I was reading the recent post on hunting etiquette and thought I would get yalls opinions on this.
A couple years ago a guy I know took his daughter on a public land Youth hunt here in Florida. The particular hunt only allowed 25 permits for youth and 25 the following weekend for regular season. He knew the area very well and had several locations in mind. Well before light on the opening day he pulled into the first spot and there sat a guy in his truck saying he had a bird located. So my buddy drives off to plan B and runs into the same situation and moved on again. Any ways, they did end up hunting and working a bird, just didn't close the deal. But he said there were guys parked all over the woods (without kids) and guarding birds all morning, for their own hunt the following weekend. They were taking advantage of the "good ole etiquette" that allot of hunters have but ruining the hunt quality for the kids. It aggravated him so bad they didn't even hunt the second day. Now I will be taking my daughter to the same woods in 2 weeks for her first spring hunt and I cant say I would handle things as well as my buddy did. My blood gets boiling just thinking about it.
Before I even get your opinions on this I will say first that ANYONE who guards a roosted bird on a Youth hunt who is not participating in that hunt is a low down scum bag PERIOD.
Now what are your thoughts on it and how could you see yourself reacting to the situation.
if they aren't hunting, I
Would ignore them and hunt.
Quote from: Roost 1 on March 01, 2015, 11:04:08 PM
if they aren't hunting, I
Would ignore them and hunt.
This.
Walk right past and hunt
Yeah... That is just wrong...
If I did not see the kid, I would ask where the child was... If the answer is "on the way," I might just answer, "well, mine is right here with me, and this is where we are going to hunt."
If the answer is "still sleeping in the tent," then they have a right to that spot/bird...
One thing I have noticed with junior hunts in waterfowl, is that the kids tend to leave the field early... If you have a determined and enthusiastic child, I might plan on a full day hunt...
If you can camp or spend the night where you hunt, kids love sleeping outside or in the truck (far more than I do anyways). And overnight trip could be a really good and fun idea... Plus, if you don't have success for the early morning, you can come back to camp and eat, and try to drum up another bird...
unload my stuff, walk right by them and go hunting
Quote from: Roost 1 on March 01, 2015, 11:04:08 PM
if they aren't hunting, I
Would ignore them and hunt.
agreed.
:fud: Take your daughter hunting. If you are not interfering with another youth hunter, you have every right to hunt there. The "grown ups" that block a childs hunt are as you described. Pay them no mind.
I agree screw em
Quote from: surehuntsalot on March 01, 2015, 11:18:41 PM
unload my stuff, walk right by them and go hunting
would not have hesitated.
key word, "Public Land" I wouldve waved and walked right on in. Once I leave my truck no one knows exactly where I go in the woods and just because he located "A" bird dont mean thats the only bird in that area.
I'd just tell the guy he may want to have a plan B cause plan A may not be around next week.
:angry9:
I've had that happen before multiple times. I have also heard "I've hunted this spot for years and everyone around here knows it..." Regardless, I just walk on and hunt.
Quote from: 870FaceLift on March 02, 2015, 11:55:55 AM
:angry9:
I've had that happen before multiple times. I have also heard "I've hunted this spot for years and everyone around here knows it..." Regardless, I just walk on and hunt.
Had he beat you to the area and was getting ready to hunt or were you there first? Harassment on public land is illegal, call the wma officer and get his tag#.
Quote from: Blong on March 02, 2015, 12:01:15 PM
Quote from: 870FaceLift on March 02, 2015, 11:55:55 AM
:angry9:
I've had that happen before multiple times. I have also heard "I've hunted this spot for years and everyone around here knows it..." Regardless, I just walk on and hunt.
Had he beat you to the area and was getting ready to hunt or were you there first? Harassment on public land is illegal, call the wma officer and get his tag#.
He was gearing up in one of the seldomely used WMA parking lots smoking a cigarette. Neither of us were in the woods yet. I've since talked to others in the area and have heard that he does this sort of thing often. He's just trying to intimidate people he doesn't know. I think we all know the type...
Politely remind them that public land is just that, public, and go hunting.
I run into the same thing on FLA WMA's and not during youth season. The guys go out ahead of time and hang ribbons with the dates of their hunts all over the place. I used to avoid such places until I finally found the same ribbons, with the same writing, all over the WMA, so the greedy guy could have a Plan A, B, C, D, etc. Then I monitored the ribbons, and saw no one at some of the spots the entire hunt. So now I just walk right by them and hunt where I want, and guess what? I usually never see anyone anyway.
But I agree with you. Anyone who tries to guard a bird, and screw a youth out of a great experience is a low life.
In FLA, most WMA's don't allow you in unless you have a permit. So there isn't any of the guarding stuff like that, unless it's an open WMA that doesn't require a permit.
Quote from: Gooserbat on March 02, 2015, 01:49:07 PM
Politely remind them that public land is just that, public, and go hunting.
^^^THIS!!!!!
+1
Quote from: Roost 1 on March 01, 2015, 11:04:08 PM
if they aren't hunting, I
Would ignore them and hunt.
:TooFunny:
Quote from: guesswho on March 02, 2015, 11:46:12 AM
I'd just tell the guy he may want to have a plan B cause plan A may not be around next week.
I agree anybody who trys to keep a kid from that experience is sorry. That being said I don't know if I could enjoy myself after that. I'd be afraid of returning to my truck with no windows or something like that. I had two guys walk past my truck and follow me into the woods during deer season. I ask them to please give me my space and pointed out how rude and inconsiderate they were being. Couldn't enjoy the woods for wondering if my truck was gonna be messed with or not. It wasnt though.
Quote from: Gobble! on March 02, 2015, 08:25:36 AM
Quote from: surehuntsalot on March 01, 2015, 11:18:41 PM
unload my stuff, walk right by them and go hunting
would not have hesitated.
This.... To act this way when one is taking a youth out to enjoy the outdoors and all that God has blessed us with is just plain sad. I hope people like that never harvest an animal of any kind ever again....
I'm with everyone else. Go hunt.
Walk past them and call the local warden.
I had the flip side to this last year. Me and nephew were sitting and listening to a bird gobble-scouting on the youth weekend-on a huge open National Forest. We had a father and 2 sons pull up and they started to head by us. I stuck my arm out window and stopped them. Asked if they had a bird penned up. Guy looked at me funny and I said I was joking, did they know of a hot bird. He said no and just as he did, the bird gobbled again. His eyes lit up and he looked at me, like not knowing what to do. I said go get em! He must have thanked me a dozen times before they left. We sat and listened for a while, heard no boom, but still felt good about it.
If I had a young'un in tow, I would have just asked him where the kid was. If I thought he was lying, I would have hunted.
Just another thought though. My son has Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy and one of the hallmarks is he must get his sleep. I have held a spot for him early where other folks hunting brought him later. So sometimes we may not know the whole story. Just don't assume the worst, just go up and speak to them. usually works out fine.
Thanks for the replies and as I figured I agree with all. Maybe we wont experience this on our hunt but if so I will handle it accordingly. Im out to get my little girl a bird and that crap aint working with me.
Quote from: g8rvet on March 02, 2015, 08:53:22 PM
I had the flip side to this last year. Me and nephew were sitting and listening to a bird gobble-scouting on the youth weekend-on a huge open National Forest. We had a father and 2 sons pull up and they started to head by us. I stuck my arm out window and stopped them. Asked if they had a bird penned up. Guy looked at me funny and I said I was joking, did they know of a hot bird. He said no and just as he did, the bird gobbled again. His eyes lit up and he looked at me, like not knowing what to do. I said go get em! He must have thanked me a dozen times before they left. We sat and listened for a while, heard no boom, but still felt good about it.
If I had a young'un in tow, I would have just asked him where the kid was. If I thought he was lying, I would have hunted.
Just another thought though. My son has Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy and one of the hallmarks is he must get his sleep. I have held a spot for him early where other folks hunting brought him later. So sometimes we may not know the whole story. Just don't assume the worst, just go up and speak to them. usually works out fine.
That is the attitude we all should have in the woods. I had thought about your other example as well. I could see an Uncle, Grandad or good friend locating a bird and sitting on a spot till the dad and kid arrived and I could probably swallow that and my buddy thought the same but these guys sat in their truck till 1:00 pm end of shooting hours.
Quote from: RutnNStrutn on March 02, 2015, 02:36:50 PM
I run into the same thing on FLA WMA's and not during youth season. The guys go out ahead of time and hang ribbons with the dates of their hunts all over the place. I used to avoid such places until I finally found the same ribbons, with the same writing, all over the WMA, so the greedy guy could have a Plan A, B, C, D, etc. Then I monitored the ribbons, and saw no one at some of the spots the entire hunt. So now I just walk right by them and hunt where I want, and guess what? I usually never see anyone anyway.
But I agree with you. Anyone who tries to guard a bird, and screw a youth out of a great experience is a low life.
In FLA, most WMA's don't allow you in unless you have a permit. So there isn't any of the guarding stuff like that, unless it's an open WMA that doesn't require a permit.
This was in Florida on a large non gated WMA that does require quotas to hunt but any vehicle access is allowed. With only 25-30 permits it should be a great hunt, but having to deal with this just aint right.
If it were a general hunt or quota I'd walk right into the woods as planed. Being a adult/ child hunt I'd probably keep my child away from him and contact the DNR....and do that before he left the area
:smiley-char092:
There really is no consideration here in Tn.
I had scouted out a few places for the juvi hunt and we got in nice and early to the spot, only to have 4 other groups come into our spot. 1 of which walked all the way into us with their flashlights and then started shining up in the trees looking for roosted birds.
I was mad at first but calmed myself down because it is public land and they had just as much right to be there as we did.
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Quote from: RutnNStrutn on March 02, 2015, 02:36:50 PM
I run into the same thing on FLA WMA's and not during youth season. The guys go out ahead of time and hang ribbons with the dates of their hunts all over the place. I used to avoid such places until I finally found the same ribbons, with the same writing, all over the WMA, so the greedy guy could have a Plan A, B, C, D, etc. Then I monitored the ribbons, and saw no one at some of the spots the entire hunt. So now I just walk right by them and hunt where I want, and guess what? I usually never see anyone anyway.
But I agree with you. Anyone who tries to guard a bird, and screw a youth out of a great experience is a low life.
In FLA, most WMA's don't allow you in unless you have a permit. So there isn't any of the guarding stuff like that, unless it's an open WMA that doesn't require a permit.
I love the ribbon hangers. I pull them off and put them in my pocket when I see them. Typically I will leave the reflectors alone because they probably mark tree stands.
Wow
I won't go as far as some of those guys, but I do get to where I hunt SUPER early. I will then sit in the parking lot to let people know my general area I will be hunting. I do this as more of a courtesy. I have gotten places a little late before. more than once I have heard multiple turkey only to wind up setting up of the same bird as the other guy.