OT: Hunter ethics

[bigbore442001]

I did some scouting of the areas I hunt in for coyote tracks. I found a lot of deer tracks so I made the decision not to bait the area I was looking at. I don't want to attract coyotes to that particular location. I did discover another spot to bait but I learned something rather disturbing.

I chatted with a friend whom I have not seen in a while. He asked how well I did during the past season. I told him we got nothing. He was surprised and somewhat shocked. He commented about the deer around his place. We hunt in back of his property area and he said that someone shot three deer out of a ladder stand in that area.

Well, that is where my father's stand is. He has a ladder stand on this property that is open to hunting. I was a bit upset when I learned that someone may have hunted out of my Dad's stand. Needless to say I was not happy and neither was Dad when I chatted with him over the phone.

I sometimes wonder where people's ethics are?

[TedH]

Some people don't know the meaning of ethics, much less abide by them.

[jnyork]

For many, "hunter ethics" is an oxymoron. Sad.

[El Chivo]

I think you have to expect people to use something left on public land. It's not polite to use the stand but it's also not polite to leave a stand up.

I don't think someone should have the right to "claim" a tree or a spot in perpetuity just by putting a stand up and leaving it there. If you do that you have to expect people to use it when you're not there. Maybe this guy should have put up his own stand, but he has as much right to use that spot as your Dad (who wasn't hunting on those days, correct?)

If it's not public land then that's something else again. But you said it's open to hunting. Was that person trespassing on the land?

[horsesoldier03]

If your hunting public land, the law allows that anyone can utilize the stand. I know I found a fresh kill in one of the shooting lanes of one of my stands that I didnt get to hunt for an extended period. Honestly as long as they are responsible I would rather they just use mine rather than hang another stand in a tree 20 yards away (WHICH HAS HAPPENED). These days just be glad your stand wasnt stolen.

[Old Ironsights]

I'm not big on Stand Hunting, and the one I have is a climber - so it never gets left anywhere - but on Public or Shared-Private ground there are a few things that you gotta expect:

If you ground hunt, someone else is going to use your trail &/or favorite hideyhole if you're not there.

Why wouldn't you expect somthing similar from a stand? If you don't like it, use a hang-on and take your climbing sticks with you... or use a climber.

I'm with ElChivo & Horsesoldier. Not polite? Perhaps. But better than setting up another stand 20yds away or having it stolen.

[dkmlever]

Now if he or she had climbed up in the stand while your Dad was in the stand....WELL then I would question thier hunting ethics!

[Pete44ru]

Here in New England, I've had "hunters" actually sit down on post right in front of me while I was in my treestand - more than once, and in more than one state.

Of course, I just tell them that they can sit there, since the woods are "free" - but I want them to know that I'll be shooting right past their head/body, if/when game shows up.

Trouble is, they generally just trudge off, out of sight - sometimes up/down the game trail I'm watching - proving that their action was deliberate, and no innocent mistake.
That is why I give such folks short shrift.

.

[Modoc ED]

If it's land open to hunting, you've got no beef. The better question might be -- "Why the heck is someone leaving a permanent stand on land open to hunting?" Kind of like an anti-Smokey the Bear "litter-bug". Take the stand down and get a climber like said above.

[Doc Hudson]

I think you have to expect people to use something left on public land. It's not polite to use the stand but it's also not polite to leave a stand up.

I don't think someone should have the right to "claim" a tree or a spot in perpetuity just by putting a stand up and leaving it there. If you do that you have to expect people to use it when you're not there. Maybe this guy should have put up his own stand, but he has as much right to use that spot as your Dad (who wasn't hunting on those days, correct?)

If it's not public land then that's something else again. But you said it's open to hunting. Was that person trespassing on the land?

Total agreement!

It is not like your Dad tried to use the stand and the other guy refused to get down, that would be different.

IMO, if you leave a stand on public property, you can't get too bent out of shape if someone else uses it when you aren't there, at least not if they do not damage or steal the stand.

If I found a stand where I wanted to set up, I'd use it. And if the owner came along and asked what I was doing, I'd tell him I was warming the seat for him and let him have it, then I'd tell him which direction I planned to move and ask that he refrain from shooting in that direction.

If I left a stand up in publicly owned woods, I'd expect the same courtesy from anyone using it.

[iceman]

If it was left there and nobody around I think it is open to anybody. If you don't want someone to use it either be in it or take it down. This is assuming public access. completely different if private land. Just my .02

[Leverdude]

I wouldn't hunt in another guys stand. But I'm not surprised others would.
I find them up on public land here sometimes & it always surprises me.
I might consider it if I had permission to a piece ajacent to public land & it looked like nobody went thru much. But if someone used my stand I'd just take it away. Lifes too short.

[jeepnik]

I won't use another hunters stand. But I had one case where I arrived in an area and set up a ground blind. A fellow who had left a stand up showed up a couple of hours later and got upset that I was there. He seemed to think he had the "right" to that spot. It was public land, and it should be a first come first served situation. He ended up making such a ruckus that nothing would have approached the area. I never went back to that spot. I sure hope he fell our of that stand broke his neck and shot himself in the privates in the process.

[marlinman93]

Well I've never used a tree stand, but I agree with most here that if you don't want it used, you better take it home when you're not using it. That's a public tree, and the guy who gets to it first should be able to set up his stand that morning.

[Leverdude]

Thats different Jeep.
I'v done the same. Just this fall as a matter of fact.
I was on privately owned land up in NH, I know the owner & he knows I hunt there but its pretty much wide open up there. If its not posted you can hunt.
I was working my way across a hillside on a bench & found a nice spot to sit quite & watch awhile. After a couple hours I got up & walked thru the little hollow I was watching & found a ladder stand.
I went back to my bench in the morning & saw one small doe & thats it. We musta darn near crossed paths as there were fresh prints going to his stand but it looked like he saw mine from the day before & turned around. I guess maybe he got mad but cant say. I followed his track out but he was gone.

[jjames]

The way I figure it is unless it was on Your land not much room for complaint unless they stole or broke it, or sued you for falling out of it. If it was on someone else private land and you were paying for exclusive hunting privileges maybe you have a legit complaint with the land owner. I have never hunted out of a tree stand and doubt seriously that I would ever climb into someone elses but if it was on Public land and I got to the spot first I would not be inclined to move elsewhere such that you could use your tree stand. I would suggest rather that you mosey along elsewhere with or without your stand as you prefer. Public land is first come first served. People that think they have some right over others to the public domain infuriate me.