Hunting Season?

[SoulRaven]

This is my first year on the road. Here's one thing I hadn't really considered.  Last week I found out that here in Colorado it's bowhunting season .. at least for deer and elk. 

I'm camped in one of the closest areas to Colorado Springs.  I personally have no problem with hunters, especially bowhunters.  I've only seen one guy coming down where I am, and he's real friendly, and respectful of his surroundings.  

However, sometime this month, we'll be having rifle season.  I do not know if ATV's are allowed for hunting where I am .  I don't think so.  I really don't mind folks who hike in to hunt, coming through "my" campsite.  ATV's just get on my nerves.  I know, it's public land.  It's their's as much as it is mine.  The forest service road continues on for .3 miles past where I'm pulled over.  And there are 3 more campsites beyond me.   So, people definitely have the right to come through here.  

I just hate my wonderful, "no people around" camping site to be violated by more humans!    
I've gotten spoiled in the last few weeks! 

Is anyone else , especially in NM, TX, AZ having guys in new Walmart camo "invading" their area?  

I'm trying to work my way slowly toward Thanksgiving with my sister in New Braunfels, TX (near San Antone).  So, I'm trying to plan my trip accordingly. 

If you're a hunter, please don't take offense.  I have been hunting before myself, and hope to go again in the future.  

Thanks in advance for any feedback,

Pat

 

[highdesertranger]

go to where the hunters don't. highdesertranger

 

[Van-Tramp]

It is rifle-hunting season all year round for one type of game or another. Honestly, hunters go further off the beaten path then you or I do. You may see their vehicles pared somewhere, but the chances of you running into a hunter is pretty minimal to be honest. Remember, they go where the game is. I have only ever run into one (in Idaho) and he was a great guy.

Basically, don't worry about it. And if all else fails... you can always move.

 

[closeanuf]

I'm not a hunter but I know people who are and I know they don't like noise.  I would probably play some good old 60's rock & roll, nothing radical just some good old Rolling Stones and such.   Are fireworks legal where you are?   Again nothing radical just a firecracker every now and then.  Just a thought.

 

[highdesertranger]

all fireworks of any type are ILLEGAL on ALL federal land. that covers 99% of boondocking land in the west. very bad advice. if you don't like to be around hunters, move. it's as easy as that, no need to be an ass. highdesertranger

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

My experience:

The closer you are to a population center the more amateur the hunters, the less likely they will respect the land and your campsite.  The more likely alcohol and partying will be involved.  And the hunting areas will be more crowded.

Opening weekend is the worst.  It seems to bring out 'hunters' that only hunt one weekend a year.

4 wheelers will be involved, a lot.  They will ride them to hunting spots before sunup and come back after sundown.  Kids will tear around on roads and trails after hunting hours.  Depending on state law, they may ride them during the day.

I don't think you can go far enough back in the woods to get away from hunters.  But the ones that you will meet in difficult to get to locations will generally be skilled, quiet and respectful.

Always wear fluorescent orange when outside during hunting season, your dog too.  Enough to be seen in thick cover.

I'm not a hunter but I know people who are and I know they don't like noise.  I would probably play some good old 60's rock & roll, nothing radical just some good old Rolling Stones and such.   Are fireworks legal where you are?   Again nothing radical just a firecracker every now and then.  Just a thought.

Most of the hunter I know are very sensitive to their hunting rights.  If they think you are deliberately interfering with their hunt they will reply in kind.  It would be unadvisable to piss off weekend hunters, especially if alcohol is involved.

 -- Spiff

 

[SoulRaven]

It is rifle-hunting season all year round for one type of game or another. Honestly, hunters go further off the beaten path then you or I do. You may see their vehicles pared somewhere, but the chances of you running into a hunter is pretty minimal to be honest. Remember, they go where the game is. I have only ever run into one (in Idaho) and he was a great guy.

Basically, don't worry about it. And if all else fails... you can always move.

That's why I'm asking.  Here in Colorado, where I like to camp, in the mountains; Rifle season is a big thing, for deer and elk.  It's now bowhunting season, and I've seen one bowhunter.  This gentleman has been back where I am 3 times and has yet to harvest an elk.  I wish him well everytime I see him.  

But once rifle season comes, I was expecting a large influx .  This is a popular Game Management Unit.  

To reiterate, I'm not anti-hunter!  As I said, I have been hunting, and plan to go again in the future.  I like to avoid CROWDS.  
And in my experience (PRIOR TO BEING A NOMAD) a lot of people head for the forests in Colorado during rifle season.  Thus, Late September and October.  After that, the crowds are gone.  The weather is too cold. 

What I was trying to achieve was to find out what experiences people on this forum in NM, TX and AZ have had related to camping spots, and crowds of hunters.  

And I agree with HDR, it is illegal to impede a hunter in a legal effort to hunt.  I wouldn't dream of doing that.  And as far as firecrackers, I'm sure you meant well. But this particular area was devastated by some as*hole playing with fire about 3 years ago. Burned down 94 (95) homes in Co Springs and killed 2 people.  We're a little nuts about fireworks and such.  IN ADDITION, I'm less than a mile from several square miles of area where target shooting is  allowed.   Someone is firing all day long.  No one would even notice more noise!  

Perhaps it's a non-issue.  Pat making a mountain out of a mole-hill.  I would hate to be misunderstood and considered "anti-hunter"  ... not even a little bit.  I'm kind of proud of my own hunting rifle.  Just never took a deer or elk with it. 

Thanks,

Pat

 

[Cammalu]

go to where the hunters don't. highdesertranger

Damn.... back to Walmart parking lot again....

 

[user 15857]

go to where the hunters don't.  highdesertranger

If you want some tedious reading, check the hunting regs and see what Game Management areas are open on what dates.  Often some areas will be open but others closed on certain days.  You might be able to relocate to closed areas for a period of time to avoid the hunters.

 

[highdesertranger]

also know where the animals are. for instance the deer won't be on a playa at lower elevations during hunting season. this is just a silly example but in the west it's not hard to stay away from the hunters if that's what you want to do. highdesertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

also know where the animals are.  for instance the deer won't be on a playa at lower elevations during hunting season.  this is just a silly example but in the west it's not hard to stay away from the hunters if that's what you want to do.  highdesertranger

I guess that's the problem.  Where I like to camp is where the hunters want to park when they go hunting, or where the hikers like to park their cars or trucks when they go for long thru-hikes.   

I've been spoiled for the last few weeks.  I've had this Forest Service road all to myself.  And I've been very happy.  THIS is what I imagined I'd be doing when I first considered going full-time.  

However, that's all over.  I got a visit from a ranger today , who gave me a ticket for exceeding the 14-day limit.  And told me to leave.  He WAS nice enough to give me 2 days to leave.  I suppose he could have made me leave while he was here.  

I'm not complaining , I'm breaking the rules.  and I got caught.  It's like a speeding ticket.  

One thing.  He really quizzed me about being homeless.  And where I was going next.  And then back to am I homeless.  and so on.  I kept insisting, no, my trailer is my home.   Different topic.  

Regards,

Pat

 

[DLTooley]

Bowhunters know what they are doing, rifle hunters not necessarily so.

Lower elevations in more open areas get nice by the time rifle season starts. I personally consider a camp an acceptable risk and take hiking on a trail on case by case basis. Hiking off trail not a good idea.

Walmart also sells blaze orange - the vests and caps are easy to use. They go on sale AFTER the season, but are pretty cheap to begin with.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

One thing not yet mentioned: some states require blaze orange whenever you are in the field or woods during rifle hunting season and some of them on any road but blacktop outside city limits, excluding around your dwelling.  For your own safety at least wear a blaze orange hat and vest.  I made a vest for the beagle too.

 

[SoulRaven]

Bowhunters know what they are doing, rifle hunters not necessarily so.

Lower elevations in more open areas get nice by the time rifle season starts.  I personally consider a camp an acceptable risk and take hiking on a trail on case by case basis.  Hiking off trail not a good idea.

Walmart also sells blaze orange - the vests and caps are easy to use.  They go on sale AFTER the season, but are pretty cheap to begin with.

I really want to go bow hunting someday.

According to the Ranger I met yesterday, most rifle hunters head further west, and a little North. .. where all of the ATV trails are. 
I know  a lot of people who hunt in CO, and I only know one who hikes in.

But yeah, I  buy a lot of winterwear at WM after the end of the season.  I don't mind camo.  You know,  I  ought to get a blaze vest for me and my dog.   That's a good point,  thx.

Pat

 

[sephson]

Damn....  back to Walmart parking lot again....

And just where do you think they go when they're not hunting?

 

[SoulRaven]

And just where do you think they go when they're not hunting?

most of the lifetime hunters I know have a cabin or a friend with one.  Now to be honest, it has been my experence that most CO hunters are law-abiding and pretty decent people.   

When I lived in the South , I knew a lot of folks who spent most of their week or weekend drinking.  Seems to be a correllation to how many cows got shot by hunters thinking they were bucks. 

 

[mayble]

go to where the hunters don't.  highdesertranger

it would seem to be the ideal time for some urban camping, check out a few museums and such

 

[SoulRaven]

it would seem to be the ideal time for some urban camping, check out a few museums and such

Thanks for the suggestion.  But I like the woods.  I really don't mind the hunters.  This place I've been in the best place I've found.  I'll find another one like it.   What I was mentioning earlier; many if not most rifle hunters go to where they can ride ATV/quads into the forest or plains.  I avoid those places anyway.  

It turns out that it's really a non-issue!  

Pat

 

[sephson]

It turns out that it's really a non-issue! 

Ya know, this really takes the fun out of offering suggestions! 

We want legitimate, or better yet, blown all out of proportion gripes so we can give you a hard time about it. :angel:

 

[lenny flank]

As a frequent backpacker and hiker, I learned when very young to stay out of the woods where hunters go. While I myself grew up hunting (we were very poor and whether we had meat in the spaghetti sauce depended directly upon how good a shot I was), I found that an unfortunately high proportion of hunters in our area of Pennsylvania were city-clickers from Philadelphia who had never been in the woods before and were eager to bang away at anything that moved. (Every year the local dairy farmers lost a couple of cows to the city-slickers.)

I'd wear bright colors, make lots of noise, and stay away from any area I knew they'd be in.