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Post by butlerj on Nov 16, 2017 22:49:43 GMT -5
Been running some scenarios through my head, and figured I'd make a post to get insight from you highly respectable peers.
Scenario 1.
Gun season, public ground, opening weekend. You hear gun shots on over the hill maybe one (maybe two or three) and the deer eventually run right into your set up, you might not be able to tell if it's hit or not.
Do you take aim and pull the trigger given its a safe shot of course!? And maybe it is hit.
Scenario 2. This one is my current situation...
Public ground, You find a buck the weekend prior to gun, one of the few spots you sit every year through out the entire seasons. Upon watching that buck go up the hill you catch glance of a new shiny freshly placed empty stand. Given the parking pull off is big enough for two trucks and your spot is 50 yds or a little more on down the hill from this new stand. Do you still hunt it? Especially if your FIRST to park there! (It was my first sit there last week of this year, I always start walking atleast an hour before day light, I had no clue someone placed a stand there, did I feel bad when I seen it? Yes...
(I drive over an hour to this ground for over 10 years, add another 10 years if you count my grandpa was driving me, I'm always first back there in the am in order to get my pick.)
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Post by raymar on Nov 16, 2017 23:15:40 GMT -5
I would not hesitate on choosing whether a deer was hit first or not I it comes by alive if an ethical shot presents itself. I would be prepared to talk to someone if I realized they in fact did draw first blood so to speak and be prepared to let them tag it but that is me. There is definitely room for an argument there.
2nd scenario would be no. I would not hunt someone else's stand. You are asking for an unpleasant encounter period. It could be a bird watcher for all you know but they took the time to place it on public land and have the right to it. Now an hr after daylight and no one around I would be tempted but prepared to give it up no questions. It is part of hunting public ground, and no matter how early you get there,come gun season you will have company.
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Post by butlerj on Nov 16, 2017 23:44:34 GMT -5
I will take your advice Raymar. I have other places to go sit. After Saturday (maybe sunday) the deer are going to drop old habits and be everywhere they haven't been imo. If this stand belongs to the group I think it does they're gone after firearms season and I'll check back come sometime in muzzleloader when the crowd of the place really drops out.
Sounds of shots I'd let the deer pass but would keep eyes on where it went to help the hunter track.
In the end I just want to hunt, not argue.
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Post by schoolmaster on Nov 16, 2017 23:54:32 GMT -5
I have stands on public ground. Other hunters have no problem sitting close to me. I would shoot that deer. I have killed several that had been shot before they got to me. Local customs vary on claiming deer. I have shot several that other hunters claimed. Usually the one that drops it gets it. Some places the first knife in it gets it. If it's a big buck the game warden usually settles it. Some hunters grab them and take off with them. If they fall in sight of the road...
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Post by duff on Nov 17, 2017 4:38:17 GMT -5
Public land = 1st come 1st serve. I have walked through some hunting areas that had stands everywhere. Kicker is several are put up by the same guy. He can only hunt 1. I don't think you were going to hunt another person's stand just that area right?
Deer running is a bad shot choice period. If good shot is offered, shoot it. Arguments take 2. If hunting public and there is a chance someone else shot it...I would give it to them. Unless i already called it in and used my tag. How would it be any different on private? Neighbors and even shared property. Just be rational.
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Post by firstwd on Nov 17, 2017 5:34:38 GMT -5
I've walked away from a 150" 11 point I shot on a Park hunt because another guy put 2 rounds in it and claimed it. I honestly don't even know if the deer was still on it's feet when the guy shot it, but I know what my gut thinks. It was however laying at the end of the blood trail I followed around the tip of the hill. If you have a safe good shot at a deer, then take it. If it has extra holes in it be prepared to let the original shooter claim it if they actually come trailing blood.
As for the area, it is a public area. If you are first, then go there. It is quite possible this person won't be there or has other options as well. Just shine your light when you see someone getting close and you'll get a quick education on the type of hunter you are dealing with.
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Nov 17, 2017 8:10:37 GMT -5
I agree with most of the other posters on shooting the deer. If it looks like a fatal hit and the other hunter comes looking for it, no doubt I'd give it to him.
On the stand thing, putting up a stand does not give someone the right to use that area exclusively. I would have no problem hunting near somebody else's empty stand. However, it's probable that someone will be in it opening weekend regardless of who parks there first. For that reason I'd probably choose some other spot at least a couple hundred yards away, just because sitting in someone else's lap isn't my idea of a quality hunt.
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Post by butlerj on Nov 17, 2017 9:23:29 GMT -5
Truth on finding out what hunter im dealing with awd, personally I don't want to find out.
Duff, no Sir. If I hunted a tree stand it will be one I bought and put in the work to dragging it out there and setting up.
The tree I normally sit at is 50 to 60 yds down hill. BEHIND his stand not facing me. I can move further down and may not have a problem at all except field of shots. And with out ever being able to see each other.
I dont recommend running shots, too much risk of injury and non recovery. Which will weigh heavey on the right hunters consciousness. Those deer will go a ways and are bound to stop and slow down at some point, especially if you can mouth bleat. I've stopped one in their tracks hollering "hey" at one once...
I'm just going to give it up to this guy as he has put in the work, as in hopes others would do the same if it were my stand (personally I would go an extra mile just to prevent them coming close to me) I put this post up to get opinions and also bring light to other fellow public ground hunters.
In the event of a double shot deer I've always heard the shot that puts it down is the taker.
I am on my 20th season, I've taken one doe. I've passed shots, I've missed shots completely and I have taken a perfect shot that went bad and with out recovery only a shoulder hit with less than an inch of arrow and the broadhead missing. My goal is to get a buck down this year, my grandpa has retired hunting and I feel the need to have one before his time. I've missed out on getting one with him present, though in heart he always is with me on my hunts even when really he is at home comfortable and warm watching a race.
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nodak
Junior Member
Posts: 28 
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Post by nodak on Nov 17, 2017 11:19:48 GMT -5
Whether on public or private, personally if I shot one that someone else already had hit, I’d be inclined to let them tag it. Don’t ‘need’ the meat and would hope someone else would approach the same way...wishful thinking maybe.
Public is kind of a first come deal but also wouldn’t want to set up right on someone else’s spot or vice versa. Can’t go wrong doing the right thing
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Post by Squealy on Nov 17, 2017 11:32:12 GMT -5
I have had a buck "taken from me" at Atterbury during the after Thanksgiving draw hunts.... I shot it it trotted off, I heard multiple shot in that direction a minute of so later. I jumped out of my stand and RAN on the blood trail right to the deer. Two guys standing over it and claimed it. It ONLY had one hole in it (entrance and exit). They took it...
I have been in the tree an hour before day light and had guys come down into the woods headed for their tree stand and I've shined my light on them and the turn around and they go the other way.... I have sat with-in 60-70 yards of someone elses stand and seriously didn't know their stands where there.... I came in from the other way, they had climbers hanging low on the tree and i never saw them.... Sorry... If I know someone else has a stand in the area, i will normally back out and go somewhere else.
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