Dont get mad.....

[D1]

when you get to your stand and someone else is there.....if you are hunting National forest, mark your trail head like this.....especially on a major public rd......I didnt take a pic of it but his truck was parked across the road behind me

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Good lord. If I see a goat trail like that beaten down I'm gonna HAFTA go take a look. Could be gold in them thar' hills.

[matador1]

My 12 yo daughter alwasy wants to ride through DNF and move everyones markers. She thinks it would be hilarious. I actually do to but hate to be an booty.

[rubrail]

I used to make a dummy trail like that to draw attention away from where I was actually hunting. I could park there so people would think I was hunting the obvious path, but actually I'd go the opposite way, or a short walk down the road to an unmarked path. Most people would choose the path of least resistance 9/10 times.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

I have been known to place reflective tacks on the side of the trees that face away from the trail going in. I did this one year at an unnamed wma before opening day. I was in a rush and wanted to hunt this hole the next day for the opener. I also wanted to cut through the B.S. of being in a mad rush on the opener. Since I had never been to this hole before I figured I'd tack up the trail but put the tacks facing away from any wandering headlamps. I used a large tree as a landmark and shot an azimuth to a small piece of inconspicuous flagging I tied up that was about 40 yards into the woods. Upon reaching this tree, I shot my compass line and, well, ran. I'd run 30 or so yards and look back to shine the tacks and make sure I was on line.

It worked beautifully and to this day I don't believe anyone has used that trail. We got to hunt the next day on the opener in that hole and murdered quite a few hours of time.

I have also been known to place a dozen-and-a-half or so walmart headlamps around the hole. That way it looks like the hole that me and a buddy are sitting in is, "taken". Dirty I know, but effective.

Of course, that was back when I actually cared to tango with the crowds. Now folks are so desperate to find a spot- any spot- I don't even bother. I think next year I am going to become one of the "minute men". They are the ones that arrive with a minute or two left before shooting light and beyond a shadow of a doubt they are: 1) desperate 2) a**holes 3) lazy 4) stupid for not staying home and thinking they are actually going to come in and have a seat at the table. Never mind the fact that they don't chose to go to a lesser known hole or a hole that might not have 4 parties in it; no, they try to hunt a "premo" hole knowing damned well they won't be alone. But they don't care, they're minute men. It's their duty to ruin your hunt. I digress.