Just getting started out there just a couple questions.
Whats the unwritten rule about unintentionally getting into another hunters area? I was walking in and heard a whistle tried to just back out and find new spot without wasting too much time.

After sitting with bow for the morning (without seeing any movement or other hunters). Is it ok to switch the hunt to squirrel or rabbit if seeing them, at the possibility of risking another persons hunt?

It’s Public land. If you want to hunt rabbits or squirrel and it’s legal have at it.

I use the "100 yard rule" myself. If I come across a treestand(whether occupied or not)I move at least 100 yards away to set my own stand. Sometimes a little further if the woods are real open,closer if the woods are thick as a jungle. I've had squirrel and hog hunters walk through my set-up on numerous occasions,it's not that big a deal to me but some guys do get upset when it happens. It's public land and those hunters got just as much right to be there as I do. It dont do any good to get bent outta shape about it.

I have also used the 100 yard rule for several years. Seems to work.

most hunters stay close ta parking areas, so ya gonna run inta some one... & as posted, its public land...
Seen very few bow hunters during the Archery deer&hog/squirrel&hog hunts.. Me, they can push game towards ya... & never had problems with squirrel hunters..
Took my orange off & put it on the tree above me...
They see it & then you, & they avoid area..

Thats a good idea about hanging the orange. And thats what i was hoping about getting in there early and farther maybe get something pushed out my direction. The hundred yard rule seems fair.

Thank yall

ta HF & public hunting..

Best wish's...

Haha,I was hunting OSB WMA many years ago during the october bow season and some guy had pinned a hand-written note to the info board at the entrance that read "SQUIRREL SEASON IS OVER!" I guess he was mad and fed up with squirrel hunters walking through his set.

Another occasion I was hunting the hwy 71 bottoms at Cooper WMA and some guy I guess was trying to train his squirrel dog and he kept yelling at the top of his lungs "Sadie here! Sadie no!" over and over,not 50 yards from me. Went on for 30 minutes or more. Guh.

be kinda useless, the info board has all the info for season hunts...
now the squirrel/hog hunts, have seen some that were using (squirrel) dogs, trying ta scare up hogs, they were using mule type ta ride around in & had several dogs, none were squirrel dogs...

Each thar own, it gets things moving, & entertaining whin things are slow..
Had a squirrel dog end up close ta me once, like said had orange up above me head, & they are ya alone..
Any ways, chatted with the guy, got invite, never hunted squirrel with a dog.. He came down on squirrel/hog only, Archery deer/hog was deer hunts. The squirel/hog did tame my .45 kentucky for hogs...
Any ways had a cool time,. Dog treed several times, squirrels were jumping tree ta tree ahead of us...
Did get one squirrel, was impressed..


Thing ta remember about public hunting, not all have land ta hunt, family/friends that own land, nor can afford the rising cost ta pay ta play on a lease, (if i wanna pay ta play, i go to a cassino), always enjoyed meeting other hunters, & enjoyed chatting... Tis a bout as the topic says : Public Etiquette...

on the thread JONBOATTAWAKONI...

Maybe "Sadie" wasn't a dog!

I hunt from a camo ground blind...folks are gonna walk up on ya. But they also stir the game up.

I just want to say, I have seen stands sitting in the same tree, in the same spot, from August to May, not sure about the summer.

Therefore, my personal amendment: If your stand/support straps are sun faded, the 100 yard rule does not apply.

Yeah some guys think they can "claim" an area by putting up an elaborate stand/set-up and expect other hunters to go somewhere else when they see it. I got news for you podnah,not gonna happen. Some spots I been hunting for 25 years and I'm not gonna "go somewhere else" just because you put up an elaborate PERMANENT stand. Be prepared to have some company nearby.

Yep thats what happened this weekend walked up to the spot i chose and stand already up. Just moved down a little bit found another spot that looked good in the dark