I got about as mad as I have ever been in the deer woods yesterday. I haven't a chance to do much hunting this year. I went out to Wheeler yesterday morning a little before noon. I was little excited because the rut should be getting fired up out there, it was a beautiful day, and I planned to sit until dark. I had also found a good area about 1.5 miles from the truck which was torn up pretty good by a good buck. This area *shouldn't* get as much pressure since it is a little harder to get to - at least from the normal refuge gates/parking spots. I could tell by the size of some recent rubs - which were some of largest rubs I have seen in this area - that there is good deer in there.

Anyway, there's no where in 200 acres or so in this area where this deer was to put a climber. So, I bike in about a mile with all my gear, walk in the last 1/4 to 1/2 mile so, and setup an impromptu ground blind with camo 3d netting in a small opening that intersects a trail. I was feeling pretty good about the setup. It wasn't too long before a young six point comes cruising in following my scent drag. He eventually busts me and trots off but I'm waiting on his Daddy. No big deal.

Around 4:30pm I see some asshat off in the distance in a truck. He gets closer and closer. He eventually leaves the road, which is already on refuge land - behind closed gates - a road you’re not supposed to be on already - and drives through the opening I'm sitting in within 15 feet of me and stops in the opening directly in front of me 20 yards away. He never saw me but the girl in the passenger seat did because I waved and was shaking my head. I thought maybe it was his daughter and that's why I didn't get more irate. By the time he stopped his truck I was at his window. I think he was a little surprised. I said "What the F#$k are you doing?" He informed me that he "was the adjacent landowner and he was looking for someone trespassing on his property." Congratulations. I don't care who you are or what you're looking for. I told him "You just ruined my damn hunt. It wasn't me. I know where the property lines are. The only person breaking the law here is you. You aren't supposed to be driving out here..." He said he was sorry as he was backing out of there pretty fast. You're sorry? That's all you got?

There are signs everywhere through there marking the corners of the refuge. He even admitted to seeing my bike back in the woods where I left it - on refuge land - and still continued driving right towards me. I think he was full chit. He wasn't looking for a trespasser. I had been there since noon. No body was out there in that area except for me or I would have seen them. He was looking for a deer. As far as I can see, his land its all flat extremely wide open farm land and he was driving down to the refuge to find a deer with his daughter to shoot with a rifle. That's what it looked like to me. I don't know if it is him or not but I have also seen where someone has been out there in that area shooting ducks. I should probably call the game warden. I definitely will if it happens again. I have been pretty lucky out there the last few years. I have never even had someone walk up on me in the areas I go – much less drive a damn truck right up to me.

so yer just going to bitch and moan about it and do nothing???

call the damn game warden THIS time....

Tag number and report to refuge officials. Wont help your hunt, but may stop him from ruining your next?

Y'all are correct. At the time I was so damned mad that I wasn't thinking. I should have taken pictures instead of immediately running out there to confront him. He may be a nice guy for all I know. But, it seems he feels a little entitled to hunt or use that little finger of refuge land however he sees fit.

he suffered no consequences for his illegal actions and will be be back later on. Always make em suffer some consequence.

Not beating you up, but if he uses it as he sees fit and nobody stops him, then I can see why he feels entitled to use the land how he sees fit.

Gates mean nothing on most public lands. The WMAs are different because they are patrolled more often. But NF and refuge lands are a Charlie Foxtrot.

I'm sure that terrible tongue lashing you dealt changed his outlook. Two asshats in this story. He'll probably visit you again, and you deserve it!.

What side were you on? I don't wanna deal with that bs...

Hell, it really wasn't a tongue lashing and I was pretty respectful considering. I did express my displeasure though just like anybody would have. I was sitting there minding my own business trying to kill a deer while being respectful of property lines and regulations. Not really sure why I would deserve it other than making the mistake of not calling the game warden right then and there maybe.



PM sent.

Parked on public land one time where a guy had to park and walk by my truck to get by me. He walked by me before daylight and I could have reached out and grabbed him, but he never saw me. He shot a deer and came out. I told him I had been sitting there the entire time and he passed me before daylight. The older guy began to telling me I wasn't going to see anything there. I didn't tell him about the big bodied deer I spotted about a month ago right down the trail he walked across to get past me. I had been hunting that area for about five years and this idiot moved in and took over like he ownned the place. Plenty of idiots out there that are not courteous and out for one and only themselves un-fortunately. The best thing you can do is move on and not get yourself killed over a deer in some situations.

So you were hunting on Sunday on Wheeler Wildlife Refuge that is closed to Hunting on Sunday. Yea go ahead and pitch a fit about that!

Oh sorry about that. I see now. Didn't read my dates just right! Oops

This thread was posted yesterday..... inferring that the incident happened on Saturday.

Did you contact Wheeler NWR this morning to let them know about the guy driving in? If not, you should.

Yes. This incident happened Saturday @4:30pm. I don't know much but I do know not to hunt out at Wheeler on Sundays. lol.

I did speak to Wheeler law enforcement too... a super nice guy who seemed really interested in this incident. I'll leave it at that for now.

Call the warden and report him. He probably knows about that buck too and was just trying to prevent you from killing him.

Have they not shut hunting down since the Fed shutdown? Thought they did last year. I loaded my 4 wheelers and went to Bankhead yesterday and the dang ATV Trails are closed. I reckon the temporary opening wasn’t part of the National Forrest. I don’t know if hunting is opened or closed there.

Yeah. That's exactly what I thought too. I went back in there a few more times in the past week. A few more sits in there pretty much confirmed why he was going in there. lol... Thankfully, he never showed back up. He knew he was in the wrong and breaking the law so maybe he won't - unless he decides to go at night or after the season if he's really an outlaw.



I'm not sure about Bankhead. I did speak to a Wheeler law enforcement officer about the incident right afterwards and told him when it was. I believe that Saturday was the last one right before they struck the deal to temporarily open government back up. He didn't mention anything about Wheeler being closed during the shutdown or when the incident happened.