sportsmanship

[m77]

Hey Outdoor Writer, I don't know who you write for, but I just finished writing a short note to my new grandson, Elliot (nice westerner name), in the front cover of a Dr. Suess book. Thought maybe you could tell me if it's any good or not. The book is title "Oh, the Places You'll Go!". It's his first book.

 

Dear Elliot, I pondered many hours over writing to you in this book. Silly as it may seem in light of you being a mear six weeks old. Even more silly as I am writing to you an a Dr. Seuss book. Although timing is every thing in life and some day you may open this book, read what I have written, and take a part of it with you throughout your life.

 

"Oh, the Places You'll Go!", the things you'll see, people you'll meet, maybe under a tree. You may go with me, or Mom and Dad, or Grandma for gods sake in a coffee shop too.

 

Where ever you go, and with whom it may be, be honest and true with yourself and you'll succeed. Success is to you not what it's to me but honesty and truth is surely the key.

 

The key opens doors to inside and out and changes your views to north and to south. The east and west brings light and dark and alters your views of the sun and stars. Inside at dark or outside at light or vise versus of these to see what you'll see. The key to the key is you'll be what you'll be and success will be yours as you succeed you'll see.

 

Oh the Places You'll go as you turn all those keys, the success you'll have and the views that you'll see. Your mother and father, your grandma and me, we'll all be smiling as we watch you succeed.

[Outdoor Writer]

M77,

 

Other than a few typos and misspellings, which I assume are here only, it's a nice job. -TONY

[m77]

Thanks Outdoor Writer, I appreciate that. I hand wrote it in his book, so there is a couple place where I chicken scratch things in or out depending on the mistake I made. But again, thanks for your comment.

[bustedknuckleinc]

Getting back on topic, I believe the orginal poster said he was going to hunt the area like he always has for 13 years. Interesting that it has taken that long to find the salt but so be it. I personally know the person who started the salt and by leaving the calling card he obviously wants to let be known that he plans to hunt it like he has for the past 5+ years.

 

I have had the same type (treestand instead of salt) happen to me with a member of this site. I told him when I would be hunting it and any other time he was more than welcome to use the stand. It's that easy.

 

If he plans on hunting it then I would personally back out and give the area space it deserves.

 

Please DO NOT put in another salt in the vincinity. That goes without being said I hope.

Weather you believe me or not I could care less, but I have hunted this trail for 13 years. I found the spot last year while passing through. The individual who was at the lick hunting looked like he was looking at something and was peaking around the bush he was sitting in front of. Not wanting to disturb him I stopped a bit and waited. After a few minutes I figured he was just looking for deer he never looked in my direction so I just moved on with my hunting partner. Later that year I returned to that spot by accident while pursing some deer then I saw why there were so many deer hanging around. There was no fresh salt just a big hole. After returning several times since then did I see that fresh salt had been placed? I never wanted to hunt there if someone was going to be there but didn’t want to overlook the opportunity if the individual who placed the salt there was not going to be there the entire three weeks. If I remember right your buddy has a Tacoma and arrives super early which is fine that is called effort. I figured if I was going to hunt there I would arrive late giving the other guy ample opportunity to arrive like he did before and would go some where else if he was there. I will not be hunting this lick or any trails that lead to it. However you and your buddy might want to assure all who read this topic that this is the only lick you have established and that there not statewide if you are expecting to be the only one using them. It only seems fair. Thank you for responding and good luck to you and your buddy this season kill a toad for me.

[KGAINES]

Every year or sometimes twice a year this topic comes up and we start bashing each other on how to hunt.

First if its a legal way to hunt, hunt and have fun.

Second have respect for other people that are hunting, I don't think salt allows you to own the property it is on, but it does show that someone has put some effort into a spot and it wouldn't hurt to talk to them or move a little, that being said we don't all want to run out and grab a bunch of salt and create ourselves a bunch of "honey holes", that is being kind of selfish. Also a confrontation over a spot could turn out very badly and in no way is it worth it since most folks now days don't settle anything with fists, and I am pretty sure someone would get a lawyer involved and that would probably lead the way to screw it up for everyone.

The third thing is water is first come first serve, if someone is there leave and be as quiet as possible, thats what you would want them to do for you.

 

 

m77 you brought up Dr. Suess and to my recollection this whole topic sounds a little like green eggs and ham, I don't like to hunt in a box for a fox I don't like it sam I am.

I think the note to your Grandson will be appreciated by him as he grows up, well written.

 

To all out there have fun and hunt, be safe, and God Bless.

 

One quick thing to remember the game and fish have mentioned getting rid of baiting and salt for all, ranchers would still be allowed. I don't use salt, but I would fight this rule because what they take away we very rarely if ever get back, and slowly but surely there are more rules against all of us hunters, and we don't need them.

[FRAZIER]

It was me I confess. Any way, I recently found Fourpoints camera at my salt. I was kind of shocked to say the least. All kinds of things went through my head on what I should do with this situation. But I opted to do the right thing and luckily I had a card and a pen on me so I left him a note inside his camera to call me. I'm glad he did. He called and we spoke briefly about the situation and I left it feeling that we had an agreement that I really wouldn't care to share the spot with anyone. I know that it is unfair for a person to be bold enough to think he is the owner of a certain area, and that is the last thing I want to convey. However, I have been packin salt to this area for over 5 yrs. now. I salt it four times annually not to mention all of the other trips setting the cameras up. Probably an average of 8 trips a year. Needless to say I have a lot of time and dollars invested into it. From the time I leave my home, it takes me 6 1/2 hours round trip including the hour hike. That is if I don't have to stop to buy salt and fuel. It is a bunch of work. Now if I wanted to shoot the first buck that came to the salt, I wouldn't mind if fifty guys wanted to "share" it with me. On the other hand I would like to hunt the best buck that is using the area. Right. It seems to me that fourpoint has decited to go a different way and I appreciate it. If he decides that he is going to find another area, great. But if he is intent on hunting this specific area maybe I could tell him of some of the springs that I know about in the area or use a different salt spot that I abandoned last year because it got to be too much work to haul two salts. I believe it is advantageous to all hunters to create a buffer between the areas that they are using in order to keep the pressure(noise & scent) down. THANKS .

[bustedknuckleinc]

Because of things out of my control I ended up not having a lot of time off work this year during deer season which left me with no time to do a backpacking trip this year. I got a bull tag this year which we all know doesn’t happen very often. The little time off I have was to be used for that. I have changed my mind do to the fact that I can’t stay out of the woods even for a bull tag. I will hunt the first weekend and then some, and will backpack like I always do. If unsuccessful I will only hunt the following weekends SAT/SUN. I was simply looking four an alternative place to hunt that doesn’t take the amount of time that backpacking does. If you happen to score the first 8 days of the season I wouldn’t mind hunting the spot. If you want it for you or your family I guess I understand that. Please let me know.

 

P.s. I am in the area as much as you say you are and could save you trips and dough.

Think about it.

[TREESTANDMAN]

I personally do not like hunting areas I know other hunters consistently hunt. Their mistake may spook the dominant buck in the area which you have no control over. If I were either of you, I'd find a new spot even more secluded, at which I felt I was alone.

[Arizona Griz]

Weather you believe me or not I could care less, but I have hunted this trail for 13 years.

 

Why shouldn't I believe you?

 

The rest of your post was contained a very good "sportsman like" attitude.

 

Sorry to say I won't be archery deer hunting this early season since I will be just coming back from 10 days in New Mexico antelope hunting.

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

So GH, do you think it's ethical to attract deer to a specific location using bait (salt lick)? Don't you already enjoy many advantages over the game you hunt, (example: scopes, rangefinders, high powered rifles, scent blocking clothes, silent compound bows, topo maps, arial photos, trailcams, etc.)

 

 

Ya know that this kind of bashing only divides us further, making us easier targets for the Anti's..... ..... and I only have one response to m77.... Is a mt. lion "unethical" for laying in wait at a water source, a "salt lick", an oak tree or wild apple...... and so on?? Are coyotes or wolves "unethical" for hunting in numbers of two or more? ...... I think not. They have many tools that they use to ambush and kill prey..... tools that we do not..... but we have a tool that they don't.... a brain.... and just because someone is using their brain to harvest an animal does not make it "unethical". Having sat on trails, saddles, salt, and water to ambush and harvest game I can tell you that it is not really any easier than spot and stalk, IMO. However I choose to hunt on a particular day I must use my sharpest weapon, my brain, if I expect to out smart any of of the critters I love to eat.

 

Fourpoint.... your salt buddy (Frazier) sounds very cool, as are many of the guys you will meet here on CW.com. You guys might make a good team.

 

Frazier..... Dude...... WTF???? 6 1/2 hrs to get to where you hunt???? Come on.... exactly how many GREAT hunting spots with BIG bucks do you think you are driving past to get there???? Moral of the story.... hunt closer to home.... hunting is far more fun than driving....

[Arizona Griz]

Frazier..... Dude...... WTF???? 6 1/2 hrs to get to where you hunt???? Come on.... exactly how many GREAT hunting spots with BIG bucks do you think you are driving past to get there???? Moral of the story.... hunt closer to home.... hunting is far more fun than driving....

 

It is 6 1/2 hours round trip including the 1 hour hike in. Opps.

[bobbyo]

Opening day I would also like a "buffer zone" for my own honeyhole. My honeyhole is called 36c and i would like all you guys to stay clear for the first 21 days. I don't mind if you use 36a or 36b, but please stay clear of 36c. I have put alot of hours scouting and would really appreciate it if you don't come around and pollute the area with your scent. Thanks for understanding. SEE IF we just communicate we can all get along .

Bob

[youngbuck]

Man 6 pages in a little over a day. I know frazier very well and heard about what happened first thing this morning. I think the situation sounds to be solved in a very mature way. It could have gotten out of hand very easily, i know people that would be outraged to find a cam on their salt. It was very sportsman like for frazier to leave his contact info instead of removing the camera. It was also very sportsman like for 4point to contact him. I do not know what was said during the conversation, but it sounds like 4point could have said "piss on you, i'm hunting there any way" but chose not too. 4point could have made the spot useless to both of them by destroying the salt or otherwise. My hat is off to you for not doing so. I just wanted to say it apears the situation was handled in a respectfull maner, and it is good to see things being worked out the right way

[Guest Ernesto C]

Hahahhahaa yes Bob communication is the key. Dont forget to stop and say hi when I wave at you this time ok?

 

Ernesto C