WIHA question

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eg92b16a2

New member
Sorry for asking a dumb question. I am really new to hunting and just started to hunt pheasants last year. This year have a brittany that just finished some training and trying to get her into more birds. Finally found some WIHA land that is close by to go to. Got out this morning and went to the place and saw a vehicle there so drove by it and looked into the fields to see where they were. Did not see anybody so drive up a ways up and saw a group in orange on the other side of the road on the another WIHA plot. So I got out and start my hunt within 30 yards my dog was on point. Flushed the pheasant missed the shot. Moved on down the field half a mile down and heard somebody yelling hey hey to me and told me they were hunting so I apologize and left. But I could not see them they must of been hunting geese, turkey, or deer. My question is if there is a vehicle near that WIHA plot nobody else can be in there?

Thanks.
 
No, not at all. It's PUBLIC ground so technically anyone can hunt it as long as what they're hunting is allowed on that tract of WIHA and it's the correct season. On the ETHICAL side, if someone was already in the tract hunting then I wouldn't begin to hunt it. The way that I look at it is they were there first so let them have it. I'll watch them, if I can, and see how they hunt the tract and alot of times go back through with my dog after they leave and shoot birds that they pushed around or ran over! Sounds like it was just a misunderstanding and glad that everything worked out. You're from Salina, were you walking the WIHA West of Salina a few miles and either right North or South of I-70? If so, we stopped by those tracts a few years ago to just see what they looked like and alot of Deer hunters were swarming them, not saying that was the case in your situation, glad that you got out to run the dog! Good Luck the rest of the season!
 
it's public, no exclusive right for anyone....public is public, i wouldn't mess someone up intentionally, but if i don't see anyone hunting my intended route, i am out the door and gone......no apologies needed.
 
Public is public, so you broke no laws.

If we see somebody hunting a smaller WIHA we usually won't jump in it. If its a half section though, and they're on one side, we might hunt the other side. Opening weekend we did this, parked on the SW corner and started hunting, ended up walking into a group we didn't see that were parked on the SE corner, we turned to the north and walked into another group parked on the north side, so we turned and worked back to the trucks. Just try to be respectful and give some space is all you can do.
 
It's best to keep your distance from other hunters on the WIA's. But if the other group wants to get in your face, ask them to show you "their" deed to that property. When they can't, go about your business.

I have twice had landowners adjacent to BLM land attempt to run me off the gov't ground. One actually drove out into the field to harass me during an archery goat hunt. After crawling through cactus for several yards stalking a nice buck, I wasn't in a real good mood when he drove up in his new diesel 4x4 and started his tirade. These types use intimidation and bluff "threats" to keep us away from good public hunting spots, as if their 1000's of private acres next door are not enough.

I now always keep a camera and notepad in my pack. The next time someone starts in on public land hunter harassment, I'll be the one pressing charges!
 
The hunting etiquet is pretty hazy. Public areas are just that, and open to all, sounds like you made an effort not to interfere with anyones hunt. You were within your rights to be there. Havng said that, I would have done the same thing. My guess it was a bowhunter, in my opinion the bane of the public area. They like to dress in camo and sit in trees adjacent to bird cover, at about flushing height, arrive before dawn and stay all day, issue lamendations from an unseen location to everyone like the oracle of Delphi. Just move on to the next area, or hunt in a different direction as you please. Have to rely on civility and compromise on a public area. One of the more common tricks I see, is a group arrives in two or more vehicles, parks one at a prime spot, then piles into the other vehicle and hunts a different piece, hoping to discourage anyone from hunting the parcel with the decoy vehicle.
 
kiotehntr said:
No, not at all. It's PUBLIC ground so technically anyone can hunt it as long as what they're hunting is allowed on that tract of WIHA and it's the correct season. On the ETHICAL side, if someone was already in the tract hunting then I wouldn't begin to hunt it. The way that I look at it is they were there first so let them have it. I'll watch them, if I can, and see how they hunt the tract and alot of times go back through with my dog after they leave and shoot birds that they pushed around or ran over! Sounds like it was just a misunderstanding and glad that everything worked out. You're from Salina, were you walking the WIHA West of Salina a few miles and either right North or South of I-70? If so, we stopped by those tracts a few years ago to just see what they looked like and alot of Deer hunters were swarming them, not saying that was the case in your situation, glad that you got out to run the dog! Good Luck the rest of the season!
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The WIHA plot was south east of salina near gypsum

Thanks guys for the replies. I feel much better now. I fealt really bad thinking it was against the law to be in the same plot if there are other people in the same lot.
 
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oldandnew said:
...One of the more common tricks I see, is a group arrives in two or more vehicles, parks one at a prime spot, then piles into the other vehicle and hunts a different piece, hoping to discourage anyone from hunting the parcel with the decoy vehicle.
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On opening weekend in SW KS I saw what appeared to be a couple episodes of this.
 
She did great yesterday. Pointed two roosters but my shooting skill is not up to her nose. So nothing to show for her good work. Went out today for half of a day she did pretty good for a really windy day. Flushed some hens and on one field we just got there she flushed out 6 roosters but I was still putting in shells into my gun so no shot. I am the weak link in this team right now.

Is there anything I can do to get better at shooting?
 
Practice, practice, practice. Shooting trap will help, along with sporting clays. Niether one is live birds and if it is the the rush of the flush that is throwing you off then you will just have to take an extra breath before pulling the trigger. Perhaps trying some pen raised birds to help get used to the flush.
 
oldandnew said:
The hunting etiquet is pretty hazy. Public areas are just that, and open to all, sounds like you made an effort not to interfere with anyones hunt. You were within your rights to be there. Havng said that, I would have done the same thing. My guess it was a bowhunter, in my opinion the bane of the public area. They like to dress in camo and sit in trees adjacent to bird cover, at about flushing height, arrive before dawn and stay all day, issue lamendations from an unseen location to everyone like the oracle of Delphi. Just move on to the next area, or hunt in a different direction as you please. Have to rely on civility and compromise on a public area. One of the more common tricks I see, is a group arrives in two or more vehicles, parks one at a prime spot, then piles into the other vehicle and hunts a different piece, hoping to discourage anyone from hunting the parcel with the decoy vehicle.
Click to expand...

I've had this happen to me here in WI, walking on the edge of a picked corn field bordering woods, I was day dreaming just following my Springer when I see a scent rag hanging from a branch look up oh oh right under his tree stand. He wasn't pissed I just said sorry and slinked away. I try not to screw up anyones hunt if possible, but if its public field and it/s Pheasant hunting I might still hunt it away from him.
To get back on topic If its a big field and it's one guy or two I might sneak in the other end, if it's a big group I'm gone, it depends if there's somewhere else near by or if it's the first field of the day, if I've already hit a couple of fields I will be apt to just skip it and move on, I don't like crowds but If your only on public what ya gonna do.
In Oct. in ND I was somewhat surprised at how considerate other hunters were,it was the first week non residents could hunt PLOTS so I expected lots of hunters on public and some there were but other not so bad, but several times I was in or parked next to a PLOTS area and the guys just drove by. I hunted one new spot late in the afternoon and two different groups of 8-10 guys in big trucks pulled up and asked if I went through that already and asked what I saw and moved on, it must be a good spot I didn't have much luck the birds were skittish. The fact that I was alone and the guys still moved on was a pleasant surprise because they could have easily just crowed me out, and one guy with a Springer and Setter certainly didn't come close to moving all the birds, and covering a half section, these guys were all in state hunters to.
 
eg92b16a2 said:
She did great yesterday. Pointed two roosters but my shooting skill is not up to her nose. So nothing to show for her good work. Went out today for half of a day she did pretty good for a really windy day. Flushed some hens and on one field we just got there she flushed out 6 roosters but I was still putting in shells into my gun so no shot. I am the weak link in this team right now.

Is there anything I can do to get better at shooting?
Click to expand...

Relax !!! take your time, swing through the shot, oh wait a minute we are talking about you right. It's murphy's law, I had it happing to me when I first started pheasant hunting and sometimes still does. Just don't get fustrated it's a learning experience we all go through hang in there. the only time I would worry is when your dog looks back at you after you missed and shakes his or her head in disgust :D
 
I'm glad this was asked, I just thought of this today. Many WIHA's here are sizable enough you could go to the other end & not even bother the other hunters.
 
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