Is "High pressure unit" relative?

[grundy53]

So I'm bored and doing out of state research. I always wonder when I see someone say there is a lot of hunting pressure in a unit if it could possibly be worse than most units in Washington? I'm not that experienced in the out of state game. Started putting in for tags/points in several states a few years ago. I've been hunting whitetails in a "high pressure" unit in Idaho for close to 10 years and I've drawn 1 Nevada deer tag that was considered high pressure by Nevada standards. But honestly neither were even close to what Washington's rifle deer seasons are like. I've heard unit 39 in Idaho has the most hunters in the west hunting it. Which makes sense since it's over the counter and right next to Boise. So it's probably a mad house. And Colorado seems to be the destination spot for most of the east coast. What has your experience been? Any good stories?

[DOUBLELUNG]

My first day checking archery elk hunters in Washington I contacted more archery hunters than I had across all species in 8 years in Wyoming.  I believe that was also, at the time, the most hunters I had ever checked in a day.  Yes, high pressure is definitely relative to the state average in each state. 

[Karl Blanchard]

I've never had anything resemble WA general season.  CO I see easily as many hunters as wa.  The difference is despite the number of hunters, the came numbers are there so it's a non issue.  I've been to 39 in idaho and if you plan on day hunting from a truck camp expect to have company.  If you tackle the elevation and get away from where most will go, then you'll have a more peaceful experience.  Never had an issue finding solitude.  Great thing about the Rockies is they are the great equalizer.  Out work the next guy and you will be rewarded 

[Bigshooter]

Outside of unit 39 in ID nothing compares to WA.

[Bigshooter]

Outside of unit 39 in ID nothing compares to WA.

I take that back unit 62 in CO is a mad house from what I have been told.  62 is number 2 after 39 as the most hunted units in the west.

[MtnMuley]

I've easily seen as many or more hunters in several states in high pressured areas as I've seen in WA.  Karl's advice of outworking the next guy is the best advice I can think of in those situations and or any situations in any state.

[Bigshooter]

I've easily seen as many or more hunters in several states in high pressured areas as I've seen in WA.  Karl's advice of outworking the next guy is the best advice I can think of in those situations and or any situations in any state.

That's the no duh answer .  But I will say in the last 10 years it's a different breed of hunter that is out hunting.  Lot's of guys are trying to go deeper than anyone.  It used to be get a mile from the road and you will get away from 99% of the hunters.  Now I would say it's a lot more than 1 mile.

[idahohuntr]

It's tough to beat the crowds of WA...but mix general season, game, public lands, and easy access...you will likely have crowds.  This can be mitigated by avoiding opening day/week and of course...going to places that are hard to reach.  I agree with the above...the days of getting a mile from the road and losing hunters is a thing of the past.

[MtnMuley]

I've easily seen as many or more hunters in several states in high pressured areas as I've seen in WA.  Karl's advice of outworking the next guy is the best advice I can think of in those situations and or any situations in any state.

That's the no duh answer .  But I will say in the last 10 years it's a different breed of hunter that is out hunting.  Lot's of guys are trying to go deeper than anyone.  It used to be get a mile from the road and you will get away from 99% of the hunters.  Now I would say it's a lot more than 1 mile.

Absolutely.  The day and age of the internet and google earth.  I don't feel it's as "deep" as one can get, but more so, how "remote" can I get in areas that really hold deer, not just look like they hold deer.  First hand knowledge and experience trumps any set of legs.

[jstone]

My family has hunted the northern part of 39. Bike in and stay away from the road. Only people we saw where within a mile of the road. Always got into deer elk and bears.

[JimmyHoffa]

Alaska has some caribou seasons that are pretty wild.  People all over, waiting around revving engines for the start.  Then they all take off like a mad max movie.  (This is what I've been told.)

[idahohuntr]

Alaska has some caribou seasons that are pretty wild.  People all over, waiting around revving engines for the start.  Then they all take off like a mad max movie.  (This is what I've been told.)

The 40 mile herd...up out of Fairbanks?  I've seen some of the aftermath there and it sounds like what you describe 

[Stein]

In general, I would say a high pressure unit in WY or MT would look like a top end general season spot in WA.

I was in MT one year hunting a single section (1 mile x 1 mile) piece of public that had 13 trucks.  There was no access to any other public huntable land and the surrounding landowners don't allow hunting.  That's the worst pumpkin patch I have ever seen although I did shoot a bull.    I was the second truck in and happened to be in the right place at the right time when the sun came up.  Two other bulls were shot and I probably heard 50 shots. 

There are places outside of WA that get hammered.  Look for units with general tags that are within an hour or two of a major population center and have good road access and try those on Saturday and Sunday.

BUT, even those units will be mostly vacant come Monday and certainly by Tuesday you will have them to yourself.

With as many hunters in WA and general elk tags and a short season, the chances of finding a spot with little pressure is very low the entire season.  In other states, you can easily do that in many, many places.

[cbond3318]

I've easily seen as many or more hunters in several states in high pressured areas as I've seen in WA.  Karl's advice of outworking the next guy is the best advice I can think of in those situations and or any situations in any state.

That's the no duh answer .  But I will say in the last 10 years it's a different breed of hunter that is out hunting.  Lot's of guys are trying to go deeper than anyone.  It used to be get a mile from the road and you will get away from 99% of the hunters.  Now I would say it's a lot more than 1 mile.

It’s the dang Mt OPS and cross fit.

[Karl Blanchard]

I've easily seen as many or more hunters in several states in high pressured areas as I've seen in WA.  Karl's advice of outworking the next guy is the best advice I can think of in those situations and or any situations in any state.

That's the no duh answer .  But I will say in the last 10 years it's a different breed of hunter that is out hunting.  Lot's of guys are trying to go deeper than anyone.  It used to be get a mile from the road and you will get away from 99% of the hunters.  Now I would say it's a lot more than 1 mile.

Absolutely.  The day and age of the internet and google earth.  I don't feel it's as "deep" as one can get, but more so, how "remote" can I get in areas that really hold deer, not just look like they hold deer.  First hand knowledge and experience trumps any set of legs.

this.  Hiking a trial is easy.  Climbing a ridge is easy.  Its dropping off that ridge and going up the next that guys refuse to do.  I prove it in 4 or 5 states every year.  Like I said, I've been all over 39 and 43.  Never an issue finding solitude.  As MtnMuley said, first and experience and knowledge of game trumps stout legs 100% of the time. 

[bobcat]

What about those of us who don't want to, or aren't capable, of outworking everyone else?

[Karl Blanchard]

What about those of us who don't want to, or aren't capable, of outworking everyone else?

then high pressure units will suck for you 

[Duckslayer89]

What about those of us who don't want to, or aren't capable, of outworking everyone else?

Just drive around I almost have better luck doing that than death marches but I continue to death march 

[MtnMuley]

Nearly every seasoned back country hunter I know has taken their fair share of reapectable "road" bucks.

[Karl Blanchard]

Nearly every seasoned back country hunter I know has taken their fair share of reapectable "road" bucks.

our camp in CO has taken a 190, a 192, and a 184 from a vehicle.  The 192 and 184 were consecutive days off the same doe group 

[PlateauNDN]

So you're saying I can go and bring my Jordan's, sweats and sweater?

[BULLBLASTER]

So you're saying I can go and bring my Jordan's, sweats and sweater?

You have to bring fire sticks and Pepshi too!

[idahohuntr]

What about those of us who don't want to, or aren't capable, of outworking everyone else?

Outsmart or outplan them...hunting areas that are far from services, crummy roads, etc. can whittle down the number of people just like steep climbs and rough terrain.  In areas with long seasons - I've also had good luck skipping opening wknd and hunting the last week of season..this assumes the season is 3 or 4 weeks though, not just 2 weekends.  Also - if your are going to have crowds, try to use that activity to your advantage.  My 

[Karl Blanchard]

The beauty of hunting is it's as fair as it gets.  If a guy doesnt care to work to hard at it, then he can expect results that are relative to that kind of output.  If I guy wants to go all in and do what those other guys wont, then he will likely be rewarded. 

If your knees are bad, or you are disabled in some fashion, a better plan would be to avoid high traffic areas.  Focus on the over looked areas and then learn those areas well enough that they will start to produce. 

[bobcat]

I just thought it was funny that the plan is to go in further than everyone else. As if that is an easy thing to do. When I go out of state to hunt, one of the reasons I do so is because I don't want to have to hunt as hard as I would in Washington in order to be successful.

[MtnMuley]

That's definately not true for me. I hunt a lot harder out of state, because the rewards are much sweeter the majority of the time.

[JimmyHoffa]

I just thought it was funny that the plan is to go in further than everyone else. As if that is an easy thing to do. When I go out of state to hunt, one of the reasons I do so is because I don't want to have to hunt as hard as I would in Washington in order to be successful.

But in doing so, you have gone further in than most.  Every mile from I-5 is getting you further in.

[Duckslayer89]

I just thought it was funny that the plan is to go in further than everyone else. As if that is an easy thing to do. When I go out of state to hunt, one of the reasons I do so is because I don't want to have to hunt as hard as I would in Washington in order to be successful.

There’s a lot of internet warriors on this site that like to talk about going steep and deep...

[elkchaser54]

King county population equals MT and ID added together. Might have something to do with our overcrowding

[Karl Blanchard]

I just thought it was funny that the plan is to go in further than everyone else. As if that is an easy thing to do. When I go out of state to hunt, one of the reasons I do so is because I don't want to have to hunt as hard as I would in Washington in order to be successful.

  then dont hunt mountainous terrain with a large road system and liberal tag allotments

[Karl Blanchard]

I just thought it was funny that the plan is to go in further than everyone else. As if that is an easy thing to do. When I go out of state to hunt, one of the reasons I do so is because I don't want to have to hunt as hard as I would in Washington in order to be successful.

There’s a lot of internet warriors on this site that like to talk about going steep and deep...

yeah and theres a lot of guys on here that do it too 

[boneaddict]

It’s all about being in the right place at the right time.  The more you do to be in the right place the more likely you’ll be successful.

You could be parked along side the road at 9 in the morning drinking a cup a coffee and a giant buck may step out in front of you and stand.......or you can hike 12 miles in and not see a deer.     

[jjhunter]

I don’t let people bother me too much.  I like to hunt overlooked areas and don’t really focus on how far away from a road I am or how many folks are around.

Colorado is always busy.  Idaho typically isn’t bad.   Montana was a zoo this past year.

There is a lot of roadless area in 39 to get lost in.

[andrew_in_idaho]

I figured something out this year, I have been hunting deer and elk in unit 39 pretty much exclusively since moving to Idaho, this year I hunted 2 different units, 1 is a very middle of the road controlled hunt unit and the other is open for whitetails but controlled hunt only for mule deer. All that being said I found it amazing how the deer in those units act like deer, they aren’t constantly on high alert, they don’t spot you from 2 miles away and bolt. Bucks actually rutting does, not group after group of does without bucks in sight come November. I have had some great experiences hunting unit 39, I found ways to get away from the crowds and learned a lot that I can put to use in other units. That being said I will not be hunting unit 39 anymore, I figured out that if I am willing to drive 100 extra miles and an extra hour or so from Boise that the experience is that much more fulfilling. Another reason I won’t be hunting 39 anymore is I don’t think it can sustain the hunter numbers anymore, in the 10 years since I’ve moved to Idaho hunter numbers in unit 39 have doubled, success rates on a percentage basis have stayed the same, that means we are taking twice as many bucks as 10 years ago and there is no end in sight.

So yea 39 is the most pressured unit in the west no questions asked and yes in a lot of cases hunting high pressured units in other states are still better hunting than Washington.


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[Stein]

I just thought it was funny that the plan is to go in further than everyone else. As if that is an easy thing to do. When I go out of state to hunt, one of the reasons I do so is because I don't want to have to hunt as hard as I would in Washington in order to be successful.

There’s a lot of internet warriors on this site that like to talk about going steep and deep...

Yeah, plenty of guys that go 5-7 miles into a unit that has a road every 2 miles in any direction.  Some guys do go in deep and some guys go a mile in and let the deeper guys push the animals around or hunt the ones they walk by.  I'm glad not everyone does the same thing.

[Doublelunger]

I've only hunted WA and OR. I grew up in Republic hunting the general rifle season for deer. I live in La Grande OR now and nothing I've seen down here even remotely compares to what I saw growing up.