Deer drive issue (Wisconsin) during gun season

Anybody know the law/rule for deer drives? Specifically when the people doing the driving encroaches on other hunters up on tree stands that is not part of the drive? I've encounter this situation many many times on public land. I will be up in a stand waiting for deer when several people would just walk in front of you knowing full well you are there. They don't give a jacks *** whether you are there or not. They even blow whistles as they pass you...this happened in Clark county, WI Black River Falls area...

 

There is no protection on public land for stand guys having deer drives encroach. The DTR process could have helped the public land experience by A) banning drives on public land and B) banning gun buck party hunting and chose to do nothing. Really sad when many gunshot accidents are from deer drives as well. You also know private land guys drive public land@ lunch and shoot antlerless there.

 

If it's public land, who's to say one group can't drive but someone can stand hunt? Why would the state protect one style of hunting and not another?

Do you also know that significantly more deaths and injuries occur by falling from treestands than gunshot wounds? You may not want to go that direction.

If your unhappy with it, find an area that's a bit more remote and get away from the crowd. Or buy/lease private land. I hate water skiers and jet skis when I'm on the boat trying to fish, but I don't try and get them banned......I just find places to go that aren't as commonly used by them.

 

Interesting response considering your home state banned deer drives years ago. The public land experience continues to decline. I have 450 private acres on the best deer dirt on the planet but we lose the public land guy and we lose the sport. Wisconsin will do public land specific antlerless tags in 2014 which is a start.

 

I have often wondered how many of the deer drive guys practice on moving targets.

 

We use buckshot and skeet shooting, dove hunting, waterfowl hunting is pretty good practice.

 

Buying/leasing land is not an option. I don't have a rich uncle like some of you. You can only walk so far from the road. There are many groups of people doing different drives on different area of the land. I was a mile away from the road and there were four people walking, whistling, making tons of noise. Makes you want to let a bullet fly...

 

Makes you want to let a bullet fly? Seems a bit excessive, deer hunters are such a serious bunch...smh.

 

I think it is illegal to deer hunt with buckshot in Wisonsin and deer drives exist. Do you think they practice with their rifle or slug gun at moving targets?

 

I didn't mean to let the bullet fly to the people...let it fly as a warning shot only...in case they didn't really see me...

 

Deer drives can be an advantage for you as well. Not all the deer move to those capping the drive. Deer will sneak back behind the drivers or out to the side as much as they will move in front of the drivers. Just be ready and smile to yourself when they move one your way.

 

IL isn't my home state, Upstate NY is where I'm from. I've only been here for a month. I've spent years doing deer drives as well, all legally in the Adirondacks.

With that said, I'd never participate in a drive in the midwest or an area with high deer populations or that have predominantly agricultural land, just not my cup of tea. But if it's legal and someone else enjoys it.........knock yourself out. I may choose to not hunt there anymore though if your doing it around me........I'll just remove myself from the situation.

Another thought........if you're already hiking a mile in, finding less pressure doesn't necessarily mean hike another half mile. It may mean driving an hour in the opposite direction or banging on some doors to meet some people and gaining access to some new places.

 

Probably not as far as the practice goes but more often than not deer stop many times when being pushed(whether by dogs or people) especially after the initial jump and fleeing are over. I'm not a fan of slug guns of rifles off the ground during drives though. I also don't think all bowhunters practice year round, tune their broadheads, or even remotely understand shooting from elevated angles. They also take all kinds of bad shots at bad angles, my point is I recognize the safety issues of deer drives but as far as killing deer shots taken or not taken still fall on the hunter.

 

Absolutely they can be. I won't participate in drives anywhere but the Adirondacks, but spent years in PA hunting public land where tons of people drove deer. I had several places that produced a TON of deer for me where I knew people would drive and deer would slip out. I actually killed my first rack buck that way years ago......had seen an escape route on a piece of public ground that got pounded by drives. Saw deer bail on it two years in a row. Third year I camped out on it for three days straight and shot my first rack buck there.

 

**removed as I wasn't thinking well enough.

 

Its only banned on DNR owned ground. Which is what's being discussed but I've had people walk by me doing it on private ground.

 

Happens to me at least once a year on public ground in Pa. This year the drivers setup about 75 yards in front of the tree I was in after seeing me in it, and continued to have a conversation with 3 others guys who were part of the drive and were about 40 yards away. When the drive started I had 3 of the drivers practically walked under my stand hollering and hooting as the drive started. I have had drives push deer to me but in this case it sure didn't help my hunt.

 

Blatantly seeing you is just dirty and not good character. Driving deer however if legal is fine by me, although I myself absolutely don't like them myself.

 

No you didn't.

It's public land. It sucks, but move on. How do you know they knew you were there? If you are seeing them while a mile in then go deeper.

I would start by researching and looking for small unknown tracts of state land. The harder it is to get in the easier it is to get away from people.

 

Sometimes the smallest spots on Public are the best on public come gun season...less desireable and attractive to those wanting to reach out...