My dad always invites a few of his buddies to hunt our 600 acre spot on opening weekend, it used to not really bother me but lately it has. I like everybody that comes, but I think what's bothering me is that it sometimes feels as if I get reserved to picking stand last/forced to sit the same stand all weekend when I want to move and change things up hunt to hunt but I can't because every stand has someone and so it's pressured. Question is am I blowing this out of proportion and should just remember that a bad day in the woods beats a lot of other days? Just wanting to put meat in the freezer and I went 0fer last season.

Wish I could but I coach football/basketball at the high school level and so I choose to spend October doing stuff with my wife and kids knowing rifle season is around the corner.

I think there are a lot of variables to consider. Are you class of 92 or born in 92? At 54 years old (class of 92) I would think you would be a prime caretaker of the family land and do work or invest in hunting. If you are 32 then you will likely not have invested as much as your father even though it is family land.

Similarly if you spend a lot of time and money working on blinds, feeders, general maintenance then I think i would be bothered too with having others out on opening weekend. Does it really affect your success if you are only hunting for meat? Maybe talking to your father about having more priority opening weekend even though you may come to the same agreement.

I think I'm putting too much pressure on filling the freezer tbh. I've only been married for going on 3 years now and I'm really just now getting used to not being able to go every weekend like I did when I was single.

I'm actually class of 15, sorry my username is my birth year. It's just a standard one I use on everything. I live closer to our land so I'm able to go out more than my dad.

Something similar to this split my family's property apart in the 1950s/1960s.

Was a section of land and now my part of the family, shared with 3 siblings of my grandfather (dead) and their kids kids have access to a much smaller piece.

While my cousins across the fence have the same issue. The split was bad enough that I've never met those cousins ever, and probably won't until I know that all the bad blood people alive are dead.


I fully understand how you feel, but why don't you just stake out the blind you want and make a claim to it. Just because guests are invited doesn't mean that they get the master bedroom and best blind.


If I'm ever invited somewhere to hunt I just take whatever I'm given.

Yeah that would go over as well as you'd expect

cupofjoe04 said:

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I have a similar thing. Family ranch that is currently my Dad's. He will invite people out to hunt occasionally.

Remind yourself that you are EXTREMELY lucky to have a place to go hunt anytime you want, and that will someday likely be yours. You are better off than 99% of people in that regard. You are better off than anyone that your Dad invites, who are all super lucky to get 1 weekend to experience what you and your Dad have anytime.

Find your fulfillment in your Dad's joy- it obviously makes him happy to be able to share a little and bless others. Just view that/those weekend(s) where he invites others as your chance to set yourself aside and fill up your Dad's heart. Look at it as a chance to bless those who can only dream of having the access that your enjoy every other weekend of the year. Someday, I promise you, that will be infinitely more valuable than a couple more sits in your preferred stand location or a little more convenience while hunting for yourself.

Either that- or just go talk to your Dad about it. Work out some system where you have first pick of stands every morning when guests are there. I would caution you though- you may not enjoy how that ends up feeling.

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Find your fulfillment in your Dad's joy- it obviously makes him happy to be able to share a little and bless others.

I am 49 and my Dad is gone now. All I have are the memories. Glad that he wanted to spend a little time with me when I was younger.

Although I'm not familiar with the acreage, set-up, etc. on your property, I think a lot of folks just assume that sitting in an established stand is the only way to hunt. It may be the most comfortable and perhaps the most consistently successful way, but is certainly not the only option and may not even be the best option - - depending on a number of variables. You can certainly get away from stands and hunt from the ground very successfully if you pay attention to wind, can be still, know and understand deer habits, and pick the right locations. For example, sitting on a hill (against a tree or in cover) looking over or across a valley with plenty of deer habitat, or finding a well used deer trail with fresh scapes and taking advantage of good sniper locations. I have also taken many deer simply by easing through the woods during heavy rain and snow. So, there are numerous and productive ways to hunt without sitting in a tree or box stand. Since you are assumably knowledgeable about the property you hunt and the stand locations, I would think you ought to be able to find a way to hunt the property outside of a stand without disturbing the other hunters and putting yourself in danger from those hunters. Good luck!

You've entered a new stage in your life. How old are your kids? The younger you get them involved the better. Dont wait until they're "old enough" to get them in the woods. Ditch the stress of opening weekend and take your family at other times. A popup blind, crossbow, and tripod can have you and your kids enjoying the place without all the competition.

Or, get your dad involved and set up some bow blinds big enough for 3-4 people so he can have the chance to go hunting with his grandkids.

kingjaret92 said:

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I've only been married for going on 3 years now and I'm really just now getting used to not being able to go every weekend like I did when I was single.

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I feel this. Married 3.5 years with two kids under 2. I went hunting, fishing, work weekends, etc probably 12-16 weeks out of the year when I was single. This year I'll go at most 4. Sad reality, but kids are only little for a blink and then they will be coming with me.

First world problem for sure lol

And this is why I no longer have a wife or girlfriend. Hookers are so much cheaper. LOL

Another idea is to talk to your dad about putting up another blind in a place you want to hunt (if there is room for that). Do as much of the work and take on as much of the cost as possible yourself to earn the right to call it "your blind". When it comes time to go out and it gets crowded, let your dad and his buddies split up all the existing blinds and you go hunt "your blind". Think of it as a way to earn the right to call a spot yours by putting in the work.

My dad is gone and I would kill to have a chance to do what you and your dad are doing.

How do the stands get picked right now?

In similar situations, I've seen people draw out of a hat for the stand location or draw for a number setting the order for picking stands.