Post by: Boar on November 18, 2025, 09:58:35 PM
Right off the bat: I'm not asking for anyone's secret spot. I have a lot of years hiking and fishing the backwoods around the northwest and am confident that I can put in the miles and elbow-grease to find big game, or will at least enjoy the challenge of trying to find them on my own. My questions are far more naive than that :)
I'm getting familiar with the GMU maps and rules, and I'm well aware to stay clear of private land and state/national parks, but I want to double-check: are federal wilderness areas generally fair game when the unit is open? That sounds like a dumb question, but I ask because I've literally never seen hunters or heard a shot in the mountains except when driving in to trailheads; guys in the low-lands. I had no idea until recently that there was such a thing as a "high buck hunt" in September or that black bear hunting opened in August as I've never seen hunters out there. Maybe y'all are just really good at hiding from granola crunchers like me!
I'm aware of the USFS "safe discharge" rules and have no interest in hunting anywhere near developed campgrounds, high-traffic trails, or roads, but am I reading all the regulations correctly that generally speaking I can head off into the back country wilderness in August with a bow and try to fill my bear tag? (Or any other respective season in the GMU)
Any tips for a beginner in terms of avoiding conflict with the vegan crowd that you tend to find up there (very familiar with them as a hiker)? Do you use the main public trailheads or go for a more obscure off-trail entrance? Pack out after dusk?
Thanks for any tips! Hoping to get out next fall with my son.
Post by: Threewolves on November 19, 2025, 04:01:56 AM
Sounds like you really thought about this.
Bow hunted, and rifles hunted wilderness areas.
Just go on the regular trailheads. You will encounter the occasional non/anti hunter. Some will say you can't hunt here. I state that the reason it is a wilderness area is so it can be hunted and not developed. I just politely reply that hunting is authorized and that if it wasn't for hunters, there would be no wilderness areas, and I ask them to do some research on Teddy Roosevelt.
The few that said anything seemed like they were a little afraid to speak up. They didn't argue when I offered the above information.
My favorite encounter, my buddy and I were laying be side a popular trail smoked packing out our camp, we were all camo'd up with our bows. A lady seemed like she was kinda actually leaning over us a little and asked if we were bow hunters. I was thinking, what is this a trick question? I just politely replied yes ma'am. She said, "Oh, then went on down the trail.
Trail heads are crowded enough during the week, and parking is worse on weekends.
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