Someone is hunting "your" spot on public land...

[Lowski]

I am new to deer hunting so I am looking for folks opinion on how to handle multiple people trying to hunt the same spot on public land. The most likely scenario I am envisioning is showing up to the spot you have been scouting and finding someone else already hunting the same clear cut, game trail, field, etc. On public land I am assuming first come first served is the rule, but I am sure some with entitlement issues might disagree. I remember something in the hunting regs about an unused blind is fair game on public land, but I haven't gone back to revisit it.

Please share your stories of similar situations or just your thoughts if you have no first hand experience. Please no comments like "just hunt on private land", I would like to, but it's not in the cards right now.

[mossback91]

Not much you can do imo. Just change your plans and try to use them to your advantage. Or go to a new spot. I like to try and go places others wont. Id rather see less deer with no other hunters around rather than alot of deer with other hunters scattered all over the place.

[vandeman17]

Like you said, first come first serve. As frustrating as it would be, I would just move on and find a new spot to hunt if I came upon somebody already there. It doesn't happen to me too often when big game hunting because I usually hike way deep into the woods but waterfowl hunting it happens more and people can be even more rude and/or crazy but that is a whole other can of worms. 

[grundy53]

I always have a few back up spots just in case.

[sirfunkeybut]

my buddy has a spot he's hunted for years and last year when he got in his stand before dark and come sun up there was a salt lick below his stand with a blood trail right next to it. and the other half of the hunting party was sitting in his stand and had some a$$hole start whistling really loud about 60 yards above him.

[chrisb]

I always have a few back up spots just in case.

Should always have a couple of places in mind for each and every trip you make to the field, especially when hunting public land.

[Pathfinder101]

Try to "war game" it out.  Imagine that you are a deer living in your public land "spot", and the shootin' starts at first light on opening day.  You panic and make for your "escape route".  That escape route would be between where you are walking at that time on a "normal" morning, and the best cover you can find (i.e. your favorite "hiding spot").  

Those are the routes that you want to be sitting on come opening morning.  A smart buck will change his patterns(meaning that he will probably go mostly nocturnal unless someone bumps him) when the shooting starts, but he won't change his hiding places.  That's the best place to ambush him.  Next time you are scouting your area, try playing a little "chess".  Try to think 2 moves ahead...

[saylean]

First come first serve...so be the first.

I had a guy walk the trail ahead of me by just a few minutes last deer season...I debated about going down the same trail but sermised that there was lots of land on the way,...so I might as well. Besides, he might not hunt the same hill I wanted.

I waited a bit for him to get ahead of me further and started in. When I got to my hill I wanted to hunt...he was no where to be found. I shot a deer about 15 minutes after that.

Good luck, you never know.

[rasbo]

first there is theirs..If I run into someone walking into an area I'm gonna hunt,I stop them and beat the shat outta them ..I will talk with them and see what or where they might be going and tell them what I'm up to.Many times worked out well...sometimes I watch them then move in an opposite direction

[steen]

On the Westside it is a huge disadvantage cause you are usually hunting a small area but when we hunt Eastern Wa it can be an advantage.  I shot my biggest buck after getting up the hill an hour later than I wanted to because I waited for the kids.  I heard a shot just before we got up there and thought I should have already been up there.  Less than 3 hours later  a 24 inch 4 point walks below me and stops because of the hunters that shot 2 hours earlier or so were draggin their deer up from below.  It gave me just enough time to take the shot.  
  Now I'd prefer to have the mountain all to myself but I've also had fellow hunters spook bucks to me also.  My daughter shot a young 4 point that was trotting by us spooked by my sisters.
  We used to have a huge camp that drove the deer right to us every year but they got kick out of that spot because of rowdy behavoir (bummer) and now are competing on the other side with the rest of our camp.
  Still love hunting that area and enjoy the hike, seeing deer, being with my kids hunting and our whole hunting camp experience.
Just my  

[high country]

I have not seen a soud in the last 3years on the public land hunt. I moved to this piece because of the BS non sign reading SOB's on leona/copper butte.

[calib]

i have always wondered what would happen if someone was in my stand.   i would be pissed off for sure

[Ray]

First come first serve. Move on politely and have more than a few spots to hunt.

[carpsniperg2]

yeah first come first serve but there is some people that do not follow that rule, even if you were there first they will still hunt that area as well. all you can do is be safe and try not to let it eat on you. we had 2 kids run into our turkey setup we were working a bird and they heard it from the road and came running down into our setup and one had a rifle and one had a rifle. and it was youth season no adult

[Ray]

It's part of life dealing with those who are oblivious to their behaviors or otherwise rude and inconsiderate.