Post by: JProper on March 23, 2025, 10:15:30 PM
I have a spot on public land that I hunted last season, and consider it to be one of my better spots. I’ve left it alone since the end of last season, But went out today to throw up a camera to start the prep for early archery. To my surprise, I found bright pink trail marking strips right through my shooting lane that weren’t previously there. I’m a little annoyed, however this is public land, so I can’t control it. I grew up hunting private farm land in the Midwest, so I’ve honestly never run into this issue before. So… Would you guys scratch this spot? Hunt it anyways? Put something up to let the other guy know I’m there too? Tough choice because I really want to hunt it, but don’t want a camera stolen or have someone walking through to their spot in the middle of my hunt.
Post by: b0bbyg on March 23, 2025, 10:32:21 PM
Possibly not hunting same weapon but same area
Post by: 2MANY on March 23, 2025, 10:44:36 PM
Post by: JProper on March 23, 2025, 11:15:56 PM
Is it possible someone was marking blood trail from a later season?
Possibly not hunting same weapon but same area
Doubtful, as I hunted through late archery, and came back a week after season ended to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind, I saw fresh tire tracks where I typically park, so I assume they were put up in the last week or two
Post by: JProper on March 23, 2025, 11:20:46 PM
What kind of public?
Very public unfortunately… capitol forest. I haven’t had the chance to buy a timber company permit since moving to WA, and it’s one of the closer spots to my house.
Post by: The Gobble-stopper on March 24, 2025, 04:40:31 AM
Post by: Ridgeratt on March 24, 2025, 04:50:07 AM
Post by: BigCutty3 on March 24, 2025, 07:19:44 AM
If not either of these, then yes people do still mark trails with flagging but I don’t understand why, as it only advertises your spot to every other person, I’ve found some sweet spots by following flagging. And with 8 million people in Washington, there is no such thing as a secret spot. Overlooked maybe, but not secret. There are other options for marking trails.
Post by: b0bbyg on March 24, 2025, 07:44:08 AM
The conspiracies theorist in me asked if this could just be a timber company marketing the boundaries of a timber sale.That was my 2nd thought and possibly worst case.
My favorite overlooked spot at coast had this happen and was clearcut.
Spot does not hold the bedding areas it used to now
Post by: bobcat on March 24, 2025, 08:09:29 AM
Post by: hunter399 on March 24, 2025, 08:57:34 AM
Sometimes it takes awhile before the work starts.
Might happen tomorrow,two years from now...never know.
Hang your cam high and hunt.
Post by: GASoline71 on March 24, 2025, 10:48:30 AM
Gary
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on March 24, 2025, 11:08:22 AM
Post by: CP on March 24, 2025, 11:43:38 AM
Hunt it and have backup plans.
:yeah: You should have backup plans anyway. A few marking strips on very public land doesn't make for a blown spot.
Post by: JProper on March 24, 2025, 01:02:13 PM
In my area, a straight line of just flagging tape typically signifies a boundary line of an area to be thinned…. Generally this is in 10-14 year old fir stands on the west side. I hate seeing this in my spots because it generally means a crew will come through and drop enough trees the area becomes virtually impossible to access quietly. I would rather somebody find my spot and share it then get thinned. A unit to be logged will generally have small square orange or pink emblem/placard stuck to bigger trees on the boundary line.
If not either of these, then yes people do still mark trails with flagging but I don’t understand why, as it only advertises your spot to every other person, I’ve found some sweet spots by following flagging. And with 8 million people in Washington, there is no such thing as a secret spot. Overlooked maybe, but not secret. There are other options for marking trails.
I thought about this, however the flags follow a prominent deer trail… I have no knowledge of forestry operations, but i wouldn’t think they’d use a deer trail to decide logging sales
Post by: ASHQUACK on March 24, 2025, 02:32:56 PM
Post by: brokentrail on March 24, 2025, 06:28:20 PM
In my area, a straight line of just flagging tape typically signifies a boundary line of an area to be thinned…. Generally this is in 10-14 year old fir stands on the west side. I hate seeing this in my spots because it generally means a crew will come through and drop enough trees the area becomes virtually impossible to access quietly. I would rather somebody find my spot and share it then get thinned. A unit to be logged will generally have small square orange or pink emblem/placard stuck to bigger trees on the boundary line.
If not either of these, then yes people do still mark trails with flagging but I don’t understand why, as it only advertises your spot to every other person, I’ve found some sweet spots by following flagging. And with 8 million people in Washington, there is no such thing as a secret spot. Overlooked maybe, but not secret. There are other options for marking trails.
I thought about this, however the flags follow a prominent deer trail… I have no knowledge of forestry operations, but i wouldn’t think they’d use a deer trail to decide logging sales
Is that deer trail on the edge of a terrain feature or change in landscape? FWIW, if it is marking a planned timber sale boundary, sometimes the sale/bids take quite a long time. Then once the sale is final, the logging company has to fit that block into their crew schedule. It could be years before any harvest is actually done. I learned this in one of the spots I hunt that was flagged and wasn't actually logged until 3 years later.
Post by: lewy on March 24, 2025, 06:31:36 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on March 24, 2025, 08:59:48 PM
Happen in my area.
Post by: yakimanoob on April 11, 2025, 09:54:58 AM
But if it's a new trail going in or a timber sale (probable, as already noted), they should know about it and be able to let you know.
Either way, hunt it. Critters won't be around when the actual work is happening, but no reason to expect any real change in animal patterns until construction starts.
Post by: addicted1 on April 11, 2025, 11:50:45 AM
Post by: kodiak06 on April 11, 2025, 03:03:44 PM
You can always call the relevant agency for the area and ask them about it. Sometimes hunters obviously leave trash like that, but it's illegal and the managing agency may remove it or authorize you to do so.
But if it's a new trail going in or a timber sale (probable, as already noted), they should know about it and be able to let you know.
Either way, hunt it. Critters won't be around when the actual work is happening, but no reason to expect any real change in animal patterns until construction starts.
If it's logging, the "critters" aren't gonna leave. It actually pulls in animals, they just hang nearby and come it when the workers depart.
Post by: Sakko300wsm on April 11, 2025, 03:28:48 PM
Future Mountain bike trail.
Happen in my area.
Ya dumb ass mt bikes really screwed up Galbraith and Alger!
Post by: MADMAX on April 11, 2025, 07:35:56 PM
Elk love fresh loggingYou can always call the relevant agency for the area and ask them about it. Sometimes hunters obviously leave trash like that, but it's illegal and the managing agency may remove it or authorize you to do so.
But if it's a new trail going in or a timber sale (probable, as already noted), they should know about it and be able to let you know.
Either way, hunt it. Critters won't be around when the actual work is happening, but no reason to expect any real change in animal patterns until construction starts.
If it's logging, the "critters" aren't gonna leave. It actually pulls in animals, they just hang nearby and come it when the workers depart.
Something about the black moss
Post by: ghosthunter on April 11, 2025, 10:29:34 PM
Post by: hunter399 on April 12, 2025, 03:59:43 AM
Way more than just a few flags,hunt it up .