Crappy way to end the season

[treeclimber2852]

I know this post is going to come off as a rant, but only because I’ve worked my a$$ off this year, getting in pretty great shape, put in over 200 miles on my boots between scouting, Oregon archery, west side muzzy, and modern deer for me and my boy.  I’ve lived in OnX and have eaten more dehydrated meals than in any year past by far.  It’s been a blast, but I hated what I ran into yesterday so much that I’m calling it good for the year.  I’ve got the walk in pass for the Vail and have been hitting a few spots pretty heavily a mile or two behind a closed gate.  I set up a blind early season to watch a nice trail and missed a bull back in October.  Cows and spikes had been in there last week pretty regularly so was excited to hunt the blind this week.  Sunday my blind looked to be blown over and one of my fiberglass poles was shattered.  Figured it was the wind.  Fixed it and secured everything really well.  Well yesterday I go walking in and find my blind standing, but now both poles are shattered, my cheap shooting sticks and Walmart camp chair are gone and I’ve got gashes all over my blind.  It’s trashed.  Fresh tire tracks leaving the scene (in a non-motorized area).  People are garbage.  To cap it all off, they took a dump inside my ruined blind.  Not the way I wanted to end, but I packed up the remnants and I think I’m calling it.  Tag soup but I learned a lot- good and bad. 

[The Gobble-stopper]

You say people are garbage, that includes you and I. And all the other fine people on WHF. I think you meant to say, that you hate targets!😐

[h20hunter]

Sadly......hear me out here......you had it coming. You had it coming because you trusted folks to behave like YOU or I would.  If I saw your set up I'd look for a cam to give a wave to and be on my way. Many in the woods feel that they own a spot,  a critter, or will simply go to great lengths to push folks out. It's terrible. It's sad and it's pathetic. I don't blame you a bit for saying fine. I'm done for the year. Chalk it up as a loss and get back out next chance and begin anew.

[treeclimber2852]

Im sorry.  I meant to say some people are garbage and I’m well aware that the blame is squarely on my shoulders.  I’ve hunted enough to know that not everyone looks at the opportunity to be in the woods like I and many others, including those on this forum, do.  The reminders of that point just suck.  I have learned a lot.  I’ve seen a lot of animals and I’m not even close to giving it up for good.  It’s just been an exhausting season, and exhausting year and I’m ready for 2021. 

[Sandberm]

I'd hate to see it escalate.

Regroup mentally and hit it hard again next time.

[Alchase]

Sucks you had to go through that.

A few years before they went pay-to-play in Vail, I quit hunting down there because there was so much BS going on, it really was not worth ruining hunting time dealing with the scumbagury that was going on down there.

I guess a % of the jerkwads are now paying to be creeps to other hunters.

[Skyvalhunter]

Well that sucks. There always seems to be an ass in every group that thinks he owns the damn place and wants to screw it up for others. Sorry you had to go thru that. Be nice to know who it was so you could report them to Vail and maybe get their permit revoked from now on.

[treeclimber2852]

I’ve reported it.  The only pics I got are blurry and they were in there at 1 am.   I’m guessing they weren’t permit holders. 

[Sandberm]

4-Runner?

[Bullkllr]

Sucks that happened. From past experience, quite a few keys to some of those gates around(Weyco/DNR timber sales, etc.). That and there's a bunch of ATV trails coming in from the north end.

[greenhead_killer]

Dang that sucks man. It’s amazing how emboldened people feel when no one is watching. Unfortunately that is that persons true character. It’s disgusting. Luckily you didn’t walk up while they were doing it, if it were me and my stuff, i don’t know how I would respond. It’s frustrating but don’t let them win! Get back out and whack one in that area! Throw a cam or two high up on a tree overlooking your stuff. You’ll catch them doing it again as they feel they’ve gotten away with it so far.

[2MANY]

Crappy deal.

[ballpark]

I for one believe in karma - they will get theirs win they least expect it

[Stein]

That sucks, I would say you share 0% of the blame.  No reason anyone other than you or the landowner should touch your stuff.

I agree we should be smart in where we leave stuff, but you share no blame in what they did, zero.

It's not fun to think about, but I agree you should get out and at least walk a new area so you don't end on a sour note.

[jstone]

That sucks. Seems to be getting more and more POS.

[WapitiTalk1]

What a fricking loser.  I hope he’s not breeding and spreading those genes.

[hunter399]

I'd would camp there and wait
I would hunt there every minute till the end of the season .
But the one thing I would not do is give up
Screw them hunt it anyway.
Maybe it's just me ,I don't know.
There's probably more stuff I would do but
Not hunting is not one of them.
Basicly by not hunting you are letting them win.
It's just the way I am or the northeast Washington in me.
To tell ya guys the truth I'm probably one of those pos people,but I don't steal,and I don't $!#@ on people stuff.But when it comes to public land I don't care where you park,where you walk,where you sit,if my plan was to hunt there for the day and I'm there at day break then I guess we are hunting together weather you like it or not.

[kisfish]

That sucks. I second the karma thing. It will serve up a big one for them...

[Magnum_Willys]

No excuse for that behavior, none.   

I don’t leave any trace because here is what I assume:
Some cricker and his family have been hunting an area since their grandad shot one eons ago.   They hunted it last year and will next year.  They show up and some newbie has erected a damn blind right in the middle of their legacy prime hallowed hunting area.  And abandoned it !   Well damng!  They don’t want to see it next year.  So they send a message by trashing it. 

You got the message. 

Again no excuse for that behavior just sharing what I always assume will happen with any stand/blind/camera.  Someones been hunting any area for decades.

Of course usually the perpetrators are just dirtbags out stealing, drugging or dumping trash.

[Gentrys]

Sorry to hear it.  Some people suck.   If they've been in there twice to destroy your setup, they'll be back again.  Put up a few more cameras.  Once you have some pics of them, then post the pics at the gates.

[ThurstonCokid]

I think someone posted a very similar story recently  with cams down in the vail area.. human crap and everything. Wonder if it’s related..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[huntnfmly]

Sorry to hear you had to go through that some people really suck and don’t deserve oxygen
As said earlier 1 of the best Type of revenge would be to continue to hunt there you put all that time into it and stick one of those elk
The other revenge which is more fitting for people like that consists of a deep hole and bags of lime

[Bareback]

Sorry to hear it.  Some people suck.   If they've been in there twice to destroy your setup, they'll be back again.  Put up a few more cameras.  Once you have some pics of them, then post the pics at the gates.

This stuff sucks! I second the return with more cams. Find out who it is. Your pic in the A.M. is a good start. The really sad part of this, I find myself putting up cams to get pics of people more then animals and that just shouldn’t be.

Imho, hunt more!

[elksnout]

This is on my refrigerator door....

I didn't create this.
I can't control this.
I cannot fix this. 

And this I will take to my grave. I'll never understand why some people can be so cruel. Sorry for your situation.

Elksnout

[Damnimissed]

I think someone posted a very similar story recently  with cams down in the vail area.. human crap and everything. Wonder if it’s related..

Sounds like we’ve got a serial sh**ter on our hands.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MAVsled]

A learning experience for you.

I worry just about leaving locked Reconyx game cams.

Hancock-North Bend had a drive access pass 10 years ago, for a few years.
I put together a natural blind on trail intersection, leading into a clear cut. One day, walked in for afternoon>dusk archery sit and the entire natural blind was destroyed, ripped apart. Boot tracks, toilet paper, excrement within my sit area. Was disappointed as it was a good blind for 2 years. But not out any $$$, just time. Oh well, the trails were getting over grown anyways.

Went back couple years ago, just to scout the old stand area. Private property-no trespass signs had been put into place. So Hancock must have sold some that land.

would never leave a pop-up blind or treestand that I packed in. For the reasons you experienced.

[NOCK NOCK]

Sorry to hear it.  Some people suck.   If they've been in there twice to destroy your setup, they'll be back again.  Put up a few more cameras.  Once you have some pics of them, then post the pics at the gates.

       D Bags suck!

[RadioSquatch713]

I know this post is going to come off as a rant, but only because I’ve worked my a$$ off this year, getting in pretty great shape, put in over 200 miles on my boots between scouting, Oregon archery, west side muzzy, and modern deer for me and my boy.  I’ve lived in OnX and have eaten more dehydrated meals than in any year past by far.  It’s been a blast, but I hated what I ran into yesterday so much that I’m calling it good for the year.  I’ve got the walk in pass for the Vail and have been hitting a few spots pretty heavily a mile or two behind a closed gate.  I set up a blind early season to watch a nice trail and missed a bull back in October.  Cows and spikes had been in there last week pretty regularly so was excited to hunt the blind this week.  Sunday my blind looked to be blown over and one of my fiberglass poles was shattered.  Figured it was the wind.  Fixed it and secured everything really well.  Well yesterday I go walking in and find my blind standing, but now both poles are shattered, my cheap shooting sticks and Walmart camp chair are gone and I’ve got gashes all over my blind.  It’s trashed.  Fresh tire tracks leaving the scene (in a non-motorized area).  People are garbage.  To cap it all off, they took a dump inside my ruined blind.  Not the way I wanted to end, but I packed up the remnants and I think I’m calling it.  Tag soup but I learned a lot- good and bad.

Mind if I ask where on vail? You can DM me if you want to keep the info private my house backs a walk in only area on vail and I had someone screw with my game camera on my property.

[pianoman9701]

That does suck. Sorry for your misfortune.

[Lumpy Taters]

This is one of my biggest fears with leaving my stuff and or vehicle sitting somewhere.  Some people were not raised right!!  One of the big problems with the timber company permits is there is little or no enforcement of the rules.  Too many people have other keys and are not shy about using them or letting copies get made.  Too many trails that aren't blocked off.  The real losers in all of this are those of us that follow the rules.    Hopefully by the time next season rolls around you will be refreshed and ready to go back after the big one again. 

[highside74]

Dang it. Not good at all.