Hunter's Code of Ethics

[Doc]

 

I've had other hunters post up during gun season in a rifle zone within 60 yards of me in the woods and hunt all morning.  I flashed my light at them too.  I went over late morning when we were heading out and just talked with the guy.  asked him if he saw what I saw, was nice, told him where my stand was that I often hunted that time of the season, and we went our separate ways.  can't imagine how (as some say on here) how butt hurt you'd be if that happened.

 

No, this is one situation where I would be the one getting upset. There is no reason for anyone to come in late to the party and plunk themselves right next to someone else. I consider that an unsafe situation, and I have no idea how this guy might react if a deer were to run between us. Frankly if the guy didn't respond to my flashlight and decided to hunker in for the morning in spite of being located right off my elbow, I would feel obliged to move on. Unless the woods is so tiny that he can't at least get out of sight, my impression is the guy is in love with the spot and is intent on driving me out. Not a very courteous way of hunting, but with me that tactic always works. I'm far more interested in safety than in making some point about staying at a particular part of the woods. But yes, I would probably be opening up a reply in the "Whine" thread .... lol.

 

[growalot]

Some have ? The 1 1/2 hr. arrival....let's think back to the # of post that showed 20 -45 min before Sun rise shots that take place....I hunt private  and being safely settled in my stand way before any possible shooting is important...besides the fact that a disturbed deer often circles back to the area it ran from in the dark...especially if unsure what bumped it...

[Suilleabhain]

They shoulda called for an amberlance for the deer

[nyantler]

maybe 3, 4, 5 hours before? Maybe camp out over night to take advantage of the midnight poachers moving deer? It all sounds ridiculous to me. Enter the woods a little before light with the wind in your favor works just as well and you get an hour more sleep... and it doesn't matter how early you get in if you don't use the wind the deer will know you're there anyway... I never understood the whole get in way before light... unless maybe you have a 1-1/2 hour walk to your stand. Getting in a little early to get settled in so you're ready for first light is more than enough.

[Nomad]

I like to go on just as I can start to see. I hunt edges,woods/ fields , woods/crops, woods/mowed paths . I glass the fields as I go, this way I can stop and wait if they are in fields , move to a differant stand, let them pass whatever. Most stands are on an edge or at most 20 or so yards "in" .

This gun season I don't recall spooking 1 deer,well today at 7 45 I spooked one when a 150 gr. 270 went through it at 30 yards.....

[thphm]

Congrats, Larry 302.

Years ago we went into the woods in the dark ( now I wonder why) Light shining to see where you are going,One time I will never forget. We went in 5:30 AM it was dark ,posted at the edge of a field.At 10:30 right behind me a spike buck gets up  from behind a downed tree 10 feet behind me.He just lied down there, For who kows how long. Quiet as a mouse.

[bubba]

maybe 3, 4, 5 hours before? Maybe camp out over night to take advantage of the midnight poachers moving deer? It all sounds ridiculous to me. Enter the woods a little before light with the wind in your favor works just as well and you get an hour more sleep... and it doesn't matter how early you get in if you don't use the wind the deer will know you're there anyway... I never understood the whole get in way before light... unless maybe you have a 1-1/2 hour walk to your stand. Getting in a little early to get settled in so you're ready for first light is more than enough.

if you do not get in an hour or.more before light you are not settled in for shooting a deer 45 minutes before legal light as some here say they do

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[New York Hillbilly]

About twenty years ago, before I owned my own land to hunt, I was one of those hour before light, get settled in, hunters. In my case it had nothing to do with the deer and everything to do with deer hunters. As much as I loved hunting I can honesty say. I feared getting shot. No joking!! The build up leading to opening day was intense with all the stories, scouting, blind building, etc., but it was also intensified at least in my case by the fear that some idiot might send a shot my way. The old days for me meant there would be tons of  guys stumbling around the area I hunted,  mostly under prepared, potentially still as loaded themselves from the night before partying as the guns they were carrying. All (in my mind) of them gung ho to kill a deer before nightfall so they could all meet at the local hotel/gin mill, park their vehicle and show off their success. This actually was a nightly occurrence throughout deer season in our town.

 

Many a morning I would see the woods come to light and there before my eyes would be red/black checked jackets, green wool pants, or varying displays of blaze orange, and the knowledge that there were also camo folks I was not able to pick out.  My uncles always took me in under the cover of darkness an hour before, parked be in a spot with my back towards the widest tree, and with a good vantage spot for viewing others walking in, and wish me "good luck" and "be safe". When the shooting started I would sometimes actually lay down and snug up to the tree to try and stay safe. Like many of you who have been doing this a long time, I can tell lots of horror stories, but I won't here. I just wanted to give the reason why I was one of the early birds, and it had nothing to do with the deer.  

[DCHunts]

2nd to last day of rifle season and between the two quads and a family illegally taking an Xmas tree my day was shot... What do I do... I keep calm and chive on... And now start drinking!!!!

[DCHunts]

And to be honest the day wasn't a complete wash I saw 15 deer of which 13 were definitely does... As for the other two they were hauling ass running from the tree thieves lol... Life's sucks get a helmet!

[Suilleabhain]

I work with a guy who gets to his stand at 4:30 in the morning. That's way over-kill

[BUCKANDAQUARTER]

I have shot all but two of my deer in the afternoon. The other 2 were at 10 AM. The small bucks I have passed up have all been around 8AM. I am always in the woods a half hour or so before legal sunrise, just to get comfy. I used to settle in even earlier, but seeing as how that never paid off the half hour seems fine.

        Now in regards to the original post: My opening morning this year: Passed up a 4pt only to be shot moments later by a 70 yr old. I got out of my stand to give the man a hand gutting it and dragging it.... and guess what? That has been one of the greatest opening mornings I have ever had.

[Doc]

I think a lot of the "early birds" simply aren't aware of the actual legal shooting time, and haven't been paying much attention  to when the sun actually rises.

 

For me there is a whole lot of thought involved in picking my departure time. I do want to get in early enough so that I can watch the flashlights coming in. That way I do not find sunrise bringing me any surprises about someone hunkered down beside me. On state land, that can be important. But on the other hand, I really begrudge all that extra time cooling down on some of those frosty mornings. Time spent sitting in the dark is simply less time before freezing up and being forced to start moving. Generally the warmer the temperatures, the earlier I go in.

[nyantler]

About twenty years ago, before I owned my own land to hunt, I was one of those hour before light, get settled in, hunters. In my case it had nothing to do with the deer and everything to do with deer hunters. As much as I loved hunting I can honesty say. I feared getting shot. No joking!! The build up leading to opening day was intense with all the stories, scouting, blind building, etc., but it was also intensified at least in my case by the fear that some idiot might send a shot my way. The old days for me meant there would be tons of  guys stumbling around the area I hunted,  mostly under prepared, potentially still as loaded themselves from the night before partying as the guns they were carrying. All (in my mind) of them gung ho to kill a deer before nightfall so they could all meet at the local hotel/gin mill, park their vehicle and show off their success. This actually was a nightly occurrence throughout deer season in our town.

 

Many a morning I would see the woods come to light and there before my eyes would be red/black checked jackets, green wool pants, or varying displays of blaze orange, and the knowledge that there were also camo folks I was not able to pick out.  My uncles always took me in under the cover of darkness an hour before, parked be in a spot with my back towards the widest tree, and with a good vantage spot for viewing others walking in, and wish me "good luck" and "be safe". When the shooting started I would sometimes actually lay down and snug up to the tree to try and stay safe. Like many of you who have been doing this a long time, I can tell lots of horror stories, but I won't here. I just wanted to give the reason why I was one of the early birds, and it had nothing to do with the deer.  

 

LOL.. and why would you hunt there?

 

[bubba]

Serious question where does this large fear of being shot start? I mean you did not get up one day and just say i am terrified i will be shot. I can not believe it is primak instinct. Does someone instill this fear un you? Do you sit un the woods terrified? Do you feel the same when you get in the car to drive? Seems almost irrational to even go if you are that scared. I was taught to be safe and to know what i was shooting at

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[growalot]

Bubba as you've said...things in the North seem to be different.....all one here in the southern zone needs is to hear the sound of slugs whistling past them or the thud of trees next to them getting hit...to have a healthy fear of being shot ....as crazy as some may think that is....it happens in the southern tier a lot.....high deer density and high hunter density....

[bubba]

Again if i felt my life was in that much danger. I would stay out of the woods. To me it would be like running into a fully engolfed structure fire knowing i could easily die. In reality if it were that bad people woyld not go. And if the inate danger were how is it more people do not get shot?

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Edited December 8, 2013 by bubba

[growalot]

I'll I can say is if you did a survey on how many hunters have heard those sounds during their hunting careers ...you may be surprised...

[thphm]

I'll I can say is if you did a survey on how many hunters have heard those sounds during their hunting careers ...you may be surprised...

 

Yep, I am one of them.

[Five Seasons]

I have shot all but two of my deer in the afternoon. The other 2 were at 10 AM. The small bucks I have passed up have all been around 8AM. I am always in the woods a half hour or so before legal sunrise, just to get comfy. I used to settle in even earlier, but seeing as how that never paid off the half hour seems fine.

Now in regards to the original post: My opening morning this year: Passed up a 4pt only to be shot moments later by a 70 yr old. I got out of my stand to give the man a hand gutting it and dragging it.... and guess what? That has been one of the greatest opening mornings I have ever had.

And I'm the exact opposite. Kill all mine in the morning. I also get in a half hour before. Time to get settled before the world wakes up.

[Five Seasons]

Bubba as you've said...things in the North seem to be different.....all one here in the southern zone needs is to hear the sound of slugs whistling past them or the thud of trees next to them getting hit...to have a healthy fear of being shot ....as crazy as some may think that is....it happens in the southern tier a lot.....high deer density and high hunter density....

I don't know anyone who has slugs whistling by them... But it wouldn't surprise me if this is a story you have.

No deer is worth that.

[Bowshotmuzzleloader]

Bubba as you've said...things in the North seem to be different.....all one here in the southern zone needs is to hear the sound of slugs whistling past them or the thud of trees next to them getting hit...to have a healthy fear of being shot ....as crazy as some may think that is....it happens in the southern tier a lot.....high deer density and high hunter density....

 

Been there!!!!  Will not drive deer anymore or hunt anything but  private property,, Still wearing blaze orange ...

To many drunken in the AM, no experience, brown its down, no regard for anything, I got a deer people still out there.. Sad to say

[bluecoupe]

Yep, I am one of them.

 

Yep, the nuts are why I didn't even set foot into the woods this year. No place to safely hunt.  Most of the idiots down this way don't put safety #1 and forget about being concerned about encroaching on others - that doesn't even come into play. The standard thought process now adays seems to be "I'm staying here, you don't like it? GTFO"  Kind of goes with todays "me" philosophy.

[bubba]

Then most people in the sz must be horrible shots or most of you woyld be dead or staying out of the woods. Two fatilities a year would be nothing . It just does not add up

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[Bowshotmuzzleloader]

Maybe the best way to describe it would be, when you are young you feel invincible, as you grow older , you learn your not !!! You learn choose and make smarter decisions for yourself, ... Your right ,the odds are slim if at all, of getting shot but when you have slugs come through the woods in your direction you mindset may also be changed... Personally not  taking the chance...