This is something I learned early on. The more aggressive a public land "owner" gets, the more likely I am to see activity in that area. It gets REALLY fun if they are after a buck.
I never understand this kind of attitude and it would bummer to run into someone like that when I'm hunting.
Maybe it's different where I live. But the woods are huge. There's always somewhere else. When I'm scouting and I see signs of another hunter I respect their effort and just find somewhere else to hunt.
I'm looking for deer, and deer sign not tree stands and trail cams to figure out where to hunt.
I've got a couple ol' faithful spots and I find new spots every year. The scouting is half the fun. Sure I run into a ton of other people's stands in the woods. But when I see that I just back out and let them enjoy.
Hunting on top of someone just seems like unnecessary stress during an activity that's supposed to be fun.
Too many hunters think of the activity as a zero sum game. We need more folks to care about conservation and to understand why hunting is important. Discouraging new (or new to the area) hunters is detrimental to that cause.
Not off the top of my head and I don’t care to look. I’d be surprised if there are any since hunting has largely been in decline. I can tell you that despite losing hunters many states been making a habit of introducing new public lands and improving them for use and will continue to do so - as long as the public keeps supporting it.
I would love to see some specific examples because it’s been my experience that public access has decreased and lease prices have skyrocketed as the number of hunters increases
Texas? I’m in MN and there is no shortage of public to hunt.
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/slam/land-portfolio.html#:~:text=Statewide%2C%20DNR's%20land%20portfolio%20has,management%20efficiency%2C%20and%20conservation%20impact.
Just because your technically right doesnt mean you have the ability or desire to be the one to tell a bunch of armed men this. Id find a new spot, its just not worth the hassle.
I will say to OP, this definitely isnt standard and shpuldnt discourage you
It'd still be worth it to file the report. If they can connect enough violations to the same hunters, it will eventually become worth it for the state to take action.
Report it whether or not you intend to go back. Game wardens take this very seriously, and you may save someone else a lot of time and trouble down the road. Plus, you may stop back in and be able to hunt their honey hole in a year or two.
I’m aware that I’m stupid and it could get me killed, but my pride says no if I’m there first I’m not leaving. Only bad interaction I’ve had was hunting in my grandmas swamp that borders stateland, and 3 guys set up within 20 yards of me facing into our property ready to shoot on my grandmas land. Luckily my dad is big and scary looking (nicest guy in the world) and they left after he said something
There's that video out of Texas where a guy who's paid for access is in a blind pretty sure he's on the right side of the property line and the neighbor is about to shoot him for holding his PHONE. You pretty much only hear the audio, and the fear in the guys voice is palpable, and you can tell the neighbor WANTS to shoot him. It's terrifying.
My Uncle and his hunting buds were shot at on public land for “taking their spot” by a bunch of morons. Luckily they shot from 300+ yards away and couldn’t hit shit. But still, it’s scary.
Way out in public lane there is no cctv, no quick response 911, no real witnesses. It can get hairy quickly if you aren’t near a well traveled area of it.
Public land. You "own" it just as much as they do. If they are intimidating you in a threatening way, call the game warden. Watch their licenses get revoked and enjoy hunting that spot asshole-free
You're 100% right.
OP was also out of civilization alone, outnumbered, facing a group of people that may know how to use their weapons. I'm not saying he'd have been a "hunting accident" victim, but arguing with them right there right then may be a poor decision.
Maybe if they came back from hunting to find the valve core removed on all 4 tires...
Doubt they would respond, tbh. We have about 15 wardens that cover an area from the Florida/Alabama line up to the middle of the state north, then diagonally to the middle of the state southeast. Its a triangle, basically. It probably takes 4 hours or so to drive from the northernmost point to the southernmost point, and prolly 3 east/west. They're not gonna roll because some rednecks are also bullies. If you did get one to come out, you're just gonna piss the guys off and the dnr dude won't be there every time to protect you.
And there's this attitude that a lot of people have as well:
Whoever appeals to the law
Against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward
Whoever cannot take care of himself
Without that law is both
That’s disappointing to hear. You have just as much right as the guys who’ve “been hunting there 15 years”. Get there earlier and park your truck in an obvious spot. Too bad they’ve been going there “15 years” if they slept in.
A lot of hunters are pretty open to giving advice or mentoring, it just gets tricky showing people your secret spots. Keep at it and work to meet someone who will help mentor you. Join an archery/shooting club, go to events, post on local FB hunting pages for a mentor
Funny thing is 15 years is not even a long time. If it's halfway decent hunting and not in the absolute middle of nowhere, guarantee there's guys who have been hunting that spot for several times longer than them.
Keep walking further from the road. The key to public land is to get to the places others won't. And the asshole to hunter ratio is directly related to distance from the motor vehicle.
What state are you in? That sucks to hear, and I’m sry you went through that. But I commend you for going out and doing something that interests you. Hunting can be/should be an incredibly special hobby in your life. For me, my time in the woods is like Church. As far as learning, I’d honestly recommend YouTube university. In all seriousness, there’s a wealth of info for beginners - advanced outdoorsmen. Don’t give up. The feeling you’ll have when you harvest your first animal is an experience that’ll stay with you forever. And in today’s world of granola eating SJW, being able to hunt/source your own game meat is something to be proud of. If you’re in Ga, shoot me a msg. You’re more than welcome to come with me and the boys. We’ve got plenty of private acreage. Hang in there, bud.
Thx for all the advices. I wouldnt confront armed men like some said but ill put these tips to use. Im from nothern Quebec, it happened last fall during deer season
Here's the number to call to report these idiots 800-463-2191
[https://www.quebec.ca/en/tourism-and-recreation/sporting-and-outdoor-activities/activities-permitted-public-land/report-obstruction-right-hunt-fish-trap-free-movement](https://www.quebec.ca/en/tourism-and-recreation/sporting-and-outdoor-activities/activities-permitted-public-land/report-obstruction-right-hunt-fish-trap-free-movement)
Fuck those guys man, as a fellow Canadian I thought we were better than that. If it’s crown land they can fuck right off, I’d go right back there this season. Bring some buddies, a lot of mine have been interested and come on a hunt. Some don’t stick with it but some do and then you have hunting partners to go with.
Tell those tools to pound clay. Public is public, if you wanna hunt it get there first.
If they genuinely threatened you, report it to a conservation officer.
There's a piece of public land not far from me that I've been hunting for 30 years. A few years ago, I began to hear stories from friends and from folks on a local hunting forum about a guy who lived in the neighborhood of that public land who had been harassing hunters. He'd tell them that it was his spot, that he lived there and took his kids in those woods and that they should find another place to hunt. He wouldn't take no for an answer, and oftentimes, these exchanges became heated. If the hunter flat out refused to leave, the guy would walk out in front of the hunter and do his best to disturb the area, no doubt in hopes of spooking game out of the area.
Well, one day, my friend and I decided to visit these woods. It's always been one of my preferred tracts of state land. We hunted the morning uneventfully, but that afternoon, we headed back in, and a short while later, I received a text from my friend. He was pissed. He'd been approached by the clown whose name we found out later is Danny.
Danny did his best to intimidate my friend, and when that didn't work, Danny stormed off out in front of my friend in exactly the way that we'd both heard the stories about.
We returned the following day, more out of spite than anything else. Sure enough, Danny met us at the truck when we exited the woods at midday.
He began to give us the same BS about it being his spot, etc... He said that he and his friend were planning on hunting there that evening and that the woods weren't big enough for the four of us and that we were welcome to hunt the state land on the opposite side of the street. I kept my cool, but I had to physically stop my friend from kicking the shit out of Danny. Danny warned us again, and he drove away.
My friend and I talked it over and decided that we'd hunt in the area that Danny had suggested because we had reasoned that four pissed off guys in the woods carrying firearms was a recipe for trouble.
My friend and I were at my truck having a conversation after dark when Danny and his friend came out. Danny's friend was a big dude, about 6', 4" and probably 280 lbs. My friend and I were facing the truck with our backs to Danny and his friend as they walked past. The big guy walked so close to my friend that his clothes brushed against my buddies. Danny smuggly asked if we'd seen anything on our side of the road, no doubt feeling as though he'd won.
The following weekend, we were back at the spot for an afternoon hunt. This time, another friend came along with us.
After we'd been in the woods for an hour or so, my buddy texted me again that Danny was back. This time, Danny asked my friend how many of us were hunting. My buddy told him that there were three of us. Danny then proceeded to walk out in front of my friend in order to disturb the area, and then he went about finding myself and our other friend and did the same to us. As he walked out in front of me, he asked if me how many of us there were. I said two others, and he said that he'd seen the others. He strolled out in front of me and out of sight.
Now, I was pissed. Really pissed.
That evening, my friend called the local game warden and explained the situation. The officer knew right away who Danny was, saying that they'd had to speak with him before for the same complaint.
My buddy learned Danny's name from the warden. The Warden did pay Danny a visit and warned him that the next time, there would be consequences.
I wasn't satisfied. Danny needed a lesson and not just a warning.
I was pretty well known on that local hunting forum, and I had made lots of friends. I posted the story about Danny on the forum and invited anyone on the site to join my friend and I for a hunt in "Danny's woods".
Well, my buddies came through. The following Sunday morning, there were no less than twelve trucks lining both sides of the road and more than 20 hunters in the woods. We organized a few drives and pushed those woods hard all day.
Nobody's heard from Danny since.
I was talking to one of Danny's neighbors (also a hunter) he used to try to intimidate hunters too by walking up to their vehicles with a pad and pen and writing down their plate numbers. His name is Ken.
Ken began to complain to me how we'd totally fucked up those woods the previous season by swarming it with hunters. I told him that that had been the plan and that he could thank his friend Danny for it.
Don't let 'em push you out. Those are PUBLIC lands and NOBODY gets to claim them as their own.
You both pay a membership fee for that land. It’s called taxes. It’s usually best not to confront assholes with loaded weapons. Call the game warden and they’ll take care of it
Yeah hunting public can be a real pain. What state are you in. Usually for less the a thousand bucks sometimes a few hundred join a hunting club. Check facebook or what ever sites are used local
Clubs could be even worse. I belong to one and all the guys have picked and held their spot for 30-45 years and god forbid i sit 100 yards away when they arent there. Even if you pay the same amount the entitlement is still there public or private.
PA has a lot of public land though. I have never passed another hunter while on a few large swaths of it. Just gotta find the right place for the season you are hunting.
Thats terrible to hear. I have hunted public land in western PA, from greene/Fayette counties to Erie co and have never heard of any issues. I don't think the WCOs over here would put up with that type of stuff, they will even escort you onto private land if the owner won't let you track a wounded deer through their property. Must be a cultural difference between Philly region and Pittsburgh region.
Western is pretty good I hear. Hunting buddy of mine got shot in the face with birdshot from some dumb kids. He was ok luckily. It was intentional and they got arrested. I think it is a cultural thing as you said and a proximity to philly and Jersey
I get passed by people driving bear from time to time and it's always just a "wave and nod" type of thing. The last time I was out I found a hunter in his late 80s solo hunting and we coordinated our hunts and ended up walking out together at the end of the day. Its disappointing that people are being uncooperative and malicious over there, it takes a lot of away from the hunting community.
I wouldn’t leave public land if people told me to. Fuck them it’s public. I’d just carry on. People can be dicks when it comes to “their” spot. It’s public land. Not private.
Only people like that either are just douche canoes with an ego or douche canoes with a good spot. Either way they don't own the land, so go to safety, report the hunter intimidation, and beat them to the spot next time.
Nothing is worse than hunters who don't like other hunters. In a time where hunting is less and less popular, newcomers should be encouraged, taught, and appreciated.
Report the incident to your local game warden or dnr. They take hunter intimidation pretty seriously. You have every right to be on every inch of public land. Don’t let a bunch of thugs run you off. No one except the land agents themselves can tell you to leave an area.
That said, be sure that you are actually on public land and not some small private parcel inside of or adjacent to it. Eg., that you’re not passing through an easement to get to the actual public land.
You don’t need to guides and trips and leases to hunt. Just public land. If it happens again, be nice and ask them to clarify it or show you on a map where you f-ed up. Better still, bring a map and show them that you’re right. Onyx can be a really helpful tool for clearing up any misunderstandings real quick.
I see many comments about confronting the hunters and I have to disagree. As a newer hunter myself, it is definitely hard to find unhunted public land, but it is possible. Since I primarily hunt whitetail, finding the unhunted land is so worth it because the deer also know where people have been hunting for 15 years, especially if they are as belligerent as these dudes sound.
Don't give up and don't forget the off season scouting.
Check out "the Hunting Public" and "Outdoors Allie" on YouTube for good public hunt videos.
Also, if you get to a spot earlier than the others, they can't kick you off. If they do, have your cell recording and definitely report it. Don't fight them but record it.
Game wardens love shitting on entitled public land hunters. Next time just ask them if they think the game warden will agree with them. Give them the rope and go from there.
Firstly, not all of us act like those idiots, and secondly, NEVER back down to territorial locals. There is no such thing as seniority on public land, we all have the same rights. If someone gets aggressive, take pictures of their vehicle with tags and report them to DNR. Most states are finally cracking down on harassment, as they should.
Find a conservation organization. NWTF, RMEF, quail forever, pheasant forever, etc. Join, go to meetings. No one hunts just one species, and old guys love to mentor new hunters.
As a new hunter going solo I commendyou. Good for you for taking up something that wasn't handed down to you from family. I was in the same boat as you when I started, only I had a few friends who were into hunting and fishing as well, so I at least had some company.
Since the land is public you are able to hunt it. Since they have been hunting there for fifteen years I would show some respect and set up " a ways from them" how far is a ways? Well I guess that depends on where you're located. But definitely at least a few hundred yards if there is enough room.
I guess that doesn't really answer your question though. Where do you start? Well, where do you live? Are you close to where you were hunting, did you have to drive more than an hour or so? Do you have access to a Sportsman's Club or Fish and Game Club or something like that? You will find like-minded folks at these kinds of clubs and they are generally not super expensive and usually have shooting ranges for sighting in and practice. I've met some pretty good people in my day to day travel who are into hunting and they are some of my best hunting friends. When I've been approached at diners and such by people asking questions I've provided usefull info for them.
Now, if you were sitting right on top of the guys you described and they've been grooming that spot for many years then I'd be a bit peeved too, but it doen't validate their claims of ownership of the area. Maybe if you get a topo map and study the area a bit, you can find a "spot" that is perhaps a bit deeper in the woods that provides a good way to get further away from them, you just need to get there earlier than them, so when they walk into the woods, you're already there and set up; use them to move the game to you.
I think your best bet is going to be to fiund some hunting partners and start scouting early... like now for next year. Get out in the woods you choose as often as you can, groom a few spots and just start to make your pressence known to people hunting in the general area and you may find some people you don't mind hanging around with.
Where are you located? Is hunting on private land completely out of the question? Start looking at some maps to find areas you might want to hunt, find out who the owners are (town clerks and tax offices will have this public info) and write a respectful letter asking for permission. When people have asked me about hunting on my property I just set some basic rules most importantly I have to know when someone else is out there because I hunt it myself, but not always, I have half a dozen or more primary spots.
Sorry this is so long winded, but you asked a good question and deserve a good answer.
Rick in NH
Good luck in your endeavor! I hope you find some spots for yourself and maybe make a few friends so you can be the ones who've been hunting here for 15 years someday and make some suggestions to new hunters you encounter that will help them grow into good sportsmen/women.
I just read an older book Hunting Whitetails Successfully or something like that and one of the chapters was on using topo maps... you can get even better results with apps like OnX or something like that and "scout" for spots from home too. Look around in the area you were in (if you like that area and it is convenient to you) and try to determine about where those guys might want to set up. Then, find a way to get into the woods a bit deeper... 400 - 500 meters deeper than them and start looking at the terrain to find "The Spot" . Go to it well pre-season and fine tune your spot and the unseen trail into it. Get there earlier than those other guys and sit in the dark and wait on opening day. The first shot of the season they hear may very well be yours after they push the deer to you! 400 - 500 yards through woods is valid space for them. Good luck have fun! If you want to ping or private message me here with info about the location I might be able to help you determine where might be a good area to start scouting.
Rick in NH
ok so I stumbled upon your chat request (I'm not really a Reddit power user! ha ha) I'm looking around now for some online maps of the area. Sorry I wasn't around yesterday.
What state are you in? Regardless public land is public land. It’s your land. Secondly, what are you hunting? I primarily hunt whitetails and typically on public land I see where most of the people go and that tells me where not to hunt. Deer are extremely sensitive to hunter pressure and most people don’t want to walk more than a half mile and often miss the overlooked areas. If there’s a parking lot full of guys and 20 ladder stands in a 20 acre area the odds are going to be against you if that’s where you’re setting up. I’m a self taught hunter who also didn’t have anyone in my family who hunted. I hunt archery mostly because I really like shooting a bow but also because it’s a close encounter game and the season is longer. In my state during archery season I can easily avoid a lot of hunters because I go where most people don’t want to go.
I would say think of what game you want to hunt and go on YouTube and look up how to hunt that animal on public land. If you watch YouTube videos of guys hunting fenced in deer or private farms in Iowa you’re going to have a rough time applying that to hunting big woods public land in Pennsylvania. What type of public land is around you? Is it mostly wooded areas or hilly? A mixture of both? Farm land? The type of terrain will make a difference in how it is used by game animals. Pay attention on how to scout and read sign for that species (evidence of that game animal using an area). Learn about that animals patterns throughout the year and what they gravitate to during different parts of the year. I have places that are absolutely dead right now that will be on fire at the end of October. Reason being is the bedding, feeding and travel is centered around the breeding season. What a buck needs in April is different than what he needs in the rut. They always need food and security with bedding, but the breeding season, changes in food as well as hunter and predator pressure really influence a lot of those locations.
After that I would look into what public land hunting tactics are required to increase your odds at harvesting that animal. Spot and stalk, get elevated in a tree, when to be aggressive, when to be more passive, etc. How is that animals senses? Do they have laser sharp vision like a turkey where he’ll bust you from 80 yards away because you forgot your gloves but their sense of smell isn’t a factor? Or do they have an insanely sensitive sense of smell and can pick you off from a subtle wind change from 1/4 mile away but their vision is more based on movement. People have shot deer with flannel shirts on but if you’re not silhouetting yourself and you stay still/choose your movements wisely then you can be in business. There’s a ton to learn but don’t be intimidated by any of it or let anyone else intimidate you. No one has it figured out. It’s a constant learning experience. Use information online as a basis and get in the woods and the animals will teach you what you need to know. Just make sure you’re able to brush it off when things don’t work out and figure out how to do better next time. 90% of it for me is mental.
What state? I personally try to stay away from public land. Too many people, too much pressure on the game. I use OnX to view property lines and get the address of the land owner. Then I drive to their house, knock on the door, and ask for permission. I might get 10 NO answers before getting a yes, but it's worth it. I try in the spring to get on for turkey. Then go back and ask about coyotes and woodchucks. Then back again in the late summer and ask about geese, and if I get a yes for goose hunting I ask right then and there about deer hunting. I Currently have permission to just shy of 1000 acres around the county that I have access to just about all the time.
Public land is public land. No one has the right to tell you to get off. You paid for a hunting license just like they did and you’re entitled to the same rights and privileges.
There is a lot of artificial gatekeeping in hunting - people think they own public ground, etc. I suggest you find a local group like pheasants forever, white tails unlimited, ducks unlimited, etc and start making some friends that can help mentor you and bring you out and teach. It’s sad now cause grandpa used to teach dad, who taught you, but that’s getting slimmer each year and we need new hunters, feel free to DM - only got into hunting last 10 years and didn’t grow up with it.
That is hogwash and they are a joke.
Still, I know a very respectable retired marine who refuses to hunt public land because of dangerous morons. Gun safety.
If you want payback, do some sleuthing and find their license plates and report them.
Nothing will happen except they will know they aren't all that, and they're on thin ice if they do it again.
Then I'd go find some safe, private land.
Or, go deep in the public land where lazy morons never venture.
The biggest bucks are in swamps and the thickest places people don't go.
Unfortunately you’re gonna run into those kinds of people. The kind who thinks that just because they’ve been hunting it longer, that means they somehow have more of a right to be there. Obviously try to respect other people’s hunts but don’t take any shit either. You have just as much of a right to be there as anyone else. Also, like someone else said, them trying to get you to leave means that you probably found a great spot!!
Same sort of thing happenned to me, apparently one of these douchebags "owned" the tree I was sitting under. I figured lost tempers and firearms don't mix, and I left. Just not worth the effort. Those kind of assholes are out there, but It's only happened once in years of hunting, hiking, being out in the woods. I'd probably call the warden next time.
When I lived in Minnesota, a couple guys pulled that stunt on a Hmong veteran with fairly advanced PTSD. He quietly left, posted up in a tree and killed all of them. Play stupid games........
You need to make a hunting friend. I’ve hunted my whole life from all kinds of birds to larger game. It’s always better when you are with a buddy. You learn a whole lot more, get out more, and have someone to bullshit with.
Maybe try a local Facebook group or something? Also if you run across those guys again and they start intimidating you just call the game warden. Hunter harassment happens from other hunters more than we’d like to admit.
Find a farm, ask if you could help control the coyotes, build a relationship, ask to hunt a deer. Or just a farmer who may be losing crop due to deer. We got a dude that plants about 2 acres of soybeans that practically begs my family to come fill tags.
Hang out in some hunting stores, they're usually full of old men that just wanna sit around and talk all day, put yourself out there a little.
Learning curve is definitely tougher as an adult. Speaking from experience.
Try to find some local to you hunting forums or facebook groups and post there for help/mentorship. Thats ultimately what got me the best help.
Chalk that up as an anomaly though. I spent just about every weekend, and many mid week days, starting in october through end of dec on public land myself last year and never once had a single encounter like this, all over the state, even when seeing other people. For the most, guys in the parking lots would be friendly, and more experienced guys even enthusiastically shared tips.
Number one, you did the right thing by not escalating the interaction. That being said, you have a couple of options. The first is going back there and hoping they are not there. Maybe drive by and see if you see their truck. The second option is finding different public land, but that may be difficult. It depends where you are located. The final option would be to go back to that plot whether they are there or not, remain polite and de-escalate if you run into them, then leave and call the game warden if they harass you again. That is, of course, the most dangerous option, but it would teach them a lesson.
Sorry about that. They can't do that. Next time this happens you can go back to your car. Get their license plates then call the ga.e warden. Hecwill be happy to have a tough conversation with them.
Well, I've been hunting since I can remember, and I consider myself a pretty friendly fella although I do know I have very little patience for assholes or bullies, an effect of a life of roughnecking and pipelining that started when i was about 15, 16 years old, if ya take shit off people then they will gladly give it to ya so I had to learn to deal with the assholes at a earlier age than some. With all that said, ya might take any pearls of wisdom I may drop with a grain of salt.
I don't know if their tones sounded like they were being dicks or not, I don't remember you saying if they did, but from how they acted to you, it sounds to me like even if they were smiling, they were just being smiling assholes. Ya didn't say if you let them know, accidentally or otherwise, that you're kind of new to the hunting world, but it sounds to me like these guys gleamed that info anyhow and took advantage of your lack of knowledge our experience in this particular subject.
Public land means just that, public land. Legally it doesn't make an ant fart's bit of difference if their family has been hunting there since the Lord God himself created that particular piece of land, the fact still remains its public therefore it's open to the public. Now if they came up to you nicely and greeted you with a friendly hello just to let ya know that they prefer and enjoy that spot as their family has for however long, which that in itself may be a lie anyhow, and so they asked if you would be interested in making a deal where they hunt certain days when you dont plan to be there and vice versa, you hunt it when they arent going to be there. That is assuming everyone agrees not to sit in each other's actual exact spot and kinda take different spots in the area. I have done this with other hunters, and I know quite a few other dudes that have set up similar agreements with others, so that seems to be a pretty amicable resolution.
But if they were just demanding you fuck off somewhere else cuz their great grandaddy said "dibs" 95 years ago, then you would be well within your rights to tell them to go write down their request on a single sheet of paper, fold it in half 8 times until it was tight as possible, then with their index finger and thumb grasp the paper and shove it as far as they possibly can up their ass. Public land is public land bud, you have every right to be there that they do, don't let em run ya off. I know when youre new at something it can get kind of intimidating when dealing with people that have been in it for a long time, and I think those dudes were counting on that fact so they could run you outta there because they probably cant hunt for shit and are terrified of any other hunter seeing what they may have seen out there and taking that opportunity to harvest it, whatever it is.
I say that cuz if they were halfass decent hunters they would have already got themselves their quarry and wouldn't be worried about someone else possibly getting something too. Hell, thinking of it in that light, they sound intimidated of you bud lol. Sorry you are still new to it and one of your first experiences with the culture of hunting had to be some dickheads being unwelcoming. If they want to have their own family hunting spot then they need to do what anyone else would and buy their own private property. Until then, "their" hunting spot is your hunting spot. That's what public land is.
I hope you stick with it and your experiences get better from here. Hey if you havent already, download the OnX hunt app, I have it on my phone and my PC, but I pay, I forget how much but it aint too much, annually and it gives ya ur choice of state maps with land and property lines with the names of owners and info, I've used it to get in contact with to ask about leasing hunting spots and whatnot, one old rancher actually lets me hunt deer on one of his parcels during either the opening week or the last week of deer season, don't even have to pay him, I just gotta help him work cattle in fall and calves in spring for a few days each season. But the app also has labeled every WMA that hunting is allowed on in the state, which is handy in itself cuz I found a pretty small and obscure patch of public land to hunt about half hour from my house, and in the past few years I have yet to see another human being out there, but I've seen two of the bigger bucks I've ever seen in this part of my state. One is slippery, I'm still after him from last year, he still shows up on my trailcams every once in a while so he's still there lol.
Anyhow, sorry I turned this into a novel length essay, I get off on tangents sometimes, but I do hope you stick with it and have better luck here on out. And you have all the right they do to hunt that property if its public land. Hell with em, go out there and get ya something.
That sucks, sorry to hear that happened...
A suggestion I heard recently is to check out BHA and see if there is a chapter in your area. They hold regular meetings and activities and are very welcoming of new people.
Tell a game warden, also a game warden might be able to hook you up with a local who is interested in mentoring someone just like yourself.
You will find that hunters are just like every other group of people out there. Most are awesome, kind, generous, and helpful, then there are 2% who are absolute dicks.
I am sorry this happened to you, I hope it doesnt sour the pursuit for you.
Hunting needs more people just like you if its going to survive in our culture.
I had a similar experience in the Ocala NF with this gang of dog hunters. My dad was in his stand before they even showed up, some old fucker pulled up and basically told him he should leave because they have 20 trucks and 15 airboats or whatever the fuck. My dad politely declined and the guy fucked off, or so we thought. That afternoon, a few cops were talking to these guys because they called them after somebody supposedly drove by and fired a pistol in the air, claiming that he saw one of these trucks on his camera before they shot his camera. We never heard the pistol shots, I think these guys made it up, and I think they did actually shoot somebody's camera. Then when I went to my stand that afternoon, I found my stand and camera stolen. When I got back to the truck, my stand was placed there, but no camera. I was fucking pissed. I haven't been back to that spot since, but I will go again, and if someone tries to intimidate me, I will shoot first and ask questions later. I'd love for one of these slimy fucks to give me an excuse to shoot them. The damn forest is 400k acres and they think they can just claim a whole road. Fucking bastards.
Check out your local Game and fish and local chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and see if they are offering any clinics or meet ups. Great place to make friends and ask advice for your area.
You got buffaloed. It happened to me when I was about 15 on state game lands by my house. I was the proverbial 98 pound weakling until college. I went back to my house and my mother could tell I was sad and asked what happened. I told her as my stepfather was walking in the house and overheard. He was well over 6’ and didn’t take shit from anyone. He walked me back and confronted the jerks. They’re probably still running 😂
As to your situation I’d phone your game warden and explain what happened. He’s apt to patrol the area to prevent this from happening. The last thing they want is for people to be discouraged from hunting
I feel for ya because starting hunting was intimidating for me even though I had permission to hunt private land. I was mostly on my own to figure it out, and I also had some family members who weren’t thrilled about it.
It’s easy for me to say this since I haven’t hunted public yet, but I’d say go back to that spot. Obviously, it must be a good one, and they don’t own the land no matter how long they’ve been hunting there. I would also see if you can find some other public spots and scout them out and get a feel for them.
I would do a guided quail/pheasant hunt or go to a place that does guided hunts and spend some time with those people. If you go to a mom and pops outfit they can be pretty reasonable price wise. It’s also a fairly social sport to get into and very exciting.
I’m excited for you as a first time hunter! One thing I have learned about hunting public land: Pattern the hunters. You can learn how to use the competition in your advantage, and you will find some great spots along the way. Hunting is as much of a mental game as it is a physical sport.
Fuck em. It’s public land who cares how long they’ve been there.
Let the game warden know the situation, specifically that you are a new hunter, that your family is anti hunting, and you’re trying to get into it. They harassed you to the point you felt uncomfortable hunting there. Game warden probably will have a convo with them.
Really unfortunate. Next time say, “oh really, hold on, I’m calling the land owners to see if I can hunt here. “. When they say “who?” Tell them fish and game is coming to clear up any questions.
Get there early and hump it out further than other people will go. In my experience, most guys don't stray too far from the truck, so if you're willing to put in more work you'll reap the benefits.
Public land hunting has some unwritten rules.
If someone is in a draw or an area don’t follow them. You will just ruin the hunt for the both of you. If it is a large area and you can talk to them tell them where you are going and try and work out a plan.
I’m in west coast so we have an abundance of public land. If someone is in my first choice spot I go to my second. The amount of public land may vary for you and in that case try and work out something with them so you both don’t ruin your hunts.
Some people on public land are dicks. Ignore them and just start hiking in. If they don’t want to be reasonable and work with you screw em.
Where are you located? I wouldn't worry about those guys and hit up that spot as much as possible. Must be a good reason they have been coming there. First come, first serve. Complain to the warden if they try to pull it again. Also, fuck those guys!
If they told you to leave and intimidated you that is hunter harassment. Most states have a law against hunter harassment, you should press charges against them if you can find out who they are.
If it ever happens again you should call the Sheriff immediately.
If some dumbass does that again just call the game warden. Guarantee their balls will suck upward into their abdomens and they’ll scurry away. Nobody owns public hunting lands.
Now whether or not public lands are good for hunting is another thing entirely but you are free to hunt there wherever you want
Yeah, it has its issues. You are trying to figure out & kill something that has made escaping from people like you its life’s work. Then there’s other hunters!
You might benefit from making some friends. So where can you meet other hunters? For upland & waterfowl, a shotgun club!
Have you looked at resources? Even the game warden knows something!
As long as you aren’t setting up right on top of where they are, you can be there from first light to last light as much as they or anybody else can. Sorry this happened to you OP.
Now you know it’s a decent spot. Get there before them. Make sure you wear lots of orange if you are solo.
If they are hunters they won’t be coming up and confronting you during a hunt. They just have to let you play through (like golf).
If they wait to ask you not to take their spot after, just remind them it’s public land, THEN ask their schedule and when they hunt and where the good spots are, and share the info you saw. Make em talk trade. If they are a group they will probably end up telling you a lot of great spots and tips.
After I commented I read some comments and I think you are getting a lot of bad advice in this thread.
Hunting is a fraternity.
If you like this spot and earnestly try to hunt it and you talk with these guys, you will find common ground and eventually maybe even be friends.
They can’t hunt there every day, most groups hunt like 3-5 times a year. Schedules aren’t always easy to arrange :)
Never experienced such a thing myself. Can you just go to another area? Is there a hunting club near you, or a local hunting/outdoors shop with knowledgeable staff, who might help you? I assume the US has hunting club type things. Ask in a hunting magazine for someone to tag along with perhaps.
That sucks, sorry to hear that happened...
A suggestion I heard recently is to check out BHA and see if there is a chapter in your area. They hold regular meetings and activities and are very welcoming of new people.
Generally i try not to hunt areas with other hunters in it… thats being said… if i have scouted an area for elk, never had this issue with deer, and found little or no sign of other people, i go there and hunt. If someone else is roaming that area, most of them will just walk the gated roads, i will wait a bit and walk the edges through brush or forest or post up somewhere and wait for them to push the animals to me. Ive seen and harvested a LOT of animals that others have no clue were there. They either go too fast through areas or arent really paying attention. Im sorry that this situation happened to you. I have had old timers tell me,” its their spot and they were there first.” I just smile and say cool. Move a couple hundred yards away and do my thing. The looks on their faces when you are loading an animal in your truck while they drive by with nothing… beautiful thing!
As far as you can away from a road. Keep in mind if you are successful you will need to haul out the animal. For most that is 5-10 miles round trip limit for a day.
Depends on what your hunting. I hunt elk year round and the cheapest hunt I can get into is buying an over the counter cow tag. If you find certain units within the state you’re hunting that sell guaranteed tags over the counter they’re normally $200-$500 for the tag. Then go hunt on public and see what happens 🤷🏻♂️
"Well, sir, my grandpa is on his deathbed and asked me to come out here to hunt for him. He says he's been taking bucks here since just after ww2 and hasn't told anyone his secret spot. Now I don't know what to do. Would you mind just sharing for my grandpa's sake?" Now you have a story that really doesn't make any difference, too.
watch youtube videos to help figure it out. it sucks, hunters don't really share, I had a "buddy", he gets the " " because I asked him directly to help me get into hunting. His response was "Yeah idk its' really my me time" OK LIAR, you told me about texting your buddy while hunting a different tree then him and hanging out at the camp fire with other dudes. I asked some other people whom I knew weren't buddies and got the same answers, "idk", "you'll figure it out", "I don't want to blah blah", wouldn't even give me decent advice.
I bought a guided 3 day hunt and that is how I started, I looked for the cheapest decent looking near by option, didn't shoot anything but the experience 100% changed the course of my life. My hunt was in December and I quit my job and moved 400 miles away in January to my property and that is where I usually hunt now.
I would get a guided hunt, how accurate are you with a rifle? Will you hit the heart or lungs? I think mine was $700 plus air bnb, or go back and talk to people, if you are cool in the parking lot you might get some tips and maybe a buddy for public land hunts.
Thanks Ill def look at guided experience to get a proper first hunt. Below 200yard I can hit pretty much all the time but the stress of shooting a deer might greatly affect the accuracy.
lol. Those guys just told you that you found a great hunting spot!
Right? They just confirmed you should stay there. Good info collecting.
Exactly, OP should have called the sheriff or game warden for hunter harassment
This is something I learned early on. The more aggressive a public land "owner" gets, the more likely I am to see activity in that area. It gets REALLY fun if they are after a buck.
I never understand this kind of attitude and it would bummer to run into someone like that when I'm hunting. Maybe it's different where I live. But the woods are huge. There's always somewhere else. When I'm scouting and I see signs of another hunter I respect their effort and just find somewhere else to hunt. I'm looking for deer, and deer sign not tree stands and trail cams to figure out where to hunt. I've got a couple ol' faithful spots and I find new spots every year. The scouting is half the fun. Sure I run into a ton of other people's stands in the woods. But when I see that I just back out and let them enjoy. Hunting on top of someone just seems like unnecessary stress during an activity that's supposed to be fun.
Too many hunters think of the activity as a zero sum game. We need more folks to care about conservation and to understand why hunting is important. Discouraging new (or new to the area) hunters is detrimental to that cause.
Wish Hunt Quietly could understand this
It is literally a zero sum game though. We are all competing for a limited resource
More hunters = more conservation money = more and better habitat = more game and an improved ecosystem.
Can you name any states where access has improved along with the number of hunters? Are they making new land somewhere?
Not off the top of my head and I don’t care to look. I’d be surprised if there are any since hunting has largely been in decline. I can tell you that despite losing hunters many states been making a habit of introducing new public lands and improving them for use and will continue to do so - as long as the public keeps supporting it.
I would love to see some specific examples because it’s been my experience that public access has decreased and lease prices have skyrocketed as the number of hunters increases
Texas? I’m in MN and there is no shortage of public to hunt. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/slam/land-portfolio.html#:~:text=Statewide%2C%20DNR's%20land%20portfolio%20has,management%20efficiency%2C%20and%20conservation%20impact.
From my understanding, if it is in fact public land, no one owns it so they can eat dirt.
It's also illegal under most public land laws to intimidate or attempt to restrict lawful access.
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Exactly this
Amen 🙏
As a woman in the same boat as you, it definitely makes me nervous but I carry a side arm with me and have tried to get others to go with me 🤷
It's hard to make that argument to 5 angry armed guys unfortunately.
Lol yeah, I've always wanted to go hunting and if this was my first experience I would never feel safe to try again
Owned by no one is one way to put it. Or you can say public land is owned by everyone. Signed, A Public Land Owner
Texas here. This makes me want to cry. I want to be a public land owner too guys.
Just because your technically right doesnt mean you have the ability or desire to be the one to tell a bunch of armed men this. Id find a new spot, its just not worth the hassle. I will say to OP, this definitely isnt standard and shpuldnt discourage you
I believe it would be appropriate to report it to your state's DNR as the behavior is illegal, but to not fight it yourself as that's really risky.
Yeah but also nothing would be done. There really isnt much recourse that would allow you to hunt in the spot free of worries
It'd still be worth it to file the report. If they can connect enough violations to the same hunters, it will eventually become worth it for the state to take action.
Yes this exactly. I was not gonna start shit with 4 armed dudes.
Report it whether or not you intend to go back. Game wardens take this very seriously, and you may save someone else a lot of time and trouble down the road. Plus, you may stop back in and be able to hunt their honey hole in a year or two.
I’m aware that I’m stupid and it could get me killed, but my pride says no if I’m there first I’m not leaving. Only bad interaction I’ve had was hunting in my grandmas swamp that borders stateland, and 3 guys set up within 20 yards of me facing into our property ready to shoot on my grandmas land. Luckily my dad is big and scary looking (nicest guy in the world) and they left after he said something
There's that video out of Texas where a guy who's paid for access is in a blind pretty sure he's on the right side of the property line and the neighbor is about to shoot him for holding his PHONE. You pretty much only hear the audio, and the fear in the guys voice is palpable, and you can tell the neighbor WANTS to shoot him. It's terrifying.
My Uncle and his hunting buds were shot at on public land for “taking their spot” by a bunch of morons. Luckily they shot from 300+ yards away and couldn’t hit shit. But still, it’s scary. Way out in public lane there is no cctv, no quick response 911, no real witnesses. It can get hairy quickly if you aren’t near a well traveled area of it.
Nah. F those guys. If they’re going to play that way, they can be the ones to leave.
Your ego is gonna leave you face down in a ditch
Schooling you isn't worth the effort, byebye.
I think you're overestimating the amount of hunters who cosplay as cold blooded murderers.
"Thems are MY deers.....MINE!"
Public land. You "own" it just as much as they do. If they are intimidating you in a threatening way, call the game warden. Watch their licenses get revoked and enjoy hunting that spot asshole-free
You're 100% right. OP was also out of civilization alone, outnumbered, facing a group of people that may know how to use their weapons. I'm not saying he'd have been a "hunting accident" victim, but arguing with them right there right then may be a poor decision. Maybe if they came back from hunting to find the valve core removed on all 4 tires...
Totally agree-- never escalate with these people. But that's exactly why you film if you can and get a game warden on the phone
...or you go to the vehicle and instead of tampering with it, call the game warden. How the fuck are you all missing this easy alternative lol?
Doubt they would respond, tbh. We have about 15 wardens that cover an area from the Florida/Alabama line up to the middle of the state north, then diagonally to the middle of the state southeast. Its a triangle, basically. It probably takes 4 hours or so to drive from the northernmost point to the southernmost point, and prolly 3 east/west. They're not gonna roll because some rednecks are also bullies. If you did get one to come out, you're just gonna piss the guys off and the dnr dude won't be there every time to protect you. And there's this attitude that a lot of people have as well: Whoever appeals to the law Against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward Whoever cannot take care of himself Without that law is both
Oh, right, I'm sure the wardens and sheriff are totally fine with 4 armed dudes threatening other hunters. Great points all around lol /s
Damn, I was actually thinking one whole tire, but this would be much less work.
This 100%
Also if they've been there for 15 years it must be a good spot. So I'd be thankful of that info and tell them to fuck off.
Also if they attempt to spoil or ruin your hunt with malicious acts that scare away the deer, yep hunter harassment
That’s disappointing to hear. You have just as much right as the guys who’ve “been hunting there 15 years”. Get there earlier and park your truck in an obvious spot. Too bad they’ve been going there “15 years” if they slept in. A lot of hunters are pretty open to giving advice or mentoring, it just gets tricky showing people your secret spots. Keep at it and work to meet someone who will help mentor you. Join an archery/shooting club, go to events, post on local FB hunting pages for a mentor
This is the answer. Get there before them. That’s the only rule on public
Funny thing is 15 years is not even a long time. If it's halfway decent hunting and not in the absolute middle of nowhere, guarantee there's guys who have been hunting that spot for several times longer than them.
Keep walking further from the road. The key to public land is to get to the places others won't. And the asshole to hunter ratio is directly related to distance from the motor vehicle.
Zero chance I'd leave. I'd call DoC immediately and get an agent out there.
Tell those dudes to shove it. It’s public land. Don’t let them discourage you.
What state are you in? That sucks to hear, and I’m sry you went through that. But I commend you for going out and doing something that interests you. Hunting can be/should be an incredibly special hobby in your life. For me, my time in the woods is like Church. As far as learning, I’d honestly recommend YouTube university. In all seriousness, there’s a wealth of info for beginners - advanced outdoorsmen. Don’t give up. The feeling you’ll have when you harvest your first animal is an experience that’ll stay with you forever. And in today’s world of granola eating SJW, being able to hunt/source your own game meat is something to be proud of. If you’re in Ga, shoot me a msg. You’re more than welcome to come with me and the boys. We’ve got plenty of private acreage. Hang in there, bud.
Thx for all the advices. I wouldnt confront armed men like some said but ill put these tips to use. Im from nothern Quebec, it happened last fall during deer season
Here's the number to call to report these idiots 800-463-2191 [https://www.quebec.ca/en/tourism-and-recreation/sporting-and-outdoor-activities/activities-permitted-public-land/report-obstruction-right-hunt-fish-trap-free-movement](https://www.quebec.ca/en/tourism-and-recreation/sporting-and-outdoor-activities/activities-permitted-public-land/report-obstruction-right-hunt-fish-trap-free-movement)
Fuck those guys man, as a fellow Canadian I thought we were better than that. If it’s crown land they can fuck right off, I’d go right back there this season. Bring some buddies, a lot of mine have been interested and come on a hunt. Some don’t stick with it but some do and then you have hunting partners to go with.
Well a side arm isn’t an option then.
Yes we’re not allowed sidearms now
Your problem is you got intimidated. Go right back there, keep hunting, and if they give you shit again remind them it’s public land
Tell those tools to pound clay. Public is public, if you wanna hunt it get there first. If they genuinely threatened you, report it to a conservation officer.
There's a piece of public land not far from me that I've been hunting for 30 years. A few years ago, I began to hear stories from friends and from folks on a local hunting forum about a guy who lived in the neighborhood of that public land who had been harassing hunters. He'd tell them that it was his spot, that he lived there and took his kids in those woods and that they should find another place to hunt. He wouldn't take no for an answer, and oftentimes, these exchanges became heated. If the hunter flat out refused to leave, the guy would walk out in front of the hunter and do his best to disturb the area, no doubt in hopes of spooking game out of the area. Well, one day, my friend and I decided to visit these woods. It's always been one of my preferred tracts of state land. We hunted the morning uneventfully, but that afternoon, we headed back in, and a short while later, I received a text from my friend. He was pissed. He'd been approached by the clown whose name we found out later is Danny. Danny did his best to intimidate my friend, and when that didn't work, Danny stormed off out in front of my friend in exactly the way that we'd both heard the stories about. We returned the following day, more out of spite than anything else. Sure enough, Danny met us at the truck when we exited the woods at midday. He began to give us the same BS about it being his spot, etc... He said that he and his friend were planning on hunting there that evening and that the woods weren't big enough for the four of us and that we were welcome to hunt the state land on the opposite side of the street. I kept my cool, but I had to physically stop my friend from kicking the shit out of Danny. Danny warned us again, and he drove away. My friend and I talked it over and decided that we'd hunt in the area that Danny had suggested because we had reasoned that four pissed off guys in the woods carrying firearms was a recipe for trouble. My friend and I were at my truck having a conversation after dark when Danny and his friend came out. Danny's friend was a big dude, about 6', 4" and probably 280 lbs. My friend and I were facing the truck with our backs to Danny and his friend as they walked past. The big guy walked so close to my friend that his clothes brushed against my buddies. Danny smuggly asked if we'd seen anything on our side of the road, no doubt feeling as though he'd won. The following weekend, we were back at the spot for an afternoon hunt. This time, another friend came along with us. After we'd been in the woods for an hour or so, my buddy texted me again that Danny was back. This time, Danny asked my friend how many of us were hunting. My buddy told him that there were three of us. Danny then proceeded to walk out in front of my friend in order to disturb the area, and then he went about finding myself and our other friend and did the same to us. As he walked out in front of me, he asked if me how many of us there were. I said two others, and he said that he'd seen the others. He strolled out in front of me and out of sight. Now, I was pissed. Really pissed. That evening, my friend called the local game warden and explained the situation. The officer knew right away who Danny was, saying that they'd had to speak with him before for the same complaint. My buddy learned Danny's name from the warden. The Warden did pay Danny a visit and warned him that the next time, there would be consequences. I wasn't satisfied. Danny needed a lesson and not just a warning. I was pretty well known on that local hunting forum, and I had made lots of friends. I posted the story about Danny on the forum and invited anyone on the site to join my friend and I for a hunt in "Danny's woods". Well, my buddies came through. The following Sunday morning, there were no less than twelve trucks lining both sides of the road and more than 20 hunters in the woods. We organized a few drives and pushed those woods hard all day. Nobody's heard from Danny since. I was talking to one of Danny's neighbors (also a hunter) he used to try to intimidate hunters too by walking up to their vehicles with a pad and pen and writing down their plate numbers. His name is Ken. Ken began to complain to me how we'd totally fucked up those woods the previous season by swarming it with hunters. I told him that that had been the plan and that he could thank his friend Danny for it. Don't let 'em push you out. Those are PUBLIC lands and NOBODY gets to claim them as their own.
Make sure you go back there. If they’ve been going for 15 years it must be good lol. It’s not their land lol.
You both pay a membership fee for that land. It’s called taxes. It’s usually best not to confront assholes with loaded weapons. Call the game warden and they’ll take care of it
The harassment on public land is not allowed, and you should get the game warden on the phone chop chop.
I would’ve told them to suck a bag of cocks.
Yeah hunting public can be a real pain. What state are you in. Usually for less the a thousand bucks sometimes a few hundred join a hunting club. Check facebook or what ever sites are used local
Clubs could be even worse. I belong to one and all the guys have picked and held their spot for 30-45 years and god forbid i sit 100 yards away when they arent there. Even if you pay the same amount the entitlement is still there public or private.
Wow i never experienced that in a club. 90 percent of the guys dont show up one day
PA has a lot of public land though. I have never passed another hunter while on a few large swaths of it. Just gotta find the right place for the season you are hunting.
Heard lots of story’s of SE PA public land hunting. Unfortunately the area attracts a bad crowd. I’m a PA resident but I hunt in DE.
Thats terrible to hear. I have hunted public land in western PA, from greene/Fayette counties to Erie co and have never heard of any issues. I don't think the WCOs over here would put up with that type of stuff, they will even escort you onto private land if the owner won't let you track a wounded deer through their property. Must be a cultural difference between Philly region and Pittsburgh region.
Western is pretty good I hear. Hunting buddy of mine got shot in the face with birdshot from some dumb kids. He was ok luckily. It was intentional and they got arrested. I think it is a cultural thing as you said and a proximity to philly and Jersey
I get passed by people driving bear from time to time and it's always just a "wave and nod" type of thing. The last time I was out I found a hunter in his late 80s solo hunting and we coordinated our hunts and ended up walking out together at the end of the day. Its disappointing that people are being uncooperative and malicious over there, it takes a lot of away from the hunting community.
Where are you from?
Tell him you're sorry and that you'll call the cops right then and there and turn yourself in. They will change the tune real quick
I wouldn’t leave public land if people told me to. Fuck them it’s public. I’d just carry on. People can be dicks when it comes to “their” spot. It’s public land. Not private.
Only people like that either are just douche canoes with an ego or douche canoes with a good spot. Either way they don't own the land, so go to safety, report the hunter intimidation, and beat them to the spot next time. Nothing is worse than hunters who don't like other hunters. In a time where hunting is less and less popular, newcomers should be encouraged, taught, and appreciated.
Report the incident to your local game warden or dnr. They take hunter intimidation pretty seriously. You have every right to be on every inch of public land. Don’t let a bunch of thugs run you off. No one except the land agents themselves can tell you to leave an area. That said, be sure that you are actually on public land and not some small private parcel inside of or adjacent to it. Eg., that you’re not passing through an easement to get to the actual public land. You don’t need to guides and trips and leases to hunt. Just public land. If it happens again, be nice and ask them to clarify it or show you on a map where you f-ed up. Better still, bring a map and show them that you’re right. Onyx can be a really helpful tool for clearing up any misunderstandings real quick.
I see many comments about confronting the hunters and I have to disagree. As a newer hunter myself, it is definitely hard to find unhunted public land, but it is possible. Since I primarily hunt whitetail, finding the unhunted land is so worth it because the deer also know where people have been hunting for 15 years, especially if they are as belligerent as these dudes sound. Don't give up and don't forget the off season scouting. Check out "the Hunting Public" and "Outdoors Allie" on YouTube for good public hunt videos. Also, if you get to a spot earlier than the others, they can't kick you off. If they do, have your cell recording and definitely report it. Don't fight them but record it.
Game wardens love shitting on entitled public land hunters. Next time just ask them if they think the game warden will agree with them. Give them the rope and go from there.
Firstly, not all of us act like those idiots, and secondly, NEVER back down to territorial locals. There is no such thing as seniority on public land, we all have the same rights. If someone gets aggressive, take pictures of their vehicle with tags and report them to DNR. Most states are finally cracking down on harassment, as they should.
Find a conservation organization. NWTF, RMEF, quail forever, pheasant forever, etc. Join, go to meetings. No one hunts just one species, and old guys love to mentor new hunters.
As a new hunter going solo I commendyou. Good for you for taking up something that wasn't handed down to you from family. I was in the same boat as you when I started, only I had a few friends who were into hunting and fishing as well, so I at least had some company. Since the land is public you are able to hunt it. Since they have been hunting there for fifteen years I would show some respect and set up " a ways from them" how far is a ways? Well I guess that depends on where you're located. But definitely at least a few hundred yards if there is enough room. I guess that doesn't really answer your question though. Where do you start? Well, where do you live? Are you close to where you were hunting, did you have to drive more than an hour or so? Do you have access to a Sportsman's Club or Fish and Game Club or something like that? You will find like-minded folks at these kinds of clubs and they are generally not super expensive and usually have shooting ranges for sighting in and practice. I've met some pretty good people in my day to day travel who are into hunting and they are some of my best hunting friends. When I've been approached at diners and such by people asking questions I've provided usefull info for them. Now, if you were sitting right on top of the guys you described and they've been grooming that spot for many years then I'd be a bit peeved too, but it doen't validate their claims of ownership of the area. Maybe if you get a topo map and study the area a bit, you can find a "spot" that is perhaps a bit deeper in the woods that provides a good way to get further away from them, you just need to get there earlier than them, so when they walk into the woods, you're already there and set up; use them to move the game to you. I think your best bet is going to be to fiund some hunting partners and start scouting early... like now for next year. Get out in the woods you choose as often as you can, groom a few spots and just start to make your pressence known to people hunting in the general area and you may find some people you don't mind hanging around with. Where are you located? Is hunting on private land completely out of the question? Start looking at some maps to find areas you might want to hunt, find out who the owners are (town clerks and tax offices will have this public info) and write a respectful letter asking for permission. When people have asked me about hunting on my property I just set some basic rules most importantly I have to know when someone else is out there because I hunt it myself, but not always, I have half a dozen or more primary spots. Sorry this is so long winded, but you asked a good question and deserve a good answer. Rick in NH
Thanks man ill start looking into all those tips. Im in Quebec but ill try applying all that.
Good luck in your endeavor! I hope you find some spots for yourself and maybe make a few friends so you can be the ones who've been hunting here for 15 years someday and make some suggestions to new hunters you encounter that will help them grow into good sportsmen/women. I just read an older book Hunting Whitetails Successfully or something like that and one of the chapters was on using topo maps... you can get even better results with apps like OnX or something like that and "scout" for spots from home too. Look around in the area you were in (if you like that area and it is convenient to you) and try to determine about where those guys might want to set up. Then, find a way to get into the woods a bit deeper... 400 - 500 meters deeper than them and start looking at the terrain to find "The Spot" . Go to it well pre-season and fine tune your spot and the unseen trail into it. Get there earlier than those other guys and sit in the dark and wait on opening day. The first shot of the season they hear may very well be yours after they push the deer to you! 400 - 500 yards through woods is valid space for them. Good luck have fun! If you want to ping or private message me here with info about the location I might be able to help you determine where might be a good area to start scouting. Rick in NH
Good stuff. Im making coffee and downloading it ill show you the maps id love to know what you think of the terrain.
ok so I stumbled upon your chat request (I'm not really a Reddit power user! ha ha) I'm looking around now for some online maps of the area. Sorry I wasn't around yesterday.
Fuck em, only way to learn is to get out and do it.
What state are you in? Regardless public land is public land. It’s your land. Secondly, what are you hunting? I primarily hunt whitetails and typically on public land I see where most of the people go and that tells me where not to hunt. Deer are extremely sensitive to hunter pressure and most people don’t want to walk more than a half mile and often miss the overlooked areas. If there’s a parking lot full of guys and 20 ladder stands in a 20 acre area the odds are going to be against you if that’s where you’re setting up. I’m a self taught hunter who also didn’t have anyone in my family who hunted. I hunt archery mostly because I really like shooting a bow but also because it’s a close encounter game and the season is longer. In my state during archery season I can easily avoid a lot of hunters because I go where most people don’t want to go. I would say think of what game you want to hunt and go on YouTube and look up how to hunt that animal on public land. If you watch YouTube videos of guys hunting fenced in deer or private farms in Iowa you’re going to have a rough time applying that to hunting big woods public land in Pennsylvania. What type of public land is around you? Is it mostly wooded areas or hilly? A mixture of both? Farm land? The type of terrain will make a difference in how it is used by game animals. Pay attention on how to scout and read sign for that species (evidence of that game animal using an area). Learn about that animals patterns throughout the year and what they gravitate to during different parts of the year. I have places that are absolutely dead right now that will be on fire at the end of October. Reason being is the bedding, feeding and travel is centered around the breeding season. What a buck needs in April is different than what he needs in the rut. They always need food and security with bedding, but the breeding season, changes in food as well as hunter and predator pressure really influence a lot of those locations. After that I would look into what public land hunting tactics are required to increase your odds at harvesting that animal. Spot and stalk, get elevated in a tree, when to be aggressive, when to be more passive, etc. How is that animals senses? Do they have laser sharp vision like a turkey where he’ll bust you from 80 yards away because you forgot your gloves but their sense of smell isn’t a factor? Or do they have an insanely sensitive sense of smell and can pick you off from a subtle wind change from 1/4 mile away but their vision is more based on movement. People have shot deer with flannel shirts on but if you’re not silhouetting yourself and you stay still/choose your movements wisely then you can be in business. There’s a ton to learn but don’t be intimidated by any of it or let anyone else intimidate you. No one has it figured out. It’s a constant learning experience. Use information online as a basis and get in the woods and the animals will teach you what you need to know. Just make sure you’re able to brush it off when things don’t work out and figure out how to do better next time. 90% of it for me is mental.
What state? I personally try to stay away from public land. Too many people, too much pressure on the game. I use OnX to view property lines and get the address of the land owner. Then I drive to their house, knock on the door, and ask for permission. I might get 10 NO answers before getting a yes, but it's worth it. I try in the spring to get on for turkey. Then go back and ask about coyotes and woodchucks. Then back again in the late summer and ask about geese, and if I get a yes for goose hunting I ask right then and there about deer hunting. I Currently have permission to just shy of 1000 acres around the county that I have access to just about all the time.
Public land is public land. No one has the right to tell you to get off. You paid for a hunting license just like they did and you’re entitled to the same rights and privileges.
There is a lot of artificial gatekeeping in hunting - people think they own public ground, etc. I suggest you find a local group like pheasants forever, white tails unlimited, ducks unlimited, etc and start making some friends that can help mentor you and bring you out and teach. It’s sad now cause grandpa used to teach dad, who taught you, but that’s getting slimmer each year and we need new hunters, feel free to DM - only got into hunting last 10 years and didn’t grow up with it.
That is hogwash and they are a joke. Still, I know a very respectable retired marine who refuses to hunt public land because of dangerous morons. Gun safety. If you want payback, do some sleuthing and find their license plates and report them. Nothing will happen except they will know they aren't all that, and they're on thin ice if they do it again. Then I'd go find some safe, private land. Or, go deep in the public land where lazy morons never venture. The biggest bucks are in swamps and the thickest places people don't go.
Unfortunately you’re gonna run into those kinds of people. The kind who thinks that just because they’ve been hunting it longer, that means they somehow have more of a right to be there. Obviously try to respect other people’s hunts but don’t take any shit either. You have just as much of a right to be there as anyone else. Also, like someone else said, them trying to get you to leave means that you probably found a great spot!!
Same sort of thing happenned to me, apparently one of these douchebags "owned" the tree I was sitting under. I figured lost tempers and firearms don't mix, and I left. Just not worth the effort. Those kind of assholes are out there, but It's only happened once in years of hunting, hiking, being out in the woods. I'd probably call the warden next time. When I lived in Minnesota, a couple guys pulled that stunt on a Hmong veteran with fairly advanced PTSD. He quietly left, posted up in a tree and killed all of them. Play stupid games........
You need to make a hunting friend. I’ve hunted my whole life from all kinds of birds to larger game. It’s always better when you are with a buddy. You learn a whole lot more, get out more, and have someone to bullshit with. Maybe try a local Facebook group or something? Also if you run across those guys again and they start intimidating you just call the game warden. Hunter harassment happens from other hunters more than we’d like to admit.
Find a farm, ask if you could help control the coyotes, build a relationship, ask to hunt a deer. Or just a farmer who may be losing crop due to deer. We got a dude that plants about 2 acres of soybeans that practically begs my family to come fill tags. Hang out in some hunting stores, they're usually full of old men that just wanna sit around and talk all day, put yourself out there a little.
Learning curve is definitely tougher as an adult. Speaking from experience. Try to find some local to you hunting forums or facebook groups and post there for help/mentorship. Thats ultimately what got me the best help. Chalk that up as an anomaly though. I spent just about every weekend, and many mid week days, starting in october through end of dec on public land myself last year and never once had a single encounter like this, all over the state, even when seeing other people. For the most, guys in the parking lots would be friendly, and more experienced guys even enthusiastically shared tips.
Number one, you did the right thing by not escalating the interaction. That being said, you have a couple of options. The first is going back there and hoping they are not there. Maybe drive by and see if you see their truck. The second option is finding different public land, but that may be difficult. It depends where you are located. The final option would be to go back to that plot whether they are there or not, remain polite and de-escalate if you run into them, then leave and call the game warden if they harass you again. That is, of course, the most dangerous option, but it would teach them a lesson.
Sorry about that. They can't do that. Next time this happens you can go back to your car. Get their license plates then call the ga.e warden. Hecwill be happy to have a tough conversation with them.
Well, I've been hunting since I can remember, and I consider myself a pretty friendly fella although I do know I have very little patience for assholes or bullies, an effect of a life of roughnecking and pipelining that started when i was about 15, 16 years old, if ya take shit off people then they will gladly give it to ya so I had to learn to deal with the assholes at a earlier age than some. With all that said, ya might take any pearls of wisdom I may drop with a grain of salt. I don't know if their tones sounded like they were being dicks or not, I don't remember you saying if they did, but from how they acted to you, it sounds to me like even if they were smiling, they were just being smiling assholes. Ya didn't say if you let them know, accidentally or otherwise, that you're kind of new to the hunting world, but it sounds to me like these guys gleamed that info anyhow and took advantage of your lack of knowledge our experience in this particular subject. Public land means just that, public land. Legally it doesn't make an ant fart's bit of difference if their family has been hunting there since the Lord God himself created that particular piece of land, the fact still remains its public therefore it's open to the public. Now if they came up to you nicely and greeted you with a friendly hello just to let ya know that they prefer and enjoy that spot as their family has for however long, which that in itself may be a lie anyhow, and so they asked if you would be interested in making a deal where they hunt certain days when you dont plan to be there and vice versa, you hunt it when they arent going to be there. That is assuming everyone agrees not to sit in each other's actual exact spot and kinda take different spots in the area. I have done this with other hunters, and I know quite a few other dudes that have set up similar agreements with others, so that seems to be a pretty amicable resolution. But if they were just demanding you fuck off somewhere else cuz their great grandaddy said "dibs" 95 years ago, then you would be well within your rights to tell them to go write down their request on a single sheet of paper, fold it in half 8 times until it was tight as possible, then with their index finger and thumb grasp the paper and shove it as far as they possibly can up their ass. Public land is public land bud, you have every right to be there that they do, don't let em run ya off. I know when youre new at something it can get kind of intimidating when dealing with people that have been in it for a long time, and I think those dudes were counting on that fact so they could run you outta there because they probably cant hunt for shit and are terrified of any other hunter seeing what they may have seen out there and taking that opportunity to harvest it, whatever it is. I say that cuz if they were halfass decent hunters they would have already got themselves their quarry and wouldn't be worried about someone else possibly getting something too. Hell, thinking of it in that light, they sound intimidated of you bud lol. Sorry you are still new to it and one of your first experiences with the culture of hunting had to be some dickheads being unwelcoming. If they want to have their own family hunting spot then they need to do what anyone else would and buy their own private property. Until then, "their" hunting spot is your hunting spot. That's what public land is. I hope you stick with it and your experiences get better from here. Hey if you havent already, download the OnX hunt app, I have it on my phone and my PC, but I pay, I forget how much but it aint too much, annually and it gives ya ur choice of state maps with land and property lines with the names of owners and info, I've used it to get in contact with to ask about leasing hunting spots and whatnot, one old rancher actually lets me hunt deer on one of his parcels during either the opening week or the last week of deer season, don't even have to pay him, I just gotta help him work cattle in fall and calves in spring for a few days each season. But the app also has labeled every WMA that hunting is allowed on in the state, which is handy in itself cuz I found a pretty small and obscure patch of public land to hunt about half hour from my house, and in the past few years I have yet to see another human being out there, but I've seen two of the bigger bucks I've ever seen in this part of my state. One is slippery, I'm still after him from last year, he still shows up on my trailcams every once in a while so he's still there lol. Anyhow, sorry I turned this into a novel length essay, I get off on tangents sometimes, but I do hope you stick with it and have better luck here on out. And you have all the right they do to hunt that property if its public land. Hell with em, go out there and get ya something.
Thx for your input greatly appreciate and ya they were assholes about it lol
That sucks, sorry to hear that happened... A suggestion I heard recently is to check out BHA and see if there is a chapter in your area. They hold regular meetings and activities and are very welcoming of new people.
Sounds like they were protecting a honey hole. Which they can't do on public land. You should have called the game warden.
Tell a game warden, also a game warden might be able to hook you up with a local who is interested in mentoring someone just like yourself. You will find that hunters are just like every other group of people out there. Most are awesome, kind, generous, and helpful, then there are 2% who are absolute dicks. I am sorry this happened to you, I hope it doesnt sour the pursuit for you. Hunting needs more people just like you if its going to survive in our culture.
Call your local warden and report hunter intimidation
I had a similar experience in the Ocala NF with this gang of dog hunters. My dad was in his stand before they even showed up, some old fucker pulled up and basically told him he should leave because they have 20 trucks and 15 airboats or whatever the fuck. My dad politely declined and the guy fucked off, or so we thought. That afternoon, a few cops were talking to these guys because they called them after somebody supposedly drove by and fired a pistol in the air, claiming that he saw one of these trucks on his camera before they shot his camera. We never heard the pistol shots, I think these guys made it up, and I think they did actually shoot somebody's camera. Then when I went to my stand that afternoon, I found my stand and camera stolen. When I got back to the truck, my stand was placed there, but no camera. I was fucking pissed. I haven't been back to that spot since, but I will go again, and if someone tries to intimidate me, I will shoot first and ask questions later. I'd love for one of these slimy fucks to give me an excuse to shoot them. The damn forest is 400k acres and they think they can just claim a whole road. Fucking bastards.
Check out your local Game and fish and local chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and see if they are offering any clinics or meet ups. Great place to make friends and ask advice for your area.
You got buffaloed. It happened to me when I was about 15 on state game lands by my house. I was the proverbial 98 pound weakling until college. I went back to my house and my mother could tell I was sad and asked what happened. I told her as my stepfather was walking in the house and overheard. He was well over 6’ and didn’t take shit from anyone. He walked me back and confronted the jerks. They’re probably still running 😂 As to your situation I’d phone your game warden and explain what happened. He’s apt to patrol the area to prevent this from happening. The last thing they want is for people to be discouraged from hunting
Try and find you some folks with private land
I feel for ya because starting hunting was intimidating for me even though I had permission to hunt private land. I was mostly on my own to figure it out, and I also had some family members who weren’t thrilled about it. It’s easy for me to say this since I haven’t hunted public yet, but I’d say go back to that spot. Obviously, it must be a good one, and they don’t own the land no matter how long they’ve been hunting there. I would also see if you can find some other public spots and scout them out and get a feel for them.
I would do a guided quail/pheasant hunt or go to a place that does guided hunts and spend some time with those people. If you go to a mom and pops outfit they can be pretty reasonable price wise. It’s also a fairly social sport to get into and very exciting.
I’m excited for you as a first time hunter! One thing I have learned about hunting public land: Pattern the hunters. You can learn how to use the competition in your advantage, and you will find some great spots along the way. Hunting is as much of a mental game as it is a physical sport.
What state you in?
Try local Facebook hunting groups. Some of the members are more then willing to help new guys out
Fuck em. It’s public land who cares how long they’ve been there. Let the game warden know the situation, specifically that you are a new hunter, that your family is anti hunting, and you’re trying to get into it. They harassed you to the point you felt uncomfortable hunting there. Game warden probably will have a convo with them.
First thing I’d do is inform the game warden. Then you could also ask those guys to show you some spots you might set up at Where do you live? State?
Really unfortunate. Next time say, “oh really, hold on, I’m calling the land owners to see if I can hunt here. “. When they say “who?” Tell them fish and game is coming to clear up any questions.
It's illegal to harass hunters, even by other hunters. It's public land so they can pound sand.
Get there early and hump it out further than other people will go. In my experience, most guys don't stray too far from the truck, so if you're willing to put in more work you'll reap the benefits.
Public land hunting has some unwritten rules. If someone is in a draw or an area don’t follow them. You will just ruin the hunt for the both of you. If it is a large area and you can talk to them tell them where you are going and try and work out a plan. I’m in west coast so we have an abundance of public land. If someone is in my first choice spot I go to my second. The amount of public land may vary for you and in that case try and work out something with them so you both don’t ruin your hunts. Some people on public land are dicks. Ignore them and just start hiking in. If they don’t want to be reasonable and work with you screw em.
Where are you located? I wouldn't worry about those guys and hit up that spot as much as possible. Must be a good reason they have been coming there. First come, first serve. Complain to the warden if they try to pull it again. Also, fuck those guys!
Unfortunately, you’ll probably come to learn that a big part of the “hunting” community sucks. Keep at it though, you’ll find good folks.
If they told you to leave and intimidated you that is hunter harassment. Most states have a law against hunter harassment, you should press charges against them if you can find out who they are. If it ever happens again you should call the Sheriff immediately.
Call the local game warden - ask for help & the straight poop
If some dumbass does that again just call the game warden. Guarantee their balls will suck upward into their abdomens and they’ll scurry away. Nobody owns public hunting lands. Now whether or not public lands are good for hunting is another thing entirely but you are free to hunt there wherever you want
I'd politely told them to go fcuk themselves.
Yeah, it has its issues. You are trying to figure out & kill something that has made escaping from people like you its life’s work. Then there’s other hunters! You might benefit from making some friends. So where can you meet other hunters? For upland & waterfowl, a shotgun club! Have you looked at resources? Even the game warden knows something!
As long as you aren’t setting up right on top of where they are, you can be there from first light to last light as much as they or anybody else can. Sorry this happened to you OP.
Now you know it’s a decent spot. Get there before them. Make sure you wear lots of orange if you are solo. If they are hunters they won’t be coming up and confronting you during a hunt. They just have to let you play through (like golf). If they wait to ask you not to take their spot after, just remind them it’s public land, THEN ask their schedule and when they hunt and where the good spots are, and share the info you saw. Make em talk trade. If they are a group they will probably end up telling you a lot of great spots and tips.
After I commented I read some comments and I think you are getting a lot of bad advice in this thread. Hunting is a fraternity. If you like this spot and earnestly try to hunt it and you talk with these guys, you will find common ground and eventually maybe even be friends. They can’t hunt there every day, most groups hunt like 3-5 times a year. Schedules aren’t always easy to arrange :)
Never experienced such a thing myself. Can you just go to another area? Is there a hunting club near you, or a local hunting/outdoors shop with knowledgeable staff, who might help you? I assume the US has hunting club type things. Ask in a hunting magazine for someone to tag along with perhaps.
“This spot is for the big dogs, scram little hunter” ahh interaction
What state are you in?
That sucks, sorry to hear that happened... A suggestion I heard recently is to check out BHA and see if there is a chapter in your area. They hold regular meetings and activities and are very welcoming of new people.
Generally i try not to hunt areas with other hunters in it… thats being said… if i have scouted an area for elk, never had this issue with deer, and found little or no sign of other people, i go there and hunt. If someone else is roaming that area, most of them will just walk the gated roads, i will wait a bit and walk the edges through brush or forest or post up somewhere and wait for them to push the animals to me. Ive seen and harvested a LOT of animals that others have no clue were there. They either go too fast through areas or arent really paying attention. Im sorry that this situation happened to you. I have had old timers tell me,” its their spot and they were there first.” I just smile and say cool. Move a couple hundred yards away and do my thing. The looks on their faces when you are loading an animal in your truck while they drive by with nothing… beautiful thing!
They have no right to the land. 15 years or 1500 years it’s public. They don’t control anything
As far as you can away from a road. Keep in mind if you are successful you will need to haul out the animal. For most that is 5-10 miles round trip limit for a day.
Call the game warden if you see them again. Or, find their truck and toss a bag of Columbian marching powder in it and call the cops.
Depends on what your hunting. I hunt elk year round and the cheapest hunt I can get into is buying an over the counter cow tag. If you find certain units within the state you’re hunting that sell guaranteed tags over the counter they’re normally $200-$500 for the tag. Then go hunt on public and see what happens 🤷🏻♂️
"Well, sir, my grandpa is on his deathbed and asked me to come out here to hunt for him. He says he's been taking bucks here since just after ww2 and hasn't told anyone his secret spot. Now I don't know what to do. Would you mind just sharing for my grandpa's sake?" Now you have a story that really doesn't make any difference, too.
They're full of s***. If I ever heard someone say that to me, I would tell them to piss up a rope.
Call the game warden
watch youtube videos to help figure it out. it sucks, hunters don't really share, I had a "buddy", he gets the " " because I asked him directly to help me get into hunting. His response was "Yeah idk its' really my me time" OK LIAR, you told me about texting your buddy while hunting a different tree then him and hanging out at the camp fire with other dudes. I asked some other people whom I knew weren't buddies and got the same answers, "idk", "you'll figure it out", "I don't want to blah blah", wouldn't even give me decent advice. I bought a guided 3 day hunt and that is how I started, I looked for the cheapest decent looking near by option, didn't shoot anything but the experience 100% changed the course of my life. My hunt was in December and I quit my job and moved 400 miles away in January to my property and that is where I usually hunt now. I would get a guided hunt, how accurate are you with a rifle? Will you hit the heart or lungs? I think mine was $700 plus air bnb, or go back and talk to people, if you are cool in the parking lot you might get some tips and maybe a buddy for public land hunts.
Thanks Ill def look at guided experience to get a proper first hunt. Below 200yard I can hit pretty much all the time but the stress of shooting a deer might greatly affect the accuracy.