Yep, I was thinking the same thing. I will say hi & point him in the opposite direction of the elk!!! Maybe right to where I know a game warden hangs out.
Helping out other hunters???
- Thread starter birdhunter
- Start date
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
I had the same thing happen to me. Felt sorry for a guy I had just met because he had been hunting elk for years and never tagged one. My buddy and I took him to one of our honey holes, and as luck would have it...he tagged a raghorn bull. He left for home (out of state) happy as all get out. My buddy and I were happy that we helped the guy out.
Untill the next year, when he showed up ahead of us and set-up his camp in our spot...with a huge wall tent and 5 of his friends!
NEVER again, that's for sure & for certain.
Untill the next year, when he showed up ahead of us and set-up his camp in our spot...with a huge wall tent and 5 of his friends!
NEVER again, that's for sure & for certain.
az.mountain runner
Active Member
I guess we have all had the same nightmares,I went elk hunting with a guy took him to my hunting spot I found, he set up a tree stand I set up a ground blind, he wasn't seeing any elk,I was seeing elk just didn't have a shot yet, offered for him to hunt in the blind with me, big herd of elk came in instead of waiting till we both had a shot he just hurried up and shot his, elk I went home empty handed, didn't even offer any meat and that was after helping him clean and get it out..
OregonJim
Very Active Member
Almost all of us have had similar situations.
I am still ticked from taking a guy into my "private land" honey hole.
I actually introduced the guy to the land owner and never imagined that within one season he would become the "Gatekeeper" and I would have to get his permission to hunt.
Absolutely ruined a friendship and damaged a lot of other relationships.
I moved on and learned a super-valuable lesson.
I am still ticked from taking a guy into my "private land" honey hole.
I actually introduced the guy to the land owner and never imagined that within one season he would become the "Gatekeeper" and I would have to get his permission to hunt.
Absolutely ruined a friendship and damaged a lot of other relationships.
I moved on and learned a super-valuable lesson.
Drhorsepower
Veteran member
That's too bad, which brings us to our next topic I've been thinking about. What about backpackers packing lets say 5 miles in on the Thursday before Saturday opener and someone "claims" their camping/hunting spot a week ahead of season by setting up his tent in the basin you were planning on hunting and leaving it until opening day?
OregonJim
Very Active Member
"Neighbors!" Just kind of depends on whether you are willing to tolerate company.
Or their tactic worked?
It's funny, every wrinkle of this thread reminds me of another encounter.
I had the same thing happen one year (when I was a lot younger and more stubborn).
We camped about 200yards away and hunted the next drainage!!!!!
Oh and they hunted the opening morning then moved on pissing and moaning as they broke camp..... It's public land. I got yelled at by two guys who were sleeping in the cab of their truck as we walked by their truck.
If you go all in on a spot and someone else does the same you just have to deal with it. At some point you have to share or move on to plan B.
I had a group of hunters block an open logging road a few hundred yards before the basin.
We just politely backed out and drove around and hunted the escape routes from the roadblock folks who "owned the basin".
Or their tactic worked?
It's funny, every wrinkle of this thread reminds me of another encounter.
I had the same thing happen one year (when I was a lot younger and more stubborn).
We camped about 200yards away and hunted the next drainage!!!!!
Oh and they hunted the opening morning then moved on pissing and moaning as they broke camp..... It's public land. I got yelled at by two guys who were sleeping in the cab of their truck as we walked by their truck.
If you go all in on a spot and someone else does the same you just have to deal with it. At some point you have to share or move on to plan B.
I had a group of hunters block an open logging road a few hundred yards before the basin.
We just politely backed out and drove around and hunted the escape routes from the roadblock folks who "owned the basin".
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I have no problem with someone else hunting in the same spot, or camping a couple hundred yards away. The area I hunt is mostly private. The public land I hunt can be walked in a day. I run into hunters all the time, so I'm very use to it. It gets frustrating on the days when you run into 20 people and no elk! The black hills get pounded by hunters. When deer season starts its 10X worse. At one time I believe that for every 5 deer taken in Wyo, 3 were taken out of the black hills. Now, you are lucky to see 5 deer a day hunting elk. Hunting is getting extremely popular, so when someone takes your camping spot or honey hole that you showed them, it can eat at you pretty bad.
DR, I've always felt that if your there first then it's yours and others should move on. It seems that for me it doesn't really work. I've set up camp two days before opening day and not a sole in sight then the next day the area just filled up and Monday cared that I was there first. I ended up moving on to a new area. First come first serve doesn't seem to work. I think it should.
This reconfirms my already strongly held belief....never, ever, ever, and I mean never, ever, never show your honey hole to someone you don't fully and 100% trust, and who you have explained your expectations of trust too, and who has agreed to them no matter what...you CAN'T feel sorry for someone and show them the spot.....I have a spot that's been good to me, and it pains me but I can't tell people where I hunt, I have to tell them a drainage 10 miles away, I have to lie, mislead, and keep my mouth shut....but a good elk spot is priceless, I spend all year thinking about it and google scouting to find spots that look like it
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az.mountain runner
Active Member
I'm with you if you are there first than the others should move on, but now we have an entitled society.
My brother and I have been hunting area 10 in NV for about the last 40 years. All of the best areas we found by trial and error. Following roads just to see where they go is the best way to find good spots. Thats half the fun.
We ususally camp in a place that looks like there
is no good hunting anyplace near. Sometimes we get people drive up to our camp and start asking why we would camp and hunt in
such a place. We are ALWAYs very tight lipped with everyone regardless if they are young or old. Sometimes they drive on past our camp into OUR canyon but they usually come back down aboout 30 minutes later because it's very steep and doesn't look like there would be any deer there. In all this time we have only seen 1 other camp there. That year we moved to another good spot since they were there first and it is public land.
We ususally camp in a place that looks like there
is no good hunting anyplace near. Sometimes we get people drive up to our camp and start asking why we would camp and hunt in
such a place. We are ALWAYs very tight lipped with everyone regardless if they are young or old. Sometimes they drive on past our camp into OUR canyon but they usually come back down aboout 30 minutes later because it's very steep and doesn't look like there would be any deer there. In all this time we have only seen 1 other camp there. That year we moved to another good spot since they were there first and it is public land.
2rocky
Active Member
- Sep 10, 2012
- 290
- 0
What I haven't read in this convo is people who would go with someone to that other person's area to help them find game in their area. Usually this happens when someone draws a hard to draw area and folks go help them scout and find animals. I think this is a perfectly acceptable method.
For example, when I drew a Tule Elk tag, I had past tag holders on the phone, telling me where to look while looking at Google earth.
When ever one of their friends draw, I get a call about where I saw the elk moving during my hunt.
I think in a limited draw area where you might only get a tag every 10 years, folks will be more accommodating. But a General or OTC area, you better keep your mouth shut...
For example, when I drew a Tule Elk tag, I had past tag holders on the phone, telling me where to look while looking at Google earth.
When ever one of their friends draw, I get a call about where I saw the elk moving during my hunt.
I think in a limited draw area where you might only get a tag every 10 years, folks will be more accommodating. But a General or OTC area, you better keep your mouth shut...
so true, ive given gps cords to two diff people in an area I will never ever draw again unless I get real lucky. the first guy when he got the cords said cool, and that was it didn't hear from him since, this year I hooked another guy up in the area and hes been sending me pics of what hes finding and keeping me posted, letting me know he appreciates the help. that makes it fun and kinda makes me feel apart of his success.