Bad hunting manners!

[.41 magnum man]

I happen to own some land behind my house. My dad and 2 of my brothers own land that joins mine, and between us, my kids, and their kids, we have decided that we have just enough room for us to hunt without getting in each other's way, and won't let anyone else in without permission from all the others. We began this when one brother let in a guy to hunt once on his place, but the guy thought he could just come back whenever he wanted. Since we all worked in town at the time, we didn't know for a while he was still hunting the place until my sister in law saw him one day. And the way our properties lay, you can't help but cross each others land to get to certain places. (I have to cross my brother's place to get to a certain ridge that I own.) This guy had went beyond where my brother had said and was even in some of my good spots stinking up the place. So we have not let anyone else in since then.

Now I am a taxidermist and work at home. Some of my customers ask me if they can hunt on my place and I explain to them why I don't let anyone. Most are good about it, but some want to be pushy. I guess they think I owe them something since I get to mount their animal. And some of these guys come in bragging about all the land they get to hunt on, and still act offended if I say no. (And I have never been invited to another property. And I don't ask either.)
And one time, one time, I decide to let this guy hunt on my place after he has asked me several times. He was a good customer, but mainly just seemed like a decent, polite guy. He hunts in all seasons with all weapons, so one day I told him, "I tell you what, since part of my family doesn't bowhunt, then I'll let you come down during bowseason. I have a ladderstand on a certain place where I ususally get one or two a year, and you can hunt there."
Without a pause he answered back, "No, I will bring my gun during rifle season and I will just go back there and find me a place I like, and hunt it."
Of course, he shot himself in the foot, and everyone else's too.

One other thing that gets me is people who think they can ride an ATV on your property without permission. I caught a guy one day on a rinky dink 2 wheel drive atv stuck on the side of a hill, spinning a big hole in the trail. I came up behind him, and he didn't even know I was there. I asked him, "What are you doing here?" He said he just saw this trail and thought he would see where it went. He said two of his buddies even told him they shouldn't be on it. I looked up, and there the two other guys were sitting above us on the trail. I ran them all off with a good chewing, and dog gone if about a week later my neighbor caught another two guys on our place. They were even dumb enough to admit they knew the other guys I had run off and had been told by them not to come down here! Good for those suckers I wasn't there.

I have even met people who think that if you own land, you owe it to everyone else to let them hunt, and that to post your land was being a selfish low down dirty dog. Well, if anyone reads this and thinks that way I have the same question for you that I had for them: Do you leave the keys in your vehicle for anyone who wants to drive it, regardless of who they are, at anytime they want? Why not let anyone who wants come into your house and take over the place? It is exactly the same thing.

 

[Big Az Al]

Very good post (s)

Don't claim everything that falls just because you shot!

By ALL means do, you shot, speak up, unless oppertunities are few, once you have filled your bag and have to put your gun away, I can relax and really enjoy banging away!

The group that I had/have hunted with, since I was able to hold a gun, if two people claim they shot the dove, usually let the person least likely to fill there bag, have it! When we know that 2 or 3 of shot at the same time, I learned to say "man one of you guy's really hit that one", let them discuss who has one less bird to shoot!

The only one drinking in camp? I am more likely to be the one not. Be discrete about it! Going to the Stove/icechest/creek to get more coffee/soda/water, and poring a little... may be the best way to get that medicinal nip! I won't say don't because, brandy (whiskey/beer/wine) after a hard day May be medicinal, just don't drink to the point of being offensive!

Even on state land let the rancher know what you have seen that he needs to know about! I can't speak for other states but here, most hunting (even bird watching) oppertunities here are because of ranching activities! Take away the water lots that are there because of the cows (The state pays nothing for them) and what is left for the GAME?

I drive a TWO wheel drive vehicle, when I can't get where I want to go because some *********** on an ATV/4wheeldrive destroyed a road that for over fourty years was a two wheel drive road. I just became an anti ATV/4wheel drive minded person. ATV'iers need all the friends they can get! to many people want them gone!

 

[H&Hhunter]

Al,

If you are going to be hunting much I'd recommend you buy yourself a good 4 wheel drive vehicle.

You can get a good used jeep or a pick up pretty darn cheap.

I am not quite sure how a 4 wheeler destroys a road?

 

[ID_shooting]

Most bad juju has been discussed, but plese indulge me and let me add mine. When hunting public, private land, DON'T POACH THE OUT OF SEASON CRITTERS JUST BECAUSE THE IN SEASON ONES ARE SCARCE!

We have an AWSOME dove spot. It is very productive the first few days of the season then it thins out so much we don't bother going back. Last year the ditch line had hundreds of quail, hundreds I tell you. Well, I show up oppening day of quail, not one quail and empty shotgun shells EVERYWHERE!

Lousy scum bags!

 

[alsaqr]

Off and on for nearly 30 years i have hunted squirrels in a large pecan orchard. Am the only person allowed to hunt there. Have helped the guy fix fence, put in a cattleguard and lots of other small stuff that he and his wife appreciate. i hunt with a .410 shotgun because of the low noise level: His wife does not like big bangs. The gent does like to eat squirrels but does not hunt them. Always dress out two or three and give to him.

 

[ID_shooting]

Yes, I will call that proper manners. I always give one pheasant/duck/goose whatever to land owner. Just one of those unspoken rules. Same one as says if a guy volunteers to drive everyone out, he never goes home empty handed.

 

[elrod]

If you are deer hunting with a group (either dog or still hunting),
STAY ON YOUR STAND UNTIL RELEASED Almost shot a guy once because he strayed off assigned stand, then pulled out his hankie (white, of course) to blow his nose.

 

[eliphalet]

I am not quite sure how a 4 wheeler destroys a road?

When it is muddy and or wet a ATV can severely damage dirt roads or trails on a grade or we've seen whole hillsides tore up. There is a large butte near me with a rough 4X4 road over the top and around the back way that ATV;s have ruined. It has been used when it shouldn't have been till there is no dirt left in many areas worn down to solid lava rock. It has become so rough my Toyota 4X4 pickup had a hard time last fall, and places we went down I am sure I could not have gone back up now. I won't be able to use that route again, even with the old FJ40 land Cruiser from what the short ATV's have done I would probably high center. We have used that road for years but it is trashed now.

This is not a ATV bash they are great tools/toys but like most things can be used irresponsibly

 

[redneckrepairs]

Dont shoot my Charolais Cows they look nothing like prarie dogs ( yes i just had one headshot and killed last week ).

 

[Big Az Al]

4X4 Tearimg things up.........

I am reasonably sure that the 4X4ers that tear up the roads are not hunters.

But we get blamed anyway.

How most of them do it and tear up thier stuff also, is put the gear selector in Nuetral, Rev the engine as high as it will rev, and drop it into drive. I am told the goal is to see who can spin all 4 tires the longest before the vehicle moves! There are some "hunters" that don't have much more brain power and they spin tires through things that you shoud have been able to cruise a sports car over!

Where I like to hunt there are roads that work all weather, that are just below taking passenger cars over, but two wheel drive trucks almost think they are paved. These roads will take you to water holes, several good campsites, and to other trails of verying degree of difficulty. I rarely see any sign sof 4X4's or ATV's off these roads, and am often told I am on a 4X4 road when I run into those people on them.

Then there the trails, where picking my route with a little care a lot of them will take you to places that to go farther you need 4X4's or ATV's, to go farther, 90% of the 4X4ers follow someone with a 2 x back there and stop right where thier rig would still think it was on a main road with out even trying, and never attempt to see where the road goes! 99% Of the ATVers stop here also.

I get a good belly laugh going when I look down from a hillside and see a train of ATV's cruising along one of the (my) main roads, driving right past trails that would take then out of that over used area, and only using some of the lesser side roads after someone like myself drove into an area because there is a good walking place back there!

Them there is the spin the tires everywhere they go ATV crowd, A lot of them even hold some pressure on the front breaks to help the back tires throw more dirt, when the legislature passes a shoot on sight law I am going hunting!!!! Two or three of these can make Broadway right down town impassable given a chance, will maybe not that bad but they can make it a full time job for a rancher to keep roads he needs to use passable!

SO to me if your in a 4X4 and run into a 2X your should be able to farther back without any trouble at all! for ATV's if it looks like an old road, that is over grown to the point where it won't take a full size vehicle, try it you might just find a gem of an area where no one has been in a while.

And what ever we drive, or ride, try to leave the roads and trails so that a little wind will make look like no one has been there in years!

 

[Art Eatman]

Any vehicle that is driven at an angle on a slope will leave at least small depressions. Depending on vegetation and soil type, the next rain of any amount will then start an erosion path. This is particularly true of steeply-sloped country or desert country. Over time, just one wheel track from a small motorcycle can result in a deep gully.

Art

 

[JWarren]

I would add have respect for the land owners property.

+1,000


We used to be tolerant with some hunters duck hunting out our lakes. After the trashing of our land got so bad, we posted it, gated it, locked it, guarded it, and eventually prosecuted a few people for vandalizing our gate and trespassing because THEY got mad that we locked them out.


Now we have a rule in our family... NO ONE outside of family on our land. Sadly, a few ruined it for everyone. Even more sadly, I honestly don't care anymore after the hell we went through after posting the land.


-- John

 

[41magsnub]

One more at least for the ranches I hunt on... if you see a coyote it dies regardless if you are on the trail of the biggest buck the world has ever seen.

 

[Skoghund]

If you are hunting with me and your mobile phone rings you will get sent home PDQ and not invited back.

 

[redneck2]

One more at least for the ranches I hunt on... if you see a coyote it dies regardless if you are on the trail of the biggest buck the world has ever seen.

This is fine on our farm, but I've hunted areas where the guy would get all cranked if you shot varmints. His land, his call.

Anyplace east of the Mississippi there is very little "public land". They are typically game preserves or National Forests and are typically well marked. We've had city folk pull over to our woods and start hunting. "I didn't know anyone owned this" is their line.

Be real sure of your backstop when hunting with a rifle. Back maybe 20 years ago a guy in our group shot at a deer in the middle of a picked cornfield. He was laying down and the deer was on a very small rise. After he shot, he stood up and could see the farmer's pickup that he'd just shot.

I have no idea why, but when it comes to hunting, some guys just lose all sense. They'll kill anything that moves at all costs, trash anything that's there, etc. They're the guys that whine the most when they lose the right to hunt.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Here's some tree stand etiquette...,

true, your stand is yours, BUT...,

Hang some orange on the back of the tree where your stand sits, so those of us on the ground can avoid you when we can't actually see you. Especially bow hunters out during gun season(s). I don't want to mess up your hunt so let me know where you are.

On public land if you leave your portable temporary stand in a tree overnight, you DON'T have a reservation on that spot in the woods the next day, unless you're IN that treestand when another person shows up.

If you're late to get into the woods to set up your portable stand, and a hunter is already in the woods and close to your favorite tree, don't throw a hissy-fit. You're late not him. Suck it up and walk away quiet.

LD

 

[HankB]

On the subject of someone else using your tree stand . . .

A guy I worked with had, over time, acquired several hundred acres of woods up near Alexandria, MN. Good grouse hunting, decent for deer. He built a number of permanent tree stands before the season in likely areas.

Deer season rolls around . . . he goes up to his land, and finds the gate at his private access road open. Lock has been SHOT OFF and is laying there in fragments. He parks by the gate and walks in . . . sees a couple of pickups parked on a trail on HIS land. What the %$@!?

So he walks a little farther into his property carefully . . . and sees locals up in HIS tree stands!

Not wanting to confront armed locals, he decided to leave quietly.

The trespassers? They had a long WALK out; when they returned to their vehicles, they were . . . unusable.

 

[Atticus_1354]

HankB, that reminds me of something that my uncle did. He was out tending to his farm in the middle of colorado and he catches some kids tearing up one of his private dirt roads. SO he parks the tractor in their way and takes their distributor cap and drives over to the sheriff and hands it to him. The sheriff picked up the guys as they where walking along the road and impounded their truck until they fixed the road.

 

[birdbustr]

If you do bring beer into the field on a hot day, don't drink enough to get you buzzed, and if you don't have enough to share, don't bring it at all.

EVERYTIME you shoot think to yourself. "Am I going to hurt someone if I shoot". Teach this to a hunter young and he/she will do this automatically for the rest of their lives. This is one that Dick Cheney should have been taught.

 

[Art Eatman]

Let's don't get off into the Cheney thing. That was a "It takes two to tango" deal.

The main thing is to know what's behind your targeted game animal, and don't--for example--shoot at a skylined deer.

 

[BayouTeche77]

Just one that I believe is important.

If a landowner gives you permission to hunt his/her land, don't be a stranger until hunting season rolls around next year. Make it a point to visit/help/call the landowner throughout the year.

I help the folks that let me use their property by showing up when its time to dig the potatos, plant the garden, build a shed/tear down a shed etc, and make sure to send them Christmas cards. It lets them know that you truly appreciate what they're doing for you.

Hell, one time two of my buddies and myself made a week-long hunt at a cousin's of one of the other two. He let us hunt his land, stay at his place, drive his truck and drink his beer. Before we left, we brought his truck to get two new tires (we weaseled out of him what kinds after he said they needed replacing) and we had it detailed.

 

[Cougfan2]

Don't use someone else's tree stand. It's not your's. And if the owner comes to hunt and his stand is occupied it might just get you a warning shot across the bow. Seen it happen.

I lived in Minnesota for a few years and have also seen this happen. You don't mess with a man's Gal or his tree stand............not necessarily in that order.

 

[Cougfan2]

I was in a Duck hunting club with a guy, unfortunately my boss for a while, had a habit of having a couple of Bloody Maries in the morning before heading for the Duck blind. After the first time I saw him do this I managed to always want to hunt from a different spot than he did. Preferrably FAR away. Still awkward as he was my boss. Left the club after that year because none of the other guys saw a problem with this behavior.:banghead:

 

[cooch]

If you are hunting with me, make up your mind that we are hunting......
Don't pull out your camera or get distracted and hold us up just because you spotted some pretty flower. Cameras come out when we are resting, or after the hunt is finished.
In other words, keep your mind on the job.

If there is a carry-out involved, do your share.

Peter

 

[KiltedClaymore]

although its been said, i had a problem with a guy who decided to camp in the only turnaround spot ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN. Im going up this road before dawn, and outta nowhere i see this guy in a sleeping bag next to his truck on the only turnaround on the mountain. now, its dark, im on a road that drops off a hundred feet down to no where, and there is a guy sleeping in the road. needless to say, i ended up guiding my dad down the mountain BACKWARDS!!!!!!




and dont get me started on ATVs. when im out hunting, they seem to be drawn to me. how dumb do you have to be to around with a guy holding a gun and alot of ammo on his belt?