Epic hunt safety fail

rsp1761

rsp1761

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Sitting in ground blind last evening overlooking a long narrow opening about 250 yards long waiting for bucky to show up....This opening has several shallow areas that I call dead ground as you cannot see into them from where I sit and one of them was at the far end of this opening. With about half hour of light left I see movement at the far end and deploy my binos and see antlers and ears however it did not look "right". Movement continues exposing head and back of "buck". Approximately 10 seconds later a directional change brings into full view a hunter carrying a buck decoy over his shoulder...I wave my orange hat out window of blind and he departs area.

On Monday my 14 year old son was sitting in this blind and that scenario frightened me despite the fact he gets gun safety and target identification a tragic situation could have ensued.

Prior to deer season this year with my son now hunting occasionally by himself we instituted a safety policy regardless of situation the rifle is not touched until positive target ID has been established with binoculars.

Stay safe...
 
Yeah, good thing you decided to wait and see.

How do other people do it? Set up really early, and pack out really late, and hope no poachers take a shot at you, or wrap a bunch of reflective tape around the decoy, or something else?
 
Not a bright idea for sure carrying a deer decoy in hunting season but I guess at the end of the day, it still amazes me that people will just shoot at a "deer". What happened to picking out a precise point of aim etc .....most "accidental" shootings where a gun is purposefully pointed at a target should never happen....not if the shooter is taking the time to pick a precise point of aim.

Good lesson for your son though.....good to have a positive role model like you in his life.
 
Stevebot-7 said:
Yeah, good thing you decided to wait and see.

How do other people do it? Set up really early, and pack out really late, and hope no poachers take a shot at you, or wrap a bunch of reflective tape around the decoy, or something else?
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I wouldn't use one period in rifle season but if you are set on doing it, get a model that breaks down and carry it in a pack.
 
Hmm, has anyone set up a sasquatch decoy during hunting season, and put up some trail cams around it to see who shoots at it?
 
I always sit till last light. Then I walk out with a flashlight on, no way to mistaken ID that. Keep a spare in another pocket in case something happens. Both waterproof with fresh batteries.
 
sheephunter said:
I wouldn't use one period in rifle season but if you are set on doing it, get a model that breaks down and carry it in a pack.
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Pretty sound advice. I'm terrified to use a decoy with all the road hunters in my area. My neighbour uses a Montana 2D folding decoy, and only sets it perpendicular to his stand to minimize the odds of someone lobbing rounds in his direction.
 
Ultimately it is the responsibility of every hunter to know what they are shooting at and what is behind it (where will my bullet end up?)
Poor lighting and silhouette of antlers is really dangerous but NOT an excuse for shooting at a blob.

I made an antelope decoy and tried to paint it so an antelope would be fooled but a hunter would not. I am still pretty careful when, where and how I use it.

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Good job. That's why you should always be sure of your target and whats beyond it. Always be sure, you can't take a round back after its left the barrel.
 
I have a high vis zip in cover on my eberle stock pack that I throw over the antlers when im packing a deer for that very reason.
 
My son hunted this same blind again this past Saturday. Did not see any deer or any hunters but we talked extensively about the issue of target ID once again that morning.
 
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