Blown spot

[JProper]

This is generally more of a rant, but I’m curious to see the general opinion on this.

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.

[b0bbyg]

Is it possible someone was marking blood trail from a later season?

Possibly not hunting same weapon but same area

[2MANY]

What kind of public?

[JProper]

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

[JProper]

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.

[The Gobble-stopper]

Do to the time of year, and the general location. The link flags could be marking a trail to a turkey location. Maybe a roost tree? Since turkey season opens in a few weeks. It probably has nothing to do with a cervid location. And you should have no worries come big game season.

[Ridgeratt]

The conspiracies theorist in me asked if this could just be a timber company marking the boundaries of a timber sale.

[BigCutty3]

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. 

[b0bbyg]

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

[bobcat]

Probably DNR marking something. Could be future road, timber sale, boundary, or anything.

[hunter399]

I'd hunt it.
Sometimes it takes awhile before the work starts.
Might happen tomorrow,two years from now...never know.
Hang your cam high and hunt.

[GASoline71]

No reason not to hunt it. Public land is public land. 

Gary

[Wanttohuntmore]

Hunt it and have backup plans.

[CP]

Hunt it and have backup plans.

   You should have backup plans anyway.  A few marking strips on very public land doesn't make for a blown spot.

[JProper]

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