The average western hunter

[peterk1234]

I was in national forest today with the family getting a Christmas tree. There are several miles of road to drive in on, but it is basically just one road. The number of guys driving up and down the road in hunter Orange was amazing. Back and forth, back and forth. Most of the spots there is nothing to see because the hills are so steep and often treed.

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I did a short afternoon hunt on a piece of BMA (basically went for a walk with a gun). Two cars got there right before us. We were all heading the same direction I presumed, up and over the hill, which is about a mile hike. So I decided to stay front side as to not screw them up. There a bunch of steep hills, drainage and small groves for us to work through. Worst case it's a good workout. Well, I was surprised when 30 minutes later both groups were gone. I guess they just walked up to a quick look and left. Yup, no deer or elk on this 7000 acre piece (sarcasm).

I don't claim to be one of these guys that thinks it's gotta hurt and you gotta go deep and steep. But I actually enjoy getting in a couple of miles, even on BMA. And I always see something. It was interesting to watch and learn. I'm thinking most people either just drive hoping to see something, or will walk only a short distance and spend a few minutes behind glass.

I'm a fairly newcomer to western hunting. But I learned quickly that just because you don't see them right away doesn't mean they are not in there. Also, observing the walk in hunters and the drive by hunters makes me feel a little better about not worrying about a couple vehicles at the trailhead.

Hanging on this forum made me think that everyone goes in further and stays longer than I do. Maybe, just maybe, that is not the case.

So, what do you think the average western hunter is willing to do to be successful?

 

[220yotekiller]

what do you think the average western hunter is willing to do to be successful?

Most people do the bare minimum and then they are mad when they don't get something. Especially when you are hunting on limited public, it seems that most people think that just because they are hunting in Wy, CO, MT shooting a 4x4 mule deer is a given, it's not. The past 3 years I have had a WY general tag I shot 4x4s but all of them took a week of hunting and all of them were in places where most people wouldn't be willing to go.
It also seems that most people can't get the bed off of their back, either that or they are scared of the dark, the amount of people that show up at the trailhead at daylight is laughable.

 

[shb]

Western Hunter has the same panache as SaltLife.

 

[Nick_CO]

Western Hunter has the same panache as SaltLife.

So basically stickers on the back of the truck window but not much effort once in the field or on the water?

 

[texwest44]

Since moving to NW MT from central MT, I can't believe the number of road hunters out in the NFs (not that central MT didn't have a fair amount of road hunters). Every deer I've seen in the backs of the trucks this season has been a forky whitetail....

 

[utah400elk]

I have found that one mile will about do it. The vast majority of hunters are not willing to hike a mile. When I e-scout I look for pockets that will allow me to get at least one mile from open road and start the hunt from that point. When I lived in Wyoming there were numerous wallows that were almost exactly one mile from the parking spot on a closed FS road. I never ran into another hunter on those wallows and almost always killed my elk there. I have lived in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and NV and hunted in NM and AZ. That general observation holds true for all of those states in my experience. I always think it’s funny to see guys with their huge ass packs, Kenetrek boots, knee high gators only to see them walk 1/2 mile and turn back to the truck.

I also had a friend that was deathly afraid to hike in the dark. He refused to hike in or out in the dark. He always wondered why he was not successful.

To each their own.

 

[Ben Long]

No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public. Or the laziness of the "average" hunter. But what the hell. If people are a safe, legal, having fun, happy with a one year old deer, I'm not judging. Knock yourself out.

 

[BuzzH]

I

I also had a friend that was deathly afraid to hike in the dark. He refused to hike in or out in the dark. He always wondered why he was not successful.

To each their own.

My Dad shot a deer today. About a half mile later found this.

I'm not afraid to hike in the dark, but I get why some aren't keen to.

 

[Little Big Man MT Chris]

My Dad shot a deer today. About a half mile later found this.

I'm not afraid to hike in the dark, but I get why some aren't keen to.

That’s a Big’un

 

[peterk1234]

My Dad shot a deer today. About a half mile later found this.

I'm not afraid to hike in the dark, but I get why some aren't keen to.

I'm using this as an opportunity to test myself. Black bear?

 

[BuzzH]

I'm using this as an opportunity to test myself. Black bear?

Nope...check the claws and how far they are away from the pad. 100% grizzly track.

Different bear in another area a week or so ago. Also a grizzly track.

 

[Pagosa]

Hunting the front and you will run across multiple bears in certain areas. A lot of people are afraid of the dark and rough weather. This was a 6x8 front pad.

 

[peterk1234]

Nope...check the claws and how far they are away from the pad. 100% grizzly track.

Different bear in another area a week or so ago. Also a grizzly track.

This one I can see as a griz, 100%. The curvature of the toes in the previous pick is what gave me pause and figured it was a black bear.

 

[BuzzH]

This one I can see as a griz, 100%. The curvature of the toes in the previous pick is what gave me pause and figured it was a black bear.

Another photo of the first track.

Can you skin griz Pilgrim?

 

[huntin24/7]

I can only speak for eastern MT, but I see more hunters than ever get off the beaten path probably due to less deer and smaller bucks. I used to notice a big difference by hiking in deeper onto bma’s and state land. Now I don’t see much better way back on these properties than what a person can see from the road.