So I have managed to get out 4 times over the season to look for Deer in the Sam Houston National Forest around Huntsville/ New Waverly and the experience has left me dissapointed. The first couple of outings it was busy and I bumped into quite a few other hunters which is to be expected but the disappointment comes from the lack of sportsmanship.
One area I went to there was a power line running through it and there were at least 6 blinds/ stands set up in close proximity, dotted either side of the power line, within a distance of 400m. How do these guys get to their stand without disturbing others? and what about arcs of fire?
The next time I went I decided to get in early and cycle further in to lose the crowd. I arrived an hour before sunset and made my way in under the cover of darkness. Choosing a spot about 1.2miles from the locked gate I was fairly confident, until 3/4 of a mile in I noticed a line in the dew on the road way, I am now looking closer and it is definitely a bicycle. I continue on and soon spot two spent cases on laying on the track, presuming it was from the previous evening I carry on. Eventually I got to my spot and as I round the corner I see a beam of light furtively searching the forest, clearly this guy is spot lighting and he is in the location I had selected. Not wanting a confrontation in the dark, that deep in the forest I took advantage of the distance between us and exited sharply eventually setting up in a different spot.
Yesterday I decided to go to a different area, closer to Huntsville. Again I cycle in about a mile or so and being post rut it was quieter. I dumped the bike and decided to stalk. It wasn’t long before I spotted an old looking wooden tree stand. No one was in it so I went to have a look to see why the owner had chosen that spot. As I am appreciating the location I notice something white in the tree....it’s a jar of peanut butter with a mineral block under neath! So I exit sharply again! As I continued on around the forest I found a further two peanut butter jars screwed to trees, empty deer corn bait containers and discarded trash and pheromone attractant sticks.
I really didn’t want to believe all the scare stories I have been told about public hunting but so far in my limited experience I have found evidence of overcrowding, firing from a forest service road, hunting before legal hours, spotlighting, hunting over bait and littering.
Is this typical of public land or am I hunting in areas to close to the city?
One area I went to there was a power line running through it and there were at least 6 blinds/ stands set up in close proximity, dotted either side of the power line, within a distance of 400m. How do these guys get to their stand without disturbing others? and what about arcs of fire?
The next time I went I decided to get in early and cycle further in to lose the crowd. I arrived an hour before sunset and made my way in under the cover of darkness. Choosing a spot about 1.2miles from the locked gate I was fairly confident, until 3/4 of a mile in I noticed a line in the dew on the road way, I am now looking closer and it is definitely a bicycle. I continue on and soon spot two spent cases on laying on the track, presuming it was from the previous evening I carry on. Eventually I got to my spot and as I round the corner I see a beam of light furtively searching the forest, clearly this guy is spot lighting and he is in the location I had selected. Not wanting a confrontation in the dark, that deep in the forest I took advantage of the distance between us and exited sharply eventually setting up in a different spot.
Yesterday I decided to go to a different area, closer to Huntsville. Again I cycle in about a mile or so and being post rut it was quieter. I dumped the bike and decided to stalk. It wasn’t long before I spotted an old looking wooden tree stand. No one was in it so I went to have a look to see why the owner had chosen that spot. As I am appreciating the location I notice something white in the tree....it’s a jar of peanut butter with a mineral block under neath! So I exit sharply again! As I continued on around the forest I found a further two peanut butter jars screwed to trees, empty deer corn bait containers and discarded trash and pheromone attractant sticks.
I really didn’t want to believe all the scare stories I have been told about public hunting but so far in my limited experience I have found evidence of overcrowding, firing from a forest service road, hunting before legal hours, spotlighting, hunting over bait and littering.
Is this typical of public land or am I hunting in areas to close to the city?