Do You Call In Hunters Occasionally Or Never On Public?

[Dtrkyman]

Not to the point they were a safety issue.  Usually they respond to the calling from a distance and realize I am working that particular bird, if the situation allows it I often hit the crow call loudly and so it sounds not so much like a crow so they back off.

I guess thinking about it, and all the public land i hunt each year I have pretty fortunate not to get into a dicey situation!

[T-town]

I've had more trouble with trespassers on private than I have with folks walking in on me on public.

[Spurs]

I've had more trouble with trespassers on private than I have with folks walking in on me on public.

Somewhat the same here.  I've had more safety issues on private.  Was working a bird on my family's 200 acre camp when I was in my early 20s (full of pi$$ and vinegar back then).  Was working a bird dang near in the middle of the property when a guy walked within about 15 yards of me.  Scared the absolute crap out of me because it had rained the night before.  I whistled at him and once he saw me, I motioned him to come to me.  I whispered that if there wasn't a bird out there gobbling that I'd kick his tail right there...I woulda tried back then too. 

I have often looked back at that and wished I handled it differently.  I shoulda sat right there and called the warden.  It would have been much more pleasing to see him get the book thrown at him than watch him walk off over the ridge.

Didn't kill the bird that day, but I got him off the roost in one of my more memorable hunts ever the next morning.

[WV Flopper]

 I had seen this post earlier and thought....well, leave it alone...

Well, yes, I have ran into some real ignorant SOB's on public. To the point that I stopped hunting public for years unless I needed too. I have a bunch real handy to the house. Sometimes, it is just an accident running into people, maybe just the lay of the land.

I have had more safety issues on Private that public. One season, first day, I was down on my gun waiting for a turkey to top the ridge line into sight. When the turkey topped the ridge my bead on the 10gauge was squarely on the dudes forehead. Hopefully he learned a lesson, he seen the end of my barrel staring at him from 25-30 yards.

Next day, different spot, I had my bead on a guys leg. Same situation.

Don't sneak in on a turkey, it very well may not be a turkey! I have killed a large amount of Toms setting up on vocal hens and never did hear a gobble, or a gobble at the last moment. I was taught long ago to set up on ever turkey I hear, and I do.

One year a small group us were together fall hunting, one of our party was calling and had a guy jump out of some brush to bust "The flock". A couple hours later the guy did this to someone else who shot him.

You got to use some common sense when guns are involved!

Two seasons ago I called up the same guy twice within an hour or two, second time I hollered out at him "I am not a turkey, leave me alone." Private, hunting club ground.

[Cut N Run]

On some private land about 8 years ago and I'd eased to a rise of high ground beside a swamp mid-morning where I'd heard gobbles when I was scouting on Sunday.  I settled in about 10-12 minutes before I threw out the first call.  Heard a hen in the distance answer in the breeze. She was getting closer, so I decided to let her do the work. I was set up on the shady side against the trunk & rootball of a blown down tree. I heard leaves rustling to my left over the breeze.  Two guys walked past me under 10 yards away and stepped over the top of the tree I was up against, but never saw me.  They walked on past and set up against a big oak less than 45 yards to my right.  Their calling was pretty good, though it never varied...the same call, the same way, every time.  No turkeys responded and they left after 40 minutes.  Never saw me on their way out either.  I called the landowner and found out his nephew and a college buddy on a break from school, just showed and decided to hunt. 

Jim

[bwhana]

I have been "hunted" several times on public, but have been able to see or hear them sneaking in with plenty of time to run them off from a safe distance.

Not trying to hijack this thread, but I have always worn safety glasses on public as an extra precaution and thought it may save my eyes in an accident.  Seeing these posts and the prevalent use of TSS, I question the effectiveness of safety glasses now.  Here is an example with lead (cannot find anything about TSS effects), but thinking I will do a test on my next sight in session and shoot a pair of glasses with TSS and post results in a new thread.
https://youtu.be/VowpxLV-q9Y

[grayfox]

It has happened a time or two on public land where I hunt. But they walked off before I had to yell at them.