How Secretive are you about your hunting areas?

[2rocky]

When you talk to other hunters it is only natural to inquire about the area someone got a nice animal in or has hunted for years. Generally I will mention the largest city in the county I'm hunting. I won't mention the trailhead, or drainage I'm using unless I encounter another hunter in my area.

 

[25contender]

I think it depends on what I am hunting. Deer Hogs I give out pretty good information. But Elk and turkeys I am more protective. It takes a long long time to find decent areas that are consistent year to year. Especially on public land or a GE area. You tell one person they tell another and so on and so on. Last year was the first year in 20 years I took anyone to where I elk hunt but we talked about not sharing that info early on and he understood. You have to be upfront and have some faith if you want to have a good hunting partner.

 

[sra61]

I learned a long time ago not to tell anyone anything specific. I had more than one friend that I took hunting turn up there with a bunch of other guys and totally ruin the spot. I pretty much only hunt with my brother and if he can't go then I go it alone! People just can't help themselves, they can't shut their mouths. I ran into a local guy last year when I was moose hunting. He was complaining and bitching about how he had hunted for 15 years and not seen one legal bull in all that time. As we were talking I could see the very drainage where I had killed a 340 class bull opening day! I just agreed when he said he was never gonna buy another elk tag!

 

[shootbrownelk]

I learned a long time ago not to tell anyone anything specific. I had more than one friend that I took hunting turn up there with a bunch of other guys and totally ruin the spot. I pretty much only hunt with my brother and if he can't go then I go it alone! People just can't help themselves, they can't shut their mouths. I ran into a local guy last year when I was moose hunting. He was complaining and bitching about how he had hunted for 15 years and not seen one legal bull in all that time. As we were talking I could see the very drainage where I had killed a 340 class bull opening day! I just agreed when he said he was never gonna buy another elk tag!

Been there, done that. Had 12+ guys from Minnesota in my favorite elk spot two years after I took a supposed "Friend" there. I got burned by him the year before when he showed up with "Really Nice Guys" when it was just supposed to be him and myself. I have since learned my lesson. Found a new place to hunt, and learned to shut my mouth. One exception was years ago when I ran into some folks with deer tags, stopped to chat with them and seeing as how I didn't have a deer tag for the area told them where I spotted some does and a small buck (they were meat hunters) I told them I was Moose hunting and hadn't seen any for a few days.
The next day they stopped at my camp and thanked me, as they got into those deer and got 3 of them. They also told me about a drainage where they had seen a nice bull Moose and a cow. They were right, he was there. I got him that same afternoon. Sometimes helping out a fellow hunter is the right thing to do. I hope so THIS year. I drew an area 38 Cow moose tag.

 

[laxwyo]

I feel that telling someone what mtn range is acceptable. When I ask, I'm not asking because I want to know exactly where you're hunting. I'm curious if you're hunting the Hoback, Wyoming Range, Greys River etc.

 

[Matthoek21]

Just depends on who and where someone is from. Obviously for me, distance and expense keep alot of people from here in Georgia from even considering an out of state hunt. I could give them gps and it wouldn't matter. But as far as local deer and turkey you might say I'm real peculiar. I also learned a long time ago not to give out too much info. Two things you gotta keep close are your "honey" and your "honey hole". Especially turkeys. I really got to trust ya! Got good friends that I always filter information that I give out. Just too hard to come by.

 

[genesis27:3]

I think it depends on what I am hunting. Deer Hogs I give out pretty good information. But Elk and turkeys I am more protective. It takes a long long time to find decent areas that are consistent year to year. Especially on public land or a GE area. You tell one person they tell another and so on and so on. Last year was the first year in 20 years I took anyone to where I elk hunt but we talked about not sharing that info early on and he understood. You have to be upfront and have some faith if you want to have a good hunting partner.

Mark,
I have kept that secret and have not even told anyone which side of the state! I seen you skin an elk and I don't want to be on the wrong side of that knife!

 

[sra61]

One exception was years ago when I ran into some folks with deer tags, stopped to chat with them and seeing as how I didn't have a deer tag for the area told them where I spotted some does and a small buck (they were meat hunters) I told them I was Moose hunting and hadn't seen any for a few days.
The next day they stopped at my camp and thanked me, as they got into those deer and got 3 of them. They also told me about a drainage where they had seen a nice bull Moose and a cow. They were right, he was there.

I did the same thing years ago when I had a Breaks bull tag. There were two guys and one had his daughter with. They pulled right in to the trailhead that I was camped at. I had a 8 mile walk in. They had horses. I was a little bummed, but went over and talked to them anyway. Turned out they just had antelope tags, so I told them some places to look. As it turned out they actually spooked three big bulls right down into a coulee I was laying in, watching another bull. One was a heavy old 6x7 so I shot him 8 miles on foot from my truck! These guys heard me shoot and rode down in there to check on me. They actually left me one of their horses to pack that big ole bull out with! I have since done the same more than once.

 

[shootbrownelk]

There are plenty of good folks out there, I'm pretty sure they outnumber the "Interlopers".

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I am usually pretty tight with my hunting spots. I've been burned several times in the past, especially on upland game birds. But when I lived in southern California I had a 29' Phoenix Sportfisher and spend lots of time offshore fishing for tuna and marlin. I used to call other boats in when we were on a school of fish and had all we wanted. Lots of other guys did the same. Marlin fishing was pretty tight tho. When you found the fish, you kept real quiet about it, if you didn't the whole fleet would be there and the fish would split.

 

[go_deep]

Don't tell my brother, otherwise all of Facebook land will know, but hey the over 1000 people he's friends with on there he says are good people and they won't tell anybody.

 

[tttoadman]

My increasing paranoia toward everything people related helps keep my favorite spots a little more secure. I check out my facebook account about once a month. My friend requests are up over 50. I likely won't respond to any of them.

The internet is horrible. I think some people feel cool when they can be the "information guy". Problem is, it isn't there information to give.

 

[Tim McCoy]

There are a number of places in several states, I only share with close blood family, should one become crowded, we'd have a funeral. There are more places in several states, I'll share willingly with nearly anyone, good spots I am unlikely ever to go back to, due to very low tag numbers, very low demand or a tag I will never draw again. There are a few spots I can't share at all as they were shared with me conditional on a promise never to share them. So for me it just depends on the circumstances relative to that particular area.

 

[Iron Mike]

As I have gotten older I have become a lot more tight lipped. As others have said I have been burned also and badly. Deer I will give out plenty of info. Chukers - general area. Elk I may say a unit. With Turkey's I will tell an outright lie! With hunting deer I will hunt with a party sometimes. Elk alone or maybe with someone from out of State. With Elk hunting I need to trust that person not only to keep a tight lip but to also be compatible and have the same goals as me, not selfish and to have the mentality that we hunt as a team. It does not matter who gets the shot (I bow hunt) or doesn't get the shot - no competition allowed. I have not found anyone in my state that I feel comfortable with. With Turkey's it is normally a very good friend who knows the penalty is death for telling anyone where we hunt with in 50 miles!

 

[packmule]

Depends on the person. My general rule is to hunt with folks you trust and to have a real good idea of the kind of people you share general info with.

 

[tim]

I have packed a lot of elk out solo, probably 6-8. I haven't wanted to show any one. I have used my non hunting brother on 2 bulls,
my dad on a couple when he was alive. So, I guess I have been secretive.

 

[JasonGNV]

For me it really does depend on the game and how hard I've worked to secure that spot as "my hot spot". My archery deer area was my hunting partners spot for 13 years now. He confided in me reluctantly when I got the tag. We now put in together as a party. My archery Elk tag spot I was lead to by a great forum member and it's one I'm keeping very secret. Chukar are off limits, bear is secret since my secret spot is now the hottest unit to hunt. I've been and watched friends get stabbed before so it's my business to keep to myself. If my bear spot has good deer I'll tell you, if my elk spot has antelope I'll tell you. Ask about the critter I'm after and you'll get directions to Vegas!

 

[missjordan]

I think it depends on the person, if someone else is willing to share information then I am too. With the exception of if a young child has a tag and the parent doesnt, I'm willing to help out more. We gave tips to a family who was looking to fill their daughters deer tag in a area that's a difficult draw. She was also a first time hunter and got a deer in the exact spot we told them to go. I haven't had bad experiences yet with sharing information about hunting spots, but it seems like some of the people we've talked to aren't willing to leave the road and hike around either.

 

[Zim]

Totally depends on the difficulty of drawing a tag there. If it's an OIL area I give a lot of specific information. If it's an OTC area I zip it up totally. If it's somewhere in the middle I give out general info.

 

[ivorytip]

Totally depends on the difficulty of drawing a tag there. If it's an OIL area I give a lot of specific information. If it's an OTC area I zip it up totally. If it's somewhere in the middle I give out general info.

yeah in these next to impossible draw units im giving out gps cords.