Post by: DoubleJ on November 06, 2010, 08:03:33 PM
At 5pm, he turned to me as another Chevy pickup rolled by and said, "We'll never see any elk with these morons driving all over the hills". I just smiled as I saw the wheels turning in his head. He said, "I want to go home". I told him we still had an hour and a half of light and all day tomorrow. He told me he didn't care, that he was done hunting rifle elk forever. I reminded him he was not big enough to work a bow yet and he told me, "I'll just come out with you in Sept. and call a big one in for you". We are now at home, licking the wounds of modern elk in Western Washington.
Post by: runamuk on November 06, 2010, 08:08:00 PM
Post by: 270Shooter on November 06, 2010, 08:14:07 PM
Post by: DoubleJ on November 06, 2010, 08:14:35 PM
Pretty sad huh.....what about muzzy :dunno:
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 :bash:
Post by: bigpaw 77 on November 06, 2010, 08:25:33 PM
Post by: Fishnclifff on November 06, 2010, 08:26:16 PM
Everywhere I was used to finding elk, they logged.
Everywhere else there were trucks driving .
One group stopped and asked why we were out in the rain? gee I don't know. :dunno:
While moving down a ridge , I spotted movement below. A 4 pt buck walked out of the fog, about 50 yrds broadside. he didn't spook or look concerned, he just sniffed a little a walked away in the fog, like a ghost.
Tried to shoot a grouse with my XDM40, but she jumped at the trigger pull, shot right behind her .
Sped up her exit a tad. :chuckle:
Post by: 338WinMag on November 06, 2010, 08:30:11 PM
Post by: DoubleJ on November 06, 2010, 08:39:35 PM
That's to bad, I hope he does not get to discouraged by the idiots. I like the muzzeloader idea. I hunt muzzy for elk in eastern WA. They are easy to work and fun to shoot. And it will be good practice for him for when he does start archery hunting, because you have to get closer to the elk. Your son does sound pretty smart for a 8 year old, he already knows more about elk hunting then some of the yahoos out there.
He's not discouraged. He's lived the past few years of his life LIVING hunting 24/7 just waiting until it was his turn. He got his first deer earlier this year and was after his first elk. He'll be back, just not modern firearm. I'll look into the muzzy idea. Might not be something right away but, we have a year yet.
Post by: shorthair15 on November 06, 2010, 08:40:01 PM
Post by: pods8 on November 06, 2010, 09:24:07 PM
Post by: LittleJohn on November 06, 2010, 09:32:00 PM
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?Kind of wondering the same thing :dunno: :dunno: My son is only 4 years old, but when he does start to hunt I will never put him in that position. Lots of area to go behind gates or in a wilderness area to avoid that situation, :bash: :bash: :dunno: :dunno:
Post by: GEARHEAD on November 06, 2010, 09:33:57 PM
Post by: PolarBear on November 06, 2010, 09:39:36 PM
Post by: bobcat on November 06, 2010, 09:45:58 PM
Post by: woodrat on November 06, 2010, 09:55:26 PM
Of course, didn't see any elk, either, but still....
I've gotten pretty sick of the roads clogged with rude truck hunters, too, but I have learned in the two seasons that I've been at this that being willing to walk a ways, and potentially have to pack out an elk gets me away from about 99% of the rest of the hunters. Of course, that assumes that the yahoos don't drive their quads around the locked gates and spoil the hunting further in, too, but you have to try. Now I just need to find some elk!
Post by: bigpaw 77 on November 06, 2010, 09:56:12 PM
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. :chuckle: If anything it was a good learning experiance for him. I'm sure he learned something today about hunting elk in WA.
Post by: GEARHEAD on November 06, 2010, 11:57:50 PM
Post by: ser300wsm on November 07, 2010, 12:11:23 AM
Post by: zackmioli on November 07, 2010, 03:15:40 AM
Post by: MIKEXRAY on November 07, 2010, 05:34:57 AM
Post by: IBspoiled on November 07, 2010, 05:38:37 AM
Post by: Curly on November 07, 2010, 06:14:40 AM
Post by: colockumelk on November 07, 2010, 06:50:30 AM
Pretty sad huh.....what about muzzy :dunno:
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 :bash:
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 (http://www.cva.com/rifles-buck.php)
Post by: dscubame on November 07, 2010, 07:16:12 AM
Post by: Gutpile on November 07, 2010, 07:33:30 AM
Quote
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. :twocents:
Post by: Tim on November 07, 2010, 07:47:08 AM
Tim
Post by: 400out on November 07, 2010, 07:59:52 AM
Post by: halflife65 on November 07, 2010, 08:10:33 AM
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.
Post by: DoubleJ on November 07, 2010, 08:22:23 AM
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.
Post by: DoubleJ on November 07, 2010, 08:23:24 AM
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
Post by: DoubleJ on November 07, 2010, 08:42:31 AM
Post by: Tim on November 07, 2010, 09:15:02 AM
Tim
Post by: bigpaw 77 on November 07, 2010, 07:09:11 PM
Post by: DoubleJ on November 07, 2010, 07:12:17 PM
Did you say 28 miles the first day? I did not know someone could walk 28 miles in a day.
That's what the GPS said. I believe it too. My legs hurt something fierce.
Post by: PolarBear on November 07, 2010, 07:19:41 PM
Post by: bobcat on November 07, 2010, 07:21:38 PM
Post by: woodrat on November 07, 2010, 07:39:56 PM
I don't doubt a 28 mile day hike at all, but I sure don't cover anything near that while hunting. This morning I covered 3.6 miles by GPS in about four hours, and most of that was just getting into the area, not hunting.
Post by: bobcat on November 07, 2010, 07:40:39 PM
Post by: Tony 270 on November 07, 2010, 07:51:01 PM
Sucks about everyone driving all over the place though, been there and experienced that.
Post by: DoubleJ on November 07, 2010, 07:51:51 PM
If you were walking an average speed of 3 miles per hour it would take about 9 1/2 hours of non-stop walking to walk 28 miles. Sorry to doubt you but I would say it's very unlikely that you and your son walked 28 miles in one day. If you really did do that, I can tell you right now, you're hunting technique is all wrong. :dunno:
We were following game trails in Foster Creek. We were chasing the deer that were pushed into the draws and valleys where we were at.
Post by: DoubleJ on November 07, 2010, 07:53:46 PM
I'm not saying a person can't walk 28 miles in a day. But to walk 28 miles while hunting? How would you find the time to stop and look for elk ??? Anyone that does 28 miles in a day of elk hunting, is not hunting, they are simply hiking.
Sorry for the confusion, that day and the 17 mile next day were mule deer hunting in Central Washington, GMU 260
Post by: bobcat on November 07, 2010, 08:03:10 PM
Post by: DoubleJ on November 07, 2010, 08:12:52 PM
Well, open country like that I could see hiking a greater distance than if you were over here hunting elk in the brush, but still I can't see going 28 miles, or even 17 miles in one day. Especially with an 8 year old along. Does your kid run marathons?
He's actually a bit on the heavy side and out of shape. We just kept moving. Took some small breaks. He only complained a few times, and most of those was when we were going up a big hill. I just figured it was easier to walk that far when you're distracted by finding deer. Or maybe the GPS was wrong. It is about the cheapest model out there.
Post by: fisheral87 on November 08, 2010, 09:07:26 AM
Post by: Alchase on November 08, 2010, 10:57:44 AM
I only ran into one other hunter that far in that whole time, he was a nice guy and we had a good conversation about hunting.
Post by: DoubleJ on November 08, 2010, 11:16:38 AM
Wow, I hunted in one of my spots for 4 1/5 hours Saturday and only covered a little over 4 miles both directions. Just me, but any faster and I would not see any sign or animals. I always believed it is not how fast or how far you hunt, but how well you hunt a given area. :dunno:
I only ran into one other hunter that far in that whole time, he was a nice guy and we had a good conversation about hunting.
Was that in the woods or open country?
Post by: croix on November 08, 2010, 11:17:29 AM
Post by: jackelope on November 08, 2010, 11:22:17 AM
Post by: DoubleJ on November 08, 2010, 11:23:30 AM
Post by: steen on November 08, 2010, 11:24:40 AM
Post by: DoubleJ on November 08, 2010, 11:31:35 AM
Apply for permits, at least it limits the tag holders in the area. It still seem busy cause the spike hunters are setting up and scouting for their animals but they couldn't shoot for the first 5 days of my hunt. It's the ony way I have hunted elk so far.
we put in and didn't get drawn. We'll put in again next year too. I also buy him as many points as I can on the dummy point system. He's 8 now. By the time he's 18 and hopefully out on his own :rolleyes: he'll have 10 points in a bunch of catagories that he can try to cash in when he's ready. I wish my dad had prepared me like that
Post by: pods8 on November 08, 2010, 12:08:02 PM
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.
My point still stands, you brought him into that area which was heavily covered by roads and then were shocked when people were driving the roads during modern season? If that kind of thing would turn him off to hunting a better selection of an area seems like it would have been warranted. Just my :twocents:. Hopefully he stays interested in hunting in general...
Post by: Alchase on November 08, 2010, 12:08:37 PM
Wow, I hunted in one of my spots for 4 1/5 hours Saturday and only covered a little over 4 miles both directions. Just me, but any faster and I would not see any sign or animals. I always believed it is not how fast or how far you hunt, but how well you hunt a given area. :dunno:
I only ran into one other hunter that far in that whole time, he was a nice guy and we had a good conversation about hunting.
Was that in the woods or open country?
Combination of both, when I hunt I usually walk about 10 ft slowly as quietly as I can, then glass then 10 more ft and glass.........may not cover allot of ground but I have seen most everything in the ground I cover, lol.
Post by: Gutpile on November 08, 2010, 12:10:04 PM
I'm not saying a person can't walk 28 miles in a day. But to walk 28 miles while hunting? How would you find the time to stop and look for elk ??? Anyone that does 28 miles in a day of elk hunting, is not hunting, they are simply hiking.
:yeah:
8 year old, 28 miles one day and 17 the next? Wow thats quite a hunt for a little guy.
Post by: DoubleJ on November 08, 2010, 12:10:44 PM
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.
My point still stands, you brought him into that area which was heavily covered by roads and then were shocked when people were driving the roads during modern season? If that kind of thing would turn him off to hunting a better selection of an area seems like it would have been warranted. Just my :twocents:. Hopefully he stays interested in hunting in general...
No way that turned him off of hunting. Just made him mad is all.
Post by: coachcw on November 08, 2010, 01:17:01 PM
Post by: Buckrub on November 08, 2010, 01:21:27 PM
Private land owners are fed up with the drive by hunters and the state pushes hunters into smaller areas with lack of proper management.
There should be no east west elk and the elk should ALL be managed with antler restrictions.
There is no common sense to elk management by the state except for the allmighty dollar.
I expect better... at least for the future hunters.
At what point does the states management get called for what it is.... a joke.
Post by: DoubleJ on November 08, 2010, 01:48:46 PM
At what point does the states management get called for what it is.... a joke.
Multiple times every day. I don't think it will ever change, until there are no more animals left.
Post by: csaaphill on November 08, 2010, 02:19:33 PM
Post by: Schwag173 on January 04, 2011, 08:37:21 PM
... next thing i know i look around and there is a guy standing behind us on the logging road about 10 yards im thinking to my self. when this guy seen us from at least 50 yards down the road why he did not turn around and head some where else as i usually do if i see some one in here. :bash: this idiot sits there and i finally tell my son lets go.
If the guy wouldn't take a polite hint, then I'd ask him if it'd be alright if I did some target practice. I'd be overtly friendly about it, but it's public land, and I really needed the practice ...
Post by: 400out on January 05, 2011, 02:51:04 PM
:yike: maybe ask him to hang the target... next thing i know i look around and there is a guy standing behind us on the logging road about 10 yards im thinking to my self. when this guy seen us from at least 50 yards down the road why he did not turn around and head some where else as i usually do if i see some one in here. :bash: this idiot sits there and i finally tell my son lets go.
If the guy wouldn't take a polite hint, then I'd ask him if it'd be alright if I did some target practice. I'd be overtly friendly about it, but it's public land, and I really needed the practice ...