Any body else experience these symptoms?
I have been scouting some public land and found some birds. Now as opening day approaches, everything seems like another hunter found the same birds. Every crow and owl sounds like another hunter. I went scouting last weekend and heard a crow go off 20 minutes before day light, I would have sworn it was a hunter. No new ribbon or tape in the area, but am always concerned about old tape. I never like to use it to mark my spots, I always felt like I was just giving someone else my locations.
So now I am flip flopping back between a couple of spots, where to park, Do I go to my blind or sit on the trail in case I have to shine other hunters off. I hate when the bird keeps gobbling and assume someone else is going to hear him to.
Anybody else? Do you guys like to use ribbon or tape to let others know you might be there? 1 of my pet peaves is when someone writes there name and what hunt they have, like they are calling that spot. I HATE that. Usually find there tape for a mile square with several hunts in the area.
I'm always paranoid on public land. It's hard for me to get comfortable
I can definitely relate. Even some of our private land, others have permission so I'm always worried that they'll find the same spots I have. It's excited and nerve racking at the same time.
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Cool topic, I only suffer this paranoia bad after I put one to bed. Thinking about getting back there in the morning before anyone else does keeps me awake!
Other than that, I don't sweat it.
I say go early and get in your blind ready for the morning hunt...you can always work the area from your blind.
I have had hunts where I'm there 1st and people have backed out when I shined my flash light at them. I have extended this same courtesy to others when I walked in and saw there flash light. I have also had people walk past me and set up. Always have a plan B....
Your first mistake is your assumption that scouting public land turkeys puts some kind of possion on said birds. The hunting there is public and thus competition from other hunters. Secondly I'll never marry myself to a blind. I'm personally going to be prepared to move into a bird, set up and kill him. Assuming that the patterns of preseason public birds will stay consistent more than a day or two is a sure way to chase your tail all season.
Never worry about it myself. I don't mark any of my turkey spots. I can get within earshot of em in the dark and then when they start to sound of I take it from there. Being mobile is key as is getting in where others don't want to go. Everyone wants to hunt the bird that has been gobbling within earshot of the parking lot.
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Yep. I'm paranoid when hunting public lands but for entirely different reasons. Unless it's a limited entry hunt that tightly controls numbers of hunters and their distribution, safety is a big concern of mine. You don't always know when other hunters are converging on a gobbler from different directions. With widespread and growing use of HTL, it's not enough any longer to simply positively ID your target. You need to have a safe backdrop behind your target. Of course that true anywhere but paramount on public lands.
I don't worry about it to much, I try to get in early and work a bird. If someone is there before me, I'll back off. But if I'm in first, and someone else comes in on me, and don't back out, I'll try to out hunt them. And if they come in real close to me, I'll just get up and leave, of course I'll make a little noise while leaving. I try and respect other hunters, but I've had them mess things up more than once. Public land is becoming more and more crowded, and that's why a lot of guys hunt on leases, or private land! I feel you're pain.
I do not get the ribbon or tape thing... Putting out a ribbon does not give someone rights to hunt a particular bird, being out in the field first does though (at least in my opinion). Unfortunately, a good percentage of hunters will not respect either (the ribbon or being there first).
If I am hunting public birds, I will look for birds in areas that would not be appealing to other hunters... Whether that means lower bird density or a further walk... This year, I found a 30 acre parcel of public land right below a "scenic lookout," that will almost certainly get overlooked by the majority of hunters... It is on the side of a steep hill, with very little acreage... There are actually no birds on the property itself, but there are a bunch of birds within 200 yards of the property line, so it would be up to me to call them in.
Being such a small piece of property, if someone else is parked there, I would immediately move on... Being such a small piece of land, even the turds with no sense of respect would probably not want to deal with another hunter on such a small piece. Perfect public opening spot...
Quote from: fallhnt on March 12, 2017, 03:31:03 PM
.....I have also had people walk past me and set up. Always have a plan B....
This happened to me two springs ago out of state, I was in the parking area along the public land border and getting my gear together. In pulled a car and that guy literally ran past me in the dark. Ran - I mean full out sprint! Then, not a full minute later a second vehicle pulled in, at least this guy said 'hello' as he too literally ran past me up the trail. So, I'm leaving.
Going to "PLAN B" when then a third truck pulled in and two more guys got out. There isn't but couple hundred acres at most on this part of that public ground, one side bordered by a very steep ridge, the other three sides bordered by private land and a river. No room for two let alone four. You could hear a tree yelp one end to the other on a quiet morning.
I told the two guys in the last truck to pull in what happened, they didn't seen to care and up the trail they went. Came by that little parking spot couple hours later, and it was empty... :z-dizzy: :z-dizzy:
All good replies. The blind I was speaking of is just some brush I marked and set up to put my pole blind behind.
I always get to the gate an hour before it opens, to try and get in the woods 1st.
If someone beats me to a spot or is already working a bird, I will leave and let them have it.
I am forced to hunt WMAs, I can not afford a lease and have no family with property. Some years I do not get drawn for a hunt and have to hunt areas that are open to over 100 hunters.
Yes safety is always a huge concern. I NEVER use a jake decoy and pay attention to sounds and movements around me. Am always ready to yell out if needed. Not always easy to tell the difference between a hen and another hunter: if I think it could be a hunter coming into an area I have been, I will blow a crow call a few times and maybe even an owl hooter.
Would be gteat if there was an " international call or sound" that would let other hunters know you are there without alerting the birds.
I Don't own or use a blind.But I do consider removing every piece of flagging tape water bottle/coke can stuck on branches etc. as part of the game same goes for glow in the dark tacks. You'd have to spend the night in your truck to beat me to my spot lol.There's nothing that can be done with mouth breathers its genetic but you can make it a little harder for them.
All you can do on public land is get there first and hope for the best. If you beat me to a spot turkey hunting I'm moving on . To me if a bird gobbles that's where we all are going so I do not want to make a dangerous situation for anyone. I can't tell you what others will do , I have been first several times to spots on public land only to leave as others pull in and start telling me where they are going. It's frustrating but it's public land and no bird is worth hunting around guys like that to me. I always tell them the same thing when they ask where are you going to hunt"wherever one gobbles" then I will leave because they do not. I can think of at least 4 times I have been first and left that I have killed birds that morning, one of them being last year .So like someone said always have a plan B!
I have hunted public land most of my life. The reality is that it is just that , public land. I do as most on here and move on if someone beats me to a spot , however i have had people ignore me and move right in. I use to get mad and kick and cuss but I Have come to realize that everyone does not have the same ethics and some are down right selfish. No matter how you cut it they have as much right to it as you. Not to beat you up op , but its not your spot and most likely if it has birds you wont have it to yourself. I learned a long time ago to pattern people more than the birds. Use calls they dont use and approach birds from a different direction than others. You just have to adapt , accept that others have as much right as you to be there and use some different tatics. If you dont enjoy it and this stresses you out , save money for your own place or find another sport. Not trying to be a butt , but dont let it stress you. Its supposed to be enjoyable.
Staying mobile is an advantage of hunting public land, I have to listen for gobblers to see where I want to set up most mornings. Hunter density is a big key to making decisions on where to park/hunt/set up. Sure feels good to have an empty parking area midweek!
I have been hunting highly pressured public ground in the northeast all my life. I used to spend tons of time scouting very early and right up to the opener. Here are some random things I have learned. I am pretty hard headed but after about 30 years of the same stuff over and over again I get it.
The huge flocks of birds you see and hear in march will move by our late April opener.
Birds on public you see or hear from the road will be seen and heard by many others.
Turkey hunters are some of the most diehard hunt every day hunters by far. MID week is never a sure bet.
The first 3 days of season are the most heavily hunted. Hunt accordingly.
The bird that raised hell in the tree and shut up once 4 guys started wearing their calls out is still nearby. Wait him out they will leave within 1 hour of silence.
Have lots of patience. IT'S amazing what you see in the woods when you sit still and let the woods come to you....
Our group does extremely well every year in the states we hunt. PUBLIC most often becomes using unconventional tactics. We enjoy the challenge.
Public land turkey hunting can be dog eat dog. I hunt about 50/50 public and private. On public I go in early and stay late. Lots of guys will pack it in mid morning when the birds get quite. If I can I'll hunt mid week. I also go to hard to reach spots. If there's a place with a big hill you have to climb that hill will discourage a lot of other hunters from that spot. Let's face it the lazies aren't going to make a big climb before dawn.
I guess I confused some with this post.
I have hunted public land my whole life and realize what comes with that. The post was not about other hunters or what to do with them.
But the paranoia that I put my self thru. Where to park, which spot to go to, should I sit or should I run and gun.
Just wondering if your mind plays tricks on you and you change your plans several times before you ever get in the woods.?
Again I am not complaining about public land or dealing with other hunters, just how our minds work.
Hold steady. That's what wins the race.
Good luck.
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Quote from: bornagain64 on March 12, 2017, 08:30:21 PM
I guess I confused some with this post.
I have hunted public land my whole life and realize what comes with that. The post was not about other hunters or what to do with them.
But the paranoia that I put my self thru. Where to park, which spot to go to, should I sit or should I run and gun.
Just wondering if your mind plays tricks on you and you change your plans several times before you ever get in the woods.?
Again I am not complaining about public land or dealing with other hunters, just how our minds work.
Without a doubt, I second guess and question every decision. I fret over what others as well as what the gobbler is likely to do. Find myself taking chances and getting more aggressive than I otherwise would. As a result, I'm less successful on public lands (other reasons too) and tend to find the experience less enjoyable.
Sit out the first week. Then hunt midweek thereafter.
Nah I love it and just try to work around the other hunters. Sometimes you'll get cut off on a bird and sometimes you won't. Never has bothered me, but the big trails of orange and pink tape are annoying.
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Quote from: bornagain64 on March 12, 2017, 08:30:21 PM
I guess I confused some with this post.
I have hunted public land my whole life and realize what comes with that. The post was not about other hunters or what to do with them.
But the paranoia that I put my self thru. Where to park, which spot to go to, should I sit or should I run and gun.
Just wondering if your mind plays tricks on you and you change your plans several times before you ever get in the woods.?
Again I am not complaining about public land or dealing with other hunters, just how our minds work.
I wouldn't call that paranoia, I'd say that's being indecisive, a problem I catch myself doing often. Just go with your gut and pick a spot for opening morning. As long as you have a plan B and plan C, there shouldn't be any worry. Also get there stupid early on opening morning.
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I never worry about it, usually plenty of room. A couple years ago i found some birds way back in and picked a parking area that had the best access, there was another vehicle when I arrived and I nearly left and went to another spot, but I decided there was a ton of ground back there and went in anyway.
I walked about 5 minutes and there was the guy off to the east of the main trail at the head of a nice looking draw, not sure he even saw me slide by and I continued on to my spot which was no where near him.
That is my only concern when hunting public is not messing with another's hunt, I wish everyone were so gracious but most are actually, I have never had a run in personally but know others have. Of course I always seem to find some off the wall hell hole to get into!
Who me? Paranoid?
No, not at all. :angel2:
I have been known to go to rather extreme lengths to avoid such paranoia.
Having a shade tree mechanic father in law who always had four or five vehicles I could park at my hunting spot the night before went a long ways towards relieving such anxiety.
Seeking those out of the way places that are difficult to get to will help you find birds that are less pressured. Sometimes it doesn't have to be a very big piece of land either. Using a boat, kayak, or canoe to access places most of the crowd won't mess with also adds some adventure (& extra work) to the hunt. Maybe have somebody drop you off where there's no parking nearby? Definitely hunt during mid-week.
Jim
I am blessed with a long season here in Georgia. I don't do public land until mid-april. By then 90% have either burned themselves out or tag out on loud mouth two-year-old Birds. I have the old tight-lipped sneaky Birds pretty much to myself. I love working a goblin bird as much as anybody but the thrill of victory is much greater when you nail one of those sneaky Birds.
I, too, have hunted public land most of my life. My radar is always scanning for other hunters trying to encroach on my setup. I can't count the times other hunters have parked right next to my vehicle and then moved right in to a bird I was working. Even had one guy belly crawl right past my calling position despite my whistling at him. Many of those guys are opportunists who probably have done little scouting. Best advice I can give is to try to scout for roosted birds as far away from roads as possible and always have a plan B and C. Above all, be extra careful!
One must always assume that another hunter could be that hen you are hearing, or approaching or setting up, but all you can do is keep your eyes open. Some folks will intentionally bust one off of you, some will mess up the scene unintentionally, and sometimes the other fella gets "your bird" (a.k.a. the disheartening surprise boom and the sound of flopping wings...oh well maybe next time... ::)
The public in PA can get insanely crowded I try and find the birds that are at least a mile deep, if birds are visible from the road or within ear shot of a parking lot there's a good chance that 11 guys will be stumbling around the woods on any given morning.
I try to remove tape when I find it, as I consider it a blight on the forest. On occasion, I have repositioned it in a misdirection, though I find the tape is usually trash left by deer hunters.
This is one important post. I only hunt public lands now. I used to belong to a few gun clubs and that land was even more crowded! I love to both hike and bike and I have a mountain bike- which I use if I have to work that day. I have a great area that is a full 2 miles in and I know for a fact-- a few other hardcore Spring turkey hunters use this area as well. I just go with the flow and try like Hell to park first and get to my area first.
I was just at the Rockland, NY Hunting and Fishing Expo on March 4th I think and bought a nice box caller and was enjoying lunch on one of those circular tables you can stand around. I took that box caller out and the guy eating next to me started some turkey talk with me and showed me some awesome pics from last Spring of his Son and the guys own gobbler. Turns out that he hunts the VERY same area as I do- but comes in from another parking area. His hike in is less--1 1/2 miles. It is what it is. I just try to get my butt out there before another Spring hunter and hope for the best!
Quote from: silvestris on March 13, 2017, 11:30:37 AM
I try to remove tape when I find it, as I consider it a blight on the forest. On occasion, I have repositioned it in a misdirection, though I find the tape is usually trash left by deer hunters.
same here, most tape is from deer hunters. And most of it is through wide open hardwoods that are easy to find your way through. Are they trying to claim a spot or find their way in the dark?
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Most areas I hunt are a quota draw, can Only hunt those certain days. Another issue is the weather, with a quota hunt you do not have an option to wait for good weather. These quotas are picked months in advance and you just have to go with what you get.
Another issue I face is there is ALWAYS a different way in. You may think you are the only one there or you got there first, but another hunter came in a different trial.
Only 4 more days to have to think about it, then it is time to be in the woods. I know I will be the 1st couple guys at the gate, then I will game plan on where they pull off to park.
I hunt both. I tend towards private to start and move to public as the crowds thin. My brother lives right next to a national forest. It is amazing how often there is one bird gobbling and someone kills it. Everyone leaves. Then a few days later some unheard birds start gobbling!
As to the paranoia, remember:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSbSueq_KSY