Trailhead comments

[KP-Skagit]

I think the best one I had was up above Ross Lake on the high buck hunt. Several other groups of hunters around. We were hiking out and I saw a group of spruce grouse tucked under a tree. I had a 22 pistol and tried to get them. Long story short ended up winging all of them so I went off the trail, with my pack on and was chasing the buggers around in the brush. Pretty soon after a group of 5 to 6 ladies came through to see me just as I clubbed a grouse across the stock of my rifle. What they didn't realize was there was another two crippled between the two of us. I spent the next 5 minutes of conversation praying one of those grouse didn't make a run for it.

All said they were pretty good about it, even excited to learn more about things.

Like has been said earlier there is actually A LOT of common ground between hunters and the granola crowd whether they realize it or not. I try to be a good ambassador of the sport and think I have helped the perception.

[Hillbilly Zen]

When I used to use different parts of the PCT to access some of my hunting areas, I would oftentimes run into the "through" hikers.  They always seems pretty decent.  A few times, my buddy and I would stop to chat with them and ask where they came from, how far do they travel per day, how do they work there resupply needs, etc.  Some of them were a bit stinky but overall, pretty nice.  Most of them would ask what I was hunting and if I'd seen anything.  I remember one time, I offered a hiker a couple of mini snickers bars and I thought he was gonna kiss me.  He was so excited to actually get a few bites of hollow, sugary calories he was beside himself 

In other forums I have lurked on, Some of the most respected ultralight Long distance and through hikers are also hunters.  Theres a lot of common purpose behind both tasks, and a shared willingness to be uncomfortable in the wilderness not just for weekend pinterest points.

I hike and backpack with two kids under 9 years old.  Sometimes my oldest hunts grouse with me, and in bear season we’ll toss a rifle over the shoulder (tags in the pocket anyway so why not).  We spend a lot of time off trail and I think that is what shocks people more than anything.  “You brought your kids down THAT?” Kind of comments.  Or maybe they’re just surprised because I look fat and slow?  Either way, never had any serious issues or hang ups with anyone while hiking.  The hwy2 and I-90 corridor are not frequent destinations for us anymore though. 

[2MANY]

I always get a kick out of the drool that runs down their faces as they walk by a bunch of beer and pop cooling in the creek.
or
A plate full of bacon, eggs, potatoes or steak, salad, beans, and garlic bread.

Poor buggars.

[nohea]

While bow hiking for blacktail or bear last year, at a place not too far from fall city, I crossed trail with a Buddhist monk, who liked to meditate in a spot not too far off the trail.  Ended up having a 45 minute conversation, him telling me about the bad Karma of killing an animal that you olanned on eating.  In his Buddhist opinion, having a butcher kill your meat was better Karma.  We had a pretty deep conversation, neither changed the others mind as far as I could tell, but parted cordially.

[Odell]

When I used to use different parts of the PCT to access some of my hunting areas, I would oftentimes run into the "through" hikers.  They always seems pretty decent.  A few times, my buddy and I would stop to chat with them and ask where they came from, how far do they travel per day, how do they work there resupply needs, etc.  Some of them were a bit stinky but overall, pretty nice.  Most of them would ask what I was hunting and if I'd seen anything.  I remember one time, I offered a hiker a couple of mini snickers bars and I thought he was gonna kiss me.  He was so excited to actually get a few bites of hollow, sugary calories he was beside himself 

Yeah that’s actually pretty fun talking with them. More than once I’ve thought of dragging a bunch of cold beer and candy bars up to a pass on a hot summer day just for the fun of handing them out

[b0bbyg]

When I used to use different parts of the PCT to access some of my hunting areas, I would oftentimes run into the "through" hikers.  They always seems pretty decent.  A few times, my buddy and I would stop to chat with them and ask where they came from, how far do they travel per day, how do they work there resupply needs, etc.  Some of them were a bit stinky but overall, pretty nice.  Most of them would ask what I was hunting and if I'd seen anything.  I remember one time, I offered a hiker a couple of mini snickers bars and I thought he was gonna kiss me.  He was so excited to actually get a few bites of hollow, sugary calories he was beside himself 

Yeah that’s actually pretty fun talking with them. More than once I’ve thought of dragging a bunch of cold beer and candy bars up to a pass on a hot summer day just for the fun of handing them out

I know someone who did that at a trailhead one of the last few summers.  Said they had lots of interesting conversation and everyone was really happy for the grub they were handing out.

[2MANY]

Should hand out shovels so they can bury their feces.

[ganghis]

By and large, I've had mostly positive interactions, but try to avoid areas that get gobs of hikers.  The worst was when I went up towards Ingalls Lake for the high hunt (I wasn't actually hunting at the lake, but used that trail for access).  I went in at night and didn't see anyone but when I went out I probably passed a hundred hikers on the way out - definitely got some strange looks and at least one "Oh, no...." 

Just found this gem on WTA when doing some e-scouting

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report-2020-08-12-6114641073

Curious about people's opinions.  I probably would have drug that bear out of sight somewhere and quartered it... I also probably wouldn't have been hunting right on a popular trail either, but wouldn't have passed on a shot either - assuming it was a bear I wanted anyway.

[b0bbyg]

Should hand out shovels so they can bury their feces.

 
Ditto for many of the hunters out there.   

[WSU]

I certainly would have tried to not have the dead bear laying in the trail.  There's nothing to gain from irritating hikers, even if they are wrong in their opinions. 

[NitRally]

Lol, a few others posted saying they saw brown bears too so, there might be a few color phase up there too.

By and large, I've had mostly positive interactions, but try to avoid areas that get gobs of hikers.  The worst was when I went up towards Ingalls Lake for the high hunt (I wasn't actually hunting at the lake, but used that trail for access).  I went in at night and didn't see anyone but when I went out I probably passed a hundred hikers on the way out - definitely got some strange looks and at least one "Oh, no...." 

Just found this gem on WTA when doing some e-scouting

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report-2020-08-12-6114641073

Curious about people's opinions.  I probably would have drug that bear out of sight somewhere and quartered it... I also probably wouldn't have been hunting right on a popular trail either, but wouldn't have passed on a shot either - assuming it was a bear I wanted anyway.

[2MANY]

Should hand out shovels so they can bury their feces.

 
Ditto for many of the hunters out there.

AND

The USFS day hikers.

[HillHound]

 Man people are crazy. Going out into the woods and complaining about hunters. Maybe I should go to the mall and complain about all the people with their wasteful disposable coffee cups. I do my best not to rub my kills in anybody’s face who doesn’t want to see it but man some of these people are Just plain stupid. How about you stay in your big city where you live and you won’t have to see what actually happens outside the paved areas. If they don’t like it they should stay home and eat one of their delicious hamburgers it was raised in a feedlot living on its own pile of crap. But Yep we’re horrible people robbing these animals of their freedom. I’m sure glad I stay off the main trails because I could not keep my mouth shut if somebody started going off on me. I know it would not help our case but these people are so stupid it really doesn’t make a difference what you say

[cougforester]

Tagging for later.

[cb1989]

Just found this gem on WTA when doing some e-scouting

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report-2020-08-12-6114641073

Curious about people's opinions.  I probably would have drug that bear out of sight somewhere and quartered it... I also probably wouldn't have been hunting right on a popular trail either, but wouldn't have passed on a shot either - assuming it was a bear I wanted anyway.

*facepalm*

luckily that hasn't been my experience, though I make a lot of effort to not use popular trails for access. But that is getting harder and harder to do, especially this year.