Pine Donkey Report post Posted August 16, 2013 Yesterday at work I met a guy who has a unit 9 archery tag. We spent some time swapping stories and sharing pictures. He told me that this past weekend he and his son were scouting in unit 9 when they ran into a couple guys with a truck full of tree stands. They began talking to these guys and found out they were working for USO outfitters. They were "claiming" all the water holes by putting tree stands on them. The guys also said that there were a few areas with good bulls working between several tanks, so in these areas they would put a stand on one of the tanks then dump 5 gallons of used motor oil into the other tanks. I am not sure how true all of this is, but it sure turns my stomach. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
My Rights As An American Report post Posted August 16, 2013 Would not be incredibly hard to prove this, if someone found a tank full of motor oil in the water in Unit 9 that would be a decent enough trail of evidence to begin an investigation. I would recommend that this person contact Game and Fish and let them know what they were told. That would be harassing wildlife at a minimum I would bet. If they are still running cattle in those areas, I am not sure the ranchers would be pleased at all if this were true. He needs to at least let Game and Fish know this, but it sounds fishy that these guys would actually admit to doing something like this to a total stranger. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trphyhntr Report post Posted August 16, 2013 Who would do something that messed up then tell another hunter or anyone else about it? Doesn't make sense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tines Report post Posted August 16, 2013 I don't buy it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ready2hunt Report post Posted August 16, 2013 Who would do something that messed up then tell another hunter or anyone else about it? Doesn't make sense. Ever watched "Americas Dumbest Criminals?" I don't know if this is true but I really hope not.....I wouldn't put it past them though 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CWpredator Report post Posted August 16, 2013 Lets the unit 9 rumors begin.... Every year I hear some crazy hearsay of outfitters doing crazy things in the premier units/hunts.... BS 90% of the time.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gotcoues Report post Posted August 16, 2013 I'll buy hanging tons of stands, it's what people do. Having a hard time with the motor oil comment. Sounds like a disgruntled guy with a unit 9 tag not liking an outfitter hanging stands. You check water holes to possibly hang a stand on for your unit 9 tag. If you see none, you might hang your stand. If you see one, you still might hang your stand. If you see two or even three, your probably going to search out another tank. Hence, if you have intentions on hunting a certain water hole or two, you might wanna get your stand up a little early! This is just my experience with Unit 9, I've had the early archery bull tag twice in 16 yrs of applying for that hunt and let's face it, not only do you have the premium tag, you inherit all the mess that goes with that tag IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pine Donkey Report post Posted August 16, 2013 As I said in my original post, I am not sure how true any of this is. Each year it seems the stories get more sensational. I have never hunted unit 9, but it seems that 9 and 10 produce some of the worst stories every year. I will stay on the other side of the state, try to hunt respectfully and hope others do the same. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rcdinaz Report post Posted August 16, 2013 Get 10 of your closest friends to camp that week and set up ground blinds 100 yards from every treestand, you know for taking pictures. Make sure you do all your woodcutting early or late also.... I would never do something like this and I have never even hunted that unit but I am surprised there havent been groups doing this type of stuff. I am continuously shocked that people will go out and mess with property that is not theirs or claim a natural resource is for their sole use. On a coues hunt a few years back we actually ran into a guy pouring corn everywhere and then trying to waive hunters off an entire ridge. This was in an area we have hunted off an on for close to 30 years. Some peoples capacity for enormous amounts of stupid is amazing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muzzlehunter75 Report post Posted August 16, 2013 I would let Game and fish know, just to have them check it out. They can put all the tree stands up but first come first serve is the law. If i got to the tank first then oh well they need to move on. I talked to the Game Warden up their, and he is cracking down on these guides trying to say water holes are all theirs. Like he said and me it's a first come, first basis kinda of thing. he told me that he is dressing like a hunter, and when someone tells him to move off their water hole. Well lets just say busted. I have hunted 9 and the only problem i see is on a muzzle loader elk hunt its 9 guides to one hunter all caring muzzle loaders, in-case the hunter misses. I Also saying that all guides are not bad, but their is the ones that can can be. Sorry but had to give my 2 sense! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tines Report post Posted August 17, 2013 Just to clarify, some think that "first come, first serve" is the law. It's not. It's a recommendation in the regs and also just the right thing to do. I'll ALWAYS abide by it and that's because I would want the same courtesy shown to me. I'm not sure what a warden could do if two hunters wanted to bicker about who was first. By all means, I hope the unit 9 warden cracks down big time on complete tools. But Just an ethical/common courtesy issue. Not legal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tines Report post Posted August 17, 2013 Hunter harassment is a different issue 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted August 17, 2013 With any luck, the Forest service will add USO's tree stand's to their confiscated collection 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildwoody Report post Posted August 17, 2013 priceless With any luck, the Forest service will add USO's tree stand's to their confiscated collection Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesRanger Report post Posted August 18, 2013 USO is such a large operation and im sure of you were to call and let them know of this situation and the talk on this forum they would find and handle the situation quickly. First come first serve on the treestands. During the early archery tag i would think the guides wpuld be doing there jobs and getting their clients into somebig bugling bulls not sittting water Share this post Link to post Share on other sites