Hunting Etiquette...

[22Plinker]

It's been just a tad over 20 years since I have gone out deer hunting, since my grandfather got too sick to venture out.  Back then we always went out in his back fields and hunted his own private land.  We never had to worry about other hunters, just the occasional person that would be out there looking for a wounded deer that stumbled onto his property.  This year my son and I are going to try to fill the freezer.  While talking to him about some methods and tactics it dawned on me that I am lacking in a fairly vital area of knowledge.  Etiquette.

I know if you see another hunter you should keep your distance and avoid making a scene, but what if you don't see the hunter?  If you pull up to your favorite spot and see one, two or more vehicles... do you park and risk crowding an area or go to another spot?  The area we are planning on going to opening day is just over 700 acres divided up the middle by a seasonal dirt road.  There are many small rolling hills and creek beds so my plan was to go up until we find an area with no other vehicle in eyesight.

Do you leave a note in your vehicle?  One of my former bushcraft mentors always suggested leaving a note on your dashboard when going into the woods.  This way if something were to happen people have a starting point to go looking for you.  Similar to hunting, do you leave a note for other hunters to know what direction you are going... hoping they do not walk in along your path?

I'll probably have other questions to ask in the near future.

[Steve D]

If hunting "public" land I personally try to stay away from the crowds and if I go to an area and others are there I go look for a new spot. That being said I have been in an area by myself and had other hunter(s) come into me and set up less than 50-60 yards away. When that happens I just get up and move or leave completely. I don't mind hunting with people I know but not to keen on someone I do not know. Why some would set up that close is beyond me but it could have been they did not know or see that I was there.

 If they can't see me at that distance(during gun)  I don't want to be near them anyway. I don't leave notes..serves no purpose in my opinion.  The thing I would make sure of is you make sure all involved have a compass and or a gps and know how to use them. If I hunt with more than myself we use radios to stay in contact. Sometimes the cell phone service is not to good or unavailable and you need to know where each other are at ALL times.

Hope you have a safe & enjoyable season with your son

[stoneam2006]

I hunt alot of stateland and have never gone near the vehicle next to me to see if they left a note. Nor will I ever. It depends on situation and parcel sometimes I'll park where another car is knowing that they didn't go where I want to. I'm also the guy who come 9 am I'm walking around trying to get the deer up and moving and do tend to see guys sometime. I always swing wide when I run into people to try and jump deer to others. I kill a few a year on stateland and enjoy hunting it and meeting some of the guys. Even the ones who think it's a good idea to chat at 7am on the way in. Don't worry so much 99.9 percent of the people I have met are nice guys hoping to kill a deer. If you see them head away and out. If it's impossible and you have to walk by them (bc of cliff or something) just do it as quiet as possible. Another thing I do is if I see guy first and I'll give a little whistle (nothing crazy) and a slow hand wave to make sure we both see each other. Good luck out there

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[Core]

I rarely see people on state land. If I ever do find myself wanting to hunt where some guy is I would just move onto a new section so that we aren't on each other's toes and would hope they would do the same.


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[NFA-ADK]

If you see a spot is taken I would go some place else.   If you can talk to them and find where they hunt you can then park in the same spot and hunt another area.  

[LJC]

Hunting on public land if your not use to it can be freeky at first I have hunted public land that not only do  you see hunters but hikers with there dogs even. 

When I see a hunter I wave and walk away from them if I can  To let him know where I'm at sometimes I tell them if they are really close just depends if I'm on a trail or off the trail  alot of times even if you see there cars in the lot you never see the hunters in the woods . I bring my cell phone it usally works where I go . 

Edited October 20, 2016 by LJC