What would you do? (blocked gate)

Bait O' Eggs · 10-12-2003, 06:14 PM

This last week there has been some discussion on people parking at a gate and it being rude when others join them in the same area. Here is a photo of a truck I took today parked in front of a gate.

First I think it is rude he blocked off the road. It was raining hard this weekend and a state employee may have been out checking culverts making sure the road wasnt washing away if a culvert was blocked.

I also know that a few years ago during cascade elk season a game warden camped up this road as we met him coming and going a few times. Parking your truck in front of this gate may have been blocking somebody in, or maybe blocking them out from their stuff.

I presume this person was deer hunting since the western deer season is in progress.

But he could have been grouse hunting, or he could have been scouting for cascade elk season next weekend and maybe not hunting at all.

I wanted to walk up this road today, you cant tell from the picture, but this road goes 3 miles and goes thru 4 clear cuts along the way. The last clearcut usually holds elk, I would have liked to walk to the end of the road and bugle to see if I could locate a bull for next weekend when we take my buddies 13 year old kid elk hunting. If I was going to try and locate a bull I would have been packing my rifle in case I crossed paths with a buck since I have a buck tag for the area.

So if I walk up this road to check the last clearcut out for elk, I may have ran into this guy sitting on a stump in the first clearcut and read this week on ifish how some rude guy came right thru his hunt screwing things up.

Would I have been wrong to park (not blocking the gate) and walk up this road after somebody is already in the area?

If you think I was wrong to walk up this road tell me why? If you think it was OK to walk up this road tell me why?

Rauly · 10-12-2003, 06:24 PM

I think you should have gone to Idaho. Then you you wouldn't be in this predicament.

Rauly

pdxkevin · 10-12-2003, 06:29 PM

Looks like a good chance to try out the winch... just kidding. I think this person was in the wrong to block the gate.

Was the egnine cold or still warm?

Are there branch roads off of this one past the gate?

The higher the chance of them not heading to the same place I am the more likely I would be to go down the road too. If the engine is still warm, I probably would drive on to another spot for the day.

maggot · 10-12-2003, 06:38 PM

Thats alot of public land to "call your own"...I think if you hunt wisely with respect and care/caution, Going behind the gate is ok. And we all know how it is...........One guy stirs while the othercareful observers harvest.

Fish Hawg · 10-12-2003, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Thats alot of public land to "call your own"...I think if you hunt wisely with respect and care/caution,

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">I agree 100% If its a small pice of land to glass its kind of frist come first serve, and other hunters should respect that. But the guy was in the wrong; thats when the warn 12000 and a snatch block come in real handy :grin: Just my $0.02

Mello-Yello · 10-12-2003, 07:57 PM

Assuming he was hunting in there, I don't feel he has the right to block the gate. Then again, we don't really know why he parked where he did. Perhaps we should start leaving notes on windshields that simply state "please don't block this "access" gate. Thank You!". That would probably be all it would take to change this guys parking habits.

If that road is three miles long with numerous clearcuts, and I wanted to hunt in there, I don't think I'd even hesitate since there is only one truck ahead of you. Just keep in mind there's another hunter about and take the steps necessary to not be mistaken for a deer...and visa versa. If the road were short and it led to only one or two clearcuts, I'd move on.

However, because it appears rather obvious this guy is in there hunting deer, I wouldn't pack my bugle in there and try stirring up a bull. That to me would seem a little rude.

But that's me...

10-12-2003, 07:57 PM

This is a good reason to have a winch and snatch blocks.

Grits · 10-12-2003, 10:07 PM

I think you were good to walk down the road because A. You are familiar with the area and know that it can handle more than one hunter B. You would have to assume the guy walked down the road also and wouldn't be expecting animals to approach from the road but rather from the woods so you wouldn't be messing up their plan.

I think he would have stood a good chance of getting a fine if the OSP or wardens saw him parked like that.

FishinFinatic · 10-12-2003, 11:16 PM

hunting over east this season during archery, we found people doing this but parking in an open road, with no gate. one guy even had enough nerve to set up camp, talk about gutsy. But i think the camper got the point cause the next day we came by he had left the area. I tell ya the nerve of some people.

on another note, man there were alot of californians up here during archery season.

steelhead22 · 10-13-2003, 12:00 AM

BOE-

I'm the one who started last weeks post. In this situation, I don't think you would be in the wrong to head up the road and check that last clearcut, or any of the clearcuts for that matter. As stated in my post, I was unhappy with a DRIVE taking place. If you and 5 of your buddies chose this area to make a drive through this area, I wouldn't agree with that at all. Just walking through an area doesn't really mess anyone up, but ending your drive after pushing through the area this guy is hunting there does.

BTW, what was this guy thinking blocking that kind of gate? That could be opened anytime by someone with the right keys. If it was a "dead" road with a permanent gate, then I'd think he was OK.

This is "kinda" like last weeks post, but not really, due to the fact that it is a completely different situation, hunting tech., etc. It was a good try though.

tag-a-long · 10-13-2003, 06:09 AM

What if an emergency vehicle needed to get in there? Guys like that should not be allowed to hunt. Or at least not be able to drive. If you want someone to know where you are at up a gated road, leave a note in a ziplock bag zip-tied to the gate. Something like " Hey, I am in the clearcut first fork to the right, please steer clear, and good luck hunting." You would be amazed at the responsible people that will stay away from you while you are hunting. Just take some time to prepare for what might arise. If you go in after this, wear your hunters orange.

Bait O' Eggs · 10-13-2003, 06:48 AM

Quote:

This is "kinda" like last weeks post, but not really, due to the fact that it is a completely different situation, hunting tech., etc. It was a good try though.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">I dont understand the last sentence in the quoted comment

I wasnt trying to do anything, just trying to understand why and who would think it be acceptable to join this person up the road. In steelhead 22's situation I doubt they knew you were sitting where you where until they ran into you. After they encountered you they left giving you your spot back, and didnt sit on the stump next to you.

I am of the belief that as long as a deer/elk is still on its feet it is fair game to who ever can get a bullet in it and put it down.

If I had hiked into this road (which I did not) and I walked into a clear cut and saw the other hunter either sitting on a stump looking the wrong way, or sneaking into position to get a shot at a buck, and I was already in position to shoot the buck, I see nothing wrong with shooting the buck.

It would be unfortunate that the other person sat in the clearcut for hours waiting for the buck to arrive, but the animal is not his until it is dead and tagged.

Now if I saw he was working a kid in for a closer shot, I would pull up a chair and enjoy the show. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] But because somebody is there first means nothing as long as the animal is still standing.

If a person gets mad I shot a deer minutes before he was ready to shoot, he might as well get mad at me because I may have shot a buck there last weekend, there is no magical cut off time making it acceptable on how long a person shoots a buck before you were ready to shoot a buck.

Just different ideas on what is acceptable. Nobody is right or wrong, just different ideas on what is acceptable.

If the person parked in front of the gate was upset I walked up this road into an area with 3 miles of road and several clearcuts I would have no sympathy for him. If the road had only gone as far as you can see, it would be a different situation all together.

pdxkevin · 10-13-2003, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FishinFinatic:
...hunting over east this season during archery, we found people doing this but parking in an open road, with no gate...

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">The only way I would justify this action was if it were near the end of a dead-end road and you didn't want people driving their vehicle down near where you were actively hunting. Especially if the road twisted in such a manner as to spoke game you were hunting. I wouldn't sweat someone walking around the truck and hunting the area I was in though. Driving a truck or quad would be something completely different.

GutshotApe · 10-13-2003, 07:06 AM

Unless you own or control the land, one should never park blocking a gate.

I was once a district forester for a large timber company...had 110,000 acres to look after...and we had a few gates. I found a winch or snatch block unnecessary...just a strong chain and a 3/4 ton 4x4 in low range would usually do the trick. Put a foot or two of slack in the chain and hit it...most rigs will drag. I've dragged many a pickup out of the way...tried to do it without damaging the rigs but if something happened to the offending vehicles in the process of clearing them from the roadway, too bad...not my problem.

If for some reason I couldn't drag the blocking vehicle, I usually called for a commercial tow/impound.

I can't read what the sign on the gate in the photo says...but it probably says "Do not block gate". Even if it doesn't, I never hesitated to move trucks blocking one of my gates if I wanted to go thru.

As for "respecting" the fact that someone is already hunting the area...there is plenty of room behind most locked gates for more than one hunter. I'd hunt the area without any qualms. If I could determine where the guy was I'd avoid that immediate area...but I wouldn't hesitate to walk on in...after parking off to the side, that is.

steelhead22 · 10-13-2003, 10:13 AM

BOE- I was just messin' around with that last sentence, shoulda put a :tongue:

after it. After reading it again, I sound like a really jerk, sorry 'bout that. I totally agree with you about if a deer is still standing it's fair game. I can't believe you didn't just head on in there and hunt the area, sounds like there was plenty of room.

"In steelhead 22's situation I doubt they knew you were sitting where you where until they ran into you. After they encountered you they left giving you your spot back, and didnt sit on the stump next to you."

The thing about this is that giving me "my spot" back was worthless. They walked two feet from me, right into the woods I was hunting, and there was other guys pushing through the other direction. Had it been just those two guys, that kept on walking down the road to go hunt another area, I wouldn't have cared in the least, I've been trying to make a point not to call it "my area" but rather the "area I was hunting" for a reason. This is how I see it, it's not mine, but all of ours. Maybe they thought we were farther down the road

. I just think that when making a DRIVE you should try to find an area without anyone else there. This technique is meant to disturb the area, so get away from other's that may not want the area they are hunting disturbed.

Gun Rod Bow · 10-13-2003, 10:37 AM

I'd leave him a note on his windshield. Sometimes that's all it takes, sometimes, maybe, or not, I guess, you know?

6 point · 10-13-2003, 04:44 PM

Wait untill next weekend (cascade elk)..alot make camp in front of the gates to tie up the area. you try going around an the confrontions starts!Ive been even threatin witha gun!

..They need to ticket these guys,, .its gettin worst every year. Ive been lucky to geta 320 score bull outa this area...but was seen takenin it out..all of Portland hunts there now!

nitrobass · 10-13-2003, 05:16 PM

If its an area where there are other gated roads I'd probably head off for another one. If thats not an option I'd invest in a good alarm clock and make him start a post like this. :grin:

seadog · 10-13-2003, 05:19 PM

This guy shouldn't have blocked the gate, no question about that. But if I come to a gate like this and see another rig parked there I would wish I had gotten there a little earlier and then moved on. Try to put youself in his shoes, he took the extra effort to get up and out there a little sooner than anyone else. Thats his spot. If you happen to choose to hunt there anyhow and get to that final clearcut you were heading for and blow your bugle just as that guy is drawing down on a buck and spook it, how would he feel? I am a frim believer in giving people their space when it comes to hunting. I hate to see other people in the woods when I have gone to the trouble to get up early, get there first, and walk a couple miles only to have it spoiled by somebody who slept in and decided to crowd me.

Swamp Puppy · 10-13-2003, 06:00 PM

i agree with seadog on this one..no, he doesn't "own" that space as you put it BOE, and based on your description of the area behind that gate i am almost inclined to say that you could still have walked back in there and been fine. however, my personal opinion is that if you were to walk in to that last cut and the individual was in there hunting, the courteous thing to do would be to backtrack out and check out one of the other three cuts you know of.

-or- maybe i could follow you around and wait for you to scare up a nice bull and put a bullet in it before you do. afterall, all is fair while it is still on its feet and that would save me a lot of unneccesary scouting.

Hoosier Daddy · 10-14-2003, 06:27 AM

First, the guy is wrong to park his truck in front of the gate. I think it's illegal for one, and stupid for another.
Second, I think it depends on the size of the area on whether or not you should go in. If the road goes for miles or splits and spreads out pretty well, I'd probably do it. If it was a small area, probably not. Whether or not it's ethical or nice, I don't know, but I don't want to be that close to another gun if I don't have to.
Where is that? Looks familiar. Not in the Cascades somewhere is it?

Killertraylor · 10-14-2003, 10:53 AM

I'd open his door and pour a bottle of Ultra-bite on his seat. If locked, pour it in the heater vents. :grin:

You aren't supposed to block gates. I once saw a fuel oil truck push a truck like that out of the way as he had to get diesel up to a radio tower. He did a good number on the truck and later got in a fight with the truck owner. I think the Ultra-bite is a much better idea. :grin:

[ 10-14-2003, 11:53 AM: Message edited by: Killertraylor ]

AnnaDraMoss · 10-14-2003, 10:55 AM

I would not park in front of a gate at all. I would be upset if someone else walked in an area where I was in first. Three miles of road is quite a chunk of land. But guess what , there is a heck of alot more acerage on the mountain a guy can check also. Come back when nobody is using the area. Just my feeling. Another point nobody has mentioned is that presumming there was only "one guy" in the truck. What if there were "three or four guy's" in that vehicle. I know how you feel about wanting to get into an area but someone else is there. As soon as I see a Rig parked I do what I can to leave the area as soon as possible 'cause that's what I would prefer from someone else if I was in there trying to hunt

WaterDog · 10-14-2003, 12:25 PM

First, this person should not have blocked the gate. No sympathy if the truck has to get dragged out of the way.

Second, I would move on since someone is already there.

I can�t for the life of me understand why anyone else would walk in there anyway

knowing someone is already there even if there are 3 or 4 other clearcuts and the road is 3 miles long. Yes, it�s public land blah, blah, blah�� but this person or persons were there first. I don�t see this being any different than getting to your favorite rock or fishing hole. You get there first you should be allowed to fish it or hunt it. Because it�s public land, does that give folks the right to forget about common courtesy? Like rivers there are lots of other places to go. To me it�s like anchoring in the Columbia and having another boat come down, throw out their hook, throw out the bumpers, and park 2 feet away. If you wanted a particular spot maybe you should have got up earlier or not had that last couple of beer�s before hitting the sack. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

Reading some of these thread lately on this board I now know why I have little enthusiasm for hunting anymore.

[img]graemlins/lurk.gif[/img]

Bait O' Eggs · 10-14-2003, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Reading some of these thread lately on this board I now know why I have little enthusiasm for hunting anymore.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Waterdog - Maybe if you started trophy hunting and quit shooting those floppy eared does off the road, you would find a little more enthusiasm in the sport. :tongue:

(before you get fired up and flame me, Waterdog gets the joke and that is who it is aimed at

)

I will be chasing elk this coming weekend in the cascades. My buddy and myself will have his 13 year old boy out trying to find a bull for him. We already know exactly which hill we will be on, We found a couple nice 5 point bulls last Sunday, we hope to re-find this weekend, and I expect there to be no less than 15 vehicles at the trailhead when it gets light on Saturday :shocked: :shocked: We will be on foot around 4 AM and I am sure we wont be the first one up the trail. The trail is about 7 miles long and there will be at least a half dozen rigs at the other end coming onto the same ridge from the other end. Quite frankly I get a bit excited thinking we might get this 13 year old into position to shoot a bull out from under somebody else. The bull to the best hunter.

Do you think I need some Orange? :tongue:

If I left everytime I found another vehicle I would have nowhere to hunt, might as well buy a fleet of junkers and just park them around to keep you other guys out

AnnaDraMoss · 10-14-2003, 08:52 PM

BOE, I read alot of your posts, and enjoy most of them. But you should hope we never meet under circumstances as such.Common courtesy, and a sportsmans etiquette are what I present to a fellow hunter and what I expect in return. More power to you getting the 13 year old into a quality bull. At least teach him some class while hunting around others. Good luck.

Fishalot · 10-15-2003, 03:30 PM

Well fellow hunters this statment is not pointed at any one person , however if you want to take it to heart be my guest. If you want to hunt and not run into other hunters or at least a few less hunters, I would say that you are not hunting the right areas. If you want to see less people in the area you hunt you will not hunting areas you drive to and walk a mile or two. I hear of hunters shooting animals right from under other hunters and hunters shooting a wounded animal as it passes by. Each situation is different, yet what stinks is a guy that knows that some other hunter has just shot and wounded a animal and kills and puts claim on said animal.
What ever happend to a person shooting and then tracking a animal, we all try for a good kill shot , however this is not always the case. It pains me to hear statements such as if it is still standing it is fair game. I don't hunt big game with a rifle any longer, I started bow hunting 12 years ago and have stuck with it. Bow hunting is not for everyone and you still make a choice to hunt where you know there will be other hunters or not. I also hope I never run into any of you that are standing over a animal that I stuck with a arrow and because you also shoot it have the arrogance to claim it a your own.

Fishalot

[ 10-15-2003, 04:40 PM: Message edited by: Fishalot ]

Washington Hunter · 10-15-2003, 04:46 PM

It is ridiculous to think that if there is one vehicle parked at a gate, that entire area should be left to just the hunter(s) from that one vehicle. Like BOE said, if you do that, there would be nowhere to hunt. The road he's talking about goes in 3 miles. Heck, there should be lots and lots of area for more than one or two hunters. You don't have to stay on the road. Why not get off the road and hunt in the woods? If you do that, I doubt you would ever run into the other hunters. I just cannot believe so many of you are saying that an area should be off limits to everybody except for the first vehicle to get there. That's just crazy!

Bait O' Eggs · 10-19-2003, 05:39 PM

I drove by the same gate today, and again there is somebody parked in the same spot.

I guess it must be acceptable since it appears to be the normal thing to do.

FishBowl · 10-20-2003, 08:59 PM

I think if the road is gated and there is not a sign that says not to block the gate what is the problem. If someone needs to access the area on a regular basis then they should have a sign that states do not block gate. If I catch someone hooking to my rig and winching it god help them because they will take a beating at the least, and shot if I can't beat them.

Tim

[ 10-21-2003, 10:07 AM: Message edited by: Crambone ]

Green Machine · 10-22-2003, 07:12 PM

BOE-

This is a problem we face on our tree farms. We had to lock the gates due to vandalism and garbage dumping.....even during hunting season. So, we just allowed "walk in" or "bike in" hunting only. This stopped the some of the problems, but has been terrible on our gates!!! Not to mention, people blocking them. I don't know how many times I have come to the gate, trying to go home AFTER work, and I have to wait until the hunter comes back!!!! Then he is mad I wouldn't let him in!! Funny how a priveledge can turn people sour.

I thank people for parking off the road. Idiots.......I have them towed!! :grin: Go ahead and walk in as far as you want to. You have every right he/she does, if not more for obeying the rules. If I see you behind one of our gates, I'll help you pack that elk out.....in the truck!!!

Green Machine