And we wonder why leasing land is the growing trend.

[joelife]

SO I get up at 3 in the morning after taking a shower and getting everything ready I hit the road. I drive an hour and a half to the spot on public land and pack my climber in the long way so that I don’t spook the deer out of the soybean field. I was hunting about 30 feet into the woods in the neck of a Y shaped spur that comes into the soybean field each spur is about 100 feet wide and they join into a marshy creek bottom. I get in my stand about 6:00 in the morning hoping to catch the deer sneaking out of the fields using the cover. And at noon I’m going to move into the creek bottom and try to catch them staging in the evening before they hit the fields.

About 8:30 I hear something moving through the beans as it gets closer I see it’s 2 guys dressed in Army camouflage smoking a cigarette with their crossbows on their shoulders. As they get in the woods and under my stand I said “hey guys” the guy looks up and says “hey” and keeps walking past my stand I asked the second guy “where are yall going” codeword for “Just what the fu*%$ are yall doing” and he replies we going to that creek bottom.. NOT 100 YARDS BEHIND MY STAND!!!!

I get out of my stand at 0900 fully knowing my hunt has been ruined by Billy Bob and his buddy Cefus. I pack my climber back to my truck and they had parked right next to me. Keep in mind this is only a small patch of woods that’s spur into a soybean field. I take a bite of my lunch between cussing these guys.

About 11:00 I see them leaving the woods. They fu*#d my hunt and only stayed 2 hours! So not wanting this to happen again I start talking to the guys and offer my cell number so the guy can call me in the future if he wants to hunt that same spot. And he says I aint got no phone. I asked him how often he planned to hunt the spot and he replied I don’t know. Realizing this was going nowhere I said have a nice day.

I didn’t mind the guys walked up on me. After all it’s public land that happens. But to keep walking right through my setup to hunt 100 yards behind me really baked my beans.

I hung around and decided to hunt it that evening. Believe it or not I didn’t see a darn thing from 2:00 until dark in an area full of rubs and tracks. HUH IMAGINE THAT! And to top it all off, as I’m leaving the woods I get a hedge apple square in the head. And to think, I was worried about the black walnuts.

A great end to my worthless day with worthless people.

[MagnumMudMan]

Not to get into the whole leasing land becoming Illinois thing again, but I am seriously thinking about trying to look into leasing a small farm up here next season for exclusive permission. I have had way too many hunts ruined by Billybob out wandering around the state forest with his crossbow (nothing against crossbows now) because he is too lazy to get into a tree and sit still.

[traphunter]

Me and bowhuntinoh had 2 guys walk right past us saturday morning, actually the ywalked right under him. Even after they saw him they kept going. This was also on public land, however it didnt surprize me the least bit.

[coonskinner]

only problems i had was sat. morn. i was sick and that eve. i went out but there was high winds...sunday i hunted only morn...within sight of road,saw one deer at 30yds...seen no people in the W N F woods either time...:biggrin:

[Paul8877]

That is the exact reason I am looking and trying to find a few others here in SW Ohio to go in on a lease with. ANYONE INTERESTED? My email is PaulRuhe@Hotmail.com or you can PM me as well. At least this way we could have a few guys and not have to worry about walking right up on the other and spoiling their hunt.

[birddog1]

That's the exact reason I do lease land. I have a 133 acre lease in Carroll County. But I have to tell you, it won't keep others off of the land. Last year on the Friday of gun season, I took off work early and went down for an afternoon hunt. It had just snowed about 1/2 hour before I got there and there was a light powder on the ground. Right where I park there is a set of footprints going down the logging road. I followed them to see where they had been and this idiot actually went to everyone one of my 4 stands and stood there. Needless to say I didn't see a deer. I've also had one stand stolen and another one in the process of being stolen. My brother spooked the thief.

[tuffshot]

Wonder why there are so many bozos on public land after their backyard hunting ground has been leased up and they were threatened to get shot if they trespassed by a bunch of people that don't even live in the same county.

Its only going to get worse, Joe.

[Plugugly]

F - W Forestery who manages the old Mead Land will send you a map of lease property available in Southern Ohio. Hold on though, $7.00 an acre, I saw tracts from 58 to over 1000 acres.

Click on Ohio (www.fwforestry.com/branches.html (http://www.fwforestry.com/branches.html))

[SP Scout]

Glad to hear you didnt pull a gun on these guys joe. Hunting public land can be frustrating seeing other hunters but you have to realize, they dont know where anyone else is going to be. So if you get tired of seeing other hunters, go deeper.

[Ohio Bow]

If I ever hunt public land its never on the weekends.

[buckhound]

i know its discouraging to have something like that to happen. i'am a non-resident and i basically rely on public land so i know it happens,but ruining someones hunt could be minimized if people would show some courtesy.if i pull up to parking lot and a vehicle is there i'll try another spot,and should i walk up on someone i'll back out .this may sound a bit extreme but its how i do it. besides my confidence goes down if i know i'am close to somebody. as for the leasing it looks like its going to be the thing of the future for ohio.i still like the public land.

[ncboman]

I think some of you guys are just looking to blame someone/something for not seeing deer and poor hunt choices.

Early season, deer don't always move like we want. It's just the way God made it.

Picking a public land spot in a thin strip of timber to a beanfield is simply asking for company opening weekend or any weekend for that matter.

I've hunted public land for years and some hunts get muffed a bit but I've found by carefully picking my spots and holding my position in spite of human activity I do best. 99% of groundhunters never stay at one spot very long and often times I've had deer come by shortly after other hunters have left.

In my mind, at least for now, public land in Ohio beats the crap out of a lease in one regard at least. So much public land throughout the state allows for mobility a lease just can't provide. It's also a fairly good bet that someplace in the state there is a better public land buck than on any individual lease.

Nothing wrong with a some acreage near home where you can effect desired results over time but killin deer ain't difficult on public land and there are some nice ones runnin around too. :)

[coonskinner]

I think some of you guys are just looking to blame someone/something for not seeing deer and poor hunt choices.

Early season, deer don't always move like we want. It's just the way God made it.

Picking a public land spot in a thin strip of timber to a beanfield is simply asking for company opening weekend or any weekend for that matter.

I've hunted public land for years and some hunts get muffed a bit but I've found by carefully picking my spots and holding my position in spite of human activity I do best. 99% of groundhunters never stay at one spot very long and often times I've had deer come by shortly after other hunters have left.

In my mind, at least for now, public land in Ohio beats the crap out of a lease in one regard at least. So much public land throughout the state allows for mobility a lease just can't provide. It's also a fairly good bet that someplace in the state there is a better public land buck than on any individual lease.

Nothing wrong with a some acreage near home where you can effect desired results over time but killin deer ain't difficult on public land and there are some nice ones runnin around too. :)

i know its like this where i hunt'out of years of hunting i've had only bout 5 times i've had anybuddy ruin a hunt and only one time was it somebuddy with a xbow...and i do realize in the end its public hunting...everybuddy has a right to hunt there,again everybuddy has a right to hunt there...thats a good thing isnt it???if i dont want bothered i go out in the middle of the forest...in my area thats a half mile to 3/4 mile walk...good thing is,very few go that far an go off the main trail...even in gun seasons i've went out i see very few hunters but usually 9-10 deer...some feeding naturally under my tree,just as if it were archery season...now i know not all public land is created equal...but the wayne and shawnee and those places around mcarthur an lake hope are as good a place as anywhere :D .

[chadwimc]

Based on your other posts, i'm suprised you didn't pull a gun and try to hold 'em for the sherriff...

[bowhuntinoh]

i hunt a lot of public land in 3 counties clinton highland and adams on saturday i seen 2 guys sunday i seen one we met in the parkinglot and set a plan so we wouldnt bump each other me and trap set up sat where the deer go when people come out to hunt this land most of em fallow the mowed path into the woods and bump em down my way but most of the time i never see anyone on the public ground i hunt until gun season then i hunt a farm i have access on i guess im going to have to buy me a 100 acres or so of my own untill then ill keep hunting ol white horns down south

[Andy Gehle]

A great end to my worthless day with worthless people.

You've got some high horse there bro. It is PUBLIC land afterall, right? And these guys were on PUBLIC land, right?
So what IS the distance that they should have put between you and them? 200 yards? 500 yards?
Maybe they don't subscribe to the same "distance requirements" that you do, but that doesn't necessarily make them "worthless people" now does it?

For the record, if you offered me your cell phone number to "check in" with you before I went hunting on public land, I would have politely invited you to have relations with yourself.

Like I said, you got some high horse there, man.

[OHBOW76]

I've had thsi happen to me too many times to count, when huntign public land. I know there is great huntign to be had on public land, but I am fortunate to have private land that I can hunt on. Even now when I do hunt public land I am always on edge wonderign when some moron will come through my setup, it just isnt enjoyable.

[R. Toker]

You've got some high horse there bro. It is PUBLIC land afterall, right? And these guys were on PUBLIC land, right?
So what IS the distance that they should have put between you and them? 200 yards? 500 yards?
Maybe they don't subscribe to the same "distance requirements" that you do, but that doesn't necessarily make them "worthless people" now does it?

For the record, if you offered me your cell phone number to "check in" with you before I went hunting on public land, I would have politely invited you to have relations with yourself.

Like I said, you got some high horse there, man.

I'm with you on this Andy. If you want a piece of land to hunt where you have some control over who hunts it, go buy some land, until then you are asking for these types of situations. I am wondering why these folks had to be referred to as Billy Bob and such. I live in rural Harrison county and I suspect some folks who come down here to hunt might refer to me in such a manner, oh well I usually have a few names for those NE Ohio city hunters too!!! I guess I am lucky I have a 450acre tract of land that has been in my family for three generations, with only four of us who bowhunt there.

[New Guy]

I agree with Andy also...It is after all public land...I have had a couple of occasions when someone walked up on me and was rude enough to set up with in fifty or so yards of me...and I have walked up on other guys my self, when that happens I wave and leave the way I've come in...when I was gun hunting I've seen large drives go through a woods and not jump a single deer and then as soon as they leave I've watched the deer stand up and go on about their business, so activity dosen't always mean spooking all the deer in the area. You just have to remember that public means public and some of the public don't have any common sense. You could jump from your stand and thump them but in the end they would still be knuckle heads and you would have sore hands...I think it's better to just sit tight unless they set up right on you, in which case I just get down and move. There are lots of places to hunt...just pick the ones that are 1/4 mile or more off the road and the traffic will be cut to a minimum... also, I never hunt public land on the weekends unless I have too. New Guy

[ncboman]

You guys in Ohio actually don't know how good you have it with all the available public land. Here in my part of NC, nearly all the land is leased by clubs. I had to buy some just to have a place to hunt and even that's a 25 mile drive one way.

Public land on weekends just requires a little more thought and strategy. As Coonskinner keeps sayin, once you actually get back in the woods you can't tell the difference usually.

Not a day goes by that I'm not dreaming about my yearly adventure in Ohio on public land. I enjoy it very much and seldom complain about others enjoying the use of the land as I do.

:)

[chopiq]

Just talked to a guy here at work and he was hunting yesterday and when he got back to his truck there was a note on the windshield that said he couldn't hunt there anymore because 3 guys from Pennsylvania leased the land for $15 an acre, and they want exclusive rights.
My feelings on this is if people from out of state are going to hunt Ohio then charge them more than what we are charging them now. I can remember back in the 70's if you saw deer tracks it was a good day. So now that our DNR got the deer population back to respectful numbers and sizes every neighboring state hunter wants in on it. I've been paying the state of Ohio for hunting for over 30 years and I consider it a good investment, but I believe the out of staters are getting off easy. I hunt mostly public land near Lake Hope. Go down there Oct-Nov and look at the out of state hunters they are taking over down there. Not a day doesn't go by that some out of state hunters don't walk thru the area I'm hunting. I know they are from out of state from talking to them and their license plates. Yes I know its public ground, and I expect people to walk in on me, but every day? I even had out of staters follow me into the woods to see where I'm hunting. I had one sit up about 10 yards from me and when I waved at him he waved back took his stand down and moved about another 15 yards and sit up again. I talked to him later and he was from North Carolina. He said he didn't think I would mind him hunting there because I get to hunt it all the time. I get to hunt on Saturdays only and one 3 day trip in Nov. You say if I don't like it buy or lease land. That may be good for some of you but I simply can't afford it. I'm sure some of you don't agree with this but hey everyone is entitled to their opinon.

[Andy Gehle]

How can you fault a guy from another state who wants to hunt in Ohio?
He buys his liscense, contributes to the local economy, he plays by the rules.....how is this bad again?
I guarentee you that if I was relocated to NC, I'd be up here every year in November, paying my fees and hunting away.
Have you never hunted out of state?

[tuffshot]

In this particular situation, it sounds like the place was not very big and congestion can be a problem. But with a larger piece of public land and there is a whole lot more acreage to hunt, it is funny how some will stop right where someone else is hunting.
Alot of people look for the easy way and when someone else has found a spot they will try and take advantage of the situation. Human nature is a complicated thing.

ncboman, has touched on the issue as to how well you plan your own hunt and get off the beaten path. Also Ohio public land will get even more pressure as the wheels turn and could end up just like NC and most states out West.

[chopiq]

I don't fault them at all. If I lived in a neighboring state and had the means I would probably hunt Ohio also. My main gripe about out of state hunters, from talking to them, they feel that they are here for only a week and they should be entitled to a deer or the area to hunt in. Maybe its just the ones I talk to, but thats the feeling I get.
As for public land, of course everyone should be allowed to hunt it, and by hunting public land I should expect to have people walk in on me. With that being said there is a thing as common coutersy. Its like fishing, you find a good spot and are catching fish and along comes one guy and anchors within casting distance from your boat. Then other times another guy ask how you doing and keeps going. Just common courtesy, you see someone in a stand, acknowledge him and quietly move out. Sure he has as might right as you to hunt there but the sportsman and genleman thing to do would be move on.

[l00k]

Just talked to a guy here at work and he was hunting yesterday and when he got back to his truck there was a note on the windshield that said he couldn't hunt there anymore because 3 guys from Pennsylvania leased the land for $15 an acre, and they want exclusive rights.
My feelings on this is if people from out of state are going to hunt Ohio then charge them more than what we are charging them now. I can remember back in the 70's if you saw deer tracks it was a good day. So now that our DNR got the deer population back to respectful numbers and sizes every neighboring state hunter wants in on it. I've been paying the state of Ohio for hunting for over 30 years and I consider it a good investment, but I believe the out of staters are getting off easy. I hunt mostly public land near Lake Hope. Go down there Oct-Nov and look at the out of state hunters they are taking over down there. Not a day doesn't go by that some out of state hunters don't walk thru the area I'm hunting. I know they are from out of state from talking to them and their license plates. Yes I know its public ground, and I expect people to walk in on me, but every day? I even had out of staters follow me into the woods to see where I'm hunting. I had one sit up about 10 yards from me and when I waved at him he waved back took his stand down and moved about another 15 yards and sit up again. I talked to him later and he was from North Carolina. He said he didn't think I would mind him hunting there because I get to hunt it all the time. I get to hunt on Saturdays only and one 3 day trip in Nov. You say if I don't like it buy or lease land. That may be good for some of you but I simply can't afford it. I'm sure some of you don't agree with this but hey everyone is entitled to their opinon.


Well being from North Carolina I can tell you that all you guys from Ohio don't realize how lucky you guys have it, tons of deer...and a chance of killing or at least seeing a real Trophy Buck. Sure I hunt here in NC...but as I hunt here I know that my chances of seeing deer like Ohio has is slim to none. I come to Ohio about 2 years ago scouting and looking for public land to hunt...I was even able to pick up a farm by talking to the land owner. I can promise that if you guys was not so forunate to have some of the greatest hunting you would be planing a trip to where the odds was better. I can't speak for all out of staters but I for one respect any hunter whether its here or there, and if I walk up on another hunter I will leave the way I come and find another place to hunt....the worst place there is probably better than the best place here... so I'm happy just knowing I'm in a Trophy hunting state. I would bet that not just out staters walk up on you either. I have talked to several Ohio residents and hunters there and I can say I have not met one person thats rude or against my presence of hunting Ohio. I can see why some of the out staters look for a lease though after seeing how you all react to YOUR OWN PRIVATE PUBLIC hunting ground.... I havn't yet but I would hate to run up on someone that gets so upset and offer phone numbers for me to call and let them know when I was going to be hunting. I'm leaving the 28th of this month and going to be hunting for around 7-10 days and I will be hunting both public and private land, but I can tell you that if I was to walk up on any other hunters I will kindly walk back the way I come in and go else where. I come with all intentions of taking a nice deer, but if we go back with nothing I can say I still had a great time...sometimes the trip and just getting away from everything is just as good as taking a good deer. I hope all you the best of luck, and will continue to read about your hunts as I so anxiously wait for my trip.

[Andy Gehle]

I'm completely with you on the lack of courtesy and sense of entitlement. I just don't think it's exclusive to out of staters. In fact, almost the opposite. Most of the guys I know who travel out of state anywhere to hunt are pretty serious about their trip and have enough sense to respect others and want the same solitude that we all like. It would spoil their hunt as much as yours if they set up anywhere nearby.
But I'm sure in the same breath that there's a bunch of guys who feel like you describe; if I traveled this far and you can hunt it anytime, then you should let me....That's bunk and just plain rude. I'd bet that kind of dude is just as rude at home as he is in Ohio.
Most of the bad experiences I've had on public land were from local guys who feel entitled to certain areas of public land, just because they lived nearby. Most of the time I had set up in what seems to be a generic area to me, and then they come in an hour later and tell me this is where they always set up and I should find another spot. Even then if the guy phrases it and asks the right way, I'll typically apologize and move on. But more than a few times I've been told how it was going to be and what I needed to do. Even then I move on, but not because I think they're right, but because they may be more inclined to use their weapons than I would.

That's what's frustrating about the whole deal when you run into an ahole in the field. You can't really put up too much of a stand unless you're prepared for it to end very badly. So I get why anyone would be inclined to need to air it out a touch on a website. Makes sense.
But I think there can be a pack mentality in a forum and guys can get all worked without first trying to put themselves in the other guy's shoes even though most of the times, it is was it seemed and the guy is just a jerk.

[Big H]

Andy, I like the way you think, I'm gonna be watching you.:biggrin:

[coonskinner]

there will be more guys in the woods the 1st day of archery season...then it will slide downhill...and perk back up the 2nd week of nov...for a week...thats why the deer camp (wn) is done when it is,starting on halloween weekend...no overcrowding,in fact i had my only encounter last year on nov. 10...with out of staters twice and they are the type of hunters that i wish would stay in their home state...the year before i seen no one the 2nd week of nov...but really there isnt that many out there...not where i'm hunting...its so lonely out there i beg for people to come an hunt...now back to non res. before i get all pulverised into lil gall stones...we had a fantastic guy from pa. in camp last year from pa...an i hope he is back this year...:D

[Andy Gehle]

Andy, I like the way you think, I'm gonna be watching you.:biggrin:

He really seems to care.....about what I have no idea.:D

(You were going for the Back to School Kinison quote, right?)

[Big H]

Yep, good catch. :D

[coonskinner]

joelife...:yikes:

:nono: ...

[BuckEyeCam]

I know Coon _ I am not even going to touch this one :)

[Darron]

Guys I have two great places to bow hunt here in SW Ohio. One property is a little over 80 acres and the other one is 105. The one I have exclusive rights to, the other I share with one other guy. What I am trying to say is there is still land out there that people are willing to let you hunt, it just takes some leg work. I'm not even that big of a bow hunter and I lucked upon these two spots. I am mostly a waterfowler, but must say, I will be bowhunting a lot when duck season is not in. :mischeif:

[OLDHAT]

Joe Life:

Just playing the devil's adocate here, but what do you think abou this:


"Man billybob, we walked through here all year, scouting and trying to find the deer, had a great pattern picked out and all, and what happens on opening day: There is a freaking monkey in a tree ruining our hunting spot. Stupid guy should get a crossbow so he can just lay down behind a log in his camo sleeping bag,, stay warm and shoot a deer. Yeah, you're right Billbob, these public land hunters are the horrible, they could get up and move around a bit to get the deer moving".

Public land does suck from time to time.

Oldhat

[coonskinner]

Joe Life:

Just playing the devil's adocate here, but what do you think abou this:


"Man billybob, we walked through here all year, scouting and trying to find the deer, had a great pattern picked out and all, and what happens on opening day: There is a freaking monkey in a tree ruining our hunting spot. Stupid guy should get a crossbow so he can just lay down behind a log in his camo sleeping bag,, stay warm and shoot a deer. Yeah, you're right Billbob, these public land hunters are the horrible, they could get up and move around a bit to get the deer moving".

Public land does suck from time to time.

Oldhat

yup some dont realize how lucky they may have been when they arrowed a deer that was bedded for the day,that some hunter or dog rousted up out of the bed and sent the whitetail on the path to your stand...:biggrin:

[joelife]

Joe Life:

Just playing the devil's adocate here, but what do you think abou this:


"Man billybob, we walked through here all year, scouting and trying to find the deer, had a great pattern picked out and all, and what happens on opening day: There is a freaking monkey in a tree ruining our hunting spot. Stupid guy should get a crossbow so he can just lay down behind a log in his camo sleeping bag,, stay warm and shoot a deer. Yeah, you're right Billbob, these public land hunters are the horrible, they could get up and move around a bit to get the deer moving".

Public land does suck from time to time.

Oldhat


No doubt he might have scouted the area in the past. My beef comes in when the guy parked right next to me and walked through a 200 yard bean field to hunt a small patch of woods. He knew damn well he would walk up on me before he left his truck.

Then when he did walk up on me purposely an hour after daylight and 2 hours after I got in my stand he kept walking to hunt 100 yards right behind me in the funnel behind me. In essence cutting me off. There was no deer coming to me without going through him, and he knew it.

I didn't offer my phone # for him to check in with me. I offered it to him since we apparently both want to hunt the spot. And as a courtesy we could possibility let each other know when we were there as to avoid the same situation. Or perhaps we could team up and coordinate spots if we both wanted to hunt that day. Or tell each other what we saw one day, 2 eyes are better than one. It's called a compromise. I never said the guy didn't have a right to be there. I just wanted to work something out so that we both could hunt that small area without messing each other up.

But hey whatever... If deer can pattern hunters I can too. I'll just come in the back way and hunt farter back down the hollow. He can have that spot. I'll let him push them to me out of the fingers and deeper into the hollow when he comes crashing in at 8:30 in the morning.

[ncboman]

I have a great deal of respect for the land wherever I hunt. I even stop and pick up litter from the roadsides of public land I use. A park ranger told me the only ones he ever sees pick up litter are nonresident bowhunters and resident birdhunters. Figure that one out.

What bothers me about public land is all the litter left behind during the gun season. Before gun season the land looks nearly pristine and after gun season it resembles the road to a landfill. Do we really want gun hunters to equate to trash in public perception?

It's not that difficult to carry a 5gal bucket in the truck for trash. I've been doing it for many years and if I were King, I'd make it required equipt to hunt public land.

We are blessed with beautiful land to hunt in many states. Please leave it as good or better than you find it.

:)

[joelife]

I have a great deal of respect for the land wherever I hunt. I even stop and pick up litter from the roadsides of public land I use. A park ranger told me the only ones he ever sees pick up litter are nonresident bowhunters and resident birdhunters. Figure that one out.

What bothers me about public land is all the litter left behind during the gun season. Before gun season the land looks nearly pristine and after gun season it resembles the road to a landfill. Do we really want gun hunters to equate to trash in public perception?

It's not that difficult to carry a 5gal bucket in the truck for trash. I've been doing it for many years and if I were King, I'd make it required equipt to hunt public land.

We are blessed with beautiful land to hunt in many states. Please leave it as good or better than you find it.

:)


Yeah it always bothers me when I see trash left in the field I usually carry a plastic grocery bag with me....

You can do better hunting beer cans than hunting any animal species. They all seem to be old beer cans. Looks like drinking while hunting was a big thing once. It's good to see the DNR cracked down on it. It'll still take a while to get all those cans though.

[Huber920]

Yeah, I don't understand why anyone would want to drink beer while hunting. It dulls your senses! Hello? Save the drinking for later! I plan on doing some heavy boozing at deer camp after I've shot a monster buck...atleast I hope I have that reason for celebration. Heh heh.
As for the public land, all the other hunters actually helped me get my deer last year. If they weren't out there walking around, I'll bet that buck I shot wouldn't have walked right behind me like he did.