hunting high pressure areas

[BriBri]

I haven't been able to locate any info regarding high pressure areas on this site via the Search function, so I'll post my question in this (Almost Anything Goes) room.

I am thinking about foregoing a guided hunting trip this fall up in Maine and trying my luck in a more local area near where I live. I accept the fact that as this location is only about 3K acres, I will have to contend with a little bit of hunting pressure, which I suppose I could live with. My real concern is that, as I will be bowhunting and I anticipate having to do a little bit of trailing (depending on my shot placement), some other hunter will recover my deer and tag it as his own. This would thoroughly piss me off, as I know there are plenty of unethical hunters out there. While I know all about getting deep into the woods, away from roads and other access points, there are enough hunters who hunt these woods to cause me some concern.

Has anyone experienced situations like this before, or have even had concerns of this sort? In the worst case scenario, how should I handle a situation where I find a buck that I know I shot (based on my recognition of the rack or other physical features) being tended to by another hunter?

[jmarriott]

Well that a good question. In firearms season the front legs and chest shot drops em so they don't go far.

A cell phine and try not to hoot and hollar when you hit a big one might help. The cell phone to call in the troops to get the deer found quick.

[Chief RID]

I understand your concern but it is part of the game. Most folks abide by the rule of first lethal hit, especially archers, so more folks than you know may be fair. Most folks would even take a shot at stopping your deer if they felt it was going to be a slow death when it came by them. If you did run into someone that wanted the deer bad enough you would have to decide who wanted it most. You could look at it as your hunt can continue but his hunt is over. You still have your tag. He does not.

[petey]

I've killed more deer than I can count with a bow and most all fall within sight or sound if there's still foliage on. If you hit them properly and take out 2 lungs they'll fall within 100 yards or less (more often then not, less if you don't hit major bone) Most often, they don't even know what hit them if you have pass-thru's.

Pick your shots, take out both lungs..you'll have a quick retreive. In the event of one lung hits, they can easily run in upwards of 150 yards before they lay down. If you don't pressure them you'll normally find a marginal hit deer no more than 200-300 yards from your stand. Personally in Archery...that's too close to another hunter for me. If you're forced to hunt that close to other hunters then I see your point. I've never had the "pleasure" of having to argue over who's deer it is. I would suspect most hunter abide by the rule of thumb of if you kill it, it's yours. Hunting in an area where there are "people who hunt" that are not hunters and don't abide by the cardinal rules would just scare me.

There are all kinds though, I've just been fortunate enough not to be around anyone that would be so idiotic.

Long story short..pick your spots make sure there aren't any other stands within that radious and you'll be fine if you do you job properly

[Jack]

IMO, scouting becomes more important in areas with a lot of hunters, but, maybe a little different, too. Scout the hunters as well as the game.
Finding out where people put stands is one thing. Even if the stand isn't there, climbers leave marks on trees. Cleared branches is another clue.
A big help is to find out if there's a place where all the hunters come into the area you're hunting- like where a road nears the land, or a gate, etc. When the hunters come in, they'll move game, just like a drive does. Place yourself where you'll be the beneficiary of the hunters moving the game.

[wrenchman]

I have hunted hi pressure areas and found hunting week days and mornings help reduce problims.
Try to hunt days that are not as poppuler opening day here is real beasy for the woods.
I hunt farm land now and can say i have had more problims now then when i hunted state land becouse every one that hunts state land is in the same boat and have to share the woods.

[Nulle]

I guess I would also go with the mid or end of season and as you know most hunters don't travel far from the road. Put on the boots and get back in there and you should have some area to yourself.

[Adam Helmer]

BriBri,

I no longer have that problem since I bought a farm and hunt my own land exclusively. I still have problems with tresspassers who "Didn't see no posted signs." The last mope who told me that was asked, "Where is your parachute?" The only way to get into the center of my land is by parachute, thus missing any signs. Ah, but I digress.

The PA Game Laws booklet we get with our license says a game animal belongs to the person who "brings the animal to possession." Some clubs say the animal belongs to the person who "cut hair or made a lethal shot." In heavily used public areas, you may have a problem getting your archery deer. I would give the archer first dibs on a deer, but that is not to say others feel the same way.

Adam

[MtnMike2]

Any hunter that would claim another's kill would be a real scumbag. But I could see how another hunter could shoot an already wounded deer, even if the wound was a kill shot just not down yet. In that case, I would approach the hunter and explain the situation but you would be subject to that hunter's manners. I hunt public land but fortunately have never faced that situation although I've read about others that have. Bugle Magazine had an article a while back where a man and his son were bullied and threatened away from an elk the son shot. I think incidents like that though are rare.

Mike

[PJgunner]

I don't bow hunt but I have hunted high pressure areas. More than once I've brought down deer wounded by some yahoo who shot for the middle of brown. I don't have much use for gut shot der so when they come up hollering that I'm stealing their deer, I just say, No I'm not. I'm just making sure it didn't get away. Here hold that leg while we gut it." It's a losing propostition to maybe get into a fight or maybe shot over who's deer it is. Then too, I've had people tell me that because it's gut shot or otherwise poorly hit, "You keep it." makes me want to send them to a hunter ed class before they can ever get another license.
Paul B.

[longdistanceoperator]

im goin to give this a go... hope i understood what you were really gettin at..which seemd to be "too many hunters, too many idiots" ....

the thing is... this can be a very good thing for you !!!
i have used this tactic many times and it works great..

figure out in the area your hunting where all the army of jerks will enter the area.... and where most of them will finally stop to hunt... that will be
your rear area line, move directly forward from that point to where the area almost ends and breaks out to other areas... THAT IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE , IN POSITION, BEFORE THEY ALL ARRIVE...THEY WILL DRIVE THE GAME TOWARDS YOU AS THEY TROMP INTO THE FOREST.. you just take your pic...and laugh...