To further illustrate, one of the places I hunt, the shooting range actually has a blind on it. We'll shoot the guns in during the day and then hunt the exact same spot that evening. Can't think of a single instance of hunting that particular spot where we didn't see deer.

In fairness to the counterpoint, it is the hill country and the population is "real high".

To further illustrate, one of the places I hunt, the shooting range actually has a blind on it. We'll shoot the guns in during the day and then hunt the exact same spot that evening. Can't think of a single instance of hunting that particular spot where we didn't see deer.

In fairness to the counterpoint, it is the hill country and the population is "real high".

The million dollar question......"what didn't you see after shooting all day???". Ever wonder why mature bucks can be nocturnal?

Every place is different. It's absolutely feasible that a kid shooting a squirrel with a shotgun screwed the original poster's chances or spooked a mature buck.

It's also completely feasible that it had no effect at all and this is just a projection of frustration in not shooting anything.

Agree with the the prevailing structure of the lease dictating behavior. If only one guy is bringing his kids and making noise, he's the exception and should be reprimanded. If there is only 1 bowhunter and the rest of the group all bring their kids out there to shoot squirrels, the bowhunter can probably pound sand.

My rules are real simple, if you are not deer hunting, you are to stay in camp or working in your area. No 4 wheelers, no shooting, no horseplay. Break a rule you might be shown the front gate, but whizz on my parade and you won't be back.

That's about like our place we bought it to deer hunt. There is no joy riding no target shooting no spraying bullets around for fun. We are either hunting, filling feeders, running cams, fixing a fence feeder blind, or planting a food plot or we are not there.

This also goes back to something I said early in the thread. If you are a bowhunter, look for a lease where everyone bowhunts. If you not a bowhunter, look for a lease where everyone does not bowhunt. If you don't have kids don't get on a lease where everyone else is bringing kids. If your an old guy, don't get on a lease with a bunch of young guys, and so on. If most on the lease don't bowhunt, the lone bowhunter telling the majority with kids that their kids have to stay in camp and not make any noise could be taken as discourteous to the kids. And people do tend to get very defensive when it concerns their kids. I would be tactful in how you present it, especially if there is only a couple bowhunters in the group. I know on my lease as the lone bowhunter if I tried to involk a rule of no shooting during bow season, after season I would probably be politely told my time on the lease was over. I enjoy my lease and enjoy who I hunt with, so I go with the majority and with our designated range safely in camp that is in a visibly open area with a safe backstop and not out in the hunting area, smart enough not to put up a bowstand in the areas we hunt small game and dove, and so no one shooting around my bowstand, it is not a problem anyway.

I don't think it's much of an overreaction. It does affect hunting if it's close enough. There's plenty of time between morning & evening hunts for messing around. It's a respect thing

You are soooo wrong. Shouldn't matter where they hang stands. Don't go fill feeders until mid day during season. Fact is if I fill my buck tag early and am just going to the lease to fill feeders and or work I sure as heck don't drive around while others are out hunting. That is a complete lack of courtesy. You can fill feeders after 10am and before 4pm and not disturb the bowhunters. Some people think they are the only ones on the lease.
You would be hissed TD if I was out walking around quail hunting during your rifle hunting outings. Dog running around, shotgun blasts making your deer skittish. Then you would complain about quail hunters. Golden rule, don't want it done to you, don't do it to them.

Did you make up a contract or list of rules for members BEFORE they got on the lease that includes no firearms, or are you making the rules up for them as you go. If rofd1374 is just verbally making them up, or assuming they know what he expects, he probably needs to give them a written set of guidelines they can refer to. Otherwise he is destined for a miserable season butting heads with all the new guys and their kids.

I am an old fellow, no kids and don't like other guys. I would be interested in finding a lease that is composed of attractive gals who like hunting and can cook, and I really don't care about their etiquette or noise they make. Skinny dipping at midnight is OK and heck, if they want to keep me awake that is OK. I am just there for the spirit of hunting, getting out in the woods, etc, not important whether I take any game home. I even have a couple of chain saws they can use to help them gather wood for the campfire. I don't mind if they borrow my truck or ATV as long as they clean it and return it with a full tank of gas. They can fill the feeders whenever they want. Size of area being hunted doesn't matter and if several of us have to share the same crowded little blind that is ok. If any of you malcontents can help me I would be grateful. Nothing more, just grateful.

It's really sad the hunting community has often become so divided, but your comments are spot on. I remember when two bow hunters hung stands near a major road to/from camp, and then got upset when other lease members drove by them on their way to fill feeders.

In the words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

Yes, and not driving by a stand while someone is hunting it to fill feeders is a nice place to start.