I've seen quite a few posts regarding the rudeness, illiteracy, indecency, criminality, and general poor hunting skills of gun hunters. Obviously none of these people frequent this site, it's just "everyone else" out there!
It got me thinking - I've hunted pressured public land for 20 years or so. I've hunted in seven different states. The majority of my time is spent bowhunting because the majority of the season availability is archery, and I also like to do it slightly more than gun hunting. However, I still really like to gun hunt. I have NEVER done ANY of the things folks have reported happening to them by these no good outlaw redneck swine. But as I look back on all those seasons, with me continuing to hunt right through gun seasons at the same frequency, I have NEVER encountered ANY of the behavior folks have reported either.
So, If I'm not doing it, and You're definitely not doing it, someone has to be acting like a chump out there. I guess I am fortunate for my lack of issues with folks. But I also think my behavior, and hunting style could have something to do with it too. I am generally not running into people in the woods. I prioritize sections of property that don't get foot traffic because, well, that's what deer prioritize too. Thickets, CRP, Swamps, Water crossing of any kind, steep terrain, you name it. If it's not walking upright a few hundred yards on flat quiet comfortable ground, most folks aren't interested. I hunt this way in bow season, and I hunt this way in gun season. Sure, the deer move around from pressure, but there's places they usually go that people usually don't. That's where you'll find me from first to last day of season.
I also am allergic to hunting near other people - I spend as much time patterning them as I do the critters. I actively avoid areas I know people will be in.
It makes me wonder if the spots folks are hunting during their holy archery season are easy, obvious, open spots to hunt. And when rifle season rolls around, they're disappointed that a tenfold increase in humans in the woods, has led to "someone being in my spot!".
So, do you hunt in different locations during archery and rifle seasons? Ignore the obvious that deer behavior and food sources change and you change with them regardless of season. I'm talking about specifically changing your tactics or behavior with more "less morally acceptables" in the woods.
I want to get to the bottom of why there's so many accounts of the crazies...
It got me thinking - I've hunted pressured public land for 20 years or so. I've hunted in seven different states. The majority of my time is spent bowhunting because the majority of the season availability is archery, and I also like to do it slightly more than gun hunting. However, I still really like to gun hunt. I have NEVER done ANY of the things folks have reported happening to them by these no good outlaw redneck swine. But as I look back on all those seasons, with me continuing to hunt right through gun seasons at the same frequency, I have NEVER encountered ANY of the behavior folks have reported either.
So, If I'm not doing it, and You're definitely not doing it, someone has to be acting like a chump out there. I guess I am fortunate for my lack of issues with folks. But I also think my behavior, and hunting style could have something to do with it too. I am generally not running into people in the woods. I prioritize sections of property that don't get foot traffic because, well, that's what deer prioritize too. Thickets, CRP, Swamps, Water crossing of any kind, steep terrain, you name it. If it's not walking upright a few hundred yards on flat quiet comfortable ground, most folks aren't interested. I hunt this way in bow season, and I hunt this way in gun season. Sure, the deer move around from pressure, but there's places they usually go that people usually don't. That's where you'll find me from first to last day of season.
I also am allergic to hunting near other people - I spend as much time patterning them as I do the critters. I actively avoid areas I know people will be in.
It makes me wonder if the spots folks are hunting during their holy archery season are easy, obvious, open spots to hunt. And when rifle season rolls around, they're disappointed that a tenfold increase in humans in the woods, has led to "someone being in my spot!".
So, do you hunt in different locations during archery and rifle seasons? Ignore the obvious that deer behavior and food sources change and you change with them regardless of season. I'm talking about specifically changing your tactics or behavior with more "less morally acceptables" in the woods.
I want to get to the bottom of why there's so many accounts of the crazies...