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Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: Mr.T on September 10, 2017, 11:32:38 PM


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Title: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: Mr.T on September 10, 2017, 11:32:38 PM
I'm going to try my hand at going grouse hunting with my kids. I know you can't hunt on, across, or along the fire service roads but can you point me to where we know how far off the road we must be when hunting?  I've shot grouse when hiking, hunting deer and once coyote but that's always been in the woods and I'm not a road hunter.

Now that I'll have my kids...how far off the road must we go when we spot grouse???
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on September 11, 2017, 01:01:36 AM
There is no minimum distance that is required to be off the road.

What the state law/game regs say is restricted, is shooting from or along a public road in a negligent manner....

I believe that it is Forest Service (someone please jump in if wrong), does not allow shooting from a road, but that only applies on their roads.

WDFW FAQ:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/70/What+are+the+rules+about+shooting+from+a+road%3F
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: Skyvalhunter on September 11, 2017, 05:31:10 AM
If a vehicle is coming uphill towards you move over and give them the right away unless they have a pullout and you don't.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: boneaddict on September 11, 2017, 07:13:11 AM
Nothing beats coming around the corner to looking down a barrel of a gun with a poor grouse in the middle of the road between you too.   Then the guy is too fixated on that headshot to notice you, amped up as if it's a 200 inch Muley.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: ghosthunter on September 11, 2017, 07:23:21 AM
When you get out to shoot grouse. Close your doors.

I love coming around a corner and finding a truck with all the doors thrown open in the middle of the road and no one there.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: Tiger1358 on September 11, 2017, 01:30:04 PM
I think grouse hunting on all forest service roads is legal. Usually they're on the sides of the roads and as long as you feel like it's safe to shoot, just shoot it. Usually when you  get out of the car, they try to hide in the bushes, but they stay in the same spot. Just drive another 30 yards or so from where you see them, get out and shoot it, as long as it's safe.

Oh by the way, when you see one, there're usually a few more that are hanging out near that one, so be prepared to shoot them too .
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: boneaddict on September 11, 2017, 02:02:17 PM
They usually do a sting up in Winthrop every year with a stuffed grouse. I wonder what the sting is if it's legal.   

I miss Iceman.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: jackelope on September 11, 2017, 02:02:55 PM
This thread is awesome. The in's and out's of proper road hunting.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: Curly on September 11, 2017, 02:09:53 PM
They usually do a sting up in Winthrop every year with a stuffed grouse. I wonder what the sting is if it's legal.   

I miss Iceman.

Probably trying to catch people blasting grouse out the window of their vehicle. :twocents:
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: boneaddict on September 11, 2017, 02:12:23 PM
I contemplated netting a couple out my window back in the day when I raised birds. Lol.  You don't exactly have to be sneaky.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: Timberstalker on September 11, 2017, 02:18:01 PM
1. Don't spill your beer.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: G-S on September 11, 2017, 02:34:39 PM
#2 use your mirror as a rest
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: Bob33 on September 11, 2017, 02:46:07 PM
For Forest Service roads I'd get off the portion of the road that can be driven on and you should be fine. :tup:

https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/know-before-you-go/hunting


When on Forest Service land remember that:
•All firearms and bows with arrows should be cased and unloaded while in a recreation area or other public areas.
•Discharging a firearm (including a bow and arrow) is prohibited in or within 150 yards of a developed recreation site, a residence, or any place where people are likely to be.
•Shooting across bodies of water or a Forest Service road is prohibited.
•Shooting into or within any cave, mine or open shaft is prohibited.
•Private land is interspersed with public land and you must obtain written permission from the private landowner to hunt on their property. Obtain a map and use caution to ensure you don't inadvertently stray off public land onto private.
•Only portable stands or blinds are allowed. Check with your local ranger district for restrictions and time limits
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: Badhabit on September 11, 2017, 04:55:31 PM
Here's a question about road hunting ediquette or just primitive road travel in general. Let's say primitive road, fairly good ascent or decsent. One vehiclel going up and the other coming down. Only place wide enough is about 1/8 of a mile either up or down the road. Who has the right of way? Vehicle going up or vehicle coming down.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: silverbullet6oh on September 12, 2017, 09:52:21 AM
Here's a question about road hunting ediquette or just primitive road travel in general. Let's say primitive road, fairly good ascent or decsent. One vehiclel going up and the other coming down. Only place wide enough is about 1/8 of a mile either up or down the road. Who has the right of way? Vehicle going up or vehicle coming down.

I think it depends on the situation. I ran into this when I was snowmobiling. I had an SUV and a snowmobile trailer loaded, along with my family in the vehicle. I was coming up a really big hill that was muddy and clay like. I saw another car coming down, when I was already started up the hill.

Had I stopped, I would have began to slid backwards with the trailer and possibly put my family in danger of an accident with the forestry. The car ahead of me did not stop and just keep coming down.

I was a little irritated as I had a decent load, and the other car was empty other than the driver and one.
passenger.

When we passed, we just about side swiped eachother, while he was honking at me as we passed. At the bottom of the hill, the guy in the car stopped and was looking back at me all pissed off. I stopped at the top of the hill and was waiting to see if he was going to get out and want to start something. Nothing came about it, but then I was wondering....... "How the heck did a car make it up here"?

I always slow down or stop when I come across another vehicle when on the trails, except that one situation I just explained. I feel that I rather would take a moment to figure out how me and the other vehicles will pass by each other, instead of assuming whether I am in the "right-of-way" or not. That's how accidents happen, and hot tempers get started. 

I just play it safe, no matter where the pull out is or if there is one.

Alot of ***holes on these trails

Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: baker5150 on September 12, 2017, 10:05:06 AM
Here's a question about road hunting ediquette or just primitive road travel in general. Let's say primitive road, fairly good ascent or decsent. One vehiclel going up and the other coming down. Only place wide enough is about 1/8 of a mile either up or down the road. Who has the right of way? Vehicle going up or vehicle coming down.

I think it depends on the situation. I ran into this when I was snowmobiling. I had an SUV and a snowmobile trailer loaded, along with my family in the vehicle. I was coming up a really big hill that was muddy and clay like. I saw another car coming down, when I was already started up the hill.

Had I stopped, I would have began to slid backwards with the trailer and possibly put my family in danger of an accident with the forestry. The car ahead of me did not stop and just keep coming down.

I was a little irritated as I had a decent load, and the other car was empty other than the driver and one.
passenger.

When we passed, we just about side swiped eachother, while he was honking at me as we passed. At the bottom of the hill, the guy in the car stopped and was looking back at me all pissed off. I stopped at the top of the hill and was waiting to see if he was going to get out and want to start something. Nothing came about it, but then I was wondering....... "How the heck did a car make it up here"?

I always slow down or stop when I come across another vehicle when on the trails, except that one situation I just explained. I feel that I rather would take a moment to figure out how me and the other vehicles will pass by each other, instead of assuming whether I am in the "right-of-way" or not. That's how accidents happen, and hot tempers get started. 

I just play it safe, no matter where the pull out is or if there is one.

Alot of ***holes on these trails

I was always told the downhill vehicle has the right of way, pretty sure it was based on log truck traffic, but not positive.
Made sense to me since the down facing vehicle has a harder time stopping and backing up compared to the uphill facing vehicle.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: Badhabit on September 12, 2017, 10:56:53 AM
Baker, that's the way it was explained to me along time ago in Idaho. I don't know if it's written in any law books or not.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: 7mmfan on September 12, 2017, 11:14:43 AM
I don't think there are any rules, or written laws anywhere regarding this. Its purely situational as far as I'm concerned. I've stopped and backed up, and down hills for people that I felt needed to be given the go ahead, and I have also pushed forward when I felt I was the one that needed it. SIlverbullet's story sounds like it was handled correctly by him. Once forward motion is started on a slippery hill, especially when towing, it can be downright dangerous to try and stop.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: spiononedawg on September 14, 2017, 01:11:37 PM
Down hill traffic always has right of way, wether you are in the city or the woods. It is a matter of physics, down hill traffic has momentum. Certain situations require common sense though. In washington logging trucks always have right of way regardless of where they are positioned thats why they post signs at the bottom.

Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: Fishnfowler on September 15, 2017, 09:19:18 PM
Don't have a shell in the chamber or magazine while driving.  That really isn't etiquette, but more of a law. 
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: thinkingman on September 20, 2017, 08:33:05 AM
Gross tonnage has ROW.
Also, boats under sail have ROW over powerboats.
Walking and shooting from the road are permissible.
While walking the road with our dog, I had a gamie check me and my son this grouse opener.
She was cool and professional.
Title: Re: Proper road hunting etiquette
Post by: Bob33 on September 20, 2017, 08:45:12 AM
Gross tonnage has ROW.
Also, boats under sail have ROW over powerboats.
Walking and shooting from the road are permissible.
While walking the road with our dog, I had a gamie check me and my son this grouse opener.
She was cool and professional.
Shooting on a Forest Service road is not legal.
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