This past weekend, I was reminded twice that like hunting skills, basic woodsmanship is quickly becoming (pardon the pun) "lost" with hunters.

As I always do, I made it a point to hunt public land on Opening Day. As I neared the area where I placed my stand, I began to see that someone had placed those little reflector stickers along the way. Naturally, my first response was that I would find them all the way to my stand. Thankfully, they stopped about 100 yards before, undoubtedly because the there was no longer an old trail to follow. To tell the truth, I found them to be a little freaky, almost the eyes of an animal glowing back at me along my walk. They were obviously put there by someone who needed help finding his way back to a spot.

I guess what really set me off was when my partner got lost while hunting our private tract and had to walk past my food plot to reach his stand. You see, there's an easy shortcut (less than 50 yards) that he could have taken that would have gotten him to his stand quicker, and without have to walk anywhere near my stand. I pointed him exactly the way to go saying "Just walk in a straight line and you can't miss it." He obviously couldn't do it. I just get settled into my mind when here he comes, walking up the road towards me. Now understand, he has to turned a one-minute walk into a five-minute walk by following the road, rather than taking the easy shortcut, which I could easily do in the dark. And worse, he's just "scented up" five times area, lessening both his and my chances for success.

Now granted, all my years of following coonhounds on dark nights and keeping my directions has been instrumental in my ability to navigate through the woods.

So please people, make it point to learn how to walk through the woods without getting lost, and without the need for leaving bread crumbs. Otherwise, I'm going to eat all those crumbs and leave you to either find your way, or until the search party finds you.

wow

I want to make sure I am getting this right??? Your pissed because someone marked there way in and out on public land??? Am I correct??? therefore they are not "outdoorsman"???

Yes!

IMO, it's not a good idea to hunt any area, public or private, where you need to mark your way around. Learn how to read a compass or invest in a GPS. And spend enough time in the woods so that you don't have to depend on either one. In short, if you're going to hunt public land, do yourself a favor and become familiar with the area before long before the season opens. Or, just put your stand near a road or trail so that you need not get beyond "seeing" distance of it and become lost.

That's the point I want to make most. Trail markers are for those who don't want to spend the time it takes to learn the woods, or how to read a compass.

Oh sorry we can't all be badass Davy crockets like you.

LMAO!!!!

My thinking exactly. Dan this is one fo those refarted threads you seem to get into. I am not sure if every 2 weeks your oxygen tank runs low and your mouth overrides your chain of thought, seriously. There is nothing wrong with marking where a hunter goes to get in or out, more so on public land where the forest may be thick and the hunters thicker. Hell we have marking tape out at the ranch as we speak, to help our hunters and we use it if tracking need be. I can't believe you come on a public forum with such a huge crock of chit. If this is what it takes to help ANY hunter out so be it. Most guys that hunt public forest do so because they can't afford much more and want to enjoy the woods. You should head some of the crap the forum in going to take on you. You definately have opions, too bad most of em suck. I have watched some of your threads and have let em go, but to mention a search party to find a fellow hunter????? Maybe some one can tack one of these on your arse and head so you know which one is which. This is the stupidists thread I have seen and childish at that.

Here's a great nomination for the "dumbest post of the year" award.

+1

i disagree, look on open disscussion, under legalizing road hunting. thats a stupid post, this is entertaining

Kinda sounds like some of the lake naming posts.

so, what did you do, remove his reflectors to teach him a lesson at dark:30 that he really should channel his inner Lewis & Clark?

I don't own a GPS. I own a compass, but really could only use it to go in a standard direction, not plot a course.

Anyway, when it is all said and done, it sounds like the other guy had more fun hunting than you did. He did it his way and had a ball. You seem to have let the fact that he didn't do it your way ruin your weekend.

Bummer...

So you are going to "eat up his breadcrumbs" and make sure that he wanders in the dark all morning in the same general area that you are hunting??? Excellent idea dip stick.

Little wonder why so many have said you take your chances when hunting public land. You just never know what manner of folk you may cross paths. The truth is, generations of hunters have taken to the woods without the need for such "convenience" and lack of knowledge. With so many apparently becoming dependant on something to guide them with such ease, maybe they should make these markers in different colors. That way hunters can differentiate their bread crumbs from those left by someone else.

With all foolishness aside, I'm sure most would agree these markers work extremely well for kids and beginning hunters. And they may also make it easier to find that one certain tree in the dark of the morning.

Now as for equating someone to Davy Crockett for having the knowledge to read and use a compass, or spend time becoming familiar with the area they intend to hunt, that might be just a little short-sighted don't you think?

well said dan

And no, I wouldn't remove your reflective markers so that you become lost and never heard from again.

However, I might be tempted to move them so that you travel in circles. Or even worse, unknowingly end up at another hunter's stand.

now thats helping your fellow sportsman

I know, but I couldn't resist.

Just move the markers and redirect the lazy bums into a pit lined with spikes. Problem solved.