BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[bustbigking]

So let's hear some views on whether road hunting "shwooping" is a OK way of finding game or not. . Ive heard that some love to and some think it's wrong. What do you think?

[Bullbuster]

I see alota folks just driving back and forth along the roads and shoot when they see something legal. I for one think its unsafe and not really a hunting adventure. However I can understand our older generation of hunter who due to age and health can't venture far from the road. But hay just means I don't have to contend with them out in the woods.

[Fisher King]

Around here any land that you can see from the road is most likely privatly owned so if some one dosent have permision they are at the lest trespasing at the worst poaching. Here you also need to be off the center of the road 33 feet or past the fence line. Also you cant have a loaded gun in your car , truck or on any moterized vehicle atv ect ,not even a clip in.So when we see someone road hunting we keep a preaty close eye on them till they leave our area.
The ministery also sets up remote control deer that look and act like real deer eating moving their heads ears fliping they usaly catch a coupla hunters each year. One year a guy I know saw one at the side of the road backed up and ran it over the game warden jumps out and the guy behind the wheel was another gamewardens son I tell ya that one didn't take long to make the rounds. No one safe so it dosen't pay to road hunt around here as a rule.
F.K.

[csumerall]

some of the lazier hunters i know refer to road hunting as hunting out of the mobile blind. I personally dont do it but in my mind (I know this is going to draw a lot of fire) i dont see any difference between hunting out of a truck and using a treestand especially hunting over bait

[Serious Hunter]

... depends on what `road hunting' entails. If it involves driving around until you see something cross the road, slam on the brakes, jump out and start shooting ... a whole host of laws have probably been broken already - plus the non-hunters watching may hate us all the more.

However - it can also be done right - and I do it a fair amount - especially in territory where I have permission. If I don't have permission - then that is the first step once I see game.

If I do have permission ... approach via road may indeed be the first part of a stalk. I can save time using a road. And in populated areas - game may just watch a vehicle but flee outright a person. I will then park out of the way ... and continue to stalk on foot, etc.

One time I was `road hunting' some geese. I got around to a good position, where I anticipated they would come out. I pulled off the road, got well away from the road, loaded my gun, etc. ... then as though on cue the geese got up and flew right toward and over me. I was well off the road but very much IN VIEW of the road. Just as the geese were about to start tasting death, a station wagon crested the hill and a car full of children coming home from school were becoming witnesses. I decided not to shoot. I would have been perfectly legal to - but I chose not to. Maybe I was over-sensative. But I didn't want neighbors complaining to neighbors and thus get my hunting spot shut down.

So, yes, I road hunt - but it is a part of my hunting. I do it - and I try to do it right.

Last evening I was driving out to one spot to do some archery hunting. About a mile from where I would park I pulled over and glassed. Aha! ... four deer out on some other property I have permission for. So I cut off a half mile of a stalk by turning around and taking another road. I got to within about half a mile - and then did the rest of the stalk on foot. Is that road hunting?

[bustbigking]

Yeah That's considered road hunting, to me at leased. I think It's fine to spot game in a vehicle and persue on foot but thing's can get out of hand quick though. I was about 30 yds away from a masher deer getting ready to shoot and some "guy" pulled up in a truck on the road, jump's out hop's the fence and run's out in the field right at the buck. The deer took off and the guy saw me and ran back to his truck! That's bad road hunting. And He's lucky I didnt turn him in!

[Don Fischer]

I know three brother out here, in their 60's, that have had MS all their lives and can't walk without crutches and then not well. They have pickups they hunt out of but never off the road. Some of the places these guys go you'd think twice about walking into. They have a winch hoist on the back of their trucks and when a deer is down, they back up to it then get out and pull themselves along the bed to the back. Hook up the deer, raise it. sit on the tail gate and field dress it then swing it into the bed with the hoist. They wouldn't dream of road hunting. One operates heavy equipment for a living and they all rode horses for many years. We do what we want to do!

[Serious Hunter]

[Steelyonfly]

I may not be the most sensitive when it comes to this kind of hunting, but I can see where it is necessary for those hunters that can't hike the hills anymore because of age or some other kind of problem. Bless those sportsmen that are disabled or don't have the physical abilities anymore to hike into the woods for a hunt and still make the difficult effort to go hunting the best that they can. For those of us that can get out and scout around and actually stalk an animal, I can't fathom how road hunting is "sporting". In my mind, take pleasure in your hunt by doing it the hard way. It's so much more rewarding. I'm no psycho Tred Barta, but I respect why he does what he does. I have a neighbor that's in his early thirties, works construciton, and is physically fit. What does he do ... he goes road hunting with his buds almost exclusively. These guys are just looking for an excuse to drink and "get lucky". I will never respect this kind of hunting for those that don't need it and I see a lot of it.

I live in a state and area of the state that gets a hell of a lot of rain. So what, buy rainproof clothing and challenge an animal on his own ground ... HUNT!! ... make yourself feel proud to be a true sportsman or sportwoman.

[sultanshooter]

I was 'road hunting' with a friend with weekend in Chewelah for grouse. It was a tandum hunt grouse and scout for elk spots. It's an area i haven't spent a lot of time in and it was nice to beable to cover a lot of ground and see what is happening.

But, I didn't really feel all that excited about the grouse hunting part of it. I have a 7 month old black lab who suprises me ever day. Had her first bird retrieve this weekend! But for the most part she sat in the back of the jeep looking depressed. Come to think of it, I was a little too.

I'm young and in good shape, so to me hunting is being out in the field. Mud, cold, boggs, spider webs in the face, jumping animals you didn't see, now that's hunting to me. Not driving around looking for game, but really earning it.

As for disabled hunters, More power to them!! I say give them more access, a bit longer seasons, or whatever they need to have the experience that they're hunting for. I don't judge them for using what means they have, I applaud them for having the gumption to get out into it.

[fishseeker]

First off I'm a newbie here, I've been lurking for a bit! I felt I needed to respond to this topic. I know most people think road hunters are just lazy and don't want to get very far from there beer, Granted there is alot of that,way to much, but not all people are like that, I have hunted in Washington since I was a teen, I'm 56, but I've worked in constuction(31years as Plumber in Housing) that takes a real toll an a body, I smoke to much! I also love the outdoors. I will sometimes after hunting and hiking as much as I'm able to when the body just needs a break, I will road hunt, no loaded guns in the truck, won't shoot out the window, but I still want to be hunting and enjoy what hunting is! I still like to get into the woods and sit on a stand or still hunt DOWN a ridge! Would rather do that than anything!! But if a time comes when all I can do is road hunt then thats what you'll see me doing(wishing I was 20 again on out humping the hill)cause I love the outdoors,Iv'e taught my children and thier friends to love the outdoors, Not all road hunters are slobs! Some are just taking a break and checking out new areas!!! No beer cans in my truck,but I'll share my coffee with ya
Murph

[Iceman]

I agree with fishseeker.

Lets be honest here, most all of us have been tired after hiking all day, and just wanted to cruise the area for a bit...sort of stretch the legs the easy way. And, if trolling for a buck, you see one, we have all shot it. Not the romatic vision of you-being one with nature, stalking your game, and a quick clean kill, but you have done it, I have done it. Dumb luck.

If I kill a buck, seen while driving from camp to my intended hike, am I all that bad?

We have had some old timers at camp, who must road hunt. Our deer hunt area is brutal steep and treacherous. They drive, get out, glass, drive.... If they find a buck, they take the shot. This is part of hunting. Just like shooting at ducks from your boat as you set your decoys. I am sure not one of us would pass the shot on a 5x5 bull elk, who crosses the road at the end of a string of cows. I doubt there are many of us who would make the decision not to engage a bull they found while driving in their truck...

[billythekidrock]

Not only that, but if more people road hunted there would be more game and unspoiled areas a 1/4 mile from the road. Not all "road hunters" during hunting season are hunting big game. We do alot of slow driving in the fall looking for mushrooms and photo ops.

[STALKER69]

I think this is one of the best forums I have read in a while and agree with both sides. I don't think we are specifically talking about road hunting in gerneral because we have all looked up on the hillside as we drive in hopes of a stalk or to locate new country to hunt. I think what we are talking about are a specific type of hunter who uses a vehicle in a manner of hunting that is not Sportsman like and is Dangerous to others. We have all encountered this type of Hunter he is the guy who will use the Gaurd rail of highway 410 just out of Naches for a gun rest to shoot well beyond the means of his rifle in hopes of placing a kill shot on a cow Elk or the guy who is loading his rifle while putting the vehicle in park, it all comes back to character and Sportsmanship. I have noticed know one has sad anything about ATV's in this forum is this not cosidered road Hunting?

[csumerall]

I agree with you on the atv issue as well as the differences in road hunting. I see the older hunters using their trucks and I have no problem with that driving to a different area, no problem, the disabled hunter, no problem. the guy who uses his mirror or the hood of the truck as a rest while hes barely off the road thats the hunter that I think this thread was dedicated to