So your have scouted maybe hunted a place of public land for years, let's say 20. You spent a lot of time and effort, hand written notes, marks on topo maps, updated co-ordinates on GPS, even taken deer occasionally. Seen some quality bucks too. Now its time to share the info with your kid, friend, etc. Let's say just for the effect the place is really hard to get too, surrounded by swamp, need waders, canoe or walk a long, long way in (or both). Its a key spot you like in the middle of thousands of acres. So plan for weeks before the rut to go to the spot you have waited for the wind to be right, rut is kicking in, etc. Before daybreak do what you need to do to get there, GPS is locked close to it seeing all the land marks, wondering what exact tree you want to be in. Well hello, someone else is in the tree(s) you have on the GPS, hand written notes, old topo maps, etc. What the?? Been hunting for 20 years, never seen anyone else back in here.
OK I'll move a way to spot B, you have also on the GPS maybe only 0.15 mi or so from the key spot. Hunt with your kid, buddy, whatever. After a days hunt you head out to your point of origin(e.g. car or campsite) get accousted by someone complaining you set-up too close to "their spot". It comes with Fnheimers , creative metaphors in the conversation and you respond in kind (sorry kid I didn't mean to say that). Again hunted for years and years don't recall seeing YOU before.., I have GPS, I know where I am and didn't learn the spot from you, nor am I shirt-tailing... Maybe that's the end of it for now.
Do you: A- abandon the spot, this person may certainly be back again-public land nothing saying they can't use it. Start the search all over again. B-just chalk in up as bad luck you both are in the same place ,same time-so just try again later or C-look to cooperatively form an alliance to hunt that "key" spot?? D- I'll hunt anywhere I want, at any time on public land, Please and Thank You.
If you are going to hunt cooperatively what would be a reasonable distance?? 100-200 yds, 300 yds, absolutely out of site??. You only get to hunt every other weekend, OK??
What the consensus from the bowhunting crowd??
Remember: We all are born naked and we all die naked. Nothing of this Earth you will take across.
Several years ago I went to a favorite spot that I'd hunted for years with no interference. Lo and behold there was ground blind. I went elsewhere-500-600 yds away and was successful. I poked my head in there this year. No ground blind. So, I set up. Another successful hunt.
I have 3-5 different spots to set up for this reason. If that doesn't work out, I'll still hunt/scout until I find another. No big deal. I'm still in the game.
