11 Ways to Ruin Your Hunting Experience: How Not to Behave While Hunting

In today’s article, we’re going to address the 11 ways to ruin your hunting experience and show you some examples of how not to behave before, during, and after your hunting trip!

As a hunter, it is important to remember that you are a guest on someone else’s property. When you are out in the field, there are a few things you should avoid doing at all costs, or you may ruin your hunting experience – and worse, you may lose the opportunity to hunt on that property again.

To be a responsible hunter, it’s important to know how not to behave while hunting. This will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable hunt, and will also help to protect the reputation of hunters as a whole. Landowners often complain that hunters don’t follow the rules, and this can ruin their hunting experience.

Here are 11 ways to ruin your hunting experience:

#1 Not getting permission to hunt.

If you have never hunted this property before, make sure you ask for permission in advance and do not go on the land without confirmation from a landowner that they are willing to let you hunt on their land. Give them at least a week’s notice so they can prepare themselves for your arrival.

It’s always good manners, whether it is required or not by law, to ask if there are any rules about where or what may be hunted on their property and if there are any boundaries you should be aware of.

#2 Not telling the landowners when they arrive at or leave the property.

It’s always appreciated if you let the landowners know when you are arriving and departing from their land – even if it is just a quick call or text to let them know. This helps them keep an eye out for trespassers, as well as avoid any potential conflicts with other hunters on the property.

#3 Making too much noise.

A lot can be forgiven if you are simply trying to find your way around in the dark, but please try to minimize your noise level while hunting. Remember, there may be others on the property who are also trying to get closer to game. No one wants to hear gunshots all day long or have their peace and quiet disturbed by loud voices and laughter.

#4 Leaving litter behind.

This is another common mistake that hunters make while they are out in the field, and it can ruin the hunting experience for everyone else. Be sure to pick up any trash or other items that you may have left behind so the landowner doesn’t have to deal with it later. Litter not only looks bad, but it can also be dangerous for wildlife. Please take the time to clean up after yourself, both while on the property and once you return home.

#5 Carrying loaded firearms in vehicles.

This may seem like common sense to some, but every year there are accidents involving firearms that were carried in a vehicle. If you must transport a firearm in your car, make sure it is unloaded and stored properly – preferably in a locked case.

#6 Driving off the ranch roads.

If you are hunting on private land, it is important that you stay off of any public roadways or trails unless specifically told otherwise by the owner of the property in which case they will provide specific directions as to where you should go.

#7 Don’t leave gates as they were found when the hunter arrived.

(Open Or Shut)

One of the easiest ways to get on the bad side of a landowner is to leave their gates open or shut when you arrived. Make sure you close any gates that you open, and if there happen to be any livestock on the property, make sure the gate is secure so they can’t get out.

#8 Shooting too close to neighbors or livestock.

This is another common mistake that hunters make while they are out in the field, and it can ruin your experience on the land if you do this too often. Always be sure to take into account your surroundings before taking a shot, and never shoot in the direction of any homes or other structures.

#9 Leaving fires unattended.

This is another common mistake that hunters make while they are out in the field, and it can ruin your experience on the land if you do this too often. Always be sure to take into account your surroundings before starting a fire, and never leave any fires unattended.

#10 Violating game laws.

This is another common mistake that hunters make while they are out in the field, and it can ruin your experience on the land if you do this too often. Always be sure to obey all State & local game laws when hunting, and know what the consequences could be if you don’t.

#11 Drinking alcohol.

Alcohol should NEVER be part of a hunt. This is another common mistake that hunters make while they are out in the field, and it can ruin your experience on the land if you do this too often. Drinking alcohol can impair your judgment and make it difficult to safely participate in a hunt.

In Conclusion:

Following these simple rules will help ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable hunting experience while out on someone else’s property. Remember, it is always important to be respectful of the landowner and their property and to remember that the rules may be different than what you are used to. Happy Hunting!