Hunter politness?

HokieHeavyWeight

I was wondering if it is wrong for me to switch from my 30-06 on the stand after morning and then take my 30-30 into the brush to try to jump a bedded deer. I will hunt on public land. Although it is not very productive, I like to go into the thickest stuff because it is a good physical workout and there is nothing more exiting then jumping a deer you couldn't see 10 yards infront of you. My question is does this disturb the deer resting and prevent them from making their normal routes that evening. Is this disreptful to other hunters that evening?

salzo

Thats life on hunting public land. Your action is not going to disturb the deer anymore than the actions of all of the other hunters on the land you are hunting. Your concern for politeness is admirable, but with all of the nonsense that is going on with all of the other hunters, you should probably adopt more of a city mentality and worry about yourself.Once I was hunting squirrel on a game land, and I approached this guy in a ghilli suit, with a bow in his hand. I did not see him until I was about twenty five yards from where he was standing. I said to him; "Seen anything?" He answered; "Yeah, you just scared a nice buck that was about five yards out of shooting distance. Didnt you see him?""No, I sure didnt. Sorry about that"He was angry, and started hemming and hawwing about how a lousy squirrel hunter ruined his chance at a nice buck."Oh well, thats life hunting a game land" I said as I walked away.

gunpaq

Don't worry about disturbing the sleep and bedding habbits of the deer for they are already disturbed if it is a firearm hunting season. Unless there are some long standing local customs for the public lands you intend to hunt you should not disrespect anyone. Good luck. Wanted to add that I was disrespected once in the woods while hunting on PA State Gamelands in Chester County by several mountain bikers and two hiker/power walkers during the second week of buck season. They took offense that I had a gun, was hunting an animal and may be a danger to others who enjoy the woods (none were wearing blaze orange). You may get some lip from another hunter about disturbing his stand or drive but you would be hard pressed to disrespect another hunter or be disrespected by another hunter as our nonhunting friends do here in southeastern Pennsylvania.[This message has been edited by gunpaq (edited 10-26-2001).]

booger

The only problem with your idea is the possibility of getting accidentally shot by a bozo hunter. Wear the orange from head to toe and pray. There are way too many trigger happy knuckleheads on public land, and I know, because thats where I do 90% of my hunting.

DaRoosta

The habits and patterns of deer are probably already disturbed by the time rifle season rolls around. I think you have a good plan. We do something similar, but don't ever hunt in stands or even stand around. I'll assume you don't hunt alone, but at least with one or two buddies. I would suggest organizing your walk through the brush after your morning hunt is over and placing at least one person on the exits of where the deer might run after you jump them out of their hiding places. Just make sure everyone knows where each other will be and stay safe. Good luck.

salzo

That is true booger. I do remember coming out of the thick stuff, with the barrel of a gun pointed right at me. Stay out of the thick stuff with any calls, and come out wearing so much orange that it looks like Mardi Gras.

badboybob

Hokie you said you like to go in the thick stuff on public lands. Don't you realize that there are idiots on that same land who will shoot at anything? Even if they can't see it or identify it, if they hear it or see movement they will shoot.

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So many guns to buy. So little money.

HokieHeavyWeight

Thanks for your advise. I think I will not move around much because know I'm scared I will get shot. I have a couple private properties I can hunt so mabee I'll just stick to driving them and just stillhunt in the National Forest. I really don't have too many friends here at VA Tech that are into hunting but I guess I'll just try to get together enough people for a drive when I go home for christmas. What is the best way to run a drive if I could get enough guys interested?

ghotie_thumper

Can you use dogs for deer hunting in your area? In Kalifornia a hunting party can use 1 dog per hunter. Very few people take advantage of this. If I'm going to hunt very brushy areas I'll take my little bitty wouldn't hurt a fly ,fox terrier, out of the box. Cute little lap dog, not intimidating but when he gets the scent of a deer he's on it. If you have a buck holding tight in a brush patch and that little dog scents him he'll go right in and jump it up. I've even had a few people contact me at home to go out and help them recover wounded animals as well. I don't hunt with the dog in timbered areas. If the wind is blowing at you the dog will scent the deer too far ahead of you and * them before you even see them.

badboybob

If you need a dog to shoot a deer you ain't a sportsman, you're a meat hunter.

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So many guns to buy. So little money.

NEEDCOLD

I ain't one to use dogs for deer, and I do disagree somewhat to using them. But what's wrong with hunting for meat?I don't need a B&C buck to make me happy (although it will), but enough for the freezer is fine by me. And a big buck doesn't taste as well as a small one.

218Beekeep

I`ve got a big empty freezer out in the garage,when I get to W.V.this year,I`m gunna be a meat hunter.The way I grew up,the best way to keep yourself from gettin` shot was to hunt out of season,or at night with a light on your head....come ta think of it,thats a meat hunter!!Still don`t understand all this talk about tag..218

DaRoosta

Hokie - You don't really need all that many people to run a drive; 3 or 4 is fine. It all depends on the area you're going to work. You first have to find where the funnels are. It's usually where a field is larger at one end and smaller at another or where two or three draws come together...something like that. In most cases, the funnel usually occurs where people like to set up stands. It's basically a spot where deer are most likely to pass, either if pushed that way or by general habit. In either case, the tricky part is getting someone to the place where the funnel will occur without walking straight through the area you're going to work your drive. You just have to go scout the area a little bit and make sure you know where everyone is going to be so nobody gets caught in the potential crossfire.In my opinion, all this talk about getting shot on public property is crazy talk. I almost always hunt on public property and am more scared of cougars than other hunters. It's true some people have been known to shoot at noise, but in most cases hunters are respectable people who want to be sure of their target.BeeKeep's talk about tags still has me rolling.