Hunting/fishing Ethics

[ozark trout fisher]

I was deer hunting this weekend on a nice conservation area I've been hunting for years. I love the area, it's really beautiful, and I always see plenty of deer. But I have also noted that the ethics tend to be somewhat lacking. I was hunting a specific draw that I've hunted every weekend for the last couple weeks of deer season. I set up my stand before first light, and I was feeling pretty optimistic about the day ahead. Sure enough though, about 8:30, I see hunter orange in the corner of my eye. I tell myself, no big deal, he'll probably turn around when he sees my stand. Not so. He looks up at my stand, and simply keeps walking on, literally ten yards in front of my stand. He ended up setting up less than 50 yards away, totally disregarding the fact that he just killed my hunt. Not wanted to have a confrontation, I simply said hello, and preceded to get out of my stand and drove to another spot. Sure, I thought of of saying something, but who knows what kind of reaction that might get, and I didn't want to make a dangerous situation out of it. But it's a bigger point than this in my mind. There are a certain line of folks in hunting and fishing that are perfectly willing to shamelessly steal your spot, and they just don't care at all that they ruin your experience. Pretty generally I just get up and move without reacting, but I always wonder if maybe I should say something. So what I'm asking is how do you all react to these situations? Am I making a mistake by not saying anything, or is it best to just let it go?

[eric1978]

Pretty generally I just get up and move without reacting, but I always wonder if maybe I should say something. So what I'm asking is how do you all react to these situations? Am I making a mistake by not saying anything, or is it best to just let it go?

If your goal is to teach them ethical behavior, don't bother...people that stupid will never get it. But if you're just trying to save your hunt, it doesn't hurt to ask very politely if he would mind moving just a little further down yonder. You might get an "oh sure, sorry 'bout that," but chances are he'll just get a real stupid look on his face or respond with a shrug of his shoulders. In that case just carry on. Sharing the planet with morons is frustrating, but there's nothing we can do about it. Take a deep breath and keep telling yourself...Serenity Now!

[KCRIVERRAT]

Make'em dance like the bad guys did in "Pale Rider" OTF! Seriously... maybe we're differnt personalities, but... I'd be telling them their ethics ain't right. Happened to me turkey hunting down around Pomme. I politley described the situation to them. They acknowledged and split.

[ozark trout fisher]

Maybe I should say something but.... While I know this sounds ridiculous, I always end up feeling bad the few times I have pointed out folk's lack of ethics in that kind of thing. Most of the time I get the since that they really just don't understand how the "unwritten code" of ethics when it comes to hunting and fishing, and I end up feeling like I've upset a perfectly good guy unnecessarily. I dunno.

[eric1978]

Maybe I should say something but.... While I know this sounds ridiculous, I always end up feeling bad the few times I have pointed out folk's lack of ethics in that kind of thing. Most of the time I get the since that they really just don't understand how the "unwritten code" of ethics when it comes to hunting and fishing, and I end up feeling like I've upset a perfectly good guy unnecessarily. I dunno.

These are the people that talk straight through a movie at the theatre. They're idiots. They can't be taught. I hardly ever waste my time anymore pointing out to people how stupid they are. It's just a waste of breath.

[Dutch]

If he has a gun and is not observant enough to notice me or care where he should hunt, I'm thinking he is a greenhorn or a moron. Either way I'm not saying anything and getting out of Dodge.

[strangercreek]

typical of what I notice everywhere I go. I guess it is important to value folks that have common sense and respect for others. I hate to be negative but sometimes people suck and I agree many times need to be taught a lesson, especially about outdoor ethics. I get so tired of the things I see at my local lake.

[Gatorjet]

Considering the fact that they should have learned to give another hunter his area in the hunter education class required of anyone born after Jan 1 1967, They are either to stupid to remember that, or over the age of 42 and have always been stupid. You can't fix stupid!