Road hunting with a stick and string?

[ORsouthpaw]

First let me say that I archery hunt so this is not intended to be a knock on bowhunters in general but to try and find out why road hunting is becoming more common during archery season.

Why is that more and more often I keep seeing and hearing about people road hunting during archery season. While scouting an area along the northern coast last weekend I was amazed by the number of guys riding around in not just PU trucks but also in cars as well I counted 10 different vehicles driving less than 10 mph. Guys fully decked out in camo, smoking cigarettes, looking ready to jump out and fling an arrow at the first sign of hair. I really don't get the theory of it with a bow especially along the coast range where visibility is often limited to only the shoulder of the road. I was having flashbacks of some of the rifle seasons I've seen in the more crowded units on the east side. It used to be that there was hardly any vehicle traffic during the days while archery season was running

I'm not going to say that I never road hunt although I certainly don't do it when bow hunting. I do in fact do it somewhat during rifle season in Eastern OR, whenever I'm moving locations or heading back to camp for a break or headed out to a spot for the evening hunt. Of course I''m typically driving at a decent speed and I am more interested in getting to my destination than just trying to get an easy animal, but if the opportunity arises that's alright too.

I guess the real question is why is archery season becoming more like rifle season with more and more people that just too lazy to get off the beaten' path?

[Eagleclaw]

with the price of gas you think people would get out of the rigs a little more often... but i guess lazy is lazy. i know the small patch of timber i hunted last weekend you could hear the trucks driving up and down the roads all day. It worked out for us we where elk all the time. I'm guessing the road hunters just pushed the elk arcross the roads that surrounded the timber i was hunting.

[ORsouthpaw]

Originally Posted by Eagleclaw

with the price of gas you think people would get out of the rigs a little more often... but i guess lazy is lazy. i know the small patch of timber i hunted last weekend you could hear the trucks driving up and down the roads all day. It worked out for us we where elk all the time. I'm guessing the road hunters just pushed the elk arcross the roads that surrounded the timber i was hunting.

It's funny I had the same thing happen in E.OR. A buddy and I had dropped off into a draw that was between a couple of roads. It sounded like a dang freeway with all the road hunting traffic going on above and below us. Meanwhile we're checking out all the deer that had bedded down in the draw.

[Eagleclaw]

Originally Posted by ORsouthpaw

It's funny I had the same thing happen in E.OR. A buddy and I had dropped off into a draw that was between a couple of roads. It sounded like a dang freeway with all the road hunting traffic going on above and below us. Meanwhile we're checking out all the deer that had bedded down in the draw.

yep sounds like what was going on with us but we where in elk.. It was crazy how many people where road hunting... heck we even saw a ATV towing a small trailer with bench seats on both sides it had a wood shack roof. there where 2 guys in the back when it drove by us... it looked like it could haul 8 guys if it had too.. they called it the hunting train...go figure

[stlhdr1]

I think it's becoming more popular because the gas prices are dropping so much............

Keith

[lor]

Originally Posted by ORsouthpaw

Why is that more and more often I keep seeing and hearing about people road hunting during archery season.

Regardless of the weapon choice, driving roads is an effective way to see animals, period. I would guess these people are either new to hunting and don't know any other way, or they have found this method to be effective with other weapons and it naturally carries over into archery, for them.

Originally Posted by ORsouthpaw

I guess the real question is why is archery season becoming more like rifle season with more and more people that just too lazy to get off the beaten' path?

Perhaps if we have pick your weapon, this trend will not continue.
But I suspect the spill over of that choice will be seen in other ways, like more folks on westside deer and any other general season over the counter hunt.

[MarlinMark]

I would love to see pick your weapon in Oregon, but I digress.

[ORsouthpaw]

Regardless of the weapon choice, driving roads is an effective way to see animals, period. I would guess these people are either new to hunting and don't know any other way, or they have found this method to be effective with other weapons and it naturally carries over into archery, for them

Your right, I just never though road hunting with a bow would be considered an effective way to bag an animal. Especially an elk!

Perhaps if we have pick your weapon, this trend will not continue.
But I suspect the spill over of that choice will be seen in other ways, like more folks on westside deer and any other general season over the counter hunt.

I really believe that the pick your weapon choice will have negitive impact on the overall number of hunters that we have. Sure it would be great for guys that just archery hunt now. But it would only be a short time before many rifle hunters fully converted over to only archery hunting and a lot of those that didn't convert may even end up giving up the sport all together. To my fellow hunters that say that pick your weapon is the solution, I say be careful what you wish for.

[spottedhawk36]

eagleclaw,


Get it right it was called the "WAGON TRAIN" LOL remember the road we drove down to checkout a spot and they had the bright orange sign with the arrow that pointed down the road that said "wagon Train? and we saw the quad tracks which was pulling the trailor with the hunters on it. funniest thing ive ever saw lol.


Tony

[gottafish]

So how many guys at the range said I didnt draw so I though Id bow hunt??????????????

Rifle hunting is looking better to me all the time.

[blacktail hunter]

lot's of road hunters down here to.

Originally Posted by gottafish

So how many guys at the range said I didnt draw so I though Id bow hunt??????????????

Rifle hunting is looking better to me all the time.

I think this is true
#1 more people are bow hunting these days
#2 the rifle hunters that dont draw are bow hunting are use to road hunting durring that season and believe it will work this time of the year
#3 people are just getting lazy

[Hookset]

Back in the mid 70's I was invited to archery hunt for deer out of Bend. First morning we drive out of Bend in two vehicles towards Mt. Bachelor and pulled onto a gravel road where we stopped. The driver of the truck, who was our host and guide said....OK boys, get out your bows and climb in the back, if you see a deer tap on the roof twice and I'll stop so you can shoot.

Needless to say I was thoroughly disappointed and after enduring 3 hours in the back of that truck, we managed to split up so I could still hunt through the woods. That was the first and last time I ever hunted with those people.

I believe road hunting during archery season has been around for a long time, but there does seem to be an increase in numbers lately.

[Dorsey]

The ATV's drive me nuts. Guys with their bows strapped to the front, alerting every animal in the field that hunting season has arrived...I used to love it that archery season meant no noisy rifles on opening morning, so the deer and elk would be slower to realize we're coming for them. But now ATV engines have replaced gunfire.

[BeaverBoy]

I personally hope that everyone that hunts with a bow or rifle would road hunt that way I could have the brush all to myself.

[hillbillygoat]

[Ifishsum]

Road hunting is not my style, but you do seem to see lots of deer while cruising forest roads. Road hunting for elk seems a waste of time to me though. Most elk I've seen from roads are on the move and would not present a shot opportunity anyway.

[Eagleclaw]

Originally Posted by spottedhawk36

eagleclaw,


Get it right it was called the "WAGON TRAIN" LOL remember the road we drove down to checkout a spot and they had the bright orange sign with the arrow that pointed down the road that said "wagon Train? and we saw the quad tracks which was pulling the trailor with the hunters on it. funniest thing ive ever saw lol.


Tony

Tony,

My bad... i'm still looking for the depot so i can take a ride...LOL

[huntntrap]

i didnt see any elk last weekend but i drove the roads and glassed clearcuts all day sat and sun. i saw deer all day, about twenty bucks
not many shootable from the road; but i did get 40 yrds from a big four point beded in the clearcut. i was hunting with a recurve, so that was not close enough. he never saw me but i broke a limb and got busted . i did get a shot on a little spike but shot too low. so maybe the pepole you are seeing are on the move to glass more cuts and from different angles. when i spotted the four point, two rigs drove right passed me and never even looked at the clearcut where there were five deer out there somaybe if you slow down and look you might be suprised. so maybe, cut some pepole some slack. lazy...or are they smart? you should be happy they are in their truck instead of upwind from your elk.

[StickFish]

Road hunting with a Bow - I saw this a few years back on some IP land when I was scouting. I laughed then and I laugh now.

Dumb and Lazy is the next thing that comes to mind. Rifle or Bow - just dumb and lazy

[dla]

During rifle season people road hunt and take deer. Mostly all illegally. Shooting out the window, accross the hood, always on the road. Of course it is not enforceable except for the few decoy stings.

During bow season I use the vehicles to my advantage. I have never, ever seen or heard of anyone getting an Elk road hunting with a bow during legal shooting hours. Maybe it has happened, but I highly doubt it.

[uhmw]

So if you drive around and happen to see a elk scamper accross the road back up and launch two pushers drive on buy and drop off one or two hunters at 1/4 mile and further up drop two more hunters who are ready to go at the moments notice. circle around and try to intercept any satalight bulls or cow call and cause confusion the frightend cows may also be cow calling their calfs. when you see elk chances are that more are comming or hiding thiking they havent been spoted. It works thats why poeple do it. Its my least favorite method but I consider it effective esspecially on the west side. Its never step out and shoot its more like circle around and intercept, drive and separate the heard and listen for calling.

[Norm]

I hunted near Ukiah once, there were road hunters by the hundreds. Some of those guys had some pretty fancy chairs in the bed of their trucks . IMO I'd rather have the slob hunters on the roads than in the woods

[spottedhawk36]

we saw spmothing this weekend that was hilarious over by heppner, there was a quad pulling a trailor with a pitched roof on it with open sides, it had full length benches back to back looked like it could carry 8 guys.

[Labs]

The reason you see more road hunters during archery season is because the guns hunts didn't get their tags drawn. So they get an archery tag and out they go. Fish and Game need to make the hunters make a choice, either hunt with a gun or bow and arrow.

[fishinpox]

Originally Posted by Labs

Fish and Game need to make the hunters make a choice, either hunt with a gun or bow and arrow.

I think better yet, ODFW should make us pass proficiency tests. That way not just any idiot can get a tag.

[huntingfever]

We've seen some pretty good bucks and heards of elk from the road. Of couse we hunt alot of open country and we drive the roads and glass big canyon's and ridges.

I've done the road hunting thing. I have a great uncle that has a hard time getting around so we just drive him around. I think it's more of just getting him out of the house. Come to think of it most of the people I hunt with are in there mid to late 60's. I've also shot a couple nice bucks with bow and rifle.

What I don't like is when your out walking in the brush and you scare something out and it runs across a road and a road hunter kills it. After you have spent hours out there. I guess thats why I'll hike out there 4 to 5 miles, so I don't have to see anyone.

[Cliff D.]

Originally Posted by fishinpox

I think better yet, ODFW should make us pass proficiency tests. That way not just any idiot can get a tag.

Why ? Anyone can have children !! Much more important topic.

[scottishsetter]

Co-operative Road Closures for all hunting not just rifle hunters.

[fergy61]

Originally Posted by spottedhawk36

we saw spmothing this weekend that was hilarious over by heppner, there was a quad pulling a trailor with a pitched roof on it with open sides, it had full length benches back to back looked like it could carry 8 guys.

They prolly saw that on the outdoor channel & thought it looked like a good idea.

[TubeFly]

Rifle hunters who don't draw their tag..................give us all a bad name.

[Eagleclaw]

Originally Posted by scottishsetter

Co-operative Road Closures for all hunting not just rifle hunters.

close all road but main roads

[Lucky one]

Originally Posted by TubeFly

Rifle hunters who don't draw their tag..................give us all a bad name.

Why? Because bow hunters never road hunted before? Thats a insane notion. I've talked to lots of bow hunters who never leave their rig unless its to get out and shoot at a deer.

Just because you carry a stick and a string it doesn't make you better than a rifle hunter.

[TubeFly]

Why is that more and more often I keep seeing and hearing about people road hunting during archery season. While scouting an area along the northern coast last weekend I was amazed by the number of guys riding around in not just PU trucks but also in cars as well I counted 10 different vehicles driving less than 10 mph. Guys fully decked out in camo, smoking cigarettes, looking ready to jump out and fling an arrow at the first sign of hair. I really don't get the theory of it with a bow especially along the coast range where visibility is often limited to only the shoulder of the road. I was having flashbacks of some of the rifle seasons I've seen in the more crowded units on the east side. It used to be that there was hardly any vehicle traffic during the days while archery season was running

I'm not going to say that I never road hunt although I certainly don't do it when bow hunting. I do in fact do it somewhat during rifle season in Eastern OR, whenever I'm moving locations or heading back to camp for a break or headed out to a spot for the evening hunt. Of course I''m typically driving at a decent speed and I am more interested in getting to my destination than just trying to get an easy animal, but if the opportunity arises that's alright too.

I guess the real question is why is archery season becoming more like rifle season with more and more people that just too lazy to get off the beaten' path?[/quote]

Originally Posted by Lucky one

Why? Because bow hunters never road hunted before? Thats a insane notion. I've talked to lots of bow hunters who never leave their rig unless its to get out and shoot at a deer.

Just because you carry a stick and a string it doesn't make you better than a rifle hunter.

I was answering the question not slamming ethical rifle hunters. I don't consider anyone who hunts on a road from a vehicle with a stick and string a bowhunter or ethical. "Bowhunters" are people who hunt with a bow, hence the name. There is no "hunting" involved in driving a road looking for an animal who is crossing or near the roadway. As was mentioned here several times already many of these people are most likely rifle hunters used to this type of hunting who did not draw a rifle tag for their area. I never implied using a bow as a choice of weapon systems makes you an ethical or better hunter quite the contrary, someones personal choices and ethics does this. But lets be honest you simply can't be a very successful hunter with a bow if you are cruising the roads as you could be with a rifle, and learned behavior is just that if it has worked for people while rifle hunting they will most likely try it for bowhunting.........

[huntingfever]

The best thing that I've seen was a motorhome with two guys on top with a cooler between them drinking beer, They had a radio to talk with the driver. Also decked out in camo and faces painted. I wish I had a picture of that one.

I seen somewhere that there was also more disabled hunters than before. Some of that is due to being able to road hunt. IMO if they are truely disabled or elderly, Where they can't walk around much let them road hunt.

[ORsouthpaw]

Originally Posted by huntingfever

The best thing that I've seen was a motorhome with two guys on top with a cooler between them drinking beer, They had a radio to talk with the driver. Also decked out in camo and faces painted. I wish I had a picture of that one.

That brings up another questions that's been on my mind.

Why is that a lot of road hunters have on more camo than the guys that are out the bush? Maybe it's to blend in with the camo colored seat covers so that game can't tell someone is driving?

[blacktail hunter]

follow the beer can's it must be good hunting lol...

[tikkahunter]

so since i don't seem to have all the free time you guys do to scout all year long and find the elk i am lazy, sure ok i have a job that requires alot of hours in the coulpe months up to elk season but i can find elk by glassing cuts and need to drive to do so so you are better than me i don't shoot from the road i look for the elk and then move in on them. i guess if it makes you guys feel better to make fun of others great maybe your'e not the kind of people that i thought were in this site. i do agree that the guys that ride in the backs of pickups are lazy if they could hike but what about the guy is just driving his grandpa around and trying to get him what maybe his last elk or his last hunt?

[ORsouthpaw]

Originally Posted by tikkahunter

so since i don't seem to have all the free time you guys do to scout all year long and find the elk i am lazy, sure ok i have a job that requires alot of hours in the coulpe months up to elk season but i can find elk by glassing cuts and need to drive to do so so you are better than me i don't shoot from the road i look for the elk and then move in on them. i guess if it makes you guys feel better to make fun of others great maybe your'e not the kind of people that i thought were in this site. i do agree that the guys that ride in the backs of pickups are lazy if they could hike but what about the guy is just driving his grandpa around and trying to get him what maybe his last elk or his last hunt?

Tikkahunter- Don't take offense, This is not about making myself feel better. It really isn't directed at the guys that are on the roads because they are actually scouting an area or moving locations. It's about the alarming number of folks that are using only the roads as a way to hunt. It's about those guys that think that driving on a FS road is how you bow hunt or even rifle hunt for that matter and yes it's about the guys that sit the lazyboy in the bed of their truck. I have absolutely no problem with a guy driving is grandpa around. If my grandpa was still here I'd be honored to drive him around all day if he wanted in fact! But the truth is if he was still here he would rather I help him get a 1/4 mile off the road than to be couped up in the car.

This is about the guys that could, should and don't get out of their trucks. It's really similar to me to the guy who pulls in the handicap parking spot, then jumps out and runs to the store. He could walk but why doesn't he? Because he's lazy just like the guys who sit behind the wheel for hours and hours each fall trying to just get lucky.

I am just trying to understand where the satisfaction is in driving the roads all day only to maybe see a buck, slam on the brakes, jump out and if they're ethically inclined at all actually step off the road and shoot. I really don't think that's the case though. In most cases it's a "fling from the fender", "release from the radiator" or blast em' from the bumper" type scenario.

[bc-archer]

You guys will laugh when you see me up in the bucket truck or should I call it cherry picker having someone drive 5-10 mph while I am flinging arrows out of the fully extended 40 foot mobile tree/truck stand.
Just kidding! I have given it a slight thought now and then, but never crazy enough to do it.

[tikkahunter]

thats what i thought you were getting at but some of the other posts made it sound like if you used a truck to get to your area it was bad i do agree with you however

[Capin' Dan]

you guys want road closures then go where they are there are tons of them around. Driving those rigs around and spotting game is what it is all about for some cover the areas stop and glass. Tell me all of you that have never road hunted havn't at some point done this very thing. How many folks have seen game while driving into your area to hunt. I'll bet you money the ATV with the trailer was just to transport folks from one are to another maybe even drop them off on a high ridge while they hunt down or something. Many of those folks could be driving into their spot or headed for the barn or even heading into get downed game. One year out of our camp out of three elk taken two were taken while traveling from one area to another. Close all roads yea thats real smart also.
How about this just one season for all. No matter what weapon you choose.
This thread makes as much sense as the thread the other day about wounding animals where one person commented that archers wound twice as many as gun hunters which we all know differently.

[OR_Bo_Huntr]

Originally Posted by uhmw

So if you drive around and happen to see a elk scamper accross the road back up and launch two pushers drive on buy and drop off one or two hunters at 1/4 mile and further up drop two more hunters who are ready to go at the moments notice. circle around and try to intercept any satalight bulls or cow call and cause confusion the frightend cows may also be cow calling their calfs. when you see elk chances are that more are comming or hiding thiking they havent been spoted. It works thats why poeple do it. Its my least favorite method but I consider it effective esspecially on the west side. Its never step out and shoot its more like circle around and intercept, drive and separate the heard and listen for calling.

Thats hunting?

[ORsouthpaw]

Originally Posted by Capin' Dan

you guys want road closures then go where they are there are tons of them around. Driving those rigs around and spotting game is what it is all about for some cover the areas stop and glass. Tell me all of you that have never road hunted havn't at some point done this very thing. How many folks have seen game while driving into your area to hunt. I'll bet you money the ATV with the trailer was just to transport folks from one are to another maybe even drop them off on a high ridge while they hunt down or something. Many of those folks could be driving into their spot or headed for the barn or even heading into get downed game. One year out of our camp out of three elk taken two were taken while traveling from one area to another. Close all roads yea thats real smart also.
How about this just one season for all. No matter what weapon you choose.
This thread makes as much sense as the thread the other day about wounding animals where one person commented that archers wound twice as many as gun hunters which we all know differently.

Dan the point of this thread for me was simply to try and understand why the number of road hunters has grown so drastically during bow season. I don't believe that there are too many people in general that would have a problem with a person taking an animal every now and again while driving to or from a spot. And YES, You're right that in a lot of cases we don't know if a guy is moving locations or actually road hunting. Of course the recliner in the back of truck is usually a pretty good indicator

[Yeti]

Do you mean the Brown 60 series Land Cruiser with CA plates road hunting in OR. The one that had two people standing on a hitch cargo carrier with arrows nocked while driving down a dirt road? Talk about breaking as many laws as possible all at one time. Anyone want to bet they didn't have OR licenses and tags? I was seriously PO'd and next time will get plate #'s and pictures. They will be busted if I have anything to do with it!

[No Fences]

I saw one tonight in the Trask. Looked like a guy driving a younger fella around in a white duramax. The kid was standing in the back of the truck with bow in hand. I don't get it.

[BornToFish360]

Originally Posted by ORsouthpaw

Dan the point of this thread for me was simply to try and understand why the number of road hunters has grown so drastically during bow season. I don't believe that there are too many people in general that would have a problem with a person taken an animal every now and again while driving to or from a spot. And YES, You're right that in a lot of cases we don't know if a guy is moving locations or actually road hunting. Of course the recliner in the back of truck is usually a pretty good indicator

Pretty obvious when someone is either moving spots or going to get a downed animal they are not having 1-4 people standing in the back of a truck with an arrow knocked into place and watching each side of the road going 5-10mph. I means tis all good to move spots or if you cant get out and scout like some then road scouting then parking and stalking is all good. but Come on thats just ridiculous to see people ready to shoot at first sign of movement off the main roads. Well said south..

Btf360

[Buckhuntraj]

I will say that the number of bow hunters road hunting has increased over the years from what I have seen. But I don't think you should be labeled unethical or wrong if you do road hunt. Now I think its wrong if you are being illegal, for example shooting out of the bed of the truck. However road hunting is a good way to cover lots of ground and see game. You may not agree but thats your opinion. I see more deer riding around from spot to spot or around the roads then I do in the brush. Now big bucks are a different story though. But if your trying to fill your tag and put meat on the table for your family and kill the first legal buck then it can be effective. I think that is why so many archery hunters are taking to road hunting. Elk are a completely different story, you would have to get really lucky to get one of the road. It is annoying with trucks driving all over the place but road hunting is legal as long as your off the road and if people choose to do it, o well.