Hey all -
This will be my first time heading on public land during gun season for deer, so I had a general etiquette question.

I plan on building a quick and dirty brush blind. In my experience during turkey season, there are plenty of brush blinds around, which I assumed were not for turkey, although could be.

My previous experience got me to thinking of these questions since I am hunting new areas.
I realize the questions are a bit loaded, all opinions are welcome.
So my questions -

1) What do you do with your brush blind at the end of the season? Are you suppose to "remove" the blind at the end of the season?

2) If I happen upon a brush blind in a spot I'm planning on hunting, what is the proper etiquette for whether or not I should hunt there?

Specifically, let's say it's 20 minutes before shooting light, a new spot for me, no one in the blind - therefore I am clearly the first there and it's public land?

3) Do you mark your blind/location while on public land to "claim" that spot?
What do you do if you come upon something that is clearly trying to claim a hunting spot on public land?

This is all coming from wanting to be a good fellow public land hunter. I've got backup spots marked on my map, but I am curious what the etiquette is for this kind of stuff.

I would say any brush blind on public land is first come,first serve. If you get in it before some other guy,even if he is the one that built it,I'd say he is SOL. If he disagrees ask him if he'd like for the Game Warden to settle it.

If I had built a "brush blind" to hunt, I would have a note in a plastic sandwich bag that would be obvious to anyone in the blind that would have a date and time that you would be hunting that blind. Hopefully, if an honest hunter sees it, he will leave it alone at that time. If someone is in the blind when I got there then I would be SOL.

Just make sure you get there first. No problems.

I agree that first come-first served is the rule. I won't even park my car, or walk in, any area that already has a vehicle parked near, or at, where I want to hunt. If there is a vehicle there, I just keep on going. It's not safe for either party, and it could potentially ruin someone else's hunt for you to walk into an area where there is already another hunter(s). I wish ALL other public land hunters would adhere to this as well. Can't tell you the # of times I've been hunkered down for 30 minutes to an hour and just before 1st light here comes some yahoo traipsing down the trail making all kinds of noise. Knowing he had to walk right past my truck to come down the trail... I typically whistle at them to let them know where I am. I've had several waive at me and just keep on walking towards my position... Wish I were kidding. If a car is parked at the entrance of a trail you had planned to hunt-MOVE ON! DO NOT STOP! It's not safe for either of you. You were late and you missed the worm.

Then make another one. I can make a brush blind in 10 minutes

Concur with budward, Just make a new blind. Take hand clippers with you. Won't take long.