Trouble in the woods.

[rosscrazyelk]

So this happened in Sept. but has been bugging me and I need so opinions.
My buddy and I were  Bow hunting the Stampede pass area for a couple days and one morning Which just happened to be the first weekend of the season.. as we were driving to our spot there was a truck parked in the middle of the road. I sat behind him for a couple minutes finally after thinking the truck might be empty because there was no movement in the truck I turned on my brights to see better. Still not being able to tell If the truck was occupied my friend got out to see and also if there was a way around. As he approches the truck a guy jumps out of the truck and starts yelling at us. "Can't you see that I am here" " can't you see that I am here". Over and over. Now I replied " Yeah I can see you are in the way"  He sits there for a second then gets back in his truck. After about two minutes of nothing I finally see the brake lights come on and he gets out of the way. As we pass him he shouts some words I will not repeat.
My buddy and I finally get to our spot and low  and behold here comes a truck. thinking the worst I got myself prepared for a confrontation. Now Luckily it was different truck. These guys park next to us and they pursue to tell the same story.

I mean that guy got back on the road to block it again. Now I can understand if it was near the end of the road but there is at least 5 miles of road to go. Does he really think he owns  the rights to hunt all that himself?

After talking to the guys in the new truck we agreed to check out each others vehicles if one was to come back before the other to make sure they were not messed with.
After talking for awhile  some shots were fired in the canyon right where that truck was parked. We figured he was pissed that we were there and decided to ruin the hunting by firing a gun off about 10 times.
Well we got back before the other gentlemen after some really fun messing with a small 5 pt. and some cows, But I left a note on the guys car to tell him  that everything looked good when we left but if he had any problems to give me a call.
About a week later I got a call from that guy thanking me for my sportsmanship and such. We talked for awhile and it turned out the gentleman was the president for the western Washington chapter of the RMEF. Never know who you are going to meet.

 Anyway what I guess what this story was about have any of you ever had a problem like that and what would you have done?

[boneaddict]

Sounds like you did what I would have.  I'd been a bit nervous all day about my vehicle.

[huntnphool]

Almost the same thing happened to a freind of mine and I several years ago in the Toutle. We had drawn archery elk tags and were up towards the base of StHelens. We drove past a truck parked to the side on a very narrow road and continued on for a couple miles unitl we got to where we hunted. After hunting for a couple hours we headed back to our camp and came up on this same truck, except this time he was parked in the middle of the road. Well there was no getting by him and it was the only way in or out. We sat there for a minute and waited while the guy was sitting looking down a clearcut. I got out and walked up to drivers door and asked the guy if he would move so we could get by. He moved a coat on his seat to reveal a revolver and told me "no, I'm not going to move, you will just have to wait, I'm watching a deer down there" he then said "you guys drove by and scared off a deer I was looking at earlier so you can just go wait" I told him I was going to report him to the police for threatening me with a firearm and that I was going to go call on my radio and get the rest of my hunting party to come help me handle the situation. I walked back to my truck and got on my radio and the guy got out with his gun and stood there for a second then got back in his truck and very slowly started down the road. I thought we were going to have to trade lead for a second. I went to town and called the police but nothing ever came of it.

[257 Wby Mag]

I too have had several similar incidents happen, the difference is I have a beater Toyota 4 runner, throw her in low lock, down around through the ditch. I have hunted several western states, with western washington being the worst for hunter ediquette. I now know why the east siders cringe when they find out hunting season is rolling around. You ought to try Vail during deer season, lifted up F-350's, 30 mph riding up your ass, thank god for road closures.

[jstamp]

I have several incidents a year like those already posted, most of which are on the west side, usually vail, mossy, or the winston unit. I have never had anyone threaten me with a gun though. If that were to happen there would be one less *censored* in the world, because I would shoot. My life is more important than theirs, at least to me. I'm sorry if I offend anyone with this, but I take threats on my life very seriously, especially if a firearm is involved. I'm sure a few of you guys that know me understand why.

[huntnphool]

I hear ya J, believe me I had my 92F in hand, door open and was seriously thinking it was going to come down to pulling the trigger. All I could think of though was "am I going to go to jail for this"

If I ever get checked by the police or F&W while archery hunting I'm going to be in trouble because ever since then I carry a gun on me and its locked, loaded and easily accessable.

[jstamp]

It's a bit off topic but, if someone is threatening your life and they have a gun on them (in hand) you DO NOT have to wait for them to shoot first. I believe there is some case law on this, maybe shawn could provide some more of the details, since that's his area of expertise.

[actionshooter]

A few years ago I was backpacking in on a road closure on the coast, archery elk. Every year several people are in there, mostly the same. My partner and I were heading up on a Friday when we ran in a forest service employee who told us a logging contractor parked thier trackhoe across the road at least 8 miles to the gate. Apperently he knew them and that was thier area during rifle season, they didn't want the archery hunters in there. Sure enough we got up there and and no way around  , loggers went home for the weekend. All I am going to say is I've run one a once or twice of times    .

 We got the the gate and there were several people in there already and I still think about, what if someone got hurt and couldn't get out or if an elk was knocked down and they couldn't get it out cause some jack ass blocked people in. An elk would have spoiled in 80* weather for sure.

Its not like someone pulled a gun on me but it was crappy

[ICEMAN]

No kidding. Displaying a weapon with intent to intimidate is a gross misdemeanor. Intimidate me with a gun and someone is going down. Center of mass until the threat is diminished.

RCW 9.41.270
Weapons apparently capable of producing bodily harm — Unlawful carrying or handling — Penalty — Exceptions. 

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.

     (2) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (1) above shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. If any person is convicted of a violation of subsection (1) of this section, the person shall lose his or her concealed pistol license, if any. The court shall send notice of the revocation to the department of licensing, and the city, town, or county which issued the license.

[jstamp]

No kidding. Displaying a weapon with intent to intimidate is a gross misdemeanor. Intimidate me with a gun and someone is going down. Center of mass until the threat is diminished.

DOUBLE TAP or 2 to the body 1 to head!!!

[spin05]

The guy in the stampede didnt happen to be with 2 other rigs one a jeep??? There was a camp right on one of the roads we drove up.I think one gut had the ok to use a crossbow.Never had any trouble with them but they said they were onto elk right on the road just past there camp.So i could maybe see em do that for that reason.....

[Colville]

"So i could maybe see em do that for that reason....." I understand what you are saying, but I can't ever, like as in never see when it's ok to block a public access road, period. If you find game near roads then you run the risk of having cars come by deal with it. I don't car if you are a disabled hunter.

While the guy broke the law showing you his gun as a threat I'm pretty sure you'd be in jail right now if you shot at him without him picking up that gun. If given an opportunity to back off and you don't take it, even if that guy is in the wrong, you'll still be judged by 12 and may lose. Now if he picks it up and starts toward you you are getting a lot closer to no worries. A lot closer still if when he does you draw down on him and give him a verbal that if he lifts it or continues forward you'll assume he means to kill you.

The laws are might tough on the guy who pulls the trigger and you have to do most anything possible before you get a free pass. Scary situation phool and you did the right thing.

[Little Fish]

I'm with huntnphool on this one. I carry self protection any time I set foot in the woods. Not for bears either. I've just seen too many weirdos/unsavory types in strange places.

[saylean]

I reported to the NRA ILA that we are not allowed to carry pistols during archery season in WA, even with a concealed license...I sent it last month and got a response the next day. Sounds like they might be looking into challenging it in court...we shall see. I would post the response, but I dumped it after I got it.

I agree...too many "strange" strangers out in the woods.

[WDFW-SUX]

This is not that far off from southwest wa IMHO just substitute meth for whiskey..........

I carry a gun.



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