Patterning and manners

After you have done your scouting in August and September, do you guys still work on patterning the deer during the season? What is the proper manners for doing this on public land? I would hate to do some scouting and bump into another hunter. I have some stand sights selected but would also like to see if I can find better.

Thanks!

 

my rule of thumb = if you see cars parked there during the hunting season, don't go in unless you can pinpoint where they are...scout on a weekday with less traffic is your best bet...to me, it's bad karma if i ruin another hunter's hunt...cause if it was vice versa, I'll be pretty pissed off myself too, haha...

 

That was my thought, go in if there are no cars. I'm guessing this first year is learning how to scout and trying to pattern the deer. I'm also trying not to get my hopes up on getting anything this year as I have a lot to learn, which is fine I knew I would have a lot to learn. Despite not seeing anything yesterday it was still great being out there.

 

Only way to learn is by doing it and obviously you are, so that's awesome. Hunting public land can suck but at the same time be very rewarding. As stated above, your best bet is too scout/hunt during the weekdays if you can. Less pressure in the woods at that time. Don't worry about bumping into another hunter, it happens. Just do the right thing and show common courtesy. I've hunted public for most of my life. I've literally walked into the woods and had other hunters in my tree stand before. Just don't be that guy. Lol

 

Wow someone in your stand? That would make me just a tad mad.... Do you leave your stand out on public land? I would love to leave my climber out there and would be less to haul in, I'm just worried about someone coming in and taking it.

 

Here in MD you're not allowed to leave a stand overnight. Also, because there is no hunting Sundays, DNR suggests you do your scouting then. I'm sure it varies state to state though.

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

 

I don't like hunting when someone else is in the area and I don't want to look up and see someone in a tree over me. I have however walked right in front of a strangers blind and not known it until it was too late. Talk about a deer in the headlights!

 

I start scouting and setting out cams in june and yes I scout during the season also. I try to learn where treestands are before the season opens. There is a stand thats across a ravine thats been in the same tree for the last 4 years, and I just avoid the spot so I don't ruin his hunt. Unless I see alot of deer movement I tend to climb down by 10 a.m. and still-hunt and scout the rest of the day. I find that a majority of stand hunters have left the woods by this time. If a vehicle is parked in a spot I wanted to hunt I respect the other hunter already there and go to my plan B and C places. Public land is hard to hunt successfully and bumping into other hunters will happen. Thankfully all the hunters I have spoken with have been very curtious and respectful.

 

When you leave a stand on public land its not your stand anymore. That person has a right to that tree just as much as you do whether your stand is in it or not.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk 2

 

My buddy and I had a discussion this morning about that very subject. It is the law in Michigan that anyone can sit in your stand on public land anytime after opening day. I, for one, would not even think of jumping in another hunter's stand. I actually found a sweet spot in a pine tree a few days ago. When I got to the base of the tree, guess what, empty hanger stand 15' up. Oh well, there's only about two hundred more trees in that part of the woods. It may be legal, but I don't think it's ethical or honorable. If your truck was parked in the public parking area, can I plop my A** down on your tailgate and take off my boots? May not be illegal, but it ain't mine, so I'm not touching it. Just my .02.

 

I am not advocating it. Some people that leave stands on public land get it in their head that well since my stand was here first these surrounding 5 acres are all mine. And if anyone tries to set up around me I am gonna throw a fit and ruin both of our hunts.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk 2

 

I don't think he is talking about the land around the tree, more about the stand itself. When I was out scouting I came across some stands and made sure to give that person plenty of space if I was to setup a stand around there. However if I were to leave my stand out as our park states you may leave your stand out for the season, I don't think it gives a person the right to use your stand.

If you have a climber and are going to where you have your tree marked on your GPS and someone put a hang on or a ladder there, then move on or setup on a tree by there if no one is hunting it. I would agree with JDBowhunter in that it may be public land but does not give you the right to use my stand. If I'm not hunting that day by all means hunt that area its first come first serve. For those of us that don't have private land, hanging or locking your stand where you intend to hunt sure makes it a lot easier not having to haul your stand in everyday.

There is two ways to look at it, I don't' want rub anyone the wrong way but just my thought on the subject.

 

I hope you don't think I was directing that at you Lastoneout. If it came out that way, my apologies. I was trying to come off a little snarky to put it in perspective for the guys that say "Well, it's legal. That means I can do it." I think the only type of guy that would sit in someone else's stand is too cheap to go buy his own stuff, and too lazy to scout his own spot.