Hunting Public Land Etiquette?

[BigN]

I find that hunters (and fishermen) are basically lazy. They're going to hunt/fish near where they park their car so as not to have to walk all that far. You have to go off the beaten path and walk/travel to spots where others won't go. You'll be pleasantly surprised with the results. Before anyone gets offended, I said "basically" lazy, I realize that doesn't apply to all of us.

 

[bejay]

I find that hunters (and fishermen) are basically lazy. They're going to hunt/fish near where they park their car so as not to have to walk all that far

ive noticed the same thing most are probably not going to be to far from the vehicle and if theres not to many roads that may help, but on the other hand they can be some decent spots to hunt also ive killed quite a few deer and been less than 200 yards from where i was parked but sometimes ive also been a long ways off also.
would probably try to use the other hunters to your advantage if possible they will move the deer around and if you position yourself to take advantage of that if possible.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I'm skipping opening day, opening week in fact. The following week, I'll be in the woods as much as I can. Opening day sounds like WWIII in my area, when I use the public lands. I learned, and decided to skip it. The 2nd week of the season, there simply are not as many people out and about. Lot of them have already filled their tags and gone home, or back to the city, or wherever.
Second and Third week of season is a no mans land for the most part.

 

[wishooter]

Up here it is mainly County land in my area, and it is all logged regularly so there isn't an area that doesn't have a logging road. I am all for sharing public land, In fact that was is kinda the point, if everyone just sits on top of each other, I guess thats not really sharing it. I just thought maybe there were some un-written rules out there I wasn't aware of that would help things out.

I do see some people use the pink/blue ribbons to mark spots, but there is already a lot of that on County land due to the horse and x-country ski trails. Sounds like that is a no no to some on this board. Also, because this is county land, I think there is provisions in my area for leaving stands out during the 9 day hunt.

Sometimes I will find soda bottles or wrappers where someone else has been sitting, and by looking at them I can usually tell if it has been used recently, sad but true. Of course I try to take out all the trash that I find, up to whatever fits in my pocket

Anyway, thanks for all the replies. I will just have a few spot picked out for this year. I have a feeling I will become a bow hunt only guy if I keep getting burnt.

 

[bejay]

If theres to many people maybe you should look for other areas to hunt there is always private land if you ask permission you may get lucky there,
Even public land some spots seem to be overrun and others may not have many hunters at all and maybe worth the drive.

 

[jmr40]

I like to wake up about 8 and take my time getting out there. Just as I've finished my coffee about 9:45 or 10 I start making my way down through the woods. By that time, most of the sissies are tired of freezing their asses off and head out of the woods.

I've used a similar tactic before. Getting to public land where I hunt can mean driving 2 hours. Instead of trying to leave home a 4AM I've slept in and left at 8 or so, got into the woods around 10 and hunt till dark. I don't see as many deer, but some of the biggest bucks are actually killed mid-day. My largest ever was shot at 2PM, My 260 lb bear was shot at 4PM.

 

[Cob]

On a recent scouting trip before opening day of archery in FL, a hunter had flagged several hunting spots with orange flagging tape. (he had to have used a couple 100 foot rolls)...I counted no less than 1/2 dozen spots clearly marked with flagging, as well the trails leading to & fro the spots every 20-25 yards.

We promptly removed some of the orange flagging tape, and will follow the unwritten "rule":

First man to the area on opening morning get's the spot.

(This same theory alos applies to salt water fishing holes offshore - often use public GPS coordinates of reefs, sunk structure, etc... Often we ahve traveld 12=14 miles by boat, only to find a boat sitting in the same spot we were aiming for... Sometimes, sharing the spot is an option, just be as courteous as possible to the other person/group. Of course this never goes over well if you were the first person there.

Here's a final note, and one many hunters will not agree with. I work as a forester, on public land in FL... Tree Stands can be utilized on this public land, but are not allowed to be left there un-attended... We find the remains of permanent old wooden tree stands (often years old, and also not allowed), on the public land, but occasionally "luck" across the nice new climbing ones... At work, we guys who routinely do prescribed burns/ timber marking, land mgt. etc... also hunt, and utilize this "no stands allowed -un attended" rule to the fullest, and take the opportunity to remove the stands (within reason of course)... We carry them back to the shop, and leave them there for 6 months or so, and if no-one claims them, get to carry them home... Sometimes we also find tree stands in "No hunting" zones as well.... We don't have to wait the 6 months on those...
Be careful, and know the written rules about leaving tree stands on the public unit you are hunting. (Building permanent stands is often forbidden)

 

[courtgreene]

I also wish I had crap loads of land and didn't have to rely on public land. But because there ARE so many people who do not have access to acres and acres, we must realize that their taxes are collected the same as ours and they have every right to it. I typically go in deep, and when I notice there is no litter, I know that I've gone further than all of the other hunters. The litter test lets me know that I PROBABLY won't be bothered from that point further in, so I do all of my scouting and planning in those areas.
As a public land hunter, I agree that going into the woods on opening day is BEGGING to be shot. I did it once... and will never do it again.
Finally, if you have a canoe, lots of public game lands are around rivers/creeks (not all, i know), so you if yours is, you could float quietly and quickly to the areas no one else even realize exist.

 

[wishooter]

Same up here... I work for the county, and if you are on good terms with a County forester, you will never have to buy a tree stand.

 

[Cob]

(In this area, i'm the County Forester)
I don't condone stealing someone's tree stand, but reccommend not leavingt it out there on public land either. Some guys will leave them for months on end. We'll normally remove them before timber sale situations, prescibed burning, and poaching situations.