Bill Monroe's Oregonian Article - 10/12/03

Chromaflage · 10-12-2003, 07:09 AM

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]
Thank you Bill! Our family used to unt the Upper Deschutes unit for years until the introduction of the ATV. It got to a point where you could not go anywhere without hearing the mosquito-like buzzing and seeing the dust trails from these machines. At first we felt a little envious - these guys could go anywhere on these things and cover a lot more ground. Then, back to reality - "that's not hunting - it's more like incidentally harvesting game animals while on a joy ride."

I have been tempted on numerous occassion to purchase one of these dust busters, thinking that it sure would ease the chore of packing animals out of the woods. That's a slippery slope, though.

Regarding discussion of beer cans in the article -

SAVE IT FOR AFTER THE HUNT GUYS! Alcohol and firearms don't mix - never have and never will. We do not allow ANY alcohol in camp. It only takes one person having one drink too many and one stupid, spilt-second decision that can never be reversed...

ORS

[ 10-12-2003, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: OregonRedside ]

TheRogue · 10-12-2003, 07:42 AM

Just read it myself, great article!!

Alchohol has no business being part of a day's hunt. In the past, I've driven by guys on the road loading their day packs with beer....immediately go the other direction, a LONG ways away!!

Don't have a problem with drinking after the hunt in camp...but don't expect any sympathy from me if you've got a hangover!

As for ATV's....had one, great thing to get around on, and a fun toy. Unfortunately, I've also experienced the ATV's bombing through the hunting spot on closed roads, and off-road in closed areas. Enforcement is the only thing that will save us from an outright ban on ATV's during hunting seasons.

TR

Chromaflage · 10-12-2003, 07:44 AM

Sounds like another Tee-shirt campaign in the works.... :grin:

ORS

Point-of-Sale Clerk · 10-12-2003, 08:03 AM

THE ARTICLE

Firedog · 10-12-2003, 08:30 AM

I just got done with it and thought it was an excellent article. To many people want to drive around and call that hunting, always has been that way but ATV's make it that much worse. Makes me glad thta some of my favorite spots are to steep and brushy to get one of them things through.

Bait Bucket · 10-12-2003, 09:43 AM

I dislike those darn things driving through the forest. I do, however, believe that the handicapped or senior hunter should use one if necessary.

Straydog · 10-12-2003, 10:40 AM

Good column.

Interesting side note........ we are in the midst of wondering what to do about an obese society while it appears even the exercise gained from hunting is disappearing too.

Won't walk any further than we have to when we hit the SuperMart parking lot, won't take stairs if there is an elevator and now it appears, more and more won't even walk in the woods while hunting...

Ras · 10-12-2003, 10:40 AM

Have not read the article yet, but it is sitting right here in my lap and will get to it in a minute. But, after seeing what I do here I am going to "jump the gun". I have several friends that DO NOT hunt big game, and know that I expend alot of time and effort in my pursuits, both in Oregon and ocassionaly in Idaho. Have often been asked if I use an ATV. My immediately scoff at the idea!!! Since, legally, in most areas they must stick to established roads they offer no advantage! In going to and fro (not road hunting) my rig is warmer in the pre-dawn chill; I do not follow my buddies' ATV dust trail; I can talk / strategize with my hunting partner(s) while we ride together; and rarely is there a road that I cannot access (which, if it is that rough or steep, an ATV is most likely going to tear the hell out of it trying to climb). Also, their track is too narrow for those remote / desert roads where brush grows between the tracks; one side in the track, the other in the brush is not fun, or so an acquaintance tells me.

Also, if you have busted your hump for a couple of days and prefer to drive around for the day, see some new country, sight-see, etc., throw in the fishing rods, a cooler of food and drink (again, the beer, if any, stays in camp), and enjoy some cameraderie. Obviously, the extra carrying capacity of a rig is wonderful: meat packs, shotgun (grouse), meat sacks, maps, tool box, spotting scope, video camera, extra jackets, boots, and on, and on, are all nice to have at your convenience rather than an hour away back in camp.

Yeah, ATV's seem like cool "toys", but I have an extremely tough time finding a good use for them while hunting.

Ras

Grits · 10-12-2003, 02:41 PM

I get the message of the article but it seemed to be painting all ATVers with a broad brush. Yes, I do use an ATV to hunt but I use it the exact same way many people use their Jeeps, trucks or SUVs only my gas is a little cheaper.

I adhere to all laws regarding their use, stay on designated roads, unload my rifle before getting on mine and twice this year watched as a buck sat 20 yards off the road and didn't even consider shooting out of respect for the hunt.

As for the assertation that ATVers are a buch of boozers I would say that there are probably no more boozers hunting now than 30 years ago although I guess those on ATV's are probably more likely to throw their cans on the side of the road. I personally use my saddle bags as trash containers.

My guess is, I am to young to know, that many of these same issues were raised when Jeeps first became popular.

If we all really wanted to get back to our roots then there would be locked gates at the bottom of every mountains/national forest land where no motorized vehicles could go. The only hunting would be done from horseback or foot. I would be all for it.

Just like poachers aren't hunters, people who misuse ATV's aren't really hunting either but us law abiders shouldn't be mixed in with the law breakers.

There was a mention of the guys sighting in their rifles once they got up to the hunting area. This used to make me really mad but then it occured to me that I have hunted areas where gun shots have been going off for months and still been successful. When I shot my buck this year the does that were with him stayed within a hundred yards of me the entire time I gutted him out. I don't think shooting has as much impact as people think, rather it is just the number of people in the woods that push the deer deep.

I think the real issue at hand is that we all want hunting to be as good as it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago and because it isn't we look for things like ATV's rather than ODFW management policies to blame our lack of success on.

HarpMan · 10-12-2003, 05:19 PM

A great article, my deer hunting group had our no motor vehicle hunting honey hole near Unity visited by a new Dodge owner, his wife, daughter and dog along with some ATV's on opening day. Nothing better than climbing a few thousand feet of non motorized hunting mountian only to have some jerk drive in directly over the sign. Other hunters in the area got his plates and reported. It did not take the sting out though. I had non motorized vehicle rage for a few days.