Stand on public land

I’ve got a stand on 80 acres of state land that I have been bow hunting out of all fall and I am going to rifle hunt out of the same stand. I’ve hunted the land for several years and been scouting the land all summer and fall, running multiple cameras and checking in to see activity frequently to find the best spot to put my stand. I know of two other stands that have also been there all fall and we are all spread out in a way that we can efficiently hunt the area and have respectfully given each other enough space to hunt safely. Last night (Thursday before rifle opener), a guy came in and set up a ground blind less than 100 yards from my stand in a way that we are both hunting the same area. I know he is entitled to hunt the land just as much as I am, but given how close he is set up to me, I think he clearly didn’t see my stand and I’m worried about the safety aspect of hunting so close. Given the activity I’ve been seeing on my cameras, its very likely there will be deer walking very close to my stand. I am afraid of this guy shooting at deer next to my stand without seeing me. I will obviously be wearing blaze orange but is it reasonable that I leave the guy a note in his ground blind and say “Please do not to shoot towards the southwest from your stand”? I like to get into my stand an hour before legal shooting, so I don’t want to wait for the guy to get to his blind in the morning to go talk to him.

Like I said, I respect his decision to hunt the same public land as me. I just wish he didn’t do it in a way that we both now have a direction we can’t shoot for safety reasons.

Welcome to state land hell and the reason I dont deer hunt regularly anymore. I’m skipping this year because I already noticed the same thing where I wanted to hunt. Its discouraging but nothing you can do about it. Believe me I feel for you. I have seen it happen more times than I can count. I wish all hunters could cooperate and somehow mark where they intend to hunt. It sure would save a lot of heartache on opening morning.

Right, like I said he is just as entitled to hunt there as I am. I’m more concerned with safety than anything else. I don’t want him to shoot my direction. Luckily I’m only going to hunt a little this weekend and get most of my hunting in mid week.

Your idea of leaving a note is exactly how I’d play it. I’d also consider if he’s going to be upwind of you, and maybe move a bit. It would kinda frazzle my nerves…..

The note idea isn’t bad and at the very least needs to be done.

However,, from the effective hunting perspective (if you have the time) I would move my stand 150-200 yards up the trail to where they will be coming from in the morning so you don’t get caught by his scent and to be a bit safer. Of course that may not work but personally I would move. If you can’t, I would leave your name and phone number in the letter and have him text you that morning when he’s settled in so you can describe exactly where you’re at. Also then maybe the two of you can let each other know when you are in the woods and when you are out of the woods…

There’s just no way I’d deer hunt on public land in WI or MN. I’m very grateful to have hunting opportunities on private family land in SE Minnesota and Buffalo County WI. Kudos to those that do and are successful, but I just would not enjoy it.

The fun of hunting would evaporate quickly if I had to constantly worry who may or may not set a stand or blind up dangerously close to me. The fact that you cannot control access is frightening. There’s no way I’d hunt next to random strangers. I like the idea of my life and safety being in my own hands, not some random yahoo who stumbles across the same area I am at.

Bring extra orange to be sure your visible.

All you can do inside state land.

Good hunters will see you and provide distance. Others will crowd you. Stay visible and sometimes activity is good for you, and others. Make the best of it.

Thanks for the comments guys. A few responses to them:

I will be in 100% blaze orange – not sure how I could physically add any more orange unless I started making flags out of blaze and waving them.

We both access our stands/spots from different trails. If he would have used my trail (that I made in July and leads right to my stand), he would have clearly found my stand. Luckily, it looks like the wind direction is not going to be an issue for this weekend and I will be hunting mid week next week. When he walks into his stand, he will likely push anything in that plot of woods directly towards me. Obviously not ideal, but it could be worse.

buckybadger – yes, I get it that private land is much more preferable. However, not everyone is lucky enough to inherit private land hunting opportunities. You should be happy you have your opportunities and don’t knock other people for not having them.

How far of a distance would he have to be away from you for you not to write a note? 101 yards?
IMHO, It’s way out of line to write a note or say anything to the other hunter.

You are in a tree, he is on the ground…
You are in a much safer position than he is.
I would worry more about him being a late arriving noisy person sucking on marlboros than getting shot up in a tree.

Welcome to the state land joke. Do all your work only to get screwed by the last guy to the party.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

How far of a distance would he have to be away from you for you not to write a note? 101 yards?
IMHO, It’s way out of line to write a note or say anything to the other hunter.

How close would he have to be for you to say something?

To be clear, my thought of leaving a note was 100% in the thought of safety.
“Hey Hunter guy dude, I’m Southwest 100 yards of you 15 feet up in a tree. Let’s not shoot each other. Good luck!”
Not out of line IMHO. I’d have zero issue showing up to my tree to find a note saying the same.

Pailofperch wrote:

To be clear, my thought of leaving a note was 100% in the thought of safety.
“Hey Hunter guy dude, I’m Southwest 100 yards of you 15 feet up in a tree. Let’s not shoot each other. Good luck!”
Not out of line IMHO. I’d have zero issue showing up to my tree to find a note saying the same.

x2

Pailofperch wrote:

To be clear, my thought of leaving a note was 100% in the thought of safety.
“Hey Hunter guy dude, I’m 15 feet up from you in a tree. I’ll try not to shoot in your direction. Good luck!”

There, I fixed that for you.

HRG

Geez…I’m glad some are insecure and won’t hunt public land.

Just bring a bright strong light. Flash it a few times in his direction so he knows your there. If he’s respectful, and you beat him out there, he may just back out and move. Like you said, he may just not know you are there.

Never be a Richard and it sounds like you never would.

Good luck and have fun. Deer are very sneaky so don’t be discouraged if someone sets up near you.

This is why I like bowhunting.
At the very least I would talk to him on your way out and let him know where your stand is.

get out early. real early. wear blaze orange. flash a flash light his way when he comes out.

good luck.

Johnny wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eelpoutguy wrote:</div>
How far of a distance would he have to be away from you for you not to write a note? 101 yards?
IMHO, It’s way out of line to write a note or say anything to the other hunter.

How close would he have to be for you to say something?

I wouldn’t say anything.
Do you know where all the hunters are? What if a hunter walks out and puts a stand up opening morning close by? What if people are doing a drive? What if you go out opening morning and someone is sitting in your stand?
You gotta lotta writin to do.

The flashlight thing sounds like a good idea to me.

Hunting private land 1st thing any group I know does is talk to each other so everyone knows where the other people are. This same approach seems even more important hunting state land with people you dont know. Just common sense.

slipbob_nick wrote:

get out early. real early. wear blaze orange. flash a flash light his way when he comes out.

good luck.

Flash light is a great idea, same as duck hunting

Food is always better in the middle of a straight line between 2 guys that want to eat me. Though….. I see after digging on the DNR WEB there is a program trial implanted on a trial basis where a chip is instituted with a tracking collar to see if the chip implanted will help recognize dangers such as abnormal things that have right angles creating a box.

The guy up hill might get 2 fer. I thought antlers for calling in deer not planting if caught.

Lack of communication has been the demise of millions of marriages and even World Wars. Communicate with those around you if you plan on spraying your decoys. And let them know also when you carry your fresh killed deer out of the woods…

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I could not read the bottle, what brand do you use.
Apparently, What you use the residuals on your skin on some products stay 9n for a wile.

1hl&sinker wrote:

I could not read the bottle, what brand do you use.

This is the brand I’m using tonight. Can you read that bottle 1hl??

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Johnny wrote:

Thanks for the comments guys. A few responses to them:

I will be in 100% blaze orange – not sure how I could physically add any more orange unless I started making flags out of blaze and waving them.

We both access our stands/spots from different trails. If he would have used my trail (that I made in July and leads right to my stand), he would have clearly found my stand. Luckily, it looks like the wind direction is not going to be an issue for this weekend and I will be hunting mid week next week. When he walks into his stand, he will likely push anything in that plot of woods directly towards me. Obviously not ideal, but it could be worse.

buckybadger – yes, I get it that private land is much more preferable. However, not everyone is lucky enough to inherit private land hunting opportunities. You should be happy you have your opportunities and don’t knock other people for not having them.

Who exactly did I “knock”? Did you read what I wrote before responding to it directly?

I even said Kudos to those who do hunt public land successfully. It isn’t for me, but it doesn’t mean I think less of people that do. No need to paint yourself a victim…there are already far too many people with that tendency.

What did you end up doing?

If you leave a stand in public land, the smart thing to do is put orange tape on it, so anyone coming through scouting, see’s it…. and a good lock.

I had someone bring in a chainsaw and cut down a 12 inch tree for one of my stands that was locked to the tree.
DT

deertracker wrote:

I had someone bring in a chainsaw and cut down a 12 inch tree for one of my stands that was locked to the tree.
DT

Wow that’s pretty shameful. I have a good number of stands up in Carlos avery for early bow hunting but didnt get a chance to get out this year. I should go check on them. I left them padlocked so any one could use them but they were a nasty hike back in to the areas

If the stands are on public land and you can sit in them. Does that make them yours when you leave?

So if you put up a stand on public hunting land and someone else beats you too it your SOL?

I don’t hunt public land, We have private land in WI.