A question on backcountry bears

[thearcherykid]

Seems the more I look at maps and look into bear diet and locating them in the early on in the season trying to get serious about getting my first bear, it seems the most logical option to reach these high south facing berry patches is to take well established hiking trails up to the meadows and then set up a base camp and hunt out of that for Berry fatted Blackbear. My question to those of you who hunt bear in alpine areas, how do you get into the back country and do you have any run ins with hikers? Please share your experiences both good and bad to get perspective on access and egress.

[Skyvalhunter]

Not necessarily will the bears be high during that time frame(early in the season). Most of the time when the season opens we are in a long dry spell. A lot of times the bears are down low feeding along the creeks and rivers where it is cool and the greens are lush. Remember berries that is huckleberries don't ripen until after first part of Sept. The blackberries ripen in July and most times those are lower elevation also. In wa with the high density of people the hikers are going to be out there. Just be cordial and you shouldn't have any issues with them

[saylean]

I've had plenty of run ins with hikers (most have been good). I always step to the side (cause there is usually a group or two or more), smile, let them pass and maybe discuss what I am after out there. Lots of people have no idea there "are bears in the area"! Ive even been glassing bear on the trail, people ask what I am looking at and I show them through the scope, they love it. I've shared some of my bear summer sausage with people while on the trail, they enjoyed it.

Try to be an ambassador for hunting, after all, I think hikers (who don't hunt) and hunters have a lot in common.

[Machias]

Try to be an ambassador for hunting, after all, I think hikers (who don't hunt) and hunters have a lot in common.

 

[jamesfromseattle]

Wholeheartedly agree.  Every run in with a hiker is an opportunity to give hunting some good PR.

[GBoyd]

Lately I've started going pretty far out of my way to avoid the hikers. I get what the guys above are saying and I think they're right, but for whatever reason hikers seem to hate me when I'm hunting.

I've had people call the police to report poaching twice in the past two years, just because they didn't know the game laws and didn't know it was legal to hunt. More times than I can count I've had people stop me and aggressively inform me that 1) you need a license to hunt 2)you can only hunt during special seasons, 3)this is a National Forest and you can't hunt here anyway.
And I'm not doing anything weird. This is mostly at the trailheads getting ready to hike into the alpine, places that are mentioned on this site frequently.

I don't know what it is, I must just look really ignorant.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Hikers, good Lord! Most are chill, but get ready to respond to "what are you doing up here" or  "what do you need a gun for, are you hunting?" (as if you are required to give them a reason). I usually screw with 'em "just my insurance policy, you didn't hear about the cougar that dismembered a hiker on this very trail last week?" or something to that nature. If you want, you can attempt to make them feel better in their little comfort zone bubble, try to bring up the importance of hunting, conservation, tradition, frontier spirit, etc, but that usually just digs you deeper into their pit of social justice righteousness. Best to keep moving. 

[chiwawadan]

Hikers, good Lord! Most are chill, but get ready to respond to "what are you doing up here" or  "what do you need a gun for, are you hunting?" (as if you are required to give them a reason). I usually screw with 'em "just my insurance policy, you didn't hear about the cougar that dismembered a hiker on this very trail last week?" or something to that nature. If you want, you can attempt to make them feel better in their little comfort zone bubble, try to bring up the importance of hunting, conservation, tradition, frontier spirit, etc, but that usually just digs you deeper into their pit of social justice righteousness. Best to keep moving. 

This just encourages me to get out and hunt more... for the chance encounter with a crunchy sjw.

[Eric M]

Honestly the older I get the less patience I have for questions about what I'm doing. One thing I try to do is beat them to the trailhead. I've been the only rig when I pull in at 3am with a headlamp and the lot is full when I leave. Most people are just curious. There are dingbat in every crowd. I have had people literally boo and hiss. I've traded snacks with people I thought would have hated hunting. You never know. I avoid as many as I can but try to be pleasant when I cant.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Hikers, good Lord! Most are chill, but get ready to respond to "what are you doing up here" or  "what do you need a gun for, are you hunting?" (as if you are required to give them a reason). I usually screw with 'em "just my insurance policy, you didn't hear about the cougar that dismembered a hiker on this very trail last week?" or something to that nature. If you want, you can attempt to make them feel better in their little comfort zone bubble, try to bring up the importance of hunting, conservation, tradition, frontier spirit, etc, but that usually just digs you deeper into their pit of social justice righteousness. Best to keep moving. 

This just encourages me to get out and hunt more... for the chance encounter with a crunchy sjw.

 

[jackelope]

Hikers, good Lord! Most are chill, but get ready to respond to "what are you doing up here" or  "what do you need a gun for, are you hunting?" (as if you are required to give them a reason). I usually screw with 'em "just my insurance policy, you didn't hear about the cougar that dismembered a hiker on this very trail last week?" or something to that nature. If you want, you can attempt to make them feel better in their little comfort zone bubble, try to bring up the importance of hunting, conservation, tradition, frontier spirit, etc, but that usually just digs you deeper into their pit of social justice righteousness. Best to keep moving. 

Not sure why you’d feel the need to worsen their image of hunters by doing stuff like this but whatever.
I spent a lot of time last summer in hiker central with either a rifle and/or a spotting scope on my back with zero issue. Everyone was friendly as was I in return. I didn’t talk in much detail about what I was doing but 1 time when FTF and I(with rifle) ran into a couple dudes hiking who told us where to find some mountain goats. We found them right where they told us they’d be.

[Timberstalker]

Hikers, good Lord! Most are chill, but get ready to respond to "what are you doing up here" or  "what do you need a gun for, are you hunting?" (as if you are required to give them a reason). I usually screw with 'em "just my insurance policy, you didn't hear about the cougar that dismembered a hiker on this very trail last week?" or something to that nature. If you want, you can attempt to make them feel better in their little comfort zone bubble, try to bring up the importance of hunting, conservation, tradition, frontier spirit, etc, but that usually just digs you deeper into their pit of social justice righteousness. Best to keep moving. 

Not sure why you’d feel the need to worsen their image of hunters by doing stuff like this but whatever.
I spent a lot of time last summer in hiker central with either a rifle and/or a spotting scope on my back with zero issue. Everyone was friendly as was I in return. I didn’t talk in much detail about what I was doing but 1 time when FTF and I(with rifle) ran into a couple dudes hiking who told us where to find some mountain goats. We found them right where they told us they’d be.

Well said, Jack.

[follow maggie]

I’m doing my late season hunting in Kitsap & come across hikers often with my bow & pistol. Don’t have any problems.  I’ve also come across hikers many times In the cascades with a rifle or bow & a pistol and have never had a problem. Usually a set of hellos & small chat while one waits for the other to pass.  Sometimes a conversation about what I’m hunting f maybe some directions to a lake or viewpoint.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Hikers, good Lord! Most are chill, but get ready to respond to "what are you doing up here" or  "what do you need a gun for, are you hunting?" (as if you are required to give them a reason). I usually screw with 'em "just my insurance policy, you didn't hear about the cougar that dismembered a hiker on this very trail last week?" or something to that nature. If you want, you can attempt to make them feel better in their little comfort zone bubble, try to bring up the importance of hunting, conservation, tradition, frontier spirit, etc, but that usually just digs you deeper into their pit of social justice righteousness. Best to keep moving. 

Not sure why you’d feel the need to worsen their image of hunters by doing stuff like this but whatever.
I spent a lot of time last summer in hiker central with either a rifle and/or a spotting scope on my back with zero issue. Everyone was friendly as was I in return. I didn’t talk in much detail about what I was doing but 1 time when FTF and I(with rifle) ran into a couple dudes hiking who told us where to find some mountain goats. We found them right where they told us they’d be.

Don’t get me wrong I am more than cordial with hikers that are polite and will go the extra mile to return that politeness. I just don’t deal with the ones that obviously have some illogical ingrained eternal hatred for a hunter that's just minding his/her own business. If you continue the conversation with these people it will turn into an argument you can’t win. Throw em a zinger to shut it down and move on!

[fillthefreezer]

in my limited experience, i dont know that one exposure, south facing included has been more productive than the other, enough so to focus on it. find the berries, find the bears. certain exposures may ripen at different points in the season, thats for sure. and certain exposures across the same mountain range may be loaded with berries, where just a few miles away it is barren or already burnt. 

[mtn muley madness]

The high alpine areas are a great place to start for your first bear and it' personally my favorite place to hunt, but as noted it may be a ghost town until the berries start to ripen towards the end of August/beginning of September. The worst confrontations I've had were people who tried to tell me it wasn't legal for me to be hunting there and didn't believe there was any game to hunt there anyways...just uneducated people and often I was able to explain how I'd already seen game and they seemed a bit rattled by that but if you're not looking for game, you very rarely ever see game (it's often hard enough to see game when you are looking for it!). Just stay calm and don't get worked up I am pretty sure those very few puffy chest hikers are only fishing you for a chance to tell you why they are right and you are wrong anyways and anything you say goes right out the other ear so it's pointless to get worked up about it. Educate them on the laws, rules, regulations if need be and in my experience they will change their tune in a hurry when they realize you know what you are talking about and aren't going to feed them fuel for their fire. I like to hike up in the dark as well so I'm up there by first light so I can avoid any 'trail issues' in the first place (and it's best to be up there at that time anyways-so it's a win win). That way you can glass for a while with the country all to yourself and when you do start seeing hikers show up you can potentially use them to bird dog for you. I like to slip down a little lower before I think hikers might show up and find a good spot to hang out and glass or work slowly across the alpine because all the hikers are doing is blazing up the trail. I've never seen a hiker get off the trail...keep that in mind. It's very easy to go undetected. Know where the trail goes and maybe try and use it to your advantage depending on the country. I've often felt like not a single person knew I was even there all day even when I've seen some 20 other people...except when they push a bear down the hill making a break for the timberline and you're there to clean up...they may hear a boom cut the ice! And if you feel threatened at all, don't get excited, encourage them to call the game warden. I've done it. It usually shuts them up, they don't know how to respond to it. I've even given them the phone number when I've been heading down the trail with a bear on my back and was approached by uneducated people threatening to call the cops on me (they changed their tune as soon as I offered them direct cell phone numbers to local game wardens). There IS a law that is worded that it is against the law to interfere with a lawful hunt so if they want to call let them get educated. As long as you don't fuel the fire or give them a reason and are doing everything by the books (WHICH WE ALL ALWAYS ARE), the law will have your back. The land is for everyone and everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy it so we need to coexist civilly because nothing is changing anytime soon and if anything were to ever change it wouldn't be for the benefit of us hunters unfortunately so we need to be the bigger person everywhere we go. There is more of them than us. Best thing to do is stay calm, and hunt on! My 2 pennies.

[dwils233]

The high alpine areas are a great place to start for your first bear and it' personally my favorite place to hunt, but as noted it may be a ghost town until the berries start to ripen towards the end of August/beginning of September. The worst confrontations I've had were people who tried to tell me it wasn't legal for me to be hunting there and didn't believe there was any game to hunt there anyways...just uneducated people and often I was able to explain how I'd already seen game and they seemed a bit rattled by that but if you're not looking for game, you very rarely ever see game (it's often hard enough to see game when you are looking for it!). Just stay calm and don't get worked up I am pretty sure those very few puffy chest hikers are only fishing you for a chance to tell you why they are right and you are wrong anyways and anything you say goes right out the other ear so it's pointless to get worked up about it. Educate them on the laws, rules, regulations if need be and in my experience they will change their tune in a hurry when they realize you know what you are talking about and aren't going to feed them fuel for their fire. I like to hike up in the dark as well so I'm up there by first light so I can avoid any 'trail issues' in the first place (and it's best to be up there at that time anyways-so it's a win win). That way you can glass for a while with the country all to yourself and when you do start seeing hikers show up you can potentially use them to bird dog for you. I like to slip down a little lower before I think hikers might show up and find a good spot to hang out and glass or work slowly across the alpine because all the hikers are doing is blazing up the trail. I've never seen a hiker get off the trail...keep that in mind. It's very easy to go undetected. Know where the trail goes and maybe try and use it to your advantage depending on the country. I've often felt like not a single person knew I was even there all day even when I've seen some 20 other people...except when they push a bear down the hill making a break for the timberline and you're there to clean up...they may hear a boom cut the ice! And if you feel threatened at all, don't get excited, encourage them to call the game warden. I've done it. It usually shuts them up, they don't know how to respond to it. I've even given them the phone number when I've been heading down the trail with a bear on my back and was approached by uneducated people threatening to call the cops on me (they changed their tune as soon as I offered them direct cell phone numbers to local game wardens). There IS a law that is worded that it is against the law to interfere with a lawful hunt so if they want to call let them get educated. As long as you don't fuel the fire or give them a reason and are doing everything by the books (WHICH WE ALL ALWAYS ARE), the law will have your back. The land is for everyone and everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy it so we need to coexist civilly because nothing is changing anytime soon and if anything were to ever change it wouldn't be for the benefit of us hunters unfortunately so we need to be the bigger person everywhere we go. There is more of them than us. Best thing to do is stay calm, and hunt on! My 2 pennies.

Those are 2 good pennies. Great advice

[Calvin Rayborn]

Hikers, good Lord! Most are chill, but get ready to respond to "what are you doing up here" or  "what do you need a gun for, are you hunting?" (as if you are required to give them a reason). I usually screw with 'em "just my insurance policy, you didn't hear about the cougar that dismembered a hiker on this very trail last week?" or something to that nature. If you want, you can attempt to make them feel better in their little comfort zone bubble, try to bring up the importance of hunting, conservation, tradition, frontier spirit, etc, but that usually just digs you deeper into their pit of social justice righteousness. Best to keep moving. 

Not sure why you’d feel the need to worsen their image of hunters by doing stuff like this but whatever.
I spent a lot of time last summer in hiker central with either a rifle and/or a spotting scope on my back with zero issue. Everyone was friendly as was I in return. I didn’t talk in much detail about what I was doing but 1 time when FTF and I(with rifle) ran into a couple dudes hiking who told us where to find some mountain goats. We found them right where they told us they’d be.

Well said, Jack.

P.S. My attitude is dead serious when I discuss dangerous game with the "puffy chests" (good one mtn muley!  )...tell 'em to "Stay safe out there!" and that I'm OFFICIALLY LICENSED with the Department of Fish and Wildlife...At that point their inbred love of authority and being dominated kicks in and they typically respond with "WOW!" or are left speechless in a state of shock and awe as I continue moseying.   

[RB]

I've had plenty of run ins with hikers (most have been good). I always step to the side (cause there is usually a group or two or more), smile, let them pass and maybe discuss what I am after out there. Lots of people have no idea there "are bears in the area"! Ive even been glassing bear on the trail, people ask what I am looking at and I show them through the scope, they love it. I've shared some of my bear summer sausage with people while on the trail, they enjoyed it.

Try to be an ambassador for hunting, after all, I think hikers (who don't hunt) and hunters have a lot in common.

 

[fillthefreezer]

P.S. My attitude is dead serious when I discuss dangerous game with the "puffy chests" (good one mtn muley!  )...tell 'em to "Stay safe out there!" and that I'm OFFICIALLY LICENSED with the Department of Fish and Wildlife...At that point their inbred love of authority and being dominated kicks in and they typically respond with "WOW!" or are left speechless in a state of shock and awe as I continue moseying.   

what are you doing to incite the people just cruising along outdoors? ive had enough run ins to make odds, that the mere sight of a rifle doesnt yield these results..

[Odell]

P.S. My attitude is dead serious when I discuss dangerous game with the "puffy chests" (good one mtn muley!  )...tell 'em to "Stay safe out there!" and that I'm OFFICIALLY LICENSED with the Department of Fish and Wildlife...At that point their inbred love of authority and being dominated kicks in and they typically respond with "WOW!" or are left speechless in a state of shock and awe as I continue moseying.   

what are you doing to incite the people just cruising along outdoors? ive had enough run ins to make odds, that the mere sight of a rifle doesnt yield these results..

Not many people are going to mouth off to someone with a gun. When I've been on the trails with a bow I have had many conversations where the hiker will "allow" my presence because a bow makes it fair but will give me an earful about the awful rifle hunters. I just smile and nod.

[jackelope]

P.S. My attitude is dead serious when I discuss dangerous game with the "puffy chests" (good one mtn muley!  )...tell 'em to "Stay safe out there!" and that I'm OFFICIALLY LICENSED with the Department of Fish and Wildlife...At that point their inbred love of authority and being dominated kicks in and they typically respond with "WOW!" or are left speechless in a state of shock and awe as I continue moseying.   

what are you doing to incite the people just cruising along outdoors? ive had enough run ins to make odds, that the mere sight of a rifle doesnt yield these results..

Very legit question. I've ran into dozens of hikers while hunting with a rifle and literally never had a problem...
 

[Calvin Rayborn]

P.S. My attitude is dead serious when I discuss dangerous game with the "puffy chests" (good one mtn muley!  )...tell 'em to "Stay safe out there!" and that I'm OFFICIALLY LICENSED with the Department of Fish and Wildlife...At that point their inbred love of authority and being dominated kicks in and they typically respond with "WOW!" or are left speechless in a state of shock and awe as I continue moseying.   

what are you doing to incite the people just cruising along outdoors? ive had enough run ins to make odds, that the mere sight of a rifle doesnt yield these results..

Very legit question. I've ran into dozens of hikers while hunting with a rifle and literally never had a problem...

   incite...  You guys obviously don't hunt anywhere near the Southwest part of the State! I grew-up South of St. Helens, Gifford Pinchot NF Area. These people have some freaking agenda or something (usually weekend hiker warriors from the Portland Metro area and members or the BFRO - the BigFoot Researchers Organization...I kid you not  ). Lots of Sierra Club "nature hikes" going on as well.  They WILL stop and question you if you seem out of place with their way of thinking (1940's Nazi Germany ish??). They HATE firearms and Buffalo Check with a passion, and any other vehicle than a Subaru. They believe that YOU are out to destroy THEIR pristine nature and slaughter everything in sight, including their beloved, mythical creature named Bambi (have gotten the "you gonna kill Bambi or something" on more than one occasion). I've had them actually hit me with sticks when I was just passing through on my trail bike. I challenge any one of you to hit the Tarbell Trail for a Spring hunt and NOT have a run in!

Judge not, lest ye be judged by a Portlander, guys! Keep Portland Weird!   

[jackelope]

P.S. My attitude is dead serious when I discuss dangerous game with the "puffy chests" (good one mtn muley!  )...tell 'em to "Stay safe out there!" and that I'm OFFICIALLY LICENSED with the Department of Fish and Wildlife...At that point their inbred love of authority and being dominated kicks in and they typically respond with "WOW!" or are left speechless in a state of shock and awe as I continue moseying.   

what are you doing to incite the people just cruising along outdoors? ive had enough run ins to make odds, that the mere sight of a rifle doesnt yield these results..

Very legit question. I've ran into dozens of hikers while hunting with a rifle and literally never had a problem...

   incite...  You guys obviously don't hunt anywhere near the Southwest part of the State! I grew-up South of St. Helens, Gifford Pinchot NF Area. These people have some freaking agenda or something (usually weekend hiker warriors from the Portland Metro area and members or the BFRO - the BigFoot Researchers Organization...I kid you not  ). Lots of Sierra Club "nature hikes" going on as well.  They WILL stop and question you if you seem out of place with their way of thinking (1940's Nazi Germany ish??). They HATE firearms and Buffalo Check with a passion, and any other vehicle than a Subaru. They believe that YOU are out to destroy THEIR pristine nature and slaughter everything in sight, including their beloved, mythical creature named Bambi (have gotten the "you gonna kill Bambi or something" on more than one occasion). I've had them actually hit me with sticks when I was just passing through on my trail bike. I challenge any one of you to hit the Tarbell Trail for a Spring hunt and NOT have a run in!

Judge not, lest ye be judged by a Portlander, guys! Keep Portland Weird!   

I put 100+ miles on my boots this past summer and fall looking for a creature a lot more magical and mystical than a deer outside the GPNF. Talked to lots of hikers. Zero issues.

[JimmyHoffa]

P.S. My attitude is dead serious when I discuss dangerous game with the "puffy chests" (good one mtn muley!  )...tell 'em to "Stay safe out there!" and that I'm OFFICIALLY LICENSED with the Department of Fish and Wildlife...At that point their inbred love of authority and being dominated kicks in and they typically respond with "WOW!" or are left speechless in a state of shock and awe as I continue moseying.   

what are you doing to incite the people just cruising along outdoors? ive had enough run ins to make odds, that the mere sight of a rifle doesnt yield these results..

Very legit question. I've ran into dozens of hikers while hunting with a rifle and literally never had a problem...

   incite...  You guys obviously don't hunt anywhere near the Southwest part of the State! I grew-up South of St. Helens, Gifford Pinchot NF Area. These people have some freaking agenda or something (usually weekend hiker warriors from the Portland Metro area and members or the BFRO - the BigFoot Researchers Organization...I kid you not  ). Lots of Sierra Club "nature hikes" going on as well.  They WILL stop and question you if you seem out of place with their way of thinking (1940's Nazi Germany ish??). They HATE firearms and Buffalo Check with a passion, and any other vehicle than a Subaru. They believe that YOU are out to destroy THEIR pristine nature and slaughter everything in sight, including their beloved, mythical creature named Bambi (have gotten the "you gonna kill Bambi or something" on more than one occasion). I've had them actually hit me with sticks when I was just passing through on my trail bike. I challenge any one of you to hit the Tarbell Trail for a Spring hunt and NOT have a run in!

Judge not, lest ye be judged by a Portlander, guys! Keep Portland Weird!   

I put 100+ miles on my boots this past summer and fall looking for a creature a lot more magical and mystical than a deer down there. Talked to lots of hikers. Zero issues.

Maybe you're scarier looking?

[jackelope]

There’s that I guess.

[Calvin Rayborn]

P.S. My attitude is dead serious when I discuss dangerous game with the "puffy chests" (good one mtn muley!  )...tell 'em to "Stay safe out there!" and that I'm OFFICIALLY LICENSED with the Department of Fish and Wildlife...At that point their inbred love of authority and being dominated kicks in and they typically respond with "WOW!" or are left speechless in a state of shock and awe as I continue moseying.   

what are you doing to incite the people just cruising along outdoors? ive had enough run ins to make odds, that the mere sight of a rifle doesnt yield these results..

Very legit question. I've ran into dozens of hikers while hunting with a rifle and literally never had a problem...

   incite...  You guys obviously don't hunt anywhere near the Southwest part of the State! I grew-up South of St. Helens, Gifford Pinchot NF Area. These people have some freaking agenda or something (usually weekend hiker warriors from the Portland Metro area and members or the BFRO - the BigFoot Researchers Organization...I kid you not  ). Lots of Sierra Club "nature hikes" going on as well.  They WILL stop and question you if you seem out of place with their way of thinking (1940's Nazi Germany ish??). They HATE firearms and Buffalo Check with a passion, and any other vehicle than a Subaru. They believe that YOU are out to destroy THEIR pristine nature and slaughter everything in sight, including their beloved, mythical creature named Bambi (have gotten the "you gonna kill Bambi or something" on more than one occasion). I've had them actually hit me with sticks when I was just passing through on my trail bike. I challenge any one of you to hit the Tarbell Trail for a Spring hunt and NOT have a run in!

Judge not, lest ye be judged by a Portlander, guys! Keep Portland Weird!   

I put 100+ miles on my boots this past summer and fall looking for a creature a lot more magical and mystical than a deer outside the GPNF. Talked to lots of hikers. Zero issues.

Well I hike about 10 miles a day on peak seasons and have the missing toenails to prove it! Through all that bushwhacking, I have yet to personally experience an encounter with Sasquatch. That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t exist or that others haven't had run-ins with him, does it? 

[Calvin Rayborn]

There’s that I guess.

On second thought after the toenail comment, maybe I am just scarier looking!   

[jackelope]

It’s not safe to make any sort of Sasquatch assumptions or accusations on huntwa. You must be new.

[Calvin Rayborn]

It’s not safe to make any sort of Sasquatch assumptions or accusations on huntwa. You must be new.

Exactly - That's why I keep an open mind as noted in my comment on the beast. Did I make a Bigfoot assumption or accusation? This talk to text doesn't always work the way I would like

[Dan-o]

We have a very special thread here about Sasquatch......   where we deal harshly with skeptics.     

[Calvin Rayborn]

We have a very special thread here about Sasquatch......   where we deal harshly with skeptics.     

Original comment: Well I hike about 10 miles a day on peak seasons and have the missing toenails to prove it! Through all that bushwhacking, I have yet to personally experience an encounter with Sasquatch. That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t exist or that others haven't had run-ins with him, does it? 

---Again, did I make any Sasquatch assumptions or accusations? I must be new to this thing called reading...

[Calvin Rayborn]

Oh, I get it - The BFRO reference... You guys need to leave poor Sasquatch alone! What did he ever do to you?

[Dan-o]

Oh, I get it - The BFRO reference... You guys need to leave poor Sasquatch alone! What did he ever do to you?

LOL dude. 

There's a 500-something page Bigfoot thread that proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that b igfoot may or may not exist.   

[Calvin Rayborn]

Oh, I get it - The BFRO reference... You guys need to leave poor Sasquatch alone! What did he ever do to you?

LOL dude. 

There's a 500-something page Bigfoot thread that proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that b igfoot may or may not exist.   

Ahhhh!!! That's awesome! Shoot me a link if you can! Spent many a late hour chewin' the fat with work buddies over the mystical yeti!

[Dan-o]

I can't link it from my phone, but I did bump it up. 

551 pages chock full of Bigfoot lore. 

Look for it under "virtual campfire".   Thread title, conveniently, is "Bigfoot".   

You'll learn stuff you can't unlearn.   

[aaronoto]

I use hiking trails to get in, some of them very popular trails.  I like to go up super early in the morning to avoid people and be glassing shortly after the sun comes up.  You'll run into most of the people on the way down.  Reactions will very greatly, although I would say most interactions have been positive - even the ones where I could tell they didn't necessarily approve. 

[Dan-o]

I agree.   

When I run into hikers I smile and wave. 

I've never been screamed at or whatever. 

[yakimanoob]

I've only been hunting for two seasons now, but even I've run into a handful of non-hunter hikers, mostly in GPW and ALW.  All were very polite, and all but one seemed to think what I was doing was cool and either told me where they'd seen animals or lamented not having tips for me. 

Even the one who obviously didn't approve was cordial enough to wish me good luck.