This SUCKS

[patriot_hunter]

I went out opening day to see if I could bag a deer with my bow. I decided to go to my favorite spot that I have always seen some good bucks in, but when I got there, there were honestly thousands of cows. I don't mean cow elk but MOOOO cows. Not only that, but there were about twenty other hunters. I decided to stay and see if there were still any deer in the area. Guess what there wasn't. Infact I didn't even see a doe. I guess I have a couple weeks to find a new spot but right now I'm not a happy camper. Has anyone else had an experience like this. Let me know so that I don't feel so bad.

 

[Hondoarcher]

I went scouting for elk up the Yellowstone drainage and found the same thing. I think it gets too crowed for the wildlife when there are that many cows around. They just get pushed out into other less favorable areas where they can get some peace. I think the deer and elk are still use to fleeing from preditors. The cows are dumb and arn't as flighty.

This will change when the wolves come to our state. The ranchers will not be able to stay in business because they will loose to may to wolves. We then will have an excessive amout of fat wolves who have been feeding on the cattle. The the ranchers will pull their cows out and then the wildlive will be in real trouble with an over abundance of wolves and only wildlife to feed on. We will all probably have to retire from hunting deer and elk and switch to wolves. I realy don't fancy having a stuffed wolf on my wall. That just dosn't thrill me like elk hunting does.

 

[Psychozar]

Patriot,

Went to a favorite spot that I had enjoyed alone for a few years. Lots of new hunters. Thats cool , they are intitled. One tank I wanted to hunt has a treestand on it now. The hunter was in it Friday to early Sunday. I respected his privacy for 3 days.
After his camp left , I went down to check the tank. Thats when I noticed his treestand still in place. Obviously he plans to return. I was wondering the proper etiquette in hunting the waterhole with a stand on it. I mean this guy isn't entititled to sole use of the hole is he?

Better Luck,

Mark

 

[TCR1]

I don't think so, it is public property. I am personally suprised that he left it in the tree. It probably doesn't need saying, but I don't think you should use his stand. The other approach would be to hunt tyhe corridor leading to the hole and intercept the deer/elk before they get there.

Good luck!

 

[quickdrawkinker]

early bird gets the worm! First one there in the morning or in the evening SHOULD have rights to it. I have quit hunting on the weekends because that's when every tom ##### and harry comes out of the woodwork and decides to "hunt". On opening morning I had my stand set up in an area I have been watching all summer and for the first hour of light I had a ton of deer coming through--no shooters though. The second hour was a complete zoo--I had 4 hunters walk to within 30 yards of my stand and they sat there and discussed their game plan at the top of their lungs not even knowing I was there. They did however know that there was another hunter in the area because they walked past my truck that was parked about 300 yards away. After this went on for about 10 minutes I let them know that I was making my way out of the tree and it damn near came to blows! They continued to make a push off the ledge that I was hunting--waiting for the deer to come up and feed like they had been doing all summer long.
If they would have been there first that morning I would have backed out of there as quietly as possible not to interfer with their hunt, but damn sure would have been there an hour earlier the next morning and would have expected the same treatment from them.
That's just the way I see it.

 

[patriot_hunter]

I have had kind of a similar experience. Last year I was hunting elk in a very coveted unit in Idaho there are only 15 bull tags but there are 40 cow tags. Opening morning I was walking down a drainage that I had scouted all summer that I had seen four bulls in that would score 350+. Anyway I was walking down and all of the sudden there was an explosion of gun shots. Within a two or three minute period eleven shots were fired. Come to find out my Uncle saw the whole thing. Some butt head was sitting on a four wheeler and shooting at a group of cows and calves. but the worst part was they were at least 800 yards away. at that distance he could have hit three or four and never known it. Some jerks have no respect for other hunters or the animals. Needless to say I didn't see an elk the whole day.

 

[2leggedcougar]

In 02 my cousin had a treestand set up over a waterhole(Ochocos eastern oregon) and he hunted it opening weekend. He had to work the monday and tuesday but tuesday evening when he returned he found his tree stand missing(which was secured with a bycicle lock). By my understanding he was so mad he couldn't see straight and he just said pi$$ on it and hunkered up under a tree. That evening he killed his biggest buck to date, which was a 29" 3x4.
His luck changed for the best but in any other situation it would really change perspectives of our fellow hunters. So in that instance i guess first come first serve, Let the other guy hunt, and when he's completly gone go ahead.

2LG