Opening day frustration in Montana

[daltrix99]

editing this post since apparently it came off wrong:

A pair of hunters knowingly setup less than 300yds from me above a small river bottom, glassing and hunting the same small area. I’ve never had this happen to me during rifle season before. If an animal appeared that we both wanted to shoot, it would have been a simultaneous mess. In this case, when it’s deliberate, is it appropriate to politely approach, maybe ask what their plan is? Maybe suggest the two parties spread out a bit? I did not approach, just moved away.

 

[homers]

the unfortunate part of public land hunting, especially if nobody has educated hunters as how to behave when spotting another hunter beat you to a spot.

 

[thusby]

It Is what it is. I skip a lot of openers now. Everyone on public is an idiot, except for yourself.

 

[Losing_Sanity]

Been there... This year as well. I make sure people see me and let them know I'm there. And they still crowd in on my spot. Some people just have no ethics or etiquette. Some just don't care.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Imagine that - public land where there are no rules against hunting within 300 yards of someone else.

if I were one of the other guys and you confronted me I'd tell you to buzz off.

When you go into these situations expect it to happen and then when it doesn't you can be pleasantly surprised.

I typically hunt popular spots during the week to reduce the frequency of such encounters.

 

[daltrix99]

Imagine that - public land where there are no rules against hunting within 300 yards of someone else.

if I were one of the other guys and you confronted me I'd tell you to buzz off.

When you go into these situations expect it to happen and then when it doesn't you can be pleasantly surprised.

I typically hunt popular spots during the week to reduce the frequency of such encounters.

First of all, I didn’t confront them. In all my years hunting I’ve never had other hunters knowingly set up within 300yds of me during a rifle season, glassing the same spot, within range for both of us. I don’t think it would be unreasonable for someone to politely approach them and just have a quick friendly conversation about coming up with a safe plan for both parties. I’ve had to do this while bowhunting when hunters have setup very close to me without knowing I was there. You would really tell someone off in this case?

Maybe I’ve just been lucky until now, as of my experience with other hunters has overwhelmingly positive. It just seems like opening weekend has been reliably negative for me.

Edit: of course I’ll hunt popular spots on weekdays as well if I can; I was specifically talking about opening weekend here.

 

[Carnage2011]

It’s opening weekend....there are hunters everywhere. It sucks when someone sets up right next to you, but it never surprises me on opening day. Just enjoy being out in the woods and don’t expect too much.

 

[JLS]

Everyone on public is an idiot, except for yourself.

There are the guys in your group, and there are the assholes.....

 

[daltrix99]

It’s opening weekend....there are hunters everywhere. It sucks when someone sets up right next to you, but it never surprises me on opening day. Just enjoy being out in the woods and don’t expect too much.

For sure. It won’t surprise me next time - just never had anyone do it that deliberately before.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

There are the guys in your group, and there are the assholes.....

Ain't it the truth. Maybe HT needs a forum area for general whining. Some virtual shoulders to cry on, etc.

 

[daltrix99]

Ain't it the truth. Maybe HT needs a forum area for general whining. Some virtual shoulders to cry on, etc.

Sorry I didn’t mean to be whining. Was genuinely wondering if other people would have gone up to these guys or something. I’ve never had someone setup and literally hunt the same small patch of ground as me before.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

Don't get me wrong I know it's frustrating. I personally wouldn't confront someone in that situation, probably more to be lost than gained. Openers can be a real pain for sure.

 

[JLS]

Ain't it the truth. Maybe HT needs a forum area for general whining. Some virtual shoulders to cry on, etc.

I’ll be Dr Phil. Let me grab a couple of Cold Smokes first.

 

[WapitiBob]

Sorry I didn’t mean to be whining. Was genuinely wondering if other people would have gone up to these guys or something. I’ve never had someone setup and literally hunt the same small patch of ground as me before.

I wouldn't have gone up to them but I also wouldn't have walked off.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Unspoken rule of public land hunting: give others plenty of space whenever possible.

Unspoken rule of public hunting forums: don't entirely rewrite your OP to make everyone's response look off base.

 

[Pucky Freak]

I'm sure you're a nice dude. It's been my experience maybe 2 dozen times over where I've set up and the other guy thinks I'm too close, or some guy sets up and I think he's too close. Any time there has been any kind of "conversation" about someone's opinion in regards to this...it has never gone well. Reason being - any points either of you make are 100% subjective and the likelihood of finding common ground is near nonexistent. Dude had his reasons for hunting where he did and I seriously doubt some stranger approaching him is going to lead him to see the light.

 

[HalfAce]

I’ve never had a bad experience talking to a guy who’s in the same spot while afield. I end up learning some new things about the area through the eyes of the other guy.

 

[Mallardsx2]

To the original poster -

Clearly you have never hunted Nebraska. lol

 

[madtom]

Ain't it the truth. Maybe HT needs a forum area for general whining. Some virtual shoulders to cry on, etc.

Whiners and arguers can follow this link. https://www.rokslide.com/forums/

 

[BuzzH]

I don't know...you have 5 weeks of rifle season to hunt in Montana. Why worry about day 1?