Hunting Ethics....

[hntrspud]

This year I had put in a TON of time on some private property that my family owns, and on some adjacent public property. I saw a total of 5 bulls that were coming by my cam every couple of days. All were legal bulls in my unit. (3pt. better). I know where the elk travel, know there hideouts, but was never able to close the distance to a safe shot. In the past nine years I have lived in washington I have had ZERO luck on anything with 4 legs. Waterfowl, done OK. Found some spots for that too. I dont go out on opening weekend and say, "where are the animals?" I scout, I work at it. My family that owns the land are not hunters, they dont mind it, like the duck meat, but arent familiar with the Code among ethical hunters that you dont share your spot or land with just anyone. My uncle spoke before thinking about 8 months ago. (He is the one who said he spoke to soon and felt like an idiot afterwards) He allowed a person to go through, or so he thought, his property ONLY to access public land. This person had been hunting everyday during elk season. I met him for the first time on this last sunday. He knew I hunted the property. After sitting in my blind for 3 hours or so, I decided I would get up and walk around a little to check out another route to there bedding areas they have been using. I am up no more than 5 minutes when I here something coming through the thick brush. I determine the route of the "thing" making the noise, and position myself in such a way that if it was a bull, bear, etc, anything legal, I was going to take it. Crouched down, with an arrow knocked I see the brush move. Coming right at me.. Well, needless to say, if I was not an ethical person that guy may have had an arrow in him. NOT A SMART MOVE... So then we shake hands and exchange names and so on. The first thing he tells me is "Did your uncle tell you I shot a 5x5 the other day? NOPE!!! I am thinking at this point, why is he here then. He was only after elk, he had no other tags. Then he tells me the story that was basically, "I took a steep angle quartering away shot". "I might have been able to get a better shot if I waited a few more seconds...." He told me that he thinks that it wasnt a kill shot, and that he spent " a good 4 hours looking". There was blood, he didnt continue to look after that, "it probably just wasnt a good enought shot". OK so if that wasnt enough, while we were towards the end of that story, I here something else coming through the brush, not stopping. ELK or Bear, no questions about it. I go to my left a bit, determine which way the animal was going. He crouched to my right, didnt move. I saw the brush moving again, and look at him and make signals as to where the animal was coming out. He nodded, stayed there, the animal was coming out to my right, and his. I am taking this animal, not him. I see the animal, its a bear, a 250lb CHOCOLATE phase bear. Came out of the brush at 12-15 yards, stood there on a small knoll and looked right at me, I was all camo with face paint, wind blowing perfectly, he had no idea what I was. So he took a left, to go down the hill I drew my bow, and was following this bear for about 15 ft to see if he would stop, holding at full draw. Well, He did stop, at 10 yrds, broadside, like manna from Heaven...EXCEPT, I had to withdraw my bow as my shooting lane closed because said idiot was in my shooting lane and made NO effort to remedy that, even when he knew where the bear was, where he was coming out, and had time to move, but didnt. The bear stopped and caught wind of said idoit, turned and ran up the hill and away from us. Then he said " thanks for not shooting across my nose!! No apology, nothing. I decided that for now it would be best to tell him that I was leaving for a while to let the Bear calm down, and did not want to educate the bear anymore, just let him be. Said Idiot left at the same time, and said he was coming back for the last evening hunt. No he wont, not anymore. Not allowed on the property, or near it again. I am just very frustrated that for the first time in my life I had a CHOCOLATE at ten yrds.....Pissed doesnt even come close..... I just hope that the bear is not going to scoot over to someprivate property and hang out now. What a bear!!

[pianoman9701]

I bet you were pissed. I would've been completely torqued.

First of all, have your uncle rescind the permission immediately. Secondly, the understanding was that he could travel through the property but only to hunt public land beyond, right? He's now trespassing by breaking the rules set forth between him and your uncle. I'd confirm the permissions set by your uncle and perhaps call the gamie with all the details. He might want to have a talk with this guy. If you don't, there's a real good chance he'll come back and wound another nice bull and you don't want that.

[hntrspud]

The permission has been rescinded. Yes Pianoman, that was the agreement, to walk thru. Would it be a good idea to contact a gamie? Is that something I should do is my question.

[bearhunter99]

Sooo, speaking of ethics and safety and you had a bow at full draw pointed directly across someone's nose?  Please tell me there is some embellishment to this story and you didn't actually pass your sights over someone at full draw?

[pianoman9701]

Absolutely call the gamie. He'd be interested. Although, they'll have their hands full with ML season coming up now.

And, bearhunter99 asks a good question. I wondered about that myself.

[bobcat]

I wouldn't waste a game warden's time over this. If you see him hunting there again, then sure, contact the law. But otherwise there really is no proof that he did anything wrong, correct? I'm not sure what the purpose would be in calling a game warden.

[hntrspud]

I obviously didnt explain it right. I had the bow at full draw, to follow the bear, then saw that my shooting lane had closed, because of my location and immediatly withdrew. I didnt come close to him or his nose. Sorry for miswording it. After the bear had gone out of my window, had I swung the bow further without stopping, I would have been across his nose. Hope that helps.

[hntrspud]

No Bobcat, no proof of anything.

[kentrek]

i also would not call the gamie..seems like too litle of an issue for tax dollars

id just contact the guy an talk with him more..since he is a "idiot" he prolly misunderstood what your uncles terms where 

also hind site is twenty twenty, a new hunter will almost always freeze with something coming crashing at them..the last thing he was thinking about was your shooting lane,esp once he new it was a bear

also with forcing the shot on the elk,he most likely has not had the experience to know to wait for a good shot..esp if he is itching for a kill..

this sounds like a very new hunter,it might be worth it to have a chat with him an send him down the correct path of "ethics" esp regarding searching for wounded game

[hntrspud]

He was in his early fifties and had bragged about how long he had hunted and all the places he had been. He didnt misunderstand anything, the ground rules where set. I wont call any gamie, Im just venting. I personally dont think that a wounded bull is "too little of an issue"

[bobcat]

I understand your frustration and I would feel the same way. But wounding an elk and not finding it, is not violation of the law.

[hntrspud]

Your absolutely right. Not putting in very much time and effort to find the wounded animal was probably my largest frustration.