OK, who does this?

[Coach]

Let me start by saying I'm a little po'd - so take it for what it is.

 

I took my youngest son out this weekend for his first ever deer hunt. Opening morning I knew exactly where I wanted us to be because my oldest son and I connected there last year. Last year we never saw another camp or even another hunter, so I wasn't worried about pressure. Way before sunlight we were on our way and just barely on the road and we had forgotten a phone back at camp. We went back to get it and a vehicle went by. Long story short we followed that guy or the next half hour to the exact spot I wanted to be hoping he would either pull off or keep going. Nope - he had the same spot in mind. So we kept on going and had to figure out another plan - that's just hunting. He got there first.

 

We found a different area over the weekend and got out there early this morning before light - it was way back in there. After an hour drive and half-hour hike we were right where we wanted to be and bumped a really nice muley buck. Almost got a shot but he wasn't too bothered so we backed out a bit. I heard some quads coming down the road and expected to see them drive on by, but they didn't. I figured they saw us in there and turned around. About the time we were going to go see if this buck had settled in and find him again, we hear shots right from the bottom of the ridge we were hunting.

 

So we headed back out, got back to the truck and there were two quads parked about 80 yards from us. They clearly saw where we were parked on their way in, knew we were hunting that secluded spot, and decided to just hunt the same place. On the one hand, I hope some lucky youth hunter connected. On the other, I just don't see how a responsible adult can teach a young hunter to go right in the middle of where you know someone else is already hunting. Left them a note, I hope they post it.

 

Thoughts?

[AverageJoe]

I have no problem parking at the same area another vehicle is parked. I would hunt the same area as well. I dont see it as rude, just that there are many different routes one can take from a parked vehicle. If i saw someone glassing in the spot i wanted to go i would back out. Other than that the area is fair game. Just my thoughts...

[PRDATR]

I feel your pain, people just don't care. A few years ago I had a guy and his wife from Sierra Vista walk past me and my boy obviously set on hunting the tank we were overlooking. They walked up to about 20 feet from us and stopped, waved and turned back.

As the sun was setting a couple of hours later we headed out with a mile walk back to camp.

Yup there they were all set up about 50 feet away from us. 100 years ago he would have tasted the butt of my rifle but we just acknowledged them and kept on going.

[brian390]

On the second story, if the other hunters saw you parked there, they should have known that there was a darn good chance someone was hunting in there. Knowing what the hunters most likely knew, they should have left you alone. That sucks, and it's just my opinion.

[Zeke-BE]

I'm convinced that 1/4 of the population is retarded. These people are the ones with no filters, no common courtesy, no common since, no respect for others and their property. These are the guys that say F it it's your problem and not mine. Unfortunately these people breed and teach their young the same pattern. So yes 1/4 of people are like this. So when you are in a hunt with 400 tags, there are 100 people retarded people hunting with you. The real question how do we Tolerate these people because sadly they are not going away? . Sorry about your hunt!

[muledeerarea33?]

I've never done it but have had people do it to me. On one hand, if you see a parked truck on a road you would assume they are a mile or so away. On the other hand, if you see a truck on a road you would assume they are so close to the road that they can hear and see you coming. I just assume the latter and go to plan B. simply because I never know! I'd hate to end up shooting at or near someone because I wasn't sure where they were.

[Zeke-BE]

And yes I think once or twice I have had a retarded moment in my hunting career so sorry to any one I have wronged.

[pwrguy]

Public land hunting...what Zeke said

[Snapshot]

I've seen more times than I can remember.

 

The really retarded hunters, are the ones that park in the middle of the road.

[elkaholic]

at least I know that this yr - the quads and sidebys will not be making it in to my spot - its so washed out - its almost a pain to hike in - plus a huge ole burnt tree decided it had enough and is blocking everything - if they actually make it that far in I hope they know how to back down a mtn side, as its way to narrow to turn around

 

 

people now a days really do not give a crap if others are hunting a spot first . they will park and camp and see exactly where you are and walk right past you and not even care

[KaibabHunter]

We had already tagged out but went to pick up a ground blind we brushed in off a tank. I've run a camera there all summer and we've always walked in to keep the pressure to a minimum (and it's technically on one of those "illegal" roads you can't drive on...so illegal it has fresh tire tracks on it every time I've gone in.) Anyway I noticed fresh quad tracks in the meadow, followed their direction, and looked up to see a new pop up blind not 50 yards from ours. Couldn't even walk it 80 yards from the road he wasn't supposed to be driving on. I don't care about the driving on the road but more that he had to drive across the meadow to drop a 12lb blind and the only hunt is the jr elk so he likely had a kid with him thinking that this is how you do it. We already had our elk but still thought it was a jerk move pretty much on all points. If we hadn't already killed it would've been extra frustrating. Because if this and other negative experiences this year in this area I 've crossed this part of the unit off my hit list.

[100%DIYazCOUES]

Its real simple. If someone is already clearly hunting the area,you give them plenty of space and go somewhere else.that's the obvious right thing to do in my book. Coach I feel your frustration,the only thing worse then having a hunt Ruined by inconsiderate people would be to be the guy who ruins it for someone else.

[twowindy]

This is what happens with the more hunter opportunity mentality of the game and fish dept.Its only going to get worse.Just my opinion.

[AZkiller]

I'm convinced that 1/4 of the population is retarded. These people are the ones with no filters, no common courtesy, no common since, no respect for others and their property. These are the guys that say F it it's your problem and not mine. Unfortunately these people breed and teach their young the same pattern. So yes 1/4 of people are like this. So when you are in a hunt with 400 tags, there are 100 people retarded people hunting with you. The real question how do we Tolerate these people because sadly they are not going away? . Sorry about your hunt!

Oh come on!!! I think the number is alot higher than that!!

[520HUNT]

We all pay tax dollars to use public land, and we are all entitled to go where we want. Several times I have gone to the end of the road where I intended to hike to my glassing spot only to find another truck or quad there. Why should my hunt be stopped just because someone else is there? Who knows what that other person is doing? They may be scouting for a later hunt, they may be spotters for some high priced guide, or they may be walking the ridges and canyons trying to spook up a deer in hopes of seeing it. If I walk up to my spot to glass and they are sitting in the exact spot I want to glass I will usually ask them what there plan is. I will usually move a little away from them and set up to glass. Who knows if these guys are good glassers or weekend warriors with high priced optics? You might see something they don't see, and vice versa. I have never been taught that just because I park at the end of the road I am entitled to the entire area at the end of the road... It's called public land for a reason.