I hunt state land in southwest Michigan. I went out today with the intention of scouting an setting up a pop-up blind for an all-day hunt this coming weekend. The field I hunt is about 350 yards by 150 yards. There were already 2 vehicles parked when I got there. I opted to just drive home instead of takin a chance of screwing up someone else's hunt. I am going to try again tomorrow after work. Just wondering how others would handle a situation like this. I just feel like I am screwing myself in an effort not to screw anyone else. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
No. IMO, you did the right thing? Where are you in SW MI? I hunt my land in Hudson, but I know there are a couple of nice pieces of Public land E of Hillsdale if you're not too far. Shoot me a PM if interested, I'll tell you where they're at. Rather than making them busy by posting publicly.
I hunt Barry SGA and Yankee Springs. I live in Wyoming so it's pretty close by. Hillsdale would be quite a hike. Thanks, though. Good luck out there and stay safe! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I think you did the right thing. My dad and I have had countless people walk up on us and it is the most irritating thing ever IMO. One time we had people walk up on us half an hour before dark (prime time). I was steaming! Good on you for taking other hunters into consideration.
Well it's public land. I agree you should consider the other guys using the land. But if that is your only spot, you will probably eventually have to go in with others there. Here in Pa I would never get to hunt or scout if I never went in with other cars parked in the lots. There is almost always at least one other car.
Yeah .. you have Ethics and every sportsman should take notes. If you identify other hunters..set up and working....hopefully from a non disturbing distance ... move out and find another area. I think it is a bummer but you made the right call. The early bird....Gets the worm.
You did the right thing for sure. I actually got walked up on by a father and young son turkey hunting this year, and instead of complaining to them i let them have my spot and i went to another piece of land i had.
I'm with I'm with Coop on this one...here in PA it is very hard to find a spot where no one else is. I am learning to be flexible, opportunistic, and hopefully smarter than I used to be as a hunter. I am learning to get in sooner, go deeper, or have a couple of back-up plans for those unavoidable crowded spots. I also try hard to respect other hunters as long as they also have permission to hunt where I do.
Man, I wish folks on our public land was that nice. They'll see you hunting and they just keep on talking on their cell phones or set up thirty yards away.. lol
Thanks for the replies. This coming weekend is my last chance until December since I don't gun hunt. I have hunted this particular field 3 years now and after hunting there several times this year and going over maps I found what should be a great spot to set up for an all day sit. I just need to get in there. The biggest issue yesterday was that I only had about 2 hours to walk in, set up and get out. I really didn't have time to check a different area. I'll be heading out there after work today to try again.
I've done the same thing out in Barry. Its busy this year. I've been map scouting like 5-8 different areas. Hoping to find a hidden spot. Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
