Road/Bow Hunting?

[jackmaster]

one of the best ways to elk hunt. drive around until you find fresh elk tracks, park your rig and get crackn, works really well. if your in an area with a crap ton of roads you can really cut the distance and have a way better idea of where the elk actually are. i prefer not to road hunt. i damn sure dont mind the guys that do. alot of times they work to your advantage if you use them right, and it is less humans in the woods. i know a time or two after i do this saturday hunt. its along all day hike, round trip is 13 miles. my ankles are pretty messed up so one all day hike is all i can handle pretty much anymore, sunday i would drive around in vail, i would still get out and hike a little, go sit in a clearcut or in the timber on a deer trail. either way its better than sitting at home whining about my legs hurtn 

[Elkrunner]

What cracks me up the most whenever this topic arises, is how many guys get so worked up over people road hunting.  I mean seriously, each hunter should do whatever method they please.  There isn't anything wrong with a person deciding to road hunt.  You guys that get all irritated with the amount of people driving around, use that to your advantage and quit complaining.     I personally use both methods of hunting.  It just depends on the decision that I make that day.  I can hunt from a tree, do some spot and stalk or just plain road hunt.  I road hunt depending on condition or mood.  I'm not afraid to admit it either.

[Annette]

Would like permission to use the picture for Bowhunter Education Kidrock? Any other photos we can use??

[Bullkllr]

What cracks me up the most whenever this topic arises, is how many guys get so worked up over people road hunting.  I mean seriously, each hunter should do whatever method they please.  There isn't anything wrong with a person deciding to road hunt.  You guys that get all irritated with the amount of people driving around, use that to your advantage and quit complaining.     I personally use both methods of hunting.  It just depends on the decision that I make that day.  I can hunt from a tree, do some spot and stalk or just plain road hunt.  I road hunt depending on condition or mood.  I'm not afraid to admit it either.

Never complained about it. Find absolutely no reason to. Personally, wanted to know if it can be EFFECTIVE. And I do appreciate the thoughtful responses answering that question.

[bobcat]

I think one reason you see so many vehicles driving around is that there are just too many hunters crammed into one area. What has happened to me, is that I drive to a unit that I may have two or three spots that I've scouted and/or hunted before. Get to the first spot, vehicle already there. Okay, drive to the next spot, somebody already there too. Third spot, dang, it's also taken! Don't know where else to go and don't want to walk in behind someone else, so continue driving around trying to figure out where it might be worth getting out of the truck.

I can also tell you that in my experience you can drive roads all day long and see no fresh elk sign, but that doesn't mean the elk aren't in the area. There could be a herd 300 yards off the road in a clearcut but just out of sight of all the vehicles driving by on the road.

So anyway I think this perceived "problem" we have with too many "road hunters" is simply due to the fact that we have too many hunters in certain areas. This is when some kind of management by the WDFW could solve this problem by limiting the number of elk tags sold, in some way.

But instead, it will likely be Weyerhaeuser and other timber companies who will be doing most of the hunter "management" with their limited access permits to their tree farms. And, the public land will get more and more crowded with more road hunters.

[Hawgdawg]

Ive killed 2 cows driving around the winston unit late season with my bow.

  When I was having mobility issues I put a foam pad on the hood and laid my bow on it and drove the roads for deer. Very effective. Also, took less time to get out of the rig for spot or a shot.

[Elkrunner]

What cracks me up the most whenever this topic arises, is how many guys get so worked up over people road hunting.  I mean seriously, each hunter should do whatever method they please.  There isn't anything wrong with a person deciding to road hunt.  You guys that get all irritated with the amount of people driving around, use that to your advantage and quit complaining.     I personally use both methods of hunting.  It just depends on the decision that I make that day.  I can hunt from a tree, do some spot and stalk or just plain road hunt.  I road hunt depending on condition or mood.  I'm not afraid to admit it either.

Never complained about it. Find absolutely no reason to. Personally, wanted to know if it can be EFFECTIVE. And I do appreciate the thoughtful responses answering that question.

Sorry Bullkllr, wasn't really directing it towards you.  In the past 5 years, I have seen this topic discussed on several occasions...

[YellowDog]

I've seen a fair amount of "road hunting" in archery seasons in some of the Yakima units.  I think MOST of those I saw were driving to and from areas or "road scouting" and just happened to cross paths with a herd of elk and get out and pursue them.  I've probably only known of one group that actually harvested a cow elk by passing a herd that just crossed the road and then jumping out and running up the hill to cut them off.

One year my brother's and I almost had a head on collision with a truck hauling butt up a main logging road that had 2 guys in the cab and one guy, I kid you not, standing in the back (bed) of the truck, holding his bow with one hand, and holding on to a light bar or headache rack with the other as the driver flew up the snow and ice covered road.  Temp. was probably in the low 20s and there was plenty of snow and ice on the ground.  I glanced in my rear view mirror as we passed after both of us moved to the outside of our respective sides of the road and that guy in the back was barely able to hang on and stay in the bed of the truck with all of the swerving the driver was doing.  I don't care if people road hunt but that had to be the stupidest group of road hunters I have seen.  Mostly, I don't want to hit some idiot who comes flying out of the bed of a truck or have to stop and help scrape them off the road.

[deltaops]

To road hunt or not to road hunt... I do not care if one does it as long as they do it legally. I like to get off the road but I will get out and check tracks when I see them. Every time I drive dirt roads, I am looking for signs, during and not during the season. This last year has really opened my eyes and I can spot trails fairly easy now.

I will do what it takes to fill a tag as long as it is legal.

With that being said, I have not yet bought an elk tag nor have I hunted for elk. I have scouted for them but not yet hunted them.

[NoBark]

I believe that there has been enough cases of people really shooting animals while 'road hunting ' to perpetuate the practise.  I don't but, I bet most of us know someone who shot a deer or elk from a loggin road while out driving around.  It really happens and often enough to give some people hope it will happen to them!   

[Elkrunner]

I have shot plenty of deer from the road.  Elk would be a bit harder, I would think as they do not tend to stick around as long as a mule deer.

[jackmaster]

before vail went to pass only it was the road huntn capitol of the world, and alot of people shot deer from the road, even if you go into hancock it is probably 95 % road hunters, its the way they like to hunt. i like the road hunters, they can help you out a ton without even knowing it 

[jason stevens]

I would not classify myself as a road hunter but the last three deer I shot with my bow in the early season after I was done hunting and moving to the next area was from the road all under thirty yards and they just stood there.what's a fella gonna do.don't like tag soup so a big fat mulie doe goes to the freezer.

[Elkrunner]

Deer hunting can be successful as I have stated.  I have gotten quite a few where I have driven around, passed them. Got out and snuck up on them.

[ELKBURGER]

Its 'spot and stalk', starting at your truck.