Public Land Blues

[rclouse79]

Two guys spooked 6 does and a 3 point buck that ran 100 yards right below where I was glassing. I kept glassing and ended up finding the deer across and down the wash. I am making a habit of glassing animals, and taking off only to find they have moved by the time I get there. This time I forced myself to keep glassing until I was pretty sure they were setted down. The buck peeled off and was hanging out with one doe. They were in the same small area for about half an hour so I decided to give it a try. I cut the distance in half and was slowly sneaking in when I saw the same guy in the orange hat that had initially spooked the deer sitting up on the ridge right above the deer. My initial thought was that we were going after the same deer so I sat and watched for a bit. After a couple minutes he pulled his phone out and started talking loud enough I could hear every word a few hundred yards away. I don't think he even knew the deer were there and was just talking to his buddy. I know it is all part of the game when you hunt public land, but still bums me out. Combat hunting with more hunters per square mile than deer is starting to outweigh the benefit of being able to hunt forty minutes from my front door. I am thinking about putting in for a unit not so close to Tucson next year.

[DrRx09]

Plus, it doesn't usually help when people get on public forums and spout off specific directions on places to hunt... (not you of course) But I guess that's what happens when you hunt on public lands. Good luck to you on your next attempt

[JLW]

Two guys spooked 6 does and a 3 point buck that ran 100 yards right below where I was glassing. I kept glassing and ended up finding the deer across and down the wash. I am making a habit of glassing animals, and taking off only to find they have moved by the time I get there. This time I forced myself to keep glassing until I was pretty sure they were setted down. The buck peeled off and was hanging out with one doe. They were in the same small area for about half an hour so I decided to give it a try. I cut the distance in half and was slowly sneaking in when I saw the same guy in the orange hat that had initially spooked the deer sitting up on the ridge right above the deer. My initial thought was that we were going after the same deer so I sat and watched for a bit. After a couple minutes he pulled his phone out and started talking loud enough I could hear every word a few hundred yards away. I don't think he even knew the deer were there and was just talking to his buddy. I know it is all part of the game when you hunt public land, but still bums me out. Combat hunting with more hunters per square mile than deer is starting to outweigh the benefit of being able to hunt forty minutes from my front door. I am thinking about putting in for a unit not so close to Tucson next year.

it happens....

don't let it get you down. I had similar things happen. this time of year most people glass from their vehicles so if you have that little hidey hole where you've seen alot of does now is the time to put a little distance between you and the roads. but if it can be seen from the road they will be all over it.

I get bummed sometimes but like you said public land hunting. I know I have stalked the same deer at the same time as other people. Last year I had a nice 3 pt I put a good stalk on... he had 2 other smaller bucks with him and this kid went straight at him ( I never even knew the kid was around) and bumped him out of there before I got there. the stalk was perfectly in my favor wind highway noise bucks feeding. on the way back to the truck I ended up face to face with the smaller buck and we both sharted our selves. I had no clue they were still there! I was so heated HE blew my stalk but after I thought about it he was just out doing the same thing I was doing.

I often rush my stalks because I'm worried someone has the same thing in mind maybe from another angle I don't see! But usually when someone sees what is going on they are pretty kind about giving space! even had a guy invite me on a stalk cause we were watching the same deer. he had me go to a spot where they always would run to and I didn't go as low as he said and sure enough the buck ran right by where he said I was 80yds and had I been in the right spot it would have been 25yds!

Anyways, keep at it! It'll come together!

I've had some tell me maybe 1 out of 100 stalks work out so I think I'm due! haha!

Good luck!

 

James

[Chef]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune.

Public land is just that, plus, we can't even begin to think that everyone knows what we're thinking and vice versa.

There are other states that are way worse.

[double lunger14]

Plus, it doesn't usually help when people get on public forums and spout off specific directions on places to hunt... (not you of course) But I guess that's what happens when you hunt on public lands. Good luck to you on your next attempt

 

Exactly why i dont answer people when they ask me what units i harvested animals in. I dont want to sound like a jacka$$ but people need to get out and do their own homework and not rely on internet sources.

[.270]

the best thing about this state is that it has an abundance of public land. sit and think about what it'd be like it we didn't have all this public land. go to east new mexico, texas, east colorado, anywhere in kansas or nebraska and look for some public land to hunt on. it's a pain to have a stalk screwed up by other hunters on public land, but it's a good problem to have. Lark.

[billrquimby]

Lark: Not only is 82 percent of Arizona in some form of public ownership, but we also have an attorney general's ruling that emphasizes our right to hunt and fish on State Land Department lands.

 

New Mexico has a similar amount of public land, including a bunch of state lands, but it manages its state land differently, and hunters and fishermen have restrictions on using it.

 

Interesting to me, at least, it was Bruce Babbitt who ruled for sportsmen when he was Arizona's attorney general before becoming governor.

 

When he became U.S. Secretary of the Interior after that, some of his actions were not so favorable to us.

 

Bill Quimby

[rclouse79]

the best thing about this state is that it has an abundance of public land. sit and think about what it'd be like it we didn't have all this public land. go to east new mexico, texas, east colorado, anywhere in kansas or nebraska and look for some public land to hunt on. it's a pain to have a stalk screwed up by other hunters on public land, but it's a good problem to have. Lark.

 

I don't mean to sound ungreatful for the abundance of public land. I just need to find some that is a little less accessible so I have less excuses when I come home empty handed.

[.270]

if you're willing to work hard, there are lotsa place in Az that noooooobody hunts. you just hafta be rugged enough to get there. good luck. Lark.

[bigorange]

the best thing about this state is that it has an abundance of public land. sit and think about what it'd be like it we didn't have all this public land. go to east new mexico, texas, east colorado, anywhere in kansas or nebraska and look for some public land to hunt on. it's a pain to have a stalk screwed up by other hunters on public land, but it's a good problem to have. Lark.

 

Well said Lark. I grew up hunting in TN where there's an abundance of deer, but almost everything is private land. What little public land was available was either hunted out or over-run with hunters. Luckily my uncle had a farm that I hunted, but it was several hours away so didn't get to hunt it often enough. The amount of public land available in AZ truly is a blessing...just wish the deer were a little more abundant.

 

And I feel your pain. Have been seeing lots of quads and hunters all over my favorite areas this year. Was sitting on one of my favorite hills the other afternoon and a hunter walks right through the flat that I'm glassing. I'm sure he had no idea I was there and I was hoping he was on a stalk...apparently he was just still-hunting through to see what he could find.