Public Land and Hunter Etiquitte

[GoatT]

I try to get as far away as other hunters as possible just to better my odds and also don't have to deal with the pressure in the area.  The further I can get away from roads and trails the better.  Most area I hunt in there is alot of traffic going in as far as hunters go, but if I encounter someone in where I want to hunt i will gladly back out as they were there first.  Hopefully most other will do the same.

A few yearsago I headed in early to my spot just above a big bowl where the elk like to hang out in the bottom.  As I started down the ridge a guy and his son came on a very brisk walk behind me while cow calling and talking pretty loudly and stopped to chat.  They were making way more noise than they should have.  As they got to where I was I could tell they were new at elk hunting by their conversation.  I asked them if they had to make so much noise.  The guys response was "well, elk make lots of noise".  I told him that he had just scared off the elk out the bottom and proceeded to point them out to him.  I asked if they were camped up here and he said that they were camped across the ridge where the elk were heading to and they were trying to get to the elk before they bedded.  Before I could tell him where I was headed, he and his son took off down the ridge almost running after the elk that were now about a half mile away while cow calling every two seconds.  Luckily they kept going down to the bottom and I cut off midway on a trail that the elk use when traversing the ridge I was on. 

Long story short, if you see someone else in your area back out. They beat you to it.  Respect those that there earlier than you, just get up earlier the next day and beat them to it.  Or, just hunt further back in since most hunters won't hike that far in.

 

[Trailblazer]

You got to deal with a lot of stuff when public land hunting......I personally cannot stand to be close to others so will either move out of area or put myself far enough away and maybe try to use them to my advantage.

 

[Kglacken]

I usually try to give other hunters their space. If a truck is parked somewhere I wont bump them, but if a truck is at a gate, I will still hike in depending on the area behind the gate

 

[Montana_BackCountry]

I had a group of guys follow my tracks for a mile off the road and walked right up to me when I was set up in a clearing at first light.  It was snowing so I know they knew they were following tracks that I put down that morning.  I couldn't believe guys could have such horrible hunting etiquette, and could leave their camp so late that they are walking through the middle of a prime clearing at prime time.  They walked up and said "where you huntin?"  Where does it look like i'm hunting you jerk offs.

I just thought this was hilarious.  I hearty 2nd to mr. Wapati here.

 

[Montana_BackCountry]

If I notice other hunters on a herd I'm on I will typically give way to whoever's closer.  I have been close before giving way and anticipating the herd when they spook.  We used to do this out in central montana when we would see the morning hunters down low below the herd.  Pick a drainage and wait for em to come running for cover.

 

[nclonghunter]

We hunt public land and share it with several "groups" of hunters. There is a group that we call the "Traditional guys", a group we call the "California guys", "The Denver boys" and "Local guys". WE have met all these and a few others while hunting public land. We have shared camp, make toasts and told stories. We have also camped beside one another and have enjoyed the company. I can honestly tell you if any one of the groups gets an elk I am happy for them and I know it is likewise. We have exchanged phone numbers and now send holiday cards. I am thankful for the friends we have made and look foreward to seing them.
By sharing and talking we have accepted that some like to hunt a particular area and we try to respect that. Like others on here if I want to get where most are not, then I will hike farther back and get outside the normal range of a morning hunt.

 

[Bullhunter]

I have met some rude people and i have met some very nice people.  Either way i treat all of them with respect and go the opposite way they are. 

 

[Alder]

I like finding out where others are going, sometimes you run into great people and hit it off. But most of the time people don't want to say much. If I can figure out what direction they are hunting, then maybe I end up picking a #2 spot where if they do bump elk they come my direction.