Never again

[bigpaw 77]

I'm sorry for your son's experience but the repeated montra of the site tends to be "get the hell away from the roads" if you want to avoid the crowds.  No offense but if you knew he didn't want or like the crowds why would you bring him out in a situation that would sour him?  

Maybe so his son could get the true feel for the Washington rifle Elk opener.   If anything it was a good learning experiance for him. I'm sure he learned something today about hunting elk in WA.

[GEARHEAD]

my favorite road hunters are the ones that will not let you pass, they trot along at 10 mph,  and wont pull over, i guess in fear you'll get ahead of them. had an old grumpy man do this to me recently, 2 miles of that *censored*, i tailgated of course as soon as i knew what was up, i even honked, still no reaction other than hand gestures. he finally pulled over so i went by almost getting hit by another road hunter coming up the road that he had to yield to. *censored*!! i'll never go to Manastash again aughhhhhh.

[ser300wsm]

Very sorry to hear that story. There will be better times in the future i am sure. Keep your head up !!! 

[zackmioli]

if you can, you should try to get out one day during the week. there will be way less people out. i purposely didnt bother with this weekend since i am unemployed im going to head up monday. 

[MIKEXRAY]

I agree with Bigpaw77, it could be a good learning experience. He might backpack bowhunt his whole life in the wilderness. That is how we learn, good & bad experiences. Things can't always be perfect, good to learn young. Hopefully his next experience is more positive. Mike

[IBspoiled]

Anyone who hunts  modern firearm for elk has had similar experiences as you, but you shouldn't let that stop you from going. I have hunted the modern season with all the rude hunters and yes it sucks but I have still been able to get on elk even with all the hunting pressure.try to use this situation to your advantage. For instance , looking for places the elk would go to escape is where you want to hunt. don't go to a clearcut at first light because all you will see is other hunters. the elk already know whats up and are headed for the timber before daylight. Also one more important thing I do is ask God for his blessing." Ask and you shall receive"

[Curly]

Muzzleloader season really won't be much different except that it will be harder to see all the hunters because they aren't required to wear orange.  With ML season, there are far less GMU's open so all the guys get crammed into a few units.  And in those few units, there are sometimes limited areas that hold elk, thus everyone is hunting the same basic areas looking for the herds.

[colockumelk]

Pretty sad huh.....what about muzzy

Don't own a muzzy and have only shot one once, with someone else doing all of the work.  Might work I guess.  Have to float ANOTHER hunting expense past the wife though  

Hey DoubleJ I'd try the Muzzle Loader hunting for him.  I added a link for the CVA Buckhorn. It would be perfect for him.  My wife shoots one and she loves it.  Its light (6.3 lbs) and is somewhat compact with a 24" barrell.  It has a thumb actuated safety like a rifle and comes with fiber optic sights.  The only add on I recommend is that if it doesnt come with a musket cap nipple I would buy one and install it because you'll want to shoot musket caps since they throw out about 4x more flame than a standard #11 cap.  Oh the Buckhorn also retails for only $159 so you wouldn't be breaking the bank. 

http://www.cva.com/rifles-buck.php

[dscubame]

Muzzle in WA but Idaho still amazes me how I may see just one or two people a week.

[Gutpile]

We'd hike and hike to get to the back ridge of a tree line to sit over a clear cut and, we'd no sooner get there than idiots in an SUV packed 5 deep with pumpkins would roll through,

Not trying to be rude but it doesn't sound like you hiked in that far. Hunting pressure and road hunters are just part of Elk season. Road hunters are great. They stay on the road away from people who hike and hike. 

[Tim]

At 8 years old  he's old enough to start backpacking,just get him started on easier trips this coming sumer,over the next couple of years you will be amazed at how fast he will get stronger.Just dont try to bite off to much to soon or it will burn him out on it forever.Backpacking in is the best way to get away from the crowds.
Tim

[400out]

You can use those road hunters to your advangae just like fast foot hunters! Food for thought 

[halflife65]

At 8 years old  he's old enough to start backpacking,just get him started on easier trips this coming sumer,over the next couple of years you will be amazed at how fast he will get stronger.Just dont try to bite off to much to soon or it will burn him out on it forever.Backpacking in is the best way to get away from the crowds.
Tim

That was going to be my advice - my dad started taking me to lakes in Rainier National Park so that we would have a destination for our hikes (later a destination isn't really necessary - he'll hike just to get to the top of a ridge and look around.  But it helps at first.)  He'll probably be happy with catching 8 - 10 inch brook trout when he's that age.  You can cook and eat them, stay overnight, etc.  By the time he's twelve he'll be ripping around the woods, pretty comfortable with getting off trail, etc. 

Too bad he had to learn this lesson at such a young age.  I hope it doesn't turn him off to hunting (doesn't sound like it will.)  I'd have to say that I came to the same conclusion he did, though, and I started bowhunting 5 or 6 years ago...I certainly don't blame him.

[DoubleJ]

I'm sorry for your son's experience but the repeated montra of the site tends to be "get the hell away from the roads" if you want to avoid the crowds.  No offense but if you knew he didn't want or like the crowds why would you bring him out in a situation that would sour him? 

There were no areas in this area that were outside of eye sight of a road.

[DoubleJ]

every opening day this thread starts. in these forested areas, i prefer the lazy slobs, they stay on the road, i side hill a ridge. tons of road hunters where i go, but i rarely run into another person on foot, and i'm only a half mile in if that.

Never saw another hunter on foot the whole day