It’s happened before, and it’ll happen again (to you and me). Someone learned about a big deer you’re hunting. Another sees all the big deer you’ve stacked up. And they both try moving in on your spot.
Maybe they don’t go after the property itself, but they slide into neighboring tracts. Regardless of the specifics, people learn where you hunt.
Sometimes they act, and sometimes they don’t. However, by understanding how people learn about your hunting areas, you can take steps to safeguard both your private and public land hunting locations.
Listen Up, Jack
This article isn’t being written for playing offensive. Rather, it’s for defensive means. When hunters know the following information, they can better plan for protecting their hunting locations.
So, be a “white-hat hunter” and not a “black-hat hunter.” Use this knowledge for good, and not bad, or a big-buck-slump curse will smack you in the face, and keep smacking you, for 10 ugly years.
Your Booner dreams will fade into oblivion, and 2-inch spikes will haunt your remaining days.
1. Seeing You In Person
When another hunter sees you at the property, they know. They see you in full camo and bow in tow.
Whether they see you walking along the road, out of a parking lot, through a field, etc., it isn’t difficult to put the pieces together.
The Fix: Stop being so visible. Of course, that’s a difficult task on public land, and some private parcels.
Even so, make it more difficult to see you. Park and walk in areas that aren’t popular access points.
Park behind viewing obstacles, and walk into cover as quickly as possible, to limit visibility.
2. Noticing Your Truck (or Other Vehicle)
Seeing your truck is a dead giveaway on where you hunt. Driving in or out gives them an idea.
Seeing it parked is virtually a sure thing. Again, in some instances, there isn’t a lot of options in where you park.
Even so, being aware of this sometimes makes solutions more apparent.
The Fix: First, don’t drive a flashy vehicle that’s easy to identify. Ditch the bells and whistles.
And get rid of all those hunting stickers. And for the love of all that’s good, stop putting your YouTube, hunting show, or other identifying media platforms on the rig.
All you’re doing for others is saying, “Hey! These are the deer I’m killing, and here’s where to kill more!”
Or, with some “hunters,” maybe it’s just showing everyone where not to hunt. But I’m not here to cast shade.
3. Searching Hunting Apps and County Platts
Modern hunting apps are incredible. These powerful tools make it possible to complete tasks hunters didn’t previously dream about. These provide a huge net positive for hunters.
But they also make it easier to find properties owned by individuals. Searching someone’s name can quickly bring up the tracts they own.
The Fix: For this reason, some people place their land under a different name. Maybe it’s in a trust, is owned by a business, etc.
Whatever the case, it’s listed under something other than the person’s legal name.
Of course, this isn’t legal advice, though. So, consult with a lawyer and real estate professionals before making a big move.
4. Studying Your Social Media Posts
Social media posts are scrutinized more than ever before. Hunters can study a photo and see recognizable landmarks, such as terrain features, buildings, and more.
If they’ve seen the area before, they’re likely to recognize these things.
The Fix: Stop taking photos in front of recognizable landmarks. If you do, don’t post them to social media or text them out.
Instead, take some photos against generic backdrops, and use those for sharing and posting.
5. Consulting the DNR’s Website
Some wildlife agencies produce reports that showcase details of harvested animals. These become a part of the public record and can be searched within their respective websites.
Oftentimes, it’s as simple as searching a hunter’s name, or pulling all deer harvested in the county for a specific timeframe, and scanning the list of hunters.
While this doesn’t provide absolute location data, it is county-based information, which is somewhere between relative and absolute.
The Fix: Unfortunately, there isn’t one. In states that publish this information, anyone can determine the county in which you harvest deer. Sometimes, on public ground, it even says which public area.
6. Appearing on Their Trail Cams
This applies only to public land hunters. That said, with all of the trail cams out there, it’s easy enough for hunters to see you on their cams, recognize you, and know you hunt there, too.
The Fix: Keep an eye out for cams. If you see one, don’t purposely walk in front of it.
When walking to and from stand locations, consider wearing a face mask and/or sunglasses.
7. Reading Metadata from Your Photos
Modern phones save a lot of information for each photo taken. Part of that information are the exact coordinates it was taken. When you text that photo to a friend, and they send it to someone else, onward it goes.
Guess what? All they have to do is swipe up and they’ll see the exact spot it was taken. What about trail camera photos? Same story. (Sometimes.)
The Fix: Go into your phone settings and turn off location services for your camera. When sending trail camera photos, take screenshots of these, rather than sending the original files.
Or, save a copy of the trail camera photo (without the metadata), and send the newest version.
8. Social Media Location Shares
Some social media platforms share your location with friends. (Snapchat is one example of this.) So, what is someone going to think when they look at the map and see your icon in the middle of the woods?
That you’re out there playing fiddlesticks? Fat chance. They’ll know you’re after the buck you’ve been plastering all over social.
The Fix: Again, go into your settings and turn off locations services for specific apps that share your location with individuals who shouldn’t have it.
9. Listening to You
You talk, and others listen. Maybe you didn’t give a road name, but blab long enough, or enough times, and people piece it together.
They get an idea of where you hunt just by the sound of your voice. Congratulations, and well done.
The Fix: Be aware of the things you’re saying. Don’t give details. Don’t lie but be generic.
If you’d rather not say anything, tell them that. They’ll understand. (Or should understand.)
10. Listening to Others
Other people talk, too. And even those closest to you can inadvertently provide clues to others on where you hunt. Over time, they learn the lay of the land, and home in on your hotspot.
The Fix: Have a conversation with those who know where you hunt. Ask them to be aware when talking to others.
Protecting your hot spots won’t come easy. It’s likely just a matter of time before others discover the locations of your success.
That’s why it’s important to take the extra steps mentioned above to protect the honey-hole.
Be vigilant in keeping your hunting spot — whether private or public — private.
Watch the video below for a look at some Kansas public land bowhunting action.
