What would you do? Hunter Courtesy

[NWBREW]

It is public land and if you told them you were willing to move the in my opinion you should keep your word......but I wouldn't move to far. If you know that buck frequents the area....where is he before he gets there? That's where I would set up. Drop that buck before he gets there. 

[Bean Counter]

Good for you for calling and being courteous and cordial. The guy didn't steal or vandalize your camera. Of course that's illegal and unholy but also very common place  today.  I would hunt it. Try to bring a non hunting friend with you who has no aversion to CCW, just in case.

[ribka]

Good posting and topic as it  conceens a lot of us on here.

Had had this happen to me a few times. Last year walking on  public land near my house to an area 2 miles back in off of the road and guys come up to me and say that I am walking through their hunting area ( These guys live over 100 miles away btw) . Public land means for the public. Really po's me when guys leave their camps up 2 months before season "claiming" their hunting area.  Now, when hunting if I see a guy on a stand I move on to a different spot. I never crowd other hunters

I would hunt the area and let the guy know. Sounds plenty big enough. If the guy starts making threats or damages equipment, have seen this done, document and call law enforcement. Don't let the guy push you  out of the area. Plenty of room in your area for 2 guys. Who knows could be a lot more guys showing up when the season opens and that is a big possibility.

I would start  looking now for escape routes when the buck gets pressured. He is going to change his behavior based on my experience hunting Wt's and might even go noctournal. I would get an idea of his patterns and limit your presence in an area so as not not leave scent. Find a few good areas to hunt based upon wind direction and only go back to hunt IMO. If the wind isn't right don't hunt that stand. The big boys get big by making few mistakes.

Good luck!

[huntinhick]

Well I am from Kansas and we have hunted the same 20,000 acre hunting area for over 30 years I still go back ever once and a while to hunt with dad.  anyway only 1% of kansas is public land so we find ourselves in this type of situation quite often.  the way we play it is if we where there first we will hunt it unless someone puts a stand right by ours or just becomes a *censored*.  on the same note if we even think someone might be hunting an area we are checking out we will not set up there.  We have learned not to get disgruntled even when open morning comes and you are in the stand that has been set up for 2 weeks and you see 2 guys sitting on the ground within 100 yards.  The way we see it is that we hunt for fun  (we could buy meat cheaper) and having to fight with someone or worry some one is going to jack up your ride is not fun so we do our best to avoid that kind of issue.  now saying that we (or at least  someone in camp) allways take deer and always come up with a spot to hunt, we scout and prepare multiple spots until we hang our stands just in case.   just the way we see it and play it. 

carl

[sako223]

I have been told to leave the area by a drinking group from the coast, while hunting Manastash/Bald mountain.
Even more so we were in the vehicle on a numbered forest road and had just stopped to have a snack.
I refused to leave so they tightened their circle and actually posted a guy next to my front fender. Then by radio he would request beer which they would deliver by jeep.
Stupid Morons with to much water on the brain. Lucky for them I had planned to continue to another spot. I told them different though and said I'll be right back. This could have turned ugly and we had three guns ready. Furthermore it is illegal for them to harass a disabled hunter.
Really opens your eyes and takes the fun out of it. These types of hunters should be stripped of their hunting privileges.