What would you do in this situation?

Hey guys,

I’m posting this here to vent a little, and to get some advice as to what you guys would do in this situation. Here it goes:

2 years ago, one of my buddies secured a 20 acre piece of private land to hunt in Western WI from one of his family members. This year I was invited to come up and hunt with a group of 3 other guys. So this past summer I put my time in and fully participated in getting camp ready for the season as well as pitching in for/preparing the food plots.

As the season neared, everyone starting staking claim to where they were going to hunt, and I felt that there was alot of tension in regards to the subject. All 3 of the other members did not want me anywhere close to the private land, which they were planning on hunting. I was totally fine with this, as I felt that they would end up pushing the deer farther away from the plots as the season progressed, giving me a better opportunity to shoot deer.

Not being one to create any anymosity, I elected to hang a stand about a mile away down the road on a piece of public land. A couple of the members stated that they sat there a few years before and that I should think about hanging a stand there. I figured that it would be a good stand to harvest a doe and put some meat in the freezer.

So I end up getting a call tonight from my buddy that secured the land, and I find out that him and his brother in law set up withing 50 yards of my stand and harvested 2 does each…I then found out after talking to the other hunting party member that two people sat in my stand last weekend as well.

I guess im just extremely frustrated that my hard work of hanging a stand and hunting it sporadically has gone to waste. I know that personally I would never sit in anothers stand without asking for permission, whether it is a member of my hunting party or not.

My gut tells me to pack up and part ways with this hunting party. I just secured a new piece of private land that has never been hunted before up by my cabin, and by going this route I will not have to worry about the actions of others.

So am I over-reacting here, or do I have a reason to be upset??

You do have a reason to be upset, however you’re kinda at the mercy of the land owners, seems like they want to rule the roost so to say. I think that if you brought it up, you’d only start a mess and some hard feelings. If I were you, I’d hunt that new piece and leave that mess alone.

Quote:

---

You do have a reason to be upset, however you’re kinda at the mercy of the land owners, seems like they want to rule the roost so to say. I think that if you brought it up, you’d only start a mess and some hard feelings. If I were you, I’d hunt that new piece and leave that mess alone.

---

+1 for me. Sounds like they want it all their way.

I would say see ya! They got some cheap labor from ya. Good Luck on the new piece of property!

Quote:

---

I would say see ya! They got some cheap labor from ya. Good Luck on the new piece of property!

---

x 2

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I would say see ya! They got some cheap labor from ya. Good Luck on the new piece of property!

---

x 2

---

x 3

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I would say see ya! They got some cheap labor from ya. Good Luck on the new piece of property!

---

x 2

---

x 3

---

x4

I’ve seen this myself as well as some illegal actions in my old camp. My solution, buy the camp. He who has the gold makes the rules.

My advice, walk away. Hunting is supposed to be enjoyable.

chaulk it up to experience, take what you’ve learned at part ways. There will always be deer somewhere else, and less bull$hit to put up with. good luck

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I would say see ya! They got some cheap labor from ya. Good Luck on the new piece of property!

---

x 2

---

x 3

---

x4

---

x5 , tell the lazy slobs to hang their own stands from now on

that would really erk me I’ve had hunting partners on the same land before and we both scouted and found areas that we liked we normally hunted different times due to work schedules that worked great but neither of us sat ones stands unless we told them too. I would be really mad too find out they sat my stand without asking especially when one puts all the time money and effort into preparing for the bow season and not helping do any of the work. Some people don’t have a clue as to the amount of time some of us put in to enjoy hunting. Also i take my scent control and wind direction more seriously than some, and if someone sits my stand that don’t they could ruin that stand on a smart old deer. now you have me venting. i would part ways and probable make some short comments on the way out.

I had a hunting partner that I took to some spots and told him not to return to those spots. Find out later that he was there and took other people there. Needless to say I do not hunt with him anymore. I put in the work and TIME to locate these spots and they are now given away. Yeah there were other people that went there but now add more to the mix. When confronted about it he said “I told them not to take anyone else there!” Same thing I told him. Lesson learned. Pissed me off and still gets my blood boiling. Sorry had to vent. I am going to try and shoot a deer this weekend. Hopefully show him that I may be down but I am not out.

Bow out gracefully and go hunt your new property. Good luck!!

Quote:

---

Bow out gracefully and go hunt your new property. Good luck!!

---

I agree- take your lumps, walk away, and if they don’t get it—- they never will, and it’s not worth hunting with those types. I don’t get how anyone who understands hunting ethics and respect would even think of doing that.

It sounds like in your situation you are the odd duck out and don’t have any pull or respect. If the others are treating you like this now, just wait until a nice buck comes between you. But it sounds like a great spot to shoot a doe, which is what you wanted to do anyway. If they’ve shot 4 does nearby, there are probably plenty more. If it doesn’t go well for a few times out, then pull the plug.

Communication is the key when party hunting. Being the landowners, my dad and I always run the show but are fair about it. We are very clear on the rules and what happens when you break them.

Your buddys suck. They have little respect for you so they really are not your friends. Give them the heave ho.

Quote:

---

My gut tells me to pack up and part ways with this hunting party.

---

You already know the answer……Go with your gut, you will never be happy with the situation.

I would never hunt or ask to hunt out of someone’s stand.

Thanks for all the responses guys!

In response to this, I spoke to the guy who secured the lease and expressed my concerns about this. His response was that he didn’t know the deer would be moving through that spot like they are, and they wanted to shoot deer so they sat there. I was pretty much told to quit my complaining and there’s still plenty of deer around.

TIME TO GET OUT!!!!

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I would say see ya! They got some cheap labor from ya. Good Luck on the new piece of property!

---

x 2

---

x 3

---

x4

---

x5 , tell the lazy slobs to hang their own stands from now on

---

x6!! You will enjoy your hunting much better on the new piece without the stress and frustration of hunting with the others! Good luck and keep us posted on your new land!

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I would say see ya! They got some cheap labor from ya. Good Luck on the new piece of property!

---

x 2

---

x 3

---

x4

---

x5 , tell the lazy slobs to hang their own stands from now on

---

x6 see ya later ya jerk a**, lay the smack down on big ole buck on your own land you secured. Good luck this year, don’t let your “Friends” wreck your season.

Quote:

---

lay the smack down on big ole buck on your own land you secured. Good luck this year, don’t let your “Friends” wreck your season.

---

Amen!!! I’ll be heading up to my cabin this weekend to hunt MY way…Strategic stand locations, scent control, and limited hunting pressure.

I feel like I have a score to settle, so the arrows will fly this weekend.

Good luck!

Quote:

---

chaulk it up to experience, take what you’ve learned at part ways. There will always be deer somewhere else, and less bull$hit to put up with. good luck

---

X2 been there had that happen

hate to be the outsider here, but first i wouldn’t leave a stand on public land. you can’t be real mad about someone hunting a stand you left on Public land. technically/legally you are not supposed to leave stands on public land. Why? 2 reasons 1) after being placed and left it becomes public property. 2) to avoid confrontation over “YOUR” stand that’s technically public property now.
to me it sounds like the guys set you up, told you where to put a stand, then they knew where it is…so they could use it, dirty man, real dirty.
here’s where I agree with everyone else, move on…these people don’t sound much like friends.
good luck at your new location, we live and learn, and now you’ve gained some valuable knowledge. hope you get a real nice buck this year.
aim small miss small,
deano

Quote:

---

/legally you are not supposed to leave stands on public land

---

Thanks for the reply DeanoB and I understand extactly where you are coming from. Being the ethical hunter I am, I would never disobey the rules/regulations put forth by the DNR in any way.

The state of WI actually passed a law in 2008 stating that you are allowed to keep a portable stand on public land, provided your last name and DNR number are visible from the ground on the stand. You are also not allowed to place any tree steps in the tree that would cause permanent damage to the tree. Because of this, I elected to haul my climbing sticks out with me after each hunt, not only to abide by the law, but to keep anyone else from sitting in my stand.

How the other members of this hunt party still climbed into my stand I have no idea…

Chowdski,
I was going to make the same comment about leaving your stand on public land. I guess I wasn’t aware that this law changed in 2008 either. The only thing I could find in the online regulations under State-Owned land is this:

Quote:

---

It is illegal to:
• build or use a ground blind or any elevated device unless it does not damage the tree, and it is completely removed from the property each day at the close of hunting hours. Except: Ground blinds constructed entirely of dead vegetation found on the property do not need to be removed at the end of each day; and blinds used for waterfowl hunting are also exempt from daily removal requirements.
• leave a tree stand or ground blind unoccupied during legal hunting hours unless the owner’s customer ID number or name and address have been attached in a manner
that is visible and legible to a person on the ground or near entrance of ground blind.

---

I take this as meaning you can leave your stand during the day, but it must be marked with your name. And your suppose to take it out at the end of each day. I was checked by a warden 2 years ago in the Hayward area the day before opener. I was planning on hanging my stand. He told me they wouldn’t enforce leaving my stand over night but they would enforce the law restricting screw in tree steps. As you already stated, I would never leave my climbing sticks or other steps there when I’m not in my stand.

But back to you question… I’d also not hunt with those guys. Makes me wonder if they might be some of the guys I used to hunt with.

Sad. Being no one in my family but my brother and I hunt self taught and still learning. Reading on here has helped me a lot. When I got my bow and asked my uncle if I could hunt his farm land he said yes, but that he already had a guy bow hunting on a piece and he has been there on and off for around 7 or 8 years. The uncle told me, if you want it I can tell him he can’t hunt here any more. My reply was you have way more that enough land and he was here first so let him be. I then asked him for his name and number so I could call him and tell him I was hunting out there also but on a piece of property 3 miles down the road. Long story short the other guy was glad I called so he knew we where both out there. He was more than glad to give me some great tips, and really glad that I talked to him being I grew up out there and know the land there pretty good. Now he moved his stand down the valley a bit more and has seen many more deer now which he is glad for. I got a new friend and help if I need it. ANd we both get to enjoy hunting this land. On another note I was talking to the guys at the archery shop last night and they where saying that now I need to get into deer management. So now this winter after the season we’re going to have to drive down and do a lot more scouting. Glad I’m learning so much on here.