand on public land. I invested in a very comfortable and safe climbing stand (Summit Viper) and that's the only way to go on public land, imho. Frankly, I think it's more comfortable, efficient and safer than a lot of lumber-built stands I've been in especially if the lumber stands haven't been carefully checked out and maintained.

On the other hand, if someone is in a stand, common courtesy, to me, means taking your spot at least 100 yds away. You certainly don't plunk down close and/or give the person grief.

As to the radios - in MN, they are only illegal to use "in the taking of game" - e.g. to coordinate a drive, to inform someone of a deer coming towards them, etc. They are perfectly legal for communication in all other situations such as calling for help taking care of a down deer, etc. There are gray areas of course, so it's always smart to use caution when using a radio while hunting. Do a search on this forum for radio and you'll find discussions.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

From my little experiences I have noticed when you hunt on public land and you are the new guy it's like you are trespassing on someone's land. You get the cold shoulder and possibly your stand gets destroyed or stolen. For you to move up in the ranks in that particular spot you have to continually stay in the same spots and do the same things year in and year out. You basically have to out last your opponents. Finally something gives...they either get sick and tired and move or they don't hunt any longer.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

Dr Pepper

Where from Mn are you from?

Why did you pick the Floodwood area?

Hunt further north and the more area you can use by yourself. We had two square miles to ourselves when we hunted up north by Spring Lake north of Deer River.

I might be hunting the third weekend around Remer.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

Dr pepper.I cant believe that with all the responses you received,no one pointed out that when you hear the leaves rustling its ok to grap your rifle but never,never take off your safety until you are ready to fire on what you are hunting.

As for the bad hunters,yes they are everyehere and in great numbers.I avoid them best I can.Even hunting on my own posted land I still have to deal with these ignorant idiots because they feel the own the woods,even MY woods.

Good luck to you and your hunting partner...

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

So we will be heading out again into the great out doors. We have some friends that live in Floodwood. But if we dont get a deer this weekend....who knows maybe Remer. Thanks to all of you, I know this weekend will be a better one for us. If not I guess I will be buying deer meat at Lunds....lol.
If your going out this weekend good luck....if not send meat this way...lol
Dr_pepper

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

There's a thread out now on 5 hunters killed by a guy that was sitting in one of their stands.....it's a real shame. Like I said earlier----be real careful if pointing a weapon at another. But from what I've read so far---it was an Asian with a SKS or similar----never ever should have happened!!!!! Sure feel bad for the families of the survivors....

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

I have never had a guy look down on me for hunting here in Indiana, most of them are in awe and many of them are envious of my boyfriend because I hunt with him and I UNDERSTAND the passion. It's very fulfilling when you check your deer in opening day and you have the nicest "rack" there... (NO PUN INTENDED)...

I got a ton of congrats and a lot of men in awe that I took it and not my boyfriend, women hunters are rare in Indiana, in fact, I only know of ONE other than me, and I don't know of any women on this board from Indiana... I'm sure there are some, but I haven't seen them post yet.

I think it's awesome and if you can, get more of your lady friends into, the only way to get certain idiots to understand is numbers... the more women the better, then they will get used to it. AND HOPEFULLY GET THE HECK OVER IT!

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

There might be another thread on here from the other guy complaining about someone hunting within 50 ft of the spot he has hunted for years and not only did they illegaly build a stand on state land but they baited too.

I really doubt that the other hunter's reaction had anything to do with the fact that your friend was female but more to do with my previous comments. As for the group that decided to sight their rifles during the season, no excuse for that just plain stupid. I would try to find a new area, maybe deeper into the woods and away from the road so you don't have to deal with slob hunters. You will find plenty of A holes hunting public land but you will find plenty of nice and considerate hunters as well so don't give up.

As for approaching people that you have a problem with or hunters that may be trespassing I would leave that up to the authorities. There was a trerrible incident in Wisconsin this weekend that I'm sure everyone will hear about on the news where 5 hunters were killed and 3 injured on their own land by some psycho trespasser. Remember that no hunting spot is worth your life.

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

I agree with pocomoke and piketipper--first--do not take your safety off until you are ready to shoot--that's how hunting accidents occur. The best way to get in an area where you'll be alone or relatively alone is to go where others won't--further from the roads--hike in a mile and you won't see anybody. As far as a confrontation--its always better to walk away--no animal is worth it--well maybe a few
hb

RE: first time Deer hunting....bad experience
 

I'm the only girl in my hunting party but I've shot some of the biggest bucks in our party. At school all of the guys are crazy around me because I hang out with guys all the time and I'm such a rebel. but I'ts fun to be in that kind of envirnment where you are the only different one. I love it!!!!:D:D;)

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