Feeders and Tree Stands

[Palmer]

Near Bead Lake North of Newport, my Dad walked into an area that had always been posted "Walk in Only" in past years.  This year there was no posting at all.  When he got to the end of the road he was surprised to see a couple of huge feeders with timers.  He thought they were maybe 100 gallon containers.  A man yelled to him from a fortress propped up in the air several feet.  The man came over and told my Dad that it was private property. 

My Dad said no problem We won't hunt here anymore.  I didn't even know it was legal but after talking with some locals I here it is common practice to unload a truck full of alfalfa just before archery season.

We hunted about a half mile away from the folks with the feeders and over a 4 day period heard a lot of shootin' in that area near the feeders.  They had a lot better success then we did.  We only saw a few does and decided to hunt elsewhere.

It seems like feeders would be a huge expense to me.

[jackelope]

if one wants to hunt over feeders, one should move to texas.

[jae]

if one wants to hunt over feeders, one should move to texas.

I AGREE!

[Houndhunter]

ya i think its a good thing that we cant use feeders in washington, never ran into one while hunting but have seen a few salt licks

[Palmer]

No it's illegal in Idaho, legal in Washington.
 
I hunt a location every year for the last 7 years.  Now I have a hunter setting up 5 tree stands all around this same area for the last couple years except this year he was only 300 yards away.  When I talked to him this year, he says he's got his partner 500 yards away in a stand over a feeder.  He's also got a camera taking pictures of the same buck I harvested.  He said my buck was at his feeder on most days at 8 am and he was hoping his partner was going to take this buck.  I however rattled him in.  I reminded him that last year when he saw me come down out of the tree, I had told him I hunted this corner of the small clearing every year.  He replied that he'd been hunting the area for 20 years and had hunted the corner also.  I know it's public land so first come first dibs.  He was a good enough guy.  I figure the forest is big enough for all of us.  I'm just a little bothered that he keeps getting closer every year, has 5 tree stands for two hunters on public land, and now he is using a feeder, not to mention the fortress guys hunting feeders a half mile away.

I also noticed that I didn't even see a deer for 3 days, less than past years.  So I left the area for 3 days and came back.  That morning I saw my buck.  The other hunter heard the shot and helped me drag out the buck.  That's when he filled me in on his stands and feeder.

I do have a question or two.  How many feeders and tree stands can one person leave on public land?  For example, what if you walked into a clearing or forest to hunt and their were no hunters but you saw four tree stands and 5 feeders around the the area?  Does that mean you hunt it until the owners of the feeders show up?  What if your the first at your favorite tree with your tree climber but a vacant tree stand is already there?  I can see alot of conflicts arising out of these situations.

I think if its public land and your the first in by morning then regardless of tree stand or feeder, its your spot until you leave.

[high country]

I don't think it is legal to leave any feeders or tree stands on public land unattended. there are some obscure ruls on feeders in some areas as non native plants can wreak hell in some areas....don't quote me, but I remember this from a while back.

I have a group of friends that spends litteraly thousands on feed every year. they shoot dinks and I laugh about it....I will never understand it. they feed local elk and feel like they have special right to them and get pissy when I shoot em' on public land a couple miles away, I am supposed to thank them for feeding the elk that I shot.....again, I will never understand it.

[bearhunter59]

I just read it somewhere, so I'll have to try and remember where and go back and see what it says exactly, but if I recall correctly, the reg/rules on blinds/treestands, are that you can put them on public land, but it is with the understanding that they are first come, first serve.  Meaning, just because you paid for it and put it out there, doesn't mean that when you show up on opening day, and someone has already beat you to your own treestand, that you can chase them out of there.  If it's on public land, then anyone can use it, regardless of who owns it.  Might want to consider that...

[Palmer]

I just read it somewhere, so I'll have to try and remember where and go back and see what it says exactly, but if I recall correctly, the reg/rules on blinds/treestands, are that you can put them on public land, but it is with the understanding that they are first come, first serve.  Meaning, just because you paid for it and put it out there, doesn't mean that when you show up on opening day, and someone has already beat you to your own treestand, that you can chase them out of there.  If it's on public land, then anyone can use it, regardless of who owns it.  Might want to consider that...

I wouldn't climb up into someone's tree stand.  A hunter who was from Asia climbed into someone's stand because he was the first into the area.  When the five white hunters came to their stand there was a shoot out.  I heard only two hunters survived.  The Asian claimed he felt threatened due to racial slurs.  I heard this on the Savage commentator show 770 am.
 
I'd say the Asian had a right to hunt the area and the other hunters should have left him be since he was first into the area if it was public.  However, without knowing the full story, he shouldn't have pulled the trigger unless they threatened his life. 

To stay out of trouble I wouldn't go into someone's stand but I would be hacked off if the owners tried to chase me out of the area after I was first in.

[ICEMAN]

The hunter had trespassed onto lease land. He also dumped his orange, used an assault rifle and layed and waited to kill the other hunters.

[billythekidrock]

I'd say the Asian had a right to hunt the area and the other hunters should have left him be since he was first into the area if it was public.

Leave him be? If you scouted and placed a stand and found someone in it you would let them be?
I don't care if it is public land, it is my tree stand, he can get the heck out of it.

[jackelope]

The hunter had trespassed onto lease land. He also dumped his orange, used an assault rifle and layed and waited to kill the other hunters.

NUFF SAID.

[Buckshot Bill]

Does anyone have a link to the news article on this story?

[jackelope]

happened in 2004
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/11/22/hunters.killed/

best i could find right quick.

[Buckshot Bill]

Becoming much clearer now.  See, you're dealing with Minnisotans and Wisconsins which are huge football rivals!  GB vs. Vikes.  The packer fans probably wanted to take out the vikings fan but he got to them first.  Those folks there are way to crazy about their NFL teams

Just kidding!

Very sad incident and that one of them was a woman.

[Palmer]

I googled Chai Vang and here is an article on the trial of Chai Vang:

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/09/10_kelleherb_vang/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chai_Vang#

Conviction
On September 16, 2005 Chai Soua Vang was found guilty of all six charges of first degree murder and two charges of attempted murder by a jury of eight women and four men. On November 8, 2005, he was sentenced to six consecutive life terms plus seventy years (40 for two counts of attempted murder plus five additional years for each count of murder in the first degree). Wisconsin is one of 12 states in the U.S. that does not have the death penalty.

Mr Vang should have let these folks turn him in.  However, I don't care where a person is from or what he looks like, if a man with a gun is trespassing on your property, be carefull and call the authorities if you feel uncomfortable.

This kind of a story reminds me of how fast things can go wrong out hunting.  I've read threads about hunters scoping each other - crazy if you ask me.  I've been in a couple situations where I told the person to call the sheriff and let them settle it.  That usually ends the confrontation or I just back down and move on.  Its not worth it.