reports in the Winston

[billythekidrock]

i hope they close all the gates in the winston, then maybe most of the road hunters will go somewhere else! I have never seen sooooooo many people bow hunting up there, it's crazy.

I hear what you are saying, but at least this way we know where they are and where not to go.

[murph13]

I am with you guys i wish the would lock most of the dead end roads.  I hate it when I am creeping up a grassy old road and someone drives right on by.

[funkster]

I am with you guys i wish the would lock most of the dead end roads.  I hate it when I am creeping up a grassy old road and someone drives right on by.

Yeah,this would be very easy to accomplish.When they update the hotline and open the roads to motorized vehicles they could simply state that all red arrowed roads are close to motorized vehicles.Kind of like the red dot system.This might stop alot of road hunting.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

The only way to stop the lazy S.O.B.'s is a gate. they ignore anything else. ( although spike strips slow them down)

[fishunt247]

As does a valve stem removal tool, if they park. It works great on parked 4wheelers too. I am headed to the Winston on the 12th after my last final is over, to a spot my uncle has killed elk in the past. I have never been there. Is there snow (ie should I bring snow camo)? Are there still elk to be had even at the end of the season? Thanks for any info.

[finnman]

I do agree that when you are trying to put in a good hunt that road hunters can get on my nerves, but you have to remember a few things......
1) ITS THEIR RIGHT TO DO IT! If they don't get anything or see anything thats their problem.
2) If they are on the roads......GUESS WHAT? They are not in the woods with the rest of us! I don't find that a bit disturbing!
3) The driver or possibly the passanger may or may not be hunting, just along for the ride. Or maybe one of them is physically ill or injured and they just like to get out and be in the woods.
I had a good friend that was 38 years old die this summer from complications during a heart transplant surgery, he was so weak the past couple years all he could do was walk out from camp a 100 or 200 yards and sit on a stump all day, many times all he could muster was riding along in the pick-up.
I guarantee you the day you freak out on a road hunter that ends up being crippled or sick or lame, you will feel about 1 inch tall!!!!
Yes there are many lazy hunters but also a bunch of uneducated ones who have no idea how to go about hunting anything, let alone elk. Believe it or not some are even afraid of the dark or being alone in the woods!!!

By the way if I ever caught someone messing with my valve stems, they would have a hard time explaining why their bow silencer is protruding from their #$S!!!
That my friend is vandalism, its illegal and is not condoned on this forum!!!!!

[SCRUBS]

I do agree that when you are trying to put in a good hunt that road hunters can get on my nerves, but you have to remember a few things......
1) ITS THEIR RIGHT TO DO IT! If they don't get anything or see anything thats their problem.
2) If they are on the roads......GUESS WHAT? They are not in the woods with the rest of us! I don't find that a bit disturbing!
3) The driver or possibly the passanger may or may not be hunting, just along for the ride. Or maybe one of them is physically ill or injured and they just like to get out and be in the woods.
I had a good friend that was 38 years old die this summer from complications during a heart transplant surgery, he was so weak the past couple years all he could do was walk out from camp a 100 or 200 yards and sit on a stump all day, many times all he could muster was riding along in the pick-up.
I guarantee you the day you freak out on a road hunter that ends up being crippled or sick or lame, you will feel about 1 inch tall!!!!
Yes there are many lazy hunters but also a bunch of uneducated ones who have no idea how to go about hunting anything, let alone elk. Believe it or not some are even afraid of the dark or being alone in the woods!!!

By the way if I ever caught someone messing with my valve stems, they would have a hard time explaining why their bow silencer is protruding from their #$S!!!
That my friend is vandalism, its illegal and is not condoned on this forum!!!!!

Couldn`t agree

[dlaw]

As I stated earlier, everyone has their own way of doing things.   Good luck to everybody, and their are still elk to be had up there. (no snow yet)
valve stem removal tool, hmm thats not even funny 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I wasn't referring to road-hunters on legitamate roads, I was referring to the guys that go around gates and ignore posted signs. I also have no problem with parked vehicles, only ones driving into places that they arent legal. Motorized cross-country travel is ILLEGAL in Washington unless you are in a 4x4 park or on trails for that purpose. A-holes who ignore posted signs,gates, color coded roads, etc. because they are just plain lazy get what they deserve (hopefully a hefty fine) I dont advocate vandalism, just traffic control devices. I am not talking about roads that are open for travel but closed roads.

[fishunt247]

To clear that up, I'm not talking about people parked or drive on legit roads. We all park on those roads. I'm talking about guys who ride in five miles on four wheelers that get to those places in a short ride when it took me hours to hike there. I agree that if they want to road hunt, go for it, just means I won't be seeing them out in the woods. I was talking about driving behind gates, over tank traps, and the like. Nobody likes that, for any reason besides the disabled hunter.

[Iron Head]

Rest asure that those gates may be locked forever.
Earlier this year I saw a few locks busted and come gates nearly pulled out of the ground.
Some people are not only lazy but just stupid and will try anything to break the law and ruin it for everyone.
Sorry *censored*s.

[sportsman002001]

I have hunted the winston unit for the past 20 years and I have to agree this is the worst year for many hunters.  One thing is I have noticed is that many do not have good ethics IE: unethical shots. Heard that many times up there from both riffle and archery Hunters.  If you chose to do that please don't brag!!  Also clean up your campsited when you are done.  Don't leave them a mess for someone else to clean up.  And we wonder why woods are getting locked up.

Also when the gates are closed during the week to walk in, catch a clue that you don't see anyone else driving around.  And yes, I feel that these people that have drove pass a mountain biker or a hunter hiking in on a main line pass a bright orange sign that states closed to motorized traffic and their truck is found parked, they deserve a valve stem removed.  That is a simple fix, no vandalism at all.  They just have to hike or bike like me now.  That is only fair.  I bet they will never leave their vehicle in a walk in area again. 

My over all opinion is that I think it is neat that Winston is open on the weekends so that everyone has an opportunity to get out and hunt.  And I hunt up there on the weekends knowing there will be a bunch of road hunters.  But come the week days I know I will not run into but maybe a few way back in there.  It is just a great opportunity for everybody.