Deer camp ethical question

[Buckmark]

Yeah 16th till 19th for does in that unit. Does it really clear out that much after the opening weekend? Don't really have any dates picked out. Still hoping he doesn't have a hockey game that weekend also;)

In the area i am at i would say 1/3 or more of the people in the general area are gone it seems like by tuesday, either they have tagged out, only had the weekend off or are complaining that there are no deer around... , sittin around the campfire by 10 oclock on opening day...
remember success rates are only around 20-25% so 75 out of 100 hunters go home with an unfilled tag

[1bugman]

First come first served........

 Unless it my spot......


Just Kidding. Good Luck.

[tonymiller7]

  

[Hockeyhunter]

Haha!!! 

People done by 10 and at the campfire!?!? I may come back eat then it's back out!!!;)

[Jingles]

If you go over 2 weeks ahead of time and set up one of those ghost camps, where all you do is put up a tent and leave it empty, to save your spot expect it to be trashed.  But if you have the time and go over 1 week ahead and set up camp with your stuff in in it and stay in camp scouting and someone comes along and says it is their sight tell them to go pack sand.
I have moved tents and will continue to do so if all they leave is an empty tent and I am bringing in my entire camp, tent kitchen boxes, food boxes, cots sleeping bags, and the whole nine yards 4 to 5 days ahead of season and all you set up was a cheapo REI pack packer tent expect it to be moved.  Oh I'll roll it up nicely and place it out of the way so as it won't get damaged and if you decide to get froggy about it better be ready for an all out war if you don't accept that fact that there is NO reserving sites

[Alchase]

As Buckmark said, most years a large majority are ether tagged out or just gone home by Monday or Tuesday.
Last year was an anomaly, all the Bucks hanging in our campground area were killed after Tuesday.
Only four of the 12 camp spots were still occupied by Tuesday. A new crowd of hunters usually shows up again Thursday or Friday for the last weekend.

[ghosthunter]

If you go over 2 weeks ahead of time and set up one of those ghost camps, where all you do is put up a tent and leave it empty, to save your spot expect it to be trashed.  But if you have the time and go over 1 week ahead and set up camp with your stuff in in it and stay in camp scouting and someone comes along and says it is their sight tell them to go pack sand.
I have moved tents and will continue to do so if all they leave is an empty tent and I am bringing in my entire camp, tent kitchen boxes, food boxes, cots sleeping bags, and the whole nine yards 4 to 5 days ahead of season and all you set up was a cheapo REI pack packer tent expect it to be moved.  Oh I'll roll it up nicely and place it out of the way so as it won't get damaged and if you decide to get froggy about it better be ready for an all out war if you don't accept that fact that there is NO reserving sites

hey you picking on me?

[highmuley]

I've camped/hunted the same spot since I was a child. My family has rested their heads in the same spot for generations. It is public land. When someone "new" camps where we do.....excellent. No worries, no issues. Do what you do, take the child hunting and don't let someone else decide what your experience should be. I loathe the "MY spot" mentality.....ridiculous.

[subagang707]

Being considerate is what matters.  There is an older gentlemen (60ish) who camps in the same spot for the high hunt every year.  We arrived before him this year and could've taken his spot but chose not too because I felt it would be a d*ck move.  Four days later when we came out empty handed again he gave us some great advice about the high hunt.  I imagine he would not have been so helpful had we been chuckleheads and camped in his spot.  Treat others as you would like to be treated, that's what my Momma taught me!

[br8kitoff]

Depending on how far you want to drive... The youth white tail season is 16-19 and you are more than welcome to join our camp.  My boys, my buddies boys, and another buddies son and daughter will be there.  Plenty of WT to shoot for them!! PM and I can give details.

[jeepasaurusrex]

One reason why we head out Thursday morning...
I always have 3 potential camp sites picked out. That way if one is occupied, I move on to the next.

[lokidog]

Depending on how far you want to drive... The youth white tail season is 16-19 and you are more than welcome to join our camp.  My boys, my buddies boys, and another buddies son and daughter will be there.  Plenty of WT to shoot for them!! PM and I can give details.

Nice offer.   

[Chukarhead]

In Washington there are a lot of hunters that have hunted the same spot for years. So they feel entitled to there camping spot. Some have put hours of work into leveling, clearing trees, making fire pits and so on.
I have camped in the same spot during archery season for 8 years with no issue. Last year I set up my camp in archery and left it up because I had a muzzy deer tag. Then when I was done hunting with a muzzle loader  I left camp up to rifle deer hunt with my dad. Then elk season is the next weekend so I left it up again. I got my bull opening morning when some guys who put a trailer 5 feet from my wall tent got back to camp. I said hi and offered them about half a cord of wood I had cut and spilt. From here the conversation went south. 
So I feel it's first come first serve. But  In my case I had a tent up for along time and no one else had a real chance at that spot. So I was probable in the wrong.

Just keep in mind that a 14-day camping limit is generally in place on National Forest lands (not just campgrounds), and other agency lands typically have limits, too.  If you were on Forest Service land, you were probably committing a misdemeanor per 36 CFR 261.10--it's not really a matter of ethics at that point. 

That doesn't excuse some pretty poor behavior by the guys who set up 5 feet away from your tent...

So called "ghost camps" (not Ghost Camps  ) are also arguably illegal...

[go4steelhd]

Correct... But you can get an extended use permit from most rangers stations if you plan on going beyond 14 days.

But after reading all the posts this year about camp raiders I don't think I will ever be leaving a camp again.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I would find a place I wanted To hunt,  find a spot and not worry about it.
If someone shows up, invite them to the campfire, tell them there is lots of room, have a great time.
Biggest issue I have ever seen was the lack of consideration for fellow hunters.
If we all did it to make friends and enjoy each others company, this issue would not exist.
Unfortunately the competitive nature has trended towards exclusion rather than invitation.
I welcome anybody to come camp with me, you just have to show up at my campfire.
Pick a spot, and be respectful.
There is nothing I can imagine that would be more embarrassing to me than being asked not to return to camp next season.
New friends, exploration, hunting..
Find a spot and don't sweat it.