How to be a jerk while hunting.

[COEngineer]

Opening weekend of the 2016 archery season we backpacked (about 2 miles) into the same area I have been hunting for the past several years. The first morning we saw a lot more hunters than usual (usual = 2 per day maybe) and we should have left immediately, but we had seen so many elk the previous years that we hoped for the best. We saw one group of cows and my buddy almost had a shot that first night, but after that it was skunk city. We left a couple days later and planned to come back the next weekend hoping for less pressure. The next weekend I hiked straight up to treeline where we had seen a group of 4 guys camped to make sure they were not still there. To my chagrin, they were still there and had a campfire going in the middle of the day. Just as we got close enough to see they were all still there, one of them fired a pistol into the ground. I knew right away they were trying to scare us off, but I know most bullies are just blowhards. I needed to get above the trees for cell phone reception and since they were so welcoming I sat on the ridge 50 yds above their camp to call my buddy and tell him not to bother hiking in and go to plan B. One of them came closer and asked, "Can I help you with something?" very sarcastically. I replied in the negative and told him I just needed to finish my phone call.

This was the second time I have had someone try to scare me off by firing a gun (the first time was at a busy trailhead and we proceeded to set-up camp about 50 feet away). Apparently some people think they can lay claim to a chunk of public land by acting like jerks.

Obviously these guys are the exception. The fast majority of people I run into stop and chat for a few minutes and then we wish each other luck.

 

[esracerx]

I usually don't like to get the warden involved, but I might have if I was put in that situation. Guys like that ruin it for you and I.

2014 season me and my buddy got there a few days before a few of the others. It was labor day weekend so we had a few extra camps to deal with. A camp was set up where we usually set up. We went down a few miles down the road. A couple of days later that spot was vacated so we decided to start moving our stuff. We moved the ATV trailer and a couple other things to the new site to claim the area. Hunted the afternoon. Got back and had something stolen off my trailer. I know who did it, just can't prove it. Sometimes people are just turds.

 

[COEngineer]

I considered calling law enforcement, but realistically, it would have taken all day for them to get there, if they would have come at all. And then what? I say they are being jerks and want them arrested for assault and careless discharge of a firearm and they say, "We had no idea he was there and we were just doing some target shooting."

 

[esracerx]

With guys like that, if law enforcement gets there. Chances are they're being jackasses in other ways. Like I said, I've never called and am not privy to calling. But that would have me thinking about it. Don't take people being gun stupid lightly.

 

[MJE2083]

That's absurd. I've never encountered anyone firing a gun to "scare me off". I've had people be jerks to me while deer hunting in the east. Usually in the form of tramping through the woods during prime time on opening morning and then sitting down within 50-60 yards of me. I'm wearing plenty of orange so it wasn't like they didn't see me. One time I had a guy try to give me a hard time because I was sitting on the boundary of his posted property but I was overlooking a field that I had permission to hunt and had no intention of shooting anything on his property.

 

[MJE2083]

With guys like that, if law enforcement gets there. Chances are they're being jackasses in other ways. Like I said, I've never called and am not privy to calling. But that would have me thinking about it. Don't take people being gun stupid lightly.

I agree, if someone fires a gun in my vicinity with the intention of intimidating me, I'm probably calling law enforcement just so they at least maybe get a talking to and might think twice in the future.

 

[COEngineer]

I agree, if someone fires a gun in my vicinity with the intention of intimidating me, I'm probably calling law enforcement just so they at least maybe get a talking to and might think twice in the future.

I hear ya, but this is 2 miles into the wilderness. It's not like the game warden is sitting at the trailhead waiting to ride out. It would have taken most of the day, at a minimum, for one to get there. I suppose I could have reported it and given the officer the GPS coords of their camp and then left it up to him/her whether to contact them or not.

 

[MJE2083]

I hear ya, but this is 2 miles into the wilderness. It's not like the game warden is sitting at the trailhead waiting to ride out. It would have taken most of the day, at a minimum, for one to get there. I suppose I could have reported it and given the officer the GPS coords of their camp and then left it up to him/her whether to contact them or not.

I get it, I would be hard pressed to ruin my hunt by waiting around for a cop all day. Your second suggestion sounds more reasonable. I always try to err on the side of at least reporting it, that way at least someone is aware of it and there is some evidence that you at least called in case a situation were to escalate later on.

 

[flyingvmt]

Care to share what state that happened in COEngineer?

 

[sneakypete]

I would have called a warden! No question about it!

 

[COEngineer]

This was in Colorado.

 

[utah400elk]

I had a guy tell me if I would just move my camp a little he could put his tent where he wanted. The rubutal ended all his desire to cam near me. I am all for people camping but there is a lot of area. No need to camp on top of each other or hnt on top of each other for that matter. I always like to coordinate with my neighbors to avoid issues. It usually works well for me.

 

[noharleyyet]

Nothing like being in what you thought was the deep sticks pre dawn opening morning and smelling cigarette smoke.

 

[LWC55]

I had a guy tell me if I would just move my camp a little he could put his tent where he wanted. The rubutal ended all his desire to cam near me. I am all for people camping but there is a lot of area. No need to camp on top of each other or hnt on top of each other for that matter. I always like to coordinate with my neighbors to avoid issues. It usually works well for me.

What was it? I may need to use it sometime

 

[SFC B]

Here is what happened to us last 2nd rifle here in CO. We camp on a valley on the boundary of the wilderness area for the Flat Tops (we literally drive up a Jeep trail to about 40 feet shy of the boundary and set up camp). Usually there I 1 maybe 2 other camps in the valley which is about 3/4 of a mile long. The next closest camp to us is usually a group of locals we know and have a good understanding with. They camp closest to a trail head that we use to get back further into the area on the other side of a ridge but hunt a different direction than we do. So, last year the day before opener another group shows up in the valley and sets up within 50 feet of them. Thought it was a crappy thing to do but it only got worse. opening morning we go over the ridge and set up on lookout/ground blind site we have brushed in to cover a very large park that is usually very productive. About 0800 a guy crests the ridge and proceeds to walk the opposite tree line from us about half way down the park and post up in a little bunch of trees half way between 2 of the guys in our party. Not the best situation but he had himself situated in a manner to which he was covering a smaller clearing off of the one we were watching. We were there until about 1100 and then headed to camp for some lunch. Because this guy had been there we headed out early (+-1430) to get back to our vantage points for the afternoon. About 1530 everything goes to shiz......We start hearing all kinds of racket in the woodline across the park from us. definitely not elk and we are confused. That is until we see this guy and 2 buddies walking in and out of the woods. I am baffled as to WTF they are doing, I guess some sort of half-assed drive. They proceed down the park until they get to where the guy had been earlier. He and one of his buddies stay in the position he had been in earlier. The third guy walks right up the middle of the park and sits down in on the edge of some trees 100m DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME!! Mind you I am in an orange vest and hat, so I stand up to make it obvious I am there. Nothing. I start waving my hands. The guy takes a couple of glances at me but won't make eye contact. So I set my rifle down against a tree and proceed to walk across the park (at this point the early part of the afternoon is gone for sure anyway). As I get closer he tries to wave me off. Not having it. I get close and ask him what he was thinking, not only is he within 100m of me he is directly in my line of fire. He starts to talk but can only say he is deaf. I know a little sign language and tell him to read my lips. I explain what he has done, tell him what a dangerous position he put himself in on top of being rude and that I didn't appreciate it at all. As I walk back to my spot he moves out and heads to his buddies. About 5 minutes worth of sign language later and the first guy stands up and starts walking toward me. By now I am really starting to get peaved. This guy is deaf but has hearing aids. He starts to give me shit because I "scared" the other guy (now mind you I left my weapon when I went over and the other guy was a good 3 inches taller and 75 heavier than I am) and that he was deaf. I told him that being deaf doesn't give anyone an excuse to do dangerous stuff or be rude and then pointed out my line of fire and the distance again. He pondered it for a bit and I could actually see the light bulb go on. The 3 of them stayed in the one spot the rest of the afternoon. After that my buddies and I hunted a couple of drainages over the rest of the hunt. The guys from the other usual camp told us that these yahoos continued to stomp around that park the rest of the week. Sometimes I am still amazed at how ignorant of politeness and safety some folks can be.