Road hunting.... is it truly hunting?

[Boss .300 winmag]

Hmmmm one walking down a drivable road, and one driving down a road, both kill deer. Whose road hunting now?

I've killed them both ways, plus hiked in and killed them. Some have better memories depending on the situation at hand.

Plus like someone else said prior, sometimes the area only lends road hunting due to terrain, vegetation, etc.

When one gets long in the tooth one can only hike, and sit in weather so long. Does this mean they should give up thier hunting rights?

[Timbuckto]

Last week I was driving up the dirt road to my house a truck in front of me stops a guy gets out shoulders a rifle. He then points it in to a hay field I say that is private property. He says he has permision. I say okay then pull your truck off the road pulls his truck over gets out and shoots a deer. He never hunted that deer he killed it. He missed out on hunting I pitty him he we look up at those antlers and no in his heart that all he did was kill a deer. I want to face my prey on their terms. I have two quads one above each knee this is how I roll. I am almost to the point of giving up binos trail cams you can keep them. I shot my deer this year at six feet with a stick and string.  The goal to be the best predator on two legs. My dad is 72and can't get around real well so when I go with we cruise around the woods I would call hit hunting. If it what you choose it is legal go for it just don't brag about anything other than shot.

That's you. You're not everyone. As long as you realize that, everyone's OK. We're losing hunters every year. The last thing we want to do is tell someone that what they're legally doing is wrong.

Everyone is not okay. I never said it is wrong to drive roads and kill animals. If done legally I could careless . The question was is it hunting and by definition it is not. One only has to logically look at the definition of the word. Killing a sow with cubs is legal but wrong. It is legal to shoot a elk at 100 yards with a 40 pound bow. So I won't except if it is legal it is fine camp.

[Timbuckto]

Hmmmm one walking down a drivable road, and one driving down a road, both kill deer. Whose road hunting now?

I've killed them both ways, plus hiked in and killed them. Some have better memories depending on the situation at hand.

Plus like someone else said prior, sometimes the area only lends road hunting due to terrain, vegetation, etc.

When one gets long in the tooth one can only hike, and sit in weather so long. Does this mean they should give up thier hunting rights?

animals use roads roads become part of the habitat if you are on foot you are at the mercy of the weather the terrain you 'll be out of breath, and you would be using more senses. So yes it is very different. Some areas only lend themselves to road hunting argument, that really leaves me speechless. No offense meant but really think about that statement. I understand the long in the tooth comment and want to spend time in the woods it legal do it. In 20 or 30 years I will say to my wife I am gonna get in my 2040 ford and go kill a deer, but I won't call it hunting.1

[jay.sharkbait]

Hmmmm one walking down a drivable road, and one driving down a road, both kill deer. Whose road hunting now?

I've killed them both ways, plus hiked in and killed them. Some have better memories depending on the situation at hand.

Plus like someone else said prior, sometimes the area only lends road hunting due to terrain, vegetation, etc.

When one gets long in the tooth one can only hike, and sit in weather so long. Does this mean they should give up thier hunting rights?

animals use roads roads become part of the habitat if you are on foot you are at the mercy of the weather the terrain you 'll be out of breath, and you would be using more senses. So yes it is very different. Some areas only lend themselves to road hunting argument, that really leaves me speechless. No offense meant but really think about that statement. I understand the long in the tooth comment and want to spend time in the woods it legal do it. In 20 or 30 years I will say to my wife I am gonna get in my 2040 ford and go kill a deer, but I won't call it hunting.1

Do you feel more entitled to game over someone you consider a "road hunter"?

[Timbuckto]

Hmmmm one walking down a drivable road, and one driving down a road, both kill deer. Whose road hunting now?

I've killed them both ways, plus hiked in and killed them. Some have better memories depending on the situation at hand.

Plus like someone else said prior, sometimes the area only lends road hunting due to terrain, vegetation, etc.

When one gets long in the tooth one can only hike, and sit in weather so long. Does this mean they should give up thier hunting rights?

animals use roads roads become part of the habitat if you are on foot you are at the mercy of the weather the terrain you 'll be out of breath, and you would be using more senses. So yes it is very different. Some areas only lend themselves to road hunting argument, that really leaves me speechless. No offense meant but really think about that statement. I understand the long in the tooth comment and want to spend time in the woods it legal do it. In 20 or 30 years I will say to my wife I am gonna get in my 2040 ford and go kill a deer, but I won't call it hunting.1

Do you feel more entitled to game over someone you consider a "road hunter"?

no not at all I don't feel entitled to anything at all when it comes to hunting. I do feel there is getting lucky and earning it.

[pianoman9701]

Last week I was driving up the dirt road to my house a truck in front of me stops a guy gets out shoulders a rifle. He then points it in to a hay field I say that is private property. He says he has permision. I say okay then pull your truck off the road pulls his truck over gets out and shoots a deer. He never hunted that deer he killed it. He missed out on hunting I pitty him he we look up at those antlers and no in his heart that all he did was kill a deer. I want to face my prey on their terms. I have two quads one above each knee this is how I roll. I am almost to the point of giving up binos trail cams you can keep them. I shot my deer this year at six feet with a stick and string.  The goal to be the best predator on two legs. My dad is 72and can't get around real well so when I go with we cruise around the woods I would call hit hunting. If it what you choose it is legal go for it just don't brag about anything other than shot.

That's you. You're not everyone. As long as you realize that, everyone's OK. We're losing hunters every year. The last thing we want to do is tell someone that what they're legally doing is wrong.

Everyone is not okay. I never said it is wrong to drive roads and kill animals. If done legally I could careless . The question was is it hunting and by definition it is not. One only has to logically look at the definition of the word. Killing a sow with cubs is legal but wrong. It is legal to shoot a elk at 100 yards with a 40 pound bow. So I won't except if it is legal it is fine camp.

You don't get to say what hunting is and what it isn't. Like I said, that's for each hunter to decide on their own, not you for them. And comparing road hunting to shooting a sow with cubs is ridiculous and like comparing apples to anvils. They're nothing alike. And some people can make a 100-yard shot. I'm not going to try it but I'm not going to judge them for it, either. You don't get to decide for everyone what's right or wrong. If they have a license and they're hunting legally, then stop judging and embrace them as fellow hunters and outdoorsmen. We have enough division and divisiveness in our communities. We don't need it between hunters.

[singleshot12]

Road hunting is kinda like baiting, people do it, but very rarely do you see write-ups or hear stories about someone shooting a buck eating out of a corn feeder or bailing out of their rig to shoot it , almost as if the hunter is ashamed of doing it. But I guess it is still hunting in todays modern world

[Mike450r]

In my opinion it is hunting, just one of many styles of hunting. 

Hunting methods, tactics, and equipment change and evolve all the time.  Is hunting and harvesting with a method, tactic, or equipment that may make it easier any reason to be less proud of the hunt? Does it make the person less of a hunter? Or make the activity itself any less of a hunt?

The answer to that question is just an opinion.

The hunter who looks negatively on road hunting but walks in and hunts with a long range rifle and likes to shoot 600 yards and further is looked down upon by some hunters who say you need to be closer or it isn't hunting.  Those hunters are in turn looked down upon by some hunters who are of the opinion that real hunting is done by more primitive methods such as muzzleloader or archery.  And in turn those hunters are looked down upon by some hunters who have the opinion that muzzleloaders and bows have gotten too technologically advanced. And so on and so on and....................

I personally consider all people referenced above as hunters and the use of all legal methods, tactics, and equipment as hunting.  But that's just my opinion.

[Timbuckto]

Last week I was driving up the dirt road to my house a truck in front of me stops a guy gets out shoulders a rifle. He then points it in to a hay field I say that is private property. He says he has permision. I say okay then pull your truck off the road pulls his truck over gets out and shoots a deer. He never hunted that deer he killed it. He missed out on hunting I pitty him he we look up at those antlers and no in his heart that all he did was kill a deer. I want to face my prey on their terms. I have two quads one above each knee this is how I roll. I am almost to the point of giving up binos trail cams you can keep them. I shot my deer this year at six feet with a stick and string.  The goal to be the best predator on two legs. My dad is 72and can't get around real well so when I go with we cruise around the woods I would call hit hunting. If it what you choose it is legal go for it just don't brag about anything other than shot.

That's you. You're not everyone. As long as you realize that, everyone's OK. We're losing hunters every year. The last thing we want to do is tell someone that what they're legally doing is wrong.

Everyone is not okay. I never said it is wrong to drive roads and kill animals. If done legally I could careless . The question was is it hunting and by definition it is not. One only has to logically look at the definition of the word. Killing a sow with cubs is legal but wrong. It is legal to shoot a elk at 100 yards with a 40 pound bow. So I won't except if it is legal it is fine camp.

You don't get to say what hunting is and what it isn't. Like I said, that's for each hunter to decide on their own, not you for them. And comparing road hunting to shooting a sow with cubs is ridiculous and like comparing apples to anvils. They're nothing alike. And some people can make a 100-yard shot. I'm not going to try it but I'm not going to judge them for it, either. You don't get to decide for everyone what's right or wrong. If they have a license and they're hunting legally, then stop judging and embrace them as fellow hunters and outdoorsmen. We have enough division and divisiveness in our communities. We don't need it between hunters.

I do get to say what is hunting for me as you state that is for each hunter to decide. The opening asked for a opion I gave mine. I am not going to embrace anyone for knowingly killing a sow with cubs as you state I should because the are with in the law.

[Duckslayer89]

I put so many miles in on my mountain bike and hiking that if I shoot one driving back from the gate off the road I feel it was hard earned. In fact tomorrow morning I'm giving myself a break and going to be "road hunting" to switch things up

[Curly]

Road hunting.... is it truly hunting?

Trolling...........is it truly fishing?


Road hunting is just one of many methods of hunting, just like trolling is a method used in fishing.  If you don't like the method, then don't use that method.  But as long as the method is done legally I won't bitch about others using the method.  I may not personally like the method as much as other methods, but might do it if the occasion presents itself.

[KP-Skagit]

All hunters, whether they still hunt, hike, take a stand or road hunt, use a bow, muzzleloader or rifle all have one thing in common. There are people who don't want us to be able to hunt at all. Its important we all stand by one another. So yes, its all hunting and I support your right to be out there in the manner you see fit provided you operate in a legal manner and maintain a good name for the rest of us!

[seth30]

My last two grouse hunts I dealt with some road hunters.  If your a member I hope you understand how your actions can ruin others days.  First one was a ford 350 blue with a blue dirtbike.  They were shooting their rifles and watching every bowl they came across.  Not sure if they were shooting into a tree or in the air, but made me leave the area as I was on a hill above them.  I did not feel safe near them.

Second one was a couple of guys in a black dodge Dakota, and if the driver spent as much time on not being a jerk as he did at the desert section of a buffet he would be a stand up guy   Was grouse hunting again and with my kids.  He drove by and then turned around, a hour later we finished our hunt, headed back to the truck and  started driving down the logging road to find him blocking the road so his passenger could look out the window with binos.  They then proceeded to drive between 2-5 MPH and stopping every time he saw a open area.  I tried the high beam then the horn, but he would not let me pass.  13 miles later we reached the end of the logging road and I was able to get on the highway. 

These are some of the reasons why road hunting has made me not a fan of it.  Most times I could care less, just venting on the past few bad times.   

[Curly]

Oh yeah, that is really irritating when you get stuck behind someone wanting to road hunt and crawl down the road while only doing 2 mph.   And they won't let you pass because they don't want someone ahead of them to spook the deer or see them first.   

[Angry Perch]

Last week I was driving up the dirt road to my house a truck in front of me stops a guy gets out shoulders a rifle. He then points it in to a hay field I say that is private property. He says he has permision. I say okay then pull your truck off the road pulls his truck over gets out and shoots a deer. He never hunted that deer he killed it. He missed out on hunting I pitty him he we look up at those antlers and no in his heart that all he did was kill a deer. I want to face my prey on their terms. I have two quads one above each knee this is how I roll. I am almost to the point of giving up binos trail cams you can keep them. I shot my deer this year at six feet with a stick and string.  The goal to be the best predator on two legs. My dad is 72and can't get around real well so when I go with we cruise around the woods I wouldnt call hit hunting. If it what you choose it is legal go for it just don't brag about anything other than shot.

So deer don't cross roads on "their terms"?