pasayten high buck hunters in closed areas of harts pass.

[boneaddict]

I wouldn't doubt it.   I've heard those kind of stories since probably before I could drive.   I had some school friends that hunted up there, and they always had stories like that.  I'm not sure cell phones work up there.  It would take catching them in the act with a kill I'd think.   If they knew there was a warden in the area, it might dampen their activities some.

[PA BEN]

Are you seeing the Actual hunters camps or the outfitters base camps?  I know the outfitters base camp at harts pass then horse the hunters out to their respective camps well into the wilderness. Are you sure they are all deer hunters and not bear hunters?
 What's the matter the first 15 days of the month not enough for you without having any other hunters around?

Guys like you keep the division going between the hunter groups. Instead of bashing bow hunters why don't you look and see if the game laws are being broken. Unless you are saying it's ok for gun hunters to break game laws because they don't have enough time to hunt. 

[chris90]

Are you seeing the Actual hunters camps or the outfitters base camps?  I know the outfitters base camp at harts pass then horse the hunters out to their respective camps well into the wilderness. Are you sure they are all deer hunters and not bear hunters?
 What's the matter the first 15 days of the month not enough for you without having any other hunters around?

Guys like you keep the division going between the hunter groups. Instead of bashing bow hunters why don't you look and see if the game laws are being broken. Unless you are saying it's ok for gun hunters to break game laws because they don't have enough time to hunt. 

exactly!  that's what this is all about.

[chris90]

The game department has been contacted and they know this is a problem that has been going on in this area for a long time. They even said themselfs "its a bit of a joke what goes on up there but it is extremely hard to enforce".

[bobcat]

Sure it's wrong, it's illegal to hunt in a closed area.

[Bob33]

From how I understand it none of these hunters have done a thing wrong until they actually shoot at or kill a deer outside of the wilderness area?

In this case, that could be true. The hunter can claim he is hunting bears, which is legal. It would be difficult to prove someone is hunting deer rather than bears without a shot being fired.

[bobcat]

From how I understand it none of these hunters have done a thing wrong until they actually shoot at or kill a deer outside of the wilderness area?

In this case, that could be true. The hunter can claim he is hunting bears, which is legal. It would be difficult to prove someone is hunting deer rather than bears without a shot being fired.

That's true, but if contacted by a warden, and they admitted they were deer hunting, case closed.

[chris90]

All very true comments. That's why the game department said its so hard to enforce

[Bob33]

From how I understand it none of these hunters have done a thing wrong until they actually shoot at or kill a deer outside of the wilderness area?

In this case, that could be true. The hunter can claim he is hunting bears, which is legal. It would be difficult to prove someone is hunting deer rather than bears without a shot being fired.

That's true, but if contacted by a warden, and they admitted they were deer hunting, case closed.

They would certainly deserve it, both for hunting illegally and being stupid enough to admit it.

[bobcat]

From how I understand it none of these hunters have done a thing wrong until they actually shoot at or kill a deer outside of the wilderness area?

In this case, that could be true. The hunter can claim he is hunting bears, which is legal. It would be difficult to prove someone is hunting deer rather than bears without a shot being fired.

That's true, but if contacted by a warden, and they admitted they were deer hunting, case closed.

They would certainly deserve it, both for hunting illegally and being stupid enough to admit it.

Well, apparently all these people simply don't know where they are. They think they're in an area open for deer hunting but they are actually hunting well outside the boundary. So why would they not be honest and say they are hunting for deer?   

[Bob33]

From how I understand it none of these hunters have done a thing wrong until they actually shoot at or kill a deer outside of the wilderness area?

In this case, that could be true. The hunter can claim he is hunting bears, which is legal. It would be difficult to prove someone is hunting deer rather than bears without a shot being fired.

That's true, but if contacted by a warden, and they admitted they were deer hunting, case closed.

They would certainly deserve it, both for hunting illegally and being stupid enough to admit it.

Well, apparently all these people simply don't know where they are. They think they're in an area open for deer hunting but they are actually hunting well outside the boundary. So why would they not be honest and say they are hunting for deer?   

You're probaly right. I guess I don't have much sympathy for hunters that don't know where the boundaries are, or what is open.

[bobcat]

I really don't know. Maybe they knowingly hunt close to the boundary, thinking they can play dumb if questioned. Or, as you said, claim to be hunting something else that is open.

Or they simply have no clue where the boundary is.

[bobcat]

So it would be okay for me to go elk hunting with a rifle today, as long as my hunt is not successful?

[Knocker of rocks]

I really don't know. Maybe they knowingly hunt close to the boundary, thinking they can play dumb if questioned. Or, as you said, claim to be hunting something else that is open.

Or they simply have no clue where the boundary is.

Here's a photo from the boundary in that area.  Sunlit in non-wilderness, shaded is Wildeness.  Pretty clear cut

[snowpack]

So it would be okay for me to go elk hunting with a rifle today, as long as my hunt is not successful?

yup.  called scouting.  The gun is for yotes/cats/bears.