Nile Unit - Someones in my spot...what would you do?

[krapmit]

So here's the deal, we've been hunting the Nile Unit four generations now and have a cabin on nile rd.  We've been hunting the same spots the entire time in the early archery hunt and never run in to people.  Especially where my dad sits.  He has been in the same spot  100 yards off the road for 15 years and never had a hunter walk by him (he's a disabled hunter)...AND HE DREW A BULL TAG THIS YEAR, first time in 10 years.

This year, we went in and moved stands, trimmed, limbed and got ready for the opener.  However the following weekend (this last weekend)  a guy showed up with a game camera, alfa alfa and a ground blind and set it up 15 feet from where my dad sits..His chair is actually down there as well as our game camera.

It's public land, so anyone can do as they please...but what would you do?  It's unfortunate, but I sure hope the guy will leave and hunt somewhere else...Not very good luck for my pops )  :

If you're reading this and think this it is you, please PM ME!

[pianoman9701]

How about talking to the guy and finding out what he's about? He might be willing to go elsewhere. That would be the first step. The next is to move. Public land - we all have a right to it. 

[krapmit]

That's the plan, all you can do I guess.

[kckrawler]

Just like everybody else who hunts public land...you want the spot, you beat everybody else to it. I don't hunt with anybody who would sit down 15' from another hunter.

[CP]

Is this the first time that you have had to share “your” spot on public land with someone else?  If so you have been very lucky.

[h2ofowlr]

I wish I had a spot where I only had to worry about one guy showing up.  Sounds like a gem.  Your dad might want to get up early.  When the guy shows up, explain how you have hunted this spot for "X" years without anyone showing up.  He may or may not move.

[boneaddict]

Got burned in the Nile myself when Dad drew his permit.   We parked alongside the road and hiked in about 330 in the morning and were just short of popping over the rim, waiting for light.   We heard someone pull up to where we had parked, slammed doors, very loud talking etc.  They literally got to us right at daylight, then walked out in front of where we were standing, and sat down.   Crazy!  I tried to change our hunt, move along to a different area along the ridge but these guys thought theyd outrace us and paralled below us.  Rudest thing ever.  Bare in mind my dad was 70 so not super mobile.   Elk hunting in Washington I guess.

Goodluck, I hope it works out for him. 

[boneaddict]

oh and if you drive a copper colored jeep, may the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits.

[pd]

KrapMit, let's consider an alternative from the other guy's perspective.  (I assume that he did not notice your preparations, and knows nothing about your hard work.)

You guys have been hunting this area for decades, right?  You surely know half a dozen excellent places to hunt, beyond where you hoped to bring your father.  Why not offer the visitor a guided tour of alternative locations?  Make it attractive for him to move.  Offer him help with packing, etc.

If I were the other hunter, and a local gave me this opportunity, I would take it in a heartbeat (if presented in a fair and friendly manner).  You might just make a new friend.

[vandeman17]

I wish I had a spot where I only had to worry about one guy showing up.  Sounds like a gem.  Your dad might want to get up early.  When the guy shows up, explain how you have hunted this spot for "X" years without anyone showing up.  He may or may not move.

I agree with this. If you are up there early then you might get a chance to run into him before opening morning and then you can discuss a game plan. We had something like this happen a few years back with opening day of duck. Got the whole run around about the guys hunting this spot for years. We had beat them to the spot and never once did they approach us to discuss the options. When set up time came, they were far from pleasant since I had spread  our group out over the pond. After they finally calmed down, I took the high road and ended up pulling our group together and giving them room down the pond. Long story short, just be civil, calm and most of the time a plan can be hashed out to make both sides happy. 

[mxryder909]

Beat him back to your spot, and have him relocate.... tell your story, if he doesn't listen then you might have an issue... Hang out with him the night before offer beer, lots of beer.... The guy who camped in my last spot last season had a hell of a hang over. 25 mins into first day of elk, one cougar followed by a true spike. Other guy was still in his tent hungover as balls... Welcome to America, and always bring cold beer whiskey etc....

[motg9_6]

first come first serve

[D-Rock425]

A spot nobody else hunts in the Nile unheard off .  Can you post GPS coordinates so I have a better understanding of the area?

[northcoast]

A spot nobody else hunts in the Nile unheard off .  Can you post GPS coordinates so I have a better understanding of the area?

 

Especially if it's only 100 YDS off the road.  Get there early and tell the guy to beat it when he shows up.

What is it with alfalfa and the Nile anyway? I probably ran into 10 or more spots with alfalfa and apples within a mile radius last year.

[Badhabit]

Who owns the big Orchard along the Clover Springs Road?

[xXLojackXx]

I'm surprised it took that long to have "your spot" 100 yards off a road intruded on. That being said, you might make a sign of some sort that states a disabled hunter hunts from that location (being so close to a road) and the other hunter might (and should) keep moving. If you're not disabled, you don't belong in a stand 100 yards from a road. You have 2 working legs, use them.

[cvandervort]

Bear trap   

[northcoast]

you might make a sign of some sort that states a disabled hunter hunts from that location

That's a great idea!  Post the sign right in front of his trail cam so that's all he sees, maybe then he'll get the hint.

[coachcw]

If the guy knows your there and he's a dushe ! Even if he is a cripple he should find his own spot . if he didn't see your dad there then he's just lazy only getting a 100 yards from a road . good luck chances are he is a tool

[hughjorgan]

How do you know he is even an archery hunter? Maybe he is setting up for the muzzleloader season?

Krapmit maybe get a key to the two areas with gates so this isn't a problem in the future since your father is disabled...

[hughjorgan]

How do you know he is even an archery hunter? Maybe he is setting up for the muzzleloader season?

Krapmit maybe get a key to the two areas with gates so this isn't a problem in the future since your father is disabled...

So, you're suggesting closing off open roads so someone's dad gets a public spot all to himself? Did I read that right? I feel for the original poster here. I really do. But 1. It's public land, and 2. as of yet, he hasn't even talked to the other guy. We don't know the other guy's intentions or even which season he's hunting. And now, you're talking about creating a Disable Hunter unit for one hunter so no one else can get back in there with a vehicle? Tell me I'm misunderstanding what you're saying here, Huge.  If I found out that a government employee gated off two roads at the request of one person or a family, I'd have their job. I get that dad's disabled and they've hunted there forever. That doesn't mean they're entitled to anything, however.

No, what I am saying is that krapmit said his dad is disabled and there are two gated roads with keys available to individuals that are disabled in the nile, the rest of joe public can walk in but krapmit and his father can drive if they get a key from the USFS/WDFW.

[pianoman9701]

How do you know he is even an archery hunter? Maybe he is setting up for the muzzleloader season?

Krapmit maybe get a key to the two areas with gates so this isn't a problem in the future since your father is disabled...

So, you're suggesting closing off open roads so someone's dad gets a public spot all to himself? Did I read that right? I feel for the original poster here. I really do. But 1. It's public land, and 2. as of yet, he hasn't even talked to the other guy. We don't know the other guy's intentions or even which season he's hunting. And now, you're talking about creating a Disable Hunter unit for one hunter so no one else can get back in there with a vehicle? Tell me I'm misunderstanding what you're saying here, Huge.  If I found out that a government employee gated off two roads at the request of one person or a family, I'd have their job. I get that dad's disabled and they've hunted there forever. That doesn't mean they're entitled to anything, however.

No, what I am saying is that krapmit said his dad is disabled and there are two gated roads with keys available to individuals that are disabled in the nile, the rest of joe public can walk in but krapmit and his father can drive if they get a key from the USFS/WDFW.

Well then, I'm stupid! Carry on! 

[Badhabit]

A buddy of mine drew a branched antler archery tag along with a key to one of those gates the first week of the archery season. Says they changed the regs for disabled hunters and they can now use a scope on their crossbows. Should be a good hunt for him.

[gasman]

Those that keep pointing out the two gated areas, those keys must be drawn, just like a special permit, so there is no guarantee he will get one.

In 10 years as a disabled hunter, my dad only drew that key once, and those areas are not good areas to hunt any more unless you are able body and can get around. Many of the clearings that were good to watch are over grown and not very desirable areas to hunt if you are limited with your mobility.

[hughjorgan]

Those that keep pointing out the two gated areas, those keys must be drawn, just like a special permit, so there is no guarantee he will get one.

In 10 years as a disabled hunter, my dad only drew that key once, and those areas are not good areas to hunt any more unless you are able body and can get around. Many of the clearings that were good to watch are over grown and not very desirable areas to hunt if you are limited with your mobility.

Are there that many folks that are disabled that they can only give out so many keys?

[gasman]

Those that keep pointing out the two gated areas, those keys must be drawn, just like a special permit, so there is no guarantee he will get one.

In 10 years as a disabled hunter, my dad only drew that key once, and those areas are not good areas to hunt any more unless you are able body and can get around. Many of the clearings that were good to watch are over grown and not very desirable areas to hunt if you are limited with your mobility.

Are there that many folks that are disabled that they can only give out so many keys?

Unless its changed in the last two years, they allow two keys to go to disabled hunters per area (gated road) for an allotted amount of time.

They don't want to have to many people in an area so they limit the keys given out and you can only hunt a specific time frame of the season. The idea is to offer a quality hunt for disabled hunters.

[coachcw]

Those gates don't mean much , plenty of guys will hoof it right in . plus a lot of them are out in the desert so to speak .

[D-Rock425]

Saw a middle aged guy in a tan early 2000's chevy with hay in the back of it coming down the 1600 rd friday could of been that guy. Looked like a person who doesnt scout until the week before.

Nile is a busy place. I dont know how many people have access to the 1608, but I have seen a few bulls in there this year.   How far can your dad walk?

what exactly does a guy look like that doesn't scout until a week before?

[pianoman9701]

Saw a middle aged guy in a tan early 2000's chevy with hay in the back of it coming down the 1600 rd friday could of been that guy. Looked like a person who doesnt scout until the week before.

Nile is a busy place. I dont know how many people have access to the 1608, but I have seen a few bulls in there this year.   How far can your dad walk?

what exactly does a guy look like that doesn't scout until a week before?

Shifty eyes, sweaty palms, a liberal. You know the type, DR.

[ctwiggs1]

 

[D-Rock425]

Sounds like h20hunter to me.

[h20hunter]

Way off. Way way off.

Eyes are not shifty. Palms are not sweaty....they are hairy. Liberal....eh...probably a bit. Not sure what my political label is. 2000 Chevy...nah. I'd be driving the pink FJ or for week before season scouting I'd take the Lexus.

[pianoman9701]

You know, maybe he's not a hunter at all. Maybe he's releasing wolves from Wolf Haven!