November 16, 2015, 05:39 PM | #1 |
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Hunting ethics
Not sure there is such a thing but I thought I'd ask anyway. I'm not a good hunter and am still just learning--but nonetheless I've spent a lot of time and miles in the forests of both the south and north.
I know it's inevitable that you are going to inadvertently come across other hunter's set-ups while ingress/egressing from your hunt. However--as long as the time of day is during legal hunting hours I generally try to make my approach as silent and inconspicuous as possible. Today I decided to do an afternoon still-hunt approach into a long power line bordered by thick forests on either side. Conditions were perfect for a still-hunt and I made my way slowly and silently in the shadow-side of the power line slot and into the wind. After about 1.5 hours during one of my scans I picked off a hunter who had just entered the power line from the woods 3/4 of a mile away. He was moving so fast that even a tiny orange dot jumped out. I watched his approach and as fast as he was hiking it did not take him very long to catch up to me. I tried to get some info out of him but all he said was that he was going to continue on--and that his brother might show up later. The guy continued on with his fast hike straight up the middle of the power line and was soon out of sight. Obviously I figured my hunt was busted--but since the wind was strong I thought what the heck--I'll stick around for sunset anyway. Sure enough--about an hour later the same guy comes speed-walking right down the middle of the line--and well before sunset. I figure it's no use and trail out about an eighth of a mile behind him. He cuts out into the forest sooner than the parking area and I can hear voices in the woods--I assumed he met up with his bro. Meantime I continue on and stumble upon a pile of bait--corn and beets--that was not there when I hiked in. Baiting deer during the hunting season is prohibited. I'm guessing the brothers had planned a drive--but is it ethical to do this across other hunters that you know are in the woods already? Illegal use of bait needs no explanation obviously.
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November 16, 2015, 06:47 PM | #2 |
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I assume it was public land. With public land comes other hunters. Sometimes you inadvertently walk up on other hunters, don't talk just give them a "sorry" wave and move on to give them room. As for the guy speed walking through the area, don't leave because of it, let them do a little work for you, sometimes a deer they spook comes right out to you. And report the bait site if illegal to whomever in your state enforces it. As an aside if you do happen upon someone in the woods who has made a kill be stop and talk to them, say hi and if needed give them a hand on the drag out. Sometimes it's one of the "old timers" who have a lot of hunting knowledge and no one to pass it on to.
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November 16, 2015, 07:03 PM | #3 |
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I try to skip the first couple days when deer opens. That weeds out the goofballs pretty well. I usually do pretty good the second week of our two week season and rarely run into another hunter anymore.
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November 16, 2015, 07:11 PM | #4 |
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As far as a hunter walking down the power line spooking deer I have to say if deer spooked the way some people think they do there would be deer running in every direction all the time.
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November 16, 2015, 08:21 PM | #5 | |
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November 16, 2015, 08:23 PM | #6 |
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Unless you saw them putting out illegal bait, you have nothing to be ethical about. Even if you did see it, a warden would merely have your word, one guy, against two guys who can say they didn't do that, maybe you did it. Catch 'em gutting a deer over bait, that's different.
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November 16, 2015, 09:08 PM | #7 |
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ignoring the obvious baiting charges. I really have no problem being walked up on. I hunt a lot of public land and other hunters are inevitable. I am usually just glad they aren't roaring around on 4 wheelers and tearing up the already miserable roadways. walking fast has never really bothered me either, where I hunt, 11 miles in one day is not unheard of an would be especially tedious if you weren't making it at a fast clip, so long as you are controlling your foot falls so it doesn't sound like a buffalo stampede, then it doesn't scare anything any worse than slow walking.
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November 16, 2015, 09:46 PM | #8 | |
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I never was interested in reporting the guys--nor am I suggesting they had no right to do what they did--I merely wondered if it was "ethical" or perhaps "considerate" would be a better word.
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November 16, 2015, 11:21 PM | #9 |
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They could be baiting bear and deer hunting at the same....,.,your state your regs look at them yourself.
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November 16, 2015, 11:21 PM | #10 |
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At least he didnt sit 30yards behind you. my brother and i were out about 75 yards apart in heavy brush, guy sits behind and between us. made me mad butthr worst part is i moved. he glicked his safety, scared me too much to stay. dropped my fly and left my scent in front of him.
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November 16, 2015, 11:32 PM | #11 |
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stillquiet, that was an interesting way to leave, without making a big scene.
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November 16, 2015, 11:44 PM | #12 |
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thanks havnt seen him in thr woods since. guess it left a ladting impression.
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November 17, 2015, 04:54 AM | #13 | |
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My attitude is in general if you hunt areas with high pressure you can expect pretty much anything--including jacking and "questionable" tactics. It is what it is and I'm not out there trying to be an enforcer nor do I judge those who do--even if it's not what I would do. Anyway, I suppose the real solution to avoid this is simply go deeper into bigger woods.
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November 17, 2015, 10:24 AM | #14 |
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this is just a generalization, and as has been said your state may vary, but usually as soon as deer season starts, bear baiting is banned. we have spring and fall bear seasons, spring allows baiting, fall does not as it overlaps with deer season and too many hunters were getting away with claiming that the piles of corn were for bears... bears really don't care much about corn and beet going into winter making me think that was not the intended target. they want lots of fat and protein... stuff like dogfood soaked in pancake syrup or similar nasties would be what the bear baiters are using, not straight veggies.
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ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin |
November 17, 2015, 10:40 AM | #15 |
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That's rude for sure. Not sure if it falls into the "unethical" category, which to me, is things like poaching and taking low-kill-chance, high-wound-chance shots.
<Off-topic deleted.> Last edited by Art Eatman; November 17, 2015 at 10:54 AM. Reason: Off-topic commentary deleted. |
November 17, 2015, 12:01 PM | #16 |
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I treat other hunters as I would hope to be treated, but sometimes the actions of other hunters don't call for any special treatment. If they decide to wander in, look at you, and sit 40 yards from where you have been since daylight, I lose my will to be extra considerate. If I am on my way to a spot, or out of the woods and somebody is perched in a tree over the main human walking trail, I'm not going to change course or make any extra effort to be stealthy as I go by.
Noisy walkers alert animals to THEIR presence, and that is all. A noisy guy leaving the area where you are hunting can even be helpful. I was hunting an area and watching a doe just out of my range. A noisy hunter came tromping in and the doe calmly walked into some cover. As the hunter cleared the brush he popped out about 75 yards away and saw me. (He was about 40 yards from the cover the deer was in.) He then waved, and hollars out "see anything?". I shook my head "no", and he immediately left the area knowing I was there. Within a couple minutes after he noisily tromps back out, the doe waltzes back out in the open, just out of my range again. maybe a half hour or so later she began to walk away, never offering me a shot. I never got a shot at the doe, but she taught me something that day. |
November 17, 2015, 12:17 PM | #17 | |
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November 17, 2015, 01:55 PM | #18 | |
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Public land is pubic land. Many is the time I have a plan when going there only to have it change when I get there or when other hunting parties get there later. What you must do is not consider the hunt busted, but make a plan to incorporate what the others are doing, and make the best of a situation. If they are making a drive and leaving an escape route not covered, it's public land, feel free to take a stand there. Someone walks thru your stand where you planned to sit all day, realize that they may kick a deer outta it's bed to you that otherwise would have stayed there till dark. While on stand overlooking a large swamp, I have watched bedded deer hunker down and let several hunters/drivers walk within yards of them. Even with the extreme pressure they didn't move because they didn't have to. Later on when things quieted down, many times they stood up and re-positioned themselves, presenting an opportunity. Remember tho....shadowing another hunter may mean you may carelessly kick a deer to them too. When hunting public land, never have a single plan and be reluctant to vary from it. Your success will suffer. Don't always resent those other hunters, but look at them as tools for you to use, if it can be done safely. |
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November 17, 2015, 02:36 PM | #19 | |
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November 17, 2015, 03:37 PM | #20 | |
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For sure. The whole key to hunting public is predicting what other hunters will do, and how the deer will react. Learning the human habits and routes is just as important as learning the deer habits and routes. Public land means drivers are provided. |
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November 18, 2015, 05:12 AM | #21 |
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I, my Buddy and his boy were sitting in an over grown area deer hunting one morning. It was a lot of boulders and saplings. Thick, but open enough to see anything moving. We were there about a half hour and a couple truckloads(Literally) of Amish started a drive through. If you have ever seen them in action, you know what I am talking about. They pretty much shoot whatever pops up and are really close together. They were not past us more than 20 minutes when my Buddy's kid shot a doe that was walking through. I always figured if I picked out 3 deer while walking around, I probably walked past 7 I did not see. I have often caught deer sneaking away by looking BEHIND me when walking around. The biggest buck I ever got should not have been up feeding at that time during hunting season. I was just walking around. You never know.
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November 18, 2015, 03:33 PM | #22 |
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If I see a hunter taking a stand, or still hunting in the bush or woods, I try to steer clear of him or just back-off, with the intent of not spreading my scent all around his stand.
Though on a ole backwoods logging road, major trail, or an electric line right of way...I figure the hunter wants to go from one place to another in a reasonable amount of time --- and I would not fret about him doing so --- Because I don't think he's violating any sportmans ethic {besides baiting if illegal}. I would calmly let him pass, because that is always a risk, when you set up or still hunt near an ole logging road, backwoods trail or an electric/gas line right of way.
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