Hunting Etiquette or unwritten rules for newbies

[birddogdad]

if you can see orange sitting on a clearing, DONT PARK ON IT just because you think you are "out of range" .... move along....

[pianoman9701]

Just remember that people usually don't know you're there when they walk through a set up you've been sitting on. If given the choice, most would rather find a place to hunt alone. When I was a younger hunter, I didn't get this and was a db to a couple of guys who came bugling through my set-up. I scared one of them by waiting until he was on top of me before saying anything. Then I walked off in a huff. I shot a huge cow about 45 seconds later and when they saw her go down, they left without a word. I didn't find her until the next day and lost a quarter as a result of my unsportsmanlike conduct.

I agree with what's been said about duck season and people coming out at 845 looking to muscle into a spot - it's really annoying and in some cases, dangerous. Have the phone number of the local gamie in your device.

Always carry out more than you bring in. It will also be a great thing to teach your son.

[rtspring]

Man you guys hunt in crowded spots!! I rarely see another human and I like it that way.  Waterfowling can be a real party at o dark thirty sometimes.  All for a damn duck!! 

[Bullkllr]

I generally give people a wide berth and when I accidentally get near someone or end up at the trail head right behind them I simply ask where they are going and let them know I will try to steer clear.  I have more luck with other people bumping animals toward me than fighting over a "hot spot."

99% of the time guys are very good to deal with and we either move on or ask to share.  If they are db type guys, I would rather go somewhere else than deal with them.  Yes, first there is legal but I'm out to have a good time and I would rather move on and find an even better spot than get in a big bru-ha-ha with an a-hole - especially with kids in tow.

Exactly!

[BNAElkhntr]

I'm with Bean Counter, I will not be bullied off public land. I am polite and respectfull if your parked there 1st. I'll move on and hunt somewhere else, I won't even circle or set up above,bellow. right or left. Never place your eggs in one basket! I had a guy last week up in Oak Creek/Bethel come running up on me as I was getting ready to go behind one of the only locked gates in there and precide to ask me, what the hell I thought I was dong  there and go on to tell me he's baited there as well as 4 to 5 other spots all along that system. Corking off a large portion of good hunting area and telling me he'll be all over those piles during the season. Then asked me what I was going to do? I looked at him and said I'm lacing up my boots and I'm going to see what behind the locked gate. He's lucky it wasn't throat punch Thursday.

Good Job    what road?

[Jonathan_S]

I'm with Bean Counter, I will not be bullied off public land. I am polite and respectfull if your parked there 1st. I'll move on and hunt somewhere else, I won't even circle or set up above,bellow. right or left. Never place your eggs in one basket! I had a guy last week up in Oak Creek/Bethel come running up on me as I was getting ready to go behind one of the only locked gates in there and precide to ask me, what the hell I thought I was dong  there and go on to tell me he's baited there as well as 4 to 5 other spots all along that system. Corking off a large portion of good hunting area and telling me he'll be all over those piles during the season. Then asked me what I was going to do? I looked at him and said I'm lacing up my boots and I'm going to see what behind the locked gate. He's lucky it wasn't throat punch Thursday.

That guy is an idiot in the first place...baiting in Oak Crk?  Sounds like a huge waste of time and money to bait there.  When somebody asks me, "what the hell do you think you're doing here?"  it might be throat punch time anyway.

These people really need to watch who they screw with.  All it takes is a tire core remover or some paint strip to get the last laugh...I'm just saying

 

[nastybynature]

All good info! Thanks everyone! 

Curious though as it almost is spoken like common knowledge.... Why would Oak Creek/Bethel Ridge be a waste of time and $$ to bait? Lack of wildlife? Abundance of wildlife?

Keep it coming folks!

[Jonathan_S]

All good info! Thanks everyone! 

Curious though as it almost is spoken like common knowledge.... Why would Oak Creek/Bethel Ridge be a waste of time and $$ to bait? Lack of wildlife? Abundance of wildlife?

Keep it coming folks!

Because Oak Creek and Bethel Ridge are war zones in hunting season.  Baiting is only effective with creatures that are not disturbed and have uninterrupted patterns.

Think of it like trying to meet people at a bar if the KGB were patrolling the streets and firing off sound shots.  Most folks would be in hiding like the deer and elk at Oak Crk come season.

[nastybynature]

All good info! Thanks everyone! 

Curious though as it almost is spoken like common knowledge.... Why would Oak Creek/Bethel Ridge be a waste of time and $$ to bait? Lack of wildlife? Abundance of wildlife?

Keep it coming folks!

Because Oak Creek and Bethel Ridge are war zones in hunting season.  Baiting is only effective with creatures that are not disturbed and have uninterrupted patterns.

Think of it like trying to meet people at a bar if the KGB were patrolling the streets and firing off sound shots.  Most folks would be in hiding like the deer and elk at Oak Crk come season.

That totally makes sense. Not familiar with that area. I am guessing up by St. Helens will be the same way.

[Jonathan_S]

That's kind of a vague area...you mean the Margaret unit?  It's fair to say that anywhere that holds decent elk numbers and is easily accessed during modern firearm elk season will be covered in hunters. 

It just takes some doing to find a spot that is productive and less pressured.  Don't let it sour you on hunting, it just has a learning curve like anything else.

[nastybynature]

That's kind of a vague area...you mean the Margaret unit?  It's fair to say that anywhere that holds decent elk numbers and is easily accessed during modern firearm elk season will be covered in hunters. 

It just takes some doing to find a spot that is productive and less pressured.  Don't let it sour you on hunting, it just has a learning curve like anything else.

Was speaking more of 560GMU but I am expecting lots of pressure. I have no problem hiking in farther than most other though.

[Jonathan_S]

  Get a mile behind some gates and down in the holes and you'll be fine

[sticky]

I've lived and hunted in the Mossyrock and Winston units since I was a little kid and I don't have any problem with licensed hunters coming here to hunt. Strangely, one common line I've heard from several hunters is the "I've lived here all my life and I have permission to hunt here, do you?"  Of course, they are full of dung and only trying to trick me into leaving. So I ask them a few questions that any person that had lived here would be able to answer.  I asked one bozo that had at least a six pack in him if he remembered when the roof to the high school gym caved in. He said, "Yeah, as a matter of fact, my brother and I worked on the crew that rebuilt that roof." 

It took everything in me to not tell him that the gym roof had never collapsed and what a lying sack of excrement he was but I didn't.

They did have guns after all.

[Jonathan_S]

I've lived and hunted in the Mossyrock and Winston units since I was a little kid and I don't have any problem with licensed hunters coming here to hunt. Strangely, one common line I've heard from several hunters is the "I've lived here all my life and I have permission to hunt here, do you?"  Of course, they are full of dung and only trying to trick me into leaving. So I ask them a few questions that any person that had lived here would be able to answer.  I asked one bozo that had at least a six pack in him if he remembered when the roof to the high school gym caved in. He said, "Yeah, as a matter of fact, my brother and I worked on the crew that rebuilt that roof." 

It took everything in me to tell that the gym roof had never collapsed and what a lying sack of excrement he was but I didn't.

They did have guns after all.

I went to the Winston Zoo a couple years ago around Thanksgiving and the hardest thing was finding a place to park where the rig was concealed.  Never met anyone threatening but a lot of drunks in 4WDs.

In a two day hunt I got into elk multiple times and almost had a shot opportunity.  Met a few loudmouths at the gas station but I'm not worried about running into them in the field because they are busy wearing out the seat covers in their 3/4 ton.

The only thing I worry about is hiding my rig 

[sticky]

There used to be all sorts of short roads by the creek where a guy could park and not have to worry about someone messing with their rig or campsite. Since the 500 line has been locked up, it makes it much harder to hunt, let alone park.