hunting spots

[Fridaythe13th]

Does anybody give up there elk hunting spot that they are currently hunting to friend,s family or co worker. Even if I know they are going a different season or a different week. For some reason I don't what too! because what if next year we go the same week. What do other people do?

[Toby]

I don't for fear that they will tell a friend, and he tells a friend, and pretty soon you are looking for a less crowded area.

[otcWill]

Not much on giving up my elk spots, though I do take friends and family on occassion. These are people who understand the "rules".

Other critters, sure, all the time. I give up turkey and deer spots pretty easy. I'll be with another elknut this september who will draw a deer tag in a unit I am quite familiar with. We will both kill a deer in short order and it'll be twice the fun as if I didn't have a friend along. Same with lopes. They are abundant. I've got a great spot and I like bringing along some friends. This year 3 of us will have 6 tags. Arrows will fly and memories will be made. That's what its all about for me!

Most would not want to hunt elk with me anyway as I hunt like a warrior goes to battle. Pain is pleasure and failure is not an option.

[ishy]

I'm pretty open, but makes me nervous not because of the person I tell but they will invariably tell someone and thats were it really begins to cause issues is the second line.

[Steve G]

I can't say I'm a stickler for the policy but I think the best policy is to not tell anybody, accept those who are actually joining you on a hunt to the location. If you treat something as valuable that needs protecting in front of others, they are more likely to do the same.

[Elkonthebrain]

I agreed with toby. Once friends of friends start showing up it gets crowded real fast.

[Fridaythe13th]

That's exactly what it is. The guy I wouldn't mind telling were my spots are, is bringing 2 buddy and I don't know them at all. But I feel like I owe him because he got me into Iowa for some whitetail hunting. If you ever hunted Iowa during the rut, now that is crazy. Never seen anything like it and I'm from southeast Minnesota.
Thank you for some replys just wondering what other do.

[NCelkhtr]

i wouldnt want to myself, cause they may not just be there this year but for years to come. then again i might would give up my left hand to be able to hunt iowa during the rut soooooo......

[Screaming_btf]

It takes allot of effort for me to find good spots, so unless its going to be a partner whom will also put in work or offer something no chance I am telling them the exact locations of where I have worked my butt off to find. I will offer my advice on areas and even point them to some good spots, perhaps ones I have hunted before and don't go back to often anymore. Now if someone had shared a spot with me that ended up being great especially if I had ended up and hunted in the location, that's a game changer imo. I would be happy to share my knowledge with that person in hopes of returning the favor, maybe expressing some concern about not telling others.

[Trophyhill]

Close friends and family yes. Other than that they are on there own

[Indian Summer]

DON'T DO IT! Man did I learn that the he\ard way about 10 times. I guess that shows how smart I am huh. Friends of friends of friends. My brother tells me... we're all in this together. I say yeah... I find the spots... ALL of them, and then we're ALL in it together. Never again.

Half a dozen guys and they have yet to put the time in to show me a spot. Not once. Elk are the gold nuggets of the Rockies. If you want to see a gold rush go ahead and try being Mr. Nice Guy.

[Wyo67]

I am forever grateful for my friends have been gracious enough to introduce me to elk hunting and have allowed me to hunt their areas. I will not divulge those areas without checking with them first.

[Swede]

I have tried to keep my spots for myself and friends/family. I have been more than happy to recommend good areas I can't cover. Often those areas are every bit as good as where I hunt, but due to logistics or size of the area, it doesn't meet my need. After recommending a place, people just assume another hunter is not giving any valuable advise and go somewhere else.

[Fridaythe13th]

Most people agree, mums the word.

[Indian Summer]

I don't think the problem is so much that people are jerks or can't be trusted. They are just a little too nice sometimes.

[easeup]

looks as I am the only fool on this post. I have told friends where I hunt and given some inside help before.
In each case, I later moved on to new pastures because they brought their other friends the years after that which made me feel crowded.
It is OK because those places were not any better than anywhere else I have hunted.

But the real truth is that I want to be the guy that helped somebody else get started.

[elkaholic]

I also learned the hard way. Before long the place was over run and I was searching for a different unit. The only folks I help now are those I actually hunt with and vise versa. We all know "the code". Blow it and your out not only a great hunting spot but friends as well.

[stringunner]

Swede and I hunt the same area. This past year I ran into a few of his traditional spots unknowingly. After forging a bit of a relationships, and over several (ongoing) conversations, Swede has definitely gone above and beyond in helping me find a few different spots so that we are not running into each other in the same spots. When most on here have said "mums" the word, there are still situations where sharing can be beneficial to both parties, though I believe that is definitely an exception to the rule.

[Swede]

Stringunner's post reminded me that as a tree stand hunter, I almost always see someone encroaching into the areas I hunt as a threat. It is not a personal matter, but it is perceived as direct competition in an area of limited resources. I became very alarmed when I realized how many of the spots I have had stands for years, were locations he was using all of a sudden. After thinking, researching, talking, and writing to Jeremy, it became obvious we could compete, so to speak, and everyone would lose or we could cooperate. I am satisfied with my choice, and am confident we have forged a lasting relationship that can and will be mutually beneficial.
I do not know if Stringunner is aware, but there have been some very ugly situations, including threats of violence and very real tire slashing, etc. that have occurred over the years just to the west of where we hunt. Talk about a bunch of losers. I know that area well enough, but I don't hunt it.

[elk.addict]

This has back fired on me twice!

Years ago, my boss took me out of state on a mule deer hunting trip to his favorite spot (and it was a really good spot). He said I could bring 1 friend, so I did. That friend of mine must have told his friends about the spot, because the following year there was a couple guys from his home town there. The next year there was about a 1/2 dozen guys from his hometown. My boss was pissed, understandably.
My 'friend' also told them about my elk hunting spot and the same group invaded that area. That group hunt it religiously every year; they have pushed me clean out of my favorite elk spot.

So no, I do not share my hunting spots unless I trust that person with my life.

[Gutpile]

My buddy many years ago took me to his long-hunted spot. A guy he hunted with invited one guy that year and we took a couple of bulls and cows. Next year that guy was back with 8 of his buddies, two giant trailers and a loud constantly running generator. We tried that spot the next year but the same -I remember the put out look on their faces when we got to camp. Haven't hunted there since - they didn't see an elk that trip so I guess the elk gods took care of it....

[Solitude]

If a body told you about it no way what I take a friend there. If you found it yourself then it's your call. I just advise having an alternate plan or a better spot to go to in the future. I will be forever in debt to the buddy that took me to his spot where I arrowed my first elk.

[Indian Summer]

looks as I am the only fool on this post. But the real truth is that I want to be the guy that helped somebody else get started.

Heck no easup I wouldn't call that a fool! I have done the same thing. It's self rewarding to help others get their elk hunting career started on the right track. But it's important to consider who you are helping. John Doe from work usually isn't a good idea.

The key word I think is desperate. When people want an elk really bad and after all the time effort and of course money they just can't find one the old saying holds true: Desperate people do desperate things. And it is rare that those desperate people know what they are doing so they trash the place.

There is a common thread among those of us who have learned some hard lessons. It's the "friend of a friends" syndrome. I don't care one bit if a guy I take somewhere goes back. If I am hunting I think it would be appropriate to contact me so we can hunt it together. If he goes solo more power to him.

But when you show up to find out you've been replaced by someone, or worse a group, you don't know....

Anymore other than what I do with my business the only people I hand things over to are kids, women, and old timers. I think they can be trusted more.... lol maybe I'm the fool?

[blackwolf]

I learned the "hard way" with my good whitetail spots years ago. Now, everything is myself and family, no more "surprises" !!!

[Fridaythe13th]

easeup wrote:
looks as I am the only fool on this post. But the real truth is that I want to be the guy that helped somebody else get started

Your not a fool for getting someone started in any hunting sport.
But this friend of mine has been elk hunting for 20 years and never got one with his bow.

[dlnwohio]

To answer the question at hand I'm not telling ANYONE where I hunt. Only time will tell the severity of my lesson learned... I walked a "hunting buddy" through the application process and found a spot on my own..... we hunted it and had a blast saw 30 plus elk in 10 days of hunting anyways this year he decided not to go again well guess his GPS with all those promising coordinates is making its way around his group of friend. Time will tell if I just lost a hunting buddy or a hunting spot also. Like mentioned its usually the buddies buddies that ruin things. I like to think there is a "code" and I hunt by it but some people just dont get it because they dont spend the time to find these spots.

[Lefty]

I sort of did but not for hunting. My wife wanted to know where and how to find me if things went bad.
My one hunting buddy knows what to do and say.
I found out that the last ranch in was a neighbors bother, so now her husband knows that I drive past his brother-in-laws place.
I would guess all three of us will eventfully hunt as a group in our own location,..