May 1st???

[jdb]

Glassed two guys on game dept land today. Guess where I won't be may 1st

[shedted]

which area?

[HighCountry10]

That is a very tough situation.  I believe over the years people who wouldn't normally break any laws or Game Dept. rules have gotten frustrated by the fact that guys that the Game Dept. themselves hire to feed the Elk are picking up antlers.  I do not just mean the ones directly in the feed lots, they find excuses to "go clean something up" or something else knowing full well where the bulls have dropped annually.  An example would be:  we need to clean this campsite up and really they go pick up antlers in a well known stand of trees or tree line that bulls shed.  I know two wrongs do not make a right but this is what I believe is happening?

[270Shooter]

Hmmm wouldn't be the wenas feed lot would it?

[canyelk48]

I can glass most of the Joe Watt feeding area from my house and a couple of weeks ago I watched a couple of guys in a pickup truck slowly driving back and forth across the areas they feed the elk, stopping at times and getting out.  This happened long after they stopped putting hay out and they came from the hay barn.  Too far off to see what they were picking up; maybe hay bale string, or maybe antlers?  All I know is I've never found a single antler in the feeding areas, which seems unlikely that the elk are not dropping there, or else the volunteers are helping themselves before the public has access.

[270Shooter]

Hmmm wouldn't be the wenas feed lot would it?

And you got yourself a winner.

yeah heard of a couple people sneaking in there this year, pisses me off but since I myself have no proof there's not much you can do.

[270Shooter]

If only they could find a way to hide the cameras better and invest in more of them. the one on a certain road in my zip code is very visible if you just look up.

its too easy to get around them if you are willing to hike a bit or get access from a landowner that borders the feedlot

[crazyantler]

Unfortunately your suspicions are correct.  I used my spotting scope last year and watched a white pickup truck that came up the road from above the oak creek feed lot and it stopped in the patch of trees on Bethel ridge just east of Cougar canyon and five guys got out and of course they were surveying the area for trespassers but I also found it odd that they all dispersed in multiple directions hundreds of yards from the rig wandering around.  That happened in multiple locations.  This is a known thing at all the feed sites and its the way it is.  Local in tel says the watt and robinson lots and upper benches have already been swept.  Therefor my plan is to find other areas come may 1st where they are already outside the boundary lines and dropped.  They are spread all over this year which makes it harder but better opportunity if you find a remote honey hole.

[buglebuster]

It was not the wenas lot he was talking about, but I do know of a few people sneaking around in there.

[pat2bear]

If only they could find a way to hide the cameras better and invest in more of them. the one on a certain road in my zip code is very visible if you just look up.

its too easy to get around them if you are willing to hike a bit or get access from a landowner that borders the feedlot

Having more cameras is all fine and dandy but if you don't have stiff enough penalties what's the point? Start taking away hunting privileges and I bet people will start thinking twice.

[The100Road]

If only they could find a way to hide the cameras better and invest in more of them. the one on a certain road in my zip code is very visible if you just look up.

its too easy to get around them if you are willing to hike a bit or get access from a landowner that borders the feedlot

Having more cameras is all fine and dandy but if you don't have stiff enough penalties what's the point? Start taking away hunting privileges and I bet people will start thinking twice.

Those who poach & Tresspass don't care about hunting Privileges.

[pat2bear]

If only they could find a way to hide the cameras better and invest in more of them. the one on a certain road in my zip code is very visible if you just look up.

its too easy to get around them if you are willing to hike a bit or get access from a landowner that borders the feedlot

Having more cameras is all fine and dandy but if you don't have stiff enough penalties what's the point? Start taking away hunting privileges and I bet people will start thinking twice.

Those who poach & Tresspass don't care about hunting Privileges.

Maybe, maybe not. That's a pretty general assumption. I agree that usually people that poach don't care about it. But from what I've heard I would wager that a fair amount of people sneaking in there early do buy hunting licenses. Maybe I am way out in left field here but I guess my point is it won't stop until they get more serious with the punishments.