Squirrel Hunters on Public While Deer Hunting

[UTGrad]

I hunted some public today that I haven't hunted before. Buddy of mine hunted it last weekend and saw a couple deer and I went to check it out. About 5:00 I hear .22 shots. I heard intermittent shooting for the next half hour from 2 different directions and knew there were some squirrel hunters close by.

Sure enough about 5:45 two young Asian men in jeans and t-shirts have .22s and some squirrels. That pretty much in my mind deflated my hunt. I never saw a deer and I sat till 15 minutes after sunset and called it a day.

Granted it being public land they have just as much right as I do hunting out there, but if you were in deer stand during archery season and some folks were squirrel hunting in the area, would you stick it out or just assume the hunt for deer is over.


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[Pilchard]

Sh** happens, I guess. I enjoy squirrer hunting more than I do archery hunting. I would never intentionally mess up a deer hunters sit but the two styles of hunting aren't complimentary. Sitting in a stand vs still hunting a bushy tail.

If I was bow hunting I'd give it a short while to see if the other hunters pushed a deer to me and as they got closer I'd probably move.

 

[DRSJ35]

They didn't care about messing a mans hunt up. I wold have let them know about. They have the right yes. But they could have shot you while squirrel hunting. If it's a small piece of land. Then they were being inconsiderate. If a big one then maybe an accident. Still would have gave em my opinion.

 

[Goodtimekiller]

They didn't care about messing a mans hunt up. I wold have let them know about. They have the right yes. But they could have shot you while squirrel hunting. If it's a small piece of land. Then they were being inconsiderate. If a big one then maybe an accident. Still would have gave em my opinion.

They have just as much right to squirrel hunt as he does to deer hunt, why should they be the ones at fault if they are following the rules? What gives the deer hunter the privilege over squirrel hunters?


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[Spurhunter]

They didn't care about messing a mans hunt up. I wold have let them know about. They have the right yes. But they could have shot you while squirrel hunting. If it's a small piece of land. Then they were being inconsiderate. If a big one then maybe an accident. Still would have gave em my opinion.

I'm sure the OP was in full camo. Probably in a climber. How was the squirrel hunters supposed to know he was there? I don't squirrel hunt and I've had an archery hunt ruined by squirrel hunters on public land, but they had no way of knowing I was there.

 

[larry ipock]

I know how you feel. Had something similar today. Bout 9/a. Some folks were training beagles running rabbits around till 9/30. Don't know if they knew I was there or not, never saw them, but could hear them talking. Sat till 10/a, thought maybe a deer would come by after things quieten down. Nope. What you gonna do? Very frustrating. The joys of public land hunting! At least you ain't got bears to deal with!

 

[catman529]

I'd shoot a squirrel with my bow, why not


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[UTGrad]

I'd shoot a squirrel with my bow, why not


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That's not the topic of the thread Catman lol


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[cousinjordo]

I'd shoot a squirrel with my bow, why not


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That's not the topic of the thread Catman lol


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Charlton this is exactly why I keep a trash arrow in my quiver. I about let one fly at that stupid huge white faced squirrel last weekend. I see him every time I'm in my HW lock on.

 

[KPH]

They didn't care about messing a mans hunt up. I wold have let them know about. They have the right yes. But they could have shot you while squirrel hunting. If it's a small piece of land. Then they were being inconsiderate. If a big one then maybe an accident. Still would have gave em my opinion.

They have just as much right to squirrel hunt as he does to deer hunt, why should they be the ones at fault if they are following the rules? What gives the deer hunter the privilege over squirrel hunters?


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And this is why one should wear their orange when bow hunting on public land.

 

[Grnwing]

Sounds unfortunate when you go through the effort to go out hunting just to have another group of hunters come through on you and mess up your hunt. Being public land it's bound to happen. I would have talked with them and tried to figure out where they access the WMA from and let the know what kind of truck you drive and how often you hunt out there. They can do whatever they want but I find most folks will be respectful and not want to intentionally mess up another hunters hunt.

 

[ronnycl]

I would have hit the ground and scouted for future hunt. No problem here with other hunters taking advantage of public land

 

[catman529]

In all seriousness I'd just pick up and move, unless they left early enough for the woods to settle down before dark. Rather see squirrel hunters than that one Elmer Fudd walking around at prime time looking for deer.


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[Hunter 257W]

Why is it always assumed that other hunters run game away from a deer hunter? They are just as likely to push a deer towards you. I'd just sit tight and keep hunting unless they were unaware of your presence and started hunting within sight of you for an extended period of time. As someone else said, I'd also wear orange if bow hunting on public land.

This entitlement to be the only person in the woods is why I'll never hunt public land again.

 

[bloodtrailing]

I would find a quieter spot


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[rtaylor]

Before spending several seasons hunting at Fort Campbell I would have considered it a lost cause and moved on. After hunting the fort I know now how an Elmer (or several) can come through and bust everything out only to have deer come right back after 10 minutes. Public land deer are likely used to seeing multiple people walking around.

 

[rukiddin]

To hell with worrying about the deer. The thought of someone shooting a .22 up in the trees while I'm in a tree scares the crap out of me. A .22 is like a bouncy ball up in the trees.

 

[rmmonty32]

Seems like this comes up every year. I like to to do both. Public land is to be enjoyed by everyone legally. If you want to be unmolested you have to be creative and willing to go where no one else will. Even then someone else is liable to have the same idea. Oh well it's part of the challenge.

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[UTGrad]

Packing up and moving 45 minutes before sunset in a mobile hang and hunt isn't an option. I'm going to assume those guys will be back, especially since they had some squirrels. I probably won't go back to that spot.


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[cousinjordo]

Packing up and moving 45 minutes before sunset in a mobile hang and hunt isn't an option. I'm going to assume those guys will be back, especially since they had some squirrels. I probably won't go back to that spot.


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I'm wondering if they were the ones I saw in the truck parked behind you. I drive by that access spot daily and rarely see anyone else parked there. May have been a one off.

 

[UTGrad]

Packing up and moving 45 minutes before sunset in a mobile hang and hunt isn't an option. I'm going to assume those guys will be back, especially since they had some squirrels. I probably won't go back to that spot.


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I'm wondering if they were the ones I saw in the truck parked behind you. I drive by that access spot daily and rarely see anyone else parked there. May have been a one off.

Maybe. They were both carrying squirrels so they might be back if it's a good squirrel hunting spot. I didn't think about it as much then as I do know but it's dangerous for someone to be shooting .22 up in the trees while someone is up there.


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[woodsman04]

Just part of it. I'm a squirrel dog guy too, and it's hard to find spots without messing up peoples deer hunts. Sometimes you do it and don't mean to. Other times you don't go to a spot if someone is there.

Tough to find public and private to run dogs on during mid November through early December, which is my favorite time, other than Late February when some warm sun starts coming and a few elm trees bud out.


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[Headhunter]

Good thing there are not quail like there used to be. I pretty much would not deer hunt, I would quail hunt and I am sure many deer hunters would not be happy.

I had rather quail hunt any day.

 

[Bone Collector]

The Laotian guys will tear it up with .22s. They will generally shoot anything that moves (birds, squirrels, etc.)

it scares me with me being in a tree with no orange and them shooting into trees....

I have had them push deer to me too though.

 

[MUP]

Anyone who comes thru while I'm hunting will get run off!


Of course I am hunting my own land tho. :mrgreen:

 

[BlasterPits]

I've never like the fact of small game and big game being open at the same time But it is what it is

 

[UTGrad]

I've never like the fact of small game and big game being open at the same time But it is what it is

Yep especially on public land. Safety comes into question. I hadn't thought about it until some guys were shooting squirrels out of trees with .22 while I'm in a tree stand lol.


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[CheathamIceman]

WHat public land was it?

 

[KPH]

The Laotian guys will tear it up with .22s. They will generally shoot anything that moves (birds, squirrels, etc.)

it scares me with me being in a tree with no orange and them shooting into trees....

I have had them push deer to me too though.

This is another reason to wear the orange when bow hunting on public land.

 

[catman529]

The Laotian guys will tear it up with .22s. They will generally shoot anything that moves (birds, squirrels, etc.)

it scares me with me being in a tree with no orange and them shooting into trees....

I have had them push deer to me too though.

This is another reason to wear the orange when bow hunting on public land.

I'm sorry but I'm not wearing orange during bow season and nobody I know does either. If someone's shooting up in the trees, I'm gonna holler.


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