I can't be around the guy or I'm gonna torque off on him.

I have a whole family of freddy's.

On my wife's side.

I've got a good example. Took two friends to hunt on my ranch. We stop at Walmart on the way in for food and supplies. One friend offers to pay the bill (around $100). The other friend makes no effort to contribute (he lives in Highland Park). Stop for gas. Same scenario - friend who bought the groceries offers to pay for the gas. I pay instead. As we are leaving, the non-contibuting friend brings out his ice chest and starts packing away all the uneaten food. I didn't really care about the perishables, but he goes into the freezer and starts taking the frozen steaks, chicken, etc. that I was planning on eating the next weekend. Didn't say anything, but that was his first and last trip. Almost like a mental ilness.

I would figure up how much I had spent on feed this year and hand him a bill for half. If he is not willing to pay I would tell him to find his own dang spot.

Okay, this looks like a good place to post up my story. I hunt out in Mason, on a little 89 acre lease, and also my grandparents little 5 acres that they have lived on for 40+ years. As far as "huntable" land, its actually about 3.5 acres and it sits directly on the highway going into town. There is a small grove of oak trees on the property and it serves as a barrier between the deer, and the road. They feel fairly secluded behind those trees. So I've had a feeder up for about 7 years now, and have been hunting there for awhile. A few years ago, my grandfather an I built a really nice elevated bow blind, and set it up behind a mesquite tree with post oaks on both sides, overlooking the feeder at about 20 yards. Its a great little set up. I've seen some really nice bucks there, and have been hunting 2 very nice bucks for several years.

Well, my cousin (dad's brother's daughter) gets married 2 years ago. Her husband (in his mid 20's), is a big hunter. I bow hunt, and he gun hunts. Well, last year without even asking me, he goes down and hunts in my stand (that I paid for), over my feeder (that I paid for), and my corn that I also paid for. He shoots a small 1.5 year old buck from 30 yards with a 30-.06. Absolutely blows this deer to pieces.

Then, later that year, he goes out to hunt at his mother-in-law's parents place which is also in Mason. Before he goes to hunt, he is told by the land owners specifically not to shoot a monster main frame 10 point they have been watching and hunting for several years. They hadn't killed him yet because he had grown significantly each year they had seen him and they estimated he was only about 3.5 years old. They showed him several trail cam pics so he would know the buck and not shoot it. It was definitely an easy buck to recognize. So, what does he do? He shoots the monster 10. He was told he is no longer welcome to hunt there, which put an end to that.

So, earlier this season I am in Mason. I had just hunted at my lease that morning, and was back at my grandparents 5 acres getting the card out of my cam down at the feeder. I pull the card, then look up about to walk off, and see the sun shine off something in a big old oak tree that has been there for years. I walk over to the tree, which is about 20 feet to the left of my stand, and see several screw in tree stand steps going up the trunk. At the top, there is a tree stand. Of course I know who it belongs to, but out of curiosity, I climb up and sit in it. It is set up directly facing my stand. I had my rangefinder, so I ranged the feeder from there. 50 yards. I heard recently that he got a bow about 7 months ago so I assumed maybe he would try to bow hunt from this stand, but 50 yards seems like a long shot for a beginner to take at a nice deer. I've been bowhunting for 6 years and I'm still not perfectly comfortable taking a shot on a nice buck from 50 yards. I'm accurate at 50, but I don't think I'd take a shot at a trophy buck from that range.

So anyway, I go back to the house and start raising hell to my old man. He says my grandfather cant do anything about it because he doesn't want to start a family feud. Fair enough, I understand his position, and I respect my father and my grand father very much. Regardless, I'm still pissed that this guy comes in and puts a stand up overlooking my feeder without even asking me. He shot a monster buck on someone else's property once before after being told not to, so clearly he is stupid enough to do it again.

I don't care if he shoots a doe or a spike, or even a little breadbasket buck. We have a few of them running around that need to be culled anyway. I'm just mad that he put a tree stand up DIRECTLY next to my stand, without even asking me. I've been trying to get a nice buck there for a long time, and have not done so yet. I'm hoping to have a word with him some time this year, so I can tell him not to shoot a nice buck if he sees one. I've had the opportunity to hunt on other ranches before, and have passed up several nice bucks for spikes instead. It is just common courtesy NOT to shoot the nicest deer you see, when you get to hunt on someone else's place for free. Every time I have shot a spike/cull, the landowner tells me I am welcome back any time.

Anyway, thats my rant.

Good advice, & if that doesn't work I would kick his arse!

Had to finish my waffles this morning on the 8 pointer I misjudged...

But really, if you think about it...I am just a working man and all those seasoned hunters have more money. They can afford leases all across the country. Whats $5 a season to them? Figure if it is good for the country, it is good for my deer lease

One of the guys in camp does get a great deal on corn, so he buys it, but will not drop any at your stand if he isn't paid up front.

Do the same thing with what you bring and they will pay or starve.