Common situation for the public guys

[DeltaCotton12]

Lets say you scout a place out, find a few birds mid day and leave with the intentions to return early the next morning. So the morning rolls around, You slide back to the place you scouted the day before just to find that someone yesterday evening has towed a blind in and thrown out decoys. Noone is in the blind, it is just sitting there and I assume the owners will come pullin in shortly before shooting time.

In this situation, what do you do?

[js]

most of the time i try to get to my spots early enough to get to one of my back up spots but there has been several times i kinda hang out there for a little while to see if they show up n try to make a few new hunting buddies has not always worked but does from time to time being that i hunt only public land i run into people already in some of my spots alot.

[jdaves]

I guess it depends on your personality. Obviously, you could hunt it if you got there first but if they've already put out their decoys I would say that you're probably not going to beat them to the spot. I'm sure they've already thought of this scenario and plan on getting there at the earliest time allowed.

So you basically have 3 options:
1) beat them there and have a heated argument when they arrive
2) go there after they've already arrived and have a heated argument

or

3) say f' it and find another spot

I don't think you would be in the wrong with either option but if it were me, I would go with option #3. For the simple fact that if I went with 1 or 2 it's just gonna get me wound up and bitter all morning and that's not how I want to start my season. Again, that's just how I'd handle it but to each his own. I do understand your frustration.

[Jelly]

dude, they were there first, move on..

[farmerc83]

That's what you carry bright orange paint for. "They" weren't there first, their gear was left in a way that most feel is not an ethical public land hunting practice. Now if the other guys were sitting there, who cares that you scouted it they beat you there, but leaving gear to save a spot so you can sleep later is BS.

[chevy01234]

Go find somewhere else. The other fellas aren't mind readers, never assume you are the only one who found the ducks.

Make an effort to get there early enough or take the time to save your spot or don't get your feelings hurt when someone else is hunting it.

[Alex]

I don't agree with you needing to move on. If they arent physically there when you get there you have the right to move their stuff out of your way. You arent suppose to leave any personal possessions on WMA'a or Refuge's anyway. I'm sure they will be upset but you win that argument.

[Blake Williamson]

If it where me it's just duck hunting no need of fighting and fussing over some "turd-cutter" being a dick.......Done had a problem simialur to this already myself. f*** em feed em fish heads and go find another spot.

[Alfy]

Had a similar situation last year. We left dekes out in a hole that we felt sure no one would find. Pulled into the hole the following morning to find someone in the hole setting up. We picked up our decoys and moved on. Lesson learned and never had a problem being first in the hole for the rest of the season.

[Lazy Drake]

I would hunt and tell the other people to pizz off if they had an attitude, if nice about it we could all hunt the spot. If they beat me in, I would move on. People brining blinds and leaving decoys, they are just trying to pretend they own the spot. What they are hoping is that will deter most people and move on. The last time I checked, public land is first come, first served.

[levi127]

If you are there in person 1st then you should hunt it. Your going to have a argument either way if you go back. People do this to keep someone out of a public spot, which isnt fair. Think if you left your stuff out there someone would do the same to you or pick it up and take it or put it in the blind for you. Just becuase they have their stuff there doesnt mean crap, it means they are squating on a spot and trying to keep other people away from it.
Look at everything there. Is it set up for 1 or 2 people or 4. If its 1-2 you have a better chance of talking with them and possibly hunting with them, more people your going to have 1 that says no that thinks his crap dont stink. Probably the littlest guy in the group also. So hit him 1st!
Or just say oh well and move on to another spot and dont look back.

[Smoke68]

Me and a buddy were at a WMA last year and accidentally setup in someone else's unit (first time to hunt WMA). Some guys rolled in and they weren't sure where the line was either. After some discussion, we concluded that me and my buddy were setting up in their spot. They let us hunt with em, and we made some new friends.

First off, I'm with farmer. Reserving a spot by leaving all your gear is lazy and classless.

But I'd hang out and see who shows up.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Ain't a doubt in my mind that I'd hunt. If I show up first they can kiss my booty. Leaving gear in a hole is cheap and weak. You better beat me in; if not then your decoys are going to the side. We've done it before and will do it again. Sorry.

[Plainsman04]

Lazy way to try to reserve a spot on public ground. If you beat them there then I'd say you have more of a right to hunt it than them. I'd say have a polite discussion with them and maybe you can all hunt together or maybe they'll leave. If they're dicks about it and leave their stuff there after they hunt that morning then go back and drop a big, nasty deuce in the blind and sink all their decoys. But seriously, if they're doing this in a spot where it's not allowed then you may not get to hunt it that morning but the proper authorities need to be aware of the situation. My guess is they think their chit don't stink.

[JaMak84]

Been reading over the wma regs. Still haven't found the section addressing "reserved spots" or VIP parking?