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Post by drfleck on Dec 3, 2020 17:39:19 GMT -5
I am considering hunting rabbits this Saturday on public land. However, I would not want to interfere with someone's deer hunt. I have hunted squirrels early season and rabbits in January and February and never seen another hunter. Not sure what the deer pressure will be for muzzleloader. As long as there are no vehicles parked at the unit I would hunt would you say proceed? Or would it be better to wait? Thanks for the input.
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Post by medic22 on Dec 3, 2020 17:54:34 GMT -5
I hunt a multipurpose property that offers good habitat for ducks, rabbits, birds, and deer.
I prefer people wait, but understand that public lands are for everyone. Do your best to not ruin someones hunt, but if it happens, it happens.
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Post by Ahawkeye on Dec 3, 2020 18:02:21 GMT -5
Do your best to stay out of someone's way but who knows you might just push one their way? Public land is public land. The fact that you are concerned about messing someone else up to me sounds like you are a courteous person who will watch out for others the best you can.
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Post by jman46151 on Dec 3, 2020 18:07:09 GMT -5
For me it depends on the size of the property, any vehicles in the parking area, if there are vehicles can you make an educated guess where they are hunting, etc. But I typically won't small game hunt from middle of October to the end of regular firearms season. During muzzleloader season I wouldn't have a problem hunting if there's no vehicles in your unit.
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Post by blackmouthcur on Dec 3, 2020 18:42:56 GMT -5
I’m just the opposite, I love to see small gamers out doing their thing. Usually I’ll go talk to em and see if we can shadow them as their dogs go through the thickets. Nothing gets the deer up and moving like a bunch of beagles busting through the briers!
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Post by treetop on Dec 3, 2020 18:43:17 GMT -5
I’d hunt you have just as much right to the ground as a deer hunter
I hunted public ground a bunch in my younger years I never got mad about another guy hunting it’s public ground learn to use squirrel rabbit hunters to your advantage
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Post by deadeer on Dec 3, 2020 19:12:21 GMT -5
Yep, you have a good attitude towards it. It's there for everybody, so getting everybody to work together is the best plan. You gotta be pretty open minded, because inevitably you will get disrupted at some point. I only use public land for late mz and small game late in the season, when the pressure peters out.
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Post by firstwd on Dec 3, 2020 19:50:42 GMT -5
Last Friday or Saturday I was waterfowl hunting on public land. Had 2 deer hunters motor by my boat and decoys just after daylight. Saw a guy in a treestand about 100 yards away on my way out. Not a word was said but hi and good luck. I want to believe that most people understand that multi-use public land is just that, especially this late in the year.
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Post by drfleck on Dec 3, 2020 19:50:49 GMT -5
Appreciate the input. Reaffirmed what I was thinking. Will avoid any areas with cars parked and probably go in the middle of the day when I would expect the least amount of deer hunters. I have spent a lot of hours in the treestand this year and am ready for a change of pace.
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Post by span870 on Dec 4, 2020 4:35:42 GMT -5
I have several spots that I run my beagles and I'll run them all year long, well used to. Anyway, I go to a spot and there isn't a vehicle there, I'm running dogs. If there is, I move along. That said, if I'm there first and you come after me, move along. Give and take. I'm sorry if you have a stand there but I'm not staying out of the woods all year just on a wonder if you'll be hunting that day or not.
With that all said, I've only ever had one issue. I've actually had guys stop me and ask if I minded if they deer hunted where I was running. Told them have at it but my dogs were running. They said they were absolutely fine with that but would I give them some time to get into their stands before I dropped the dogs. Spent the rest of the day waving at them each time I passed them. One of the absolute largest deer I've ever seen on public land made a habit of bedding in a field I regularly run my hounds. Stayed there from sun up to sun down. Deer only got up if he got bumped from the dogs. Watched him many times get up, circle around and bed right back in the same spot.
You have as much right. No one in the parking area, go for it. Just be thoughtful.
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Post by duff on Dec 4, 2020 6:32:05 GMT -5
Go in blazing. Any issues tell them you and your kin have been rabbit hunting this spot for past 52 years. They have no authority to hunt your spot.
I have had it happen two times in the Hoosier by deer hunters as I came back to my truck.
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Post by duff on Dec 4, 2020 6:33:30 GMT -5
Or put a chain up across the parking area with a no trespassing sign or Area closed.
I have not knowingly seen that but been told it is common
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Post by omegahunter on Dec 4, 2020 9:56:39 GMT -5
Go in blazing. Any issues tell them you and your kin have been rabbit hunting this spot for past 52 years. They have no authority to hunt your spot. I have had it happen two times in the Hoosier by deer hunters as I came back to my truck. I see a lot of those comments on Facebook and just SMH! |
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Post by medic22 on Dec 4, 2020 10:44:58 GMT -5
Go in blazing. Any issues tell them you and your kin have been rabbit hunting this spot for past 52 years. They have no authority to hunt your spot. I have had it happen two times in the Hoosier by deer hunters as I came back to my truck. Got this one time at a park hunt. I questioned just how he and his buddy managed to get drawn so many consecutive years. |
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Post by duff on Dec 4, 2020 10:47:48 GMT -5
Go in blazing. Any issues tell them you and your kin have been rabbit hunting this spot for past 52 years. They have no authority to hunt your spot. I have had it happen two times in the Hoosier by deer hunters as I came back to my truck. Got this one time at a park hunt. I questioned just how he and his buddy managed to get drawn so many consecutive years. Lol it is easy to say anything. Hope that most people are not willing to push the issue. |
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Post by featherduster on Dec 4, 2020 13:23:58 GMT -5
GEE! here I always thought etiquette had something to do with what side you put the fork and spoons on around a dinner plate at the table.
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Post by greghopper on Dec 4, 2020 13:59:51 GMT -5
GEE! here I always thought etiquette had something to do with what side you put the fork and spoons on around a dinner plate at the table. “millennials “...... somethings have to be spelled out! |
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Post by drfleck on Dec 5, 2020 14:20:22 GMT -5
Well...surprisingly multiple trucks at every unit checked. However, only saw one hunter in stand from a distance and met one gentleman in the parking lot. Really nice guy who wished us luck.
The rabbits, on the other hand, weren't as courteous. Got skunked. But it was a nice morning nonetheless.
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Post by Ahawkeye on Dec 5, 2020 16:25:49 GMT -5
You should have the woods to yourself soon. A couple weeks and the numbers you see now will be at a fraction. Good luck to you I love a good upland hunt and looooooove me some rabit.
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