Hunter Etiquette for rookies?

punkwood2k

Member
Messages
11
This is my first time hunting, anything, ever. I'm bringing my son with me, and want to teach him as much as I can the right way. Shooting, outdoors, hunting laws... all that I'm fine with..

My questions are about etiquette and rules you wont find in any brochure or manual.. I'd like to avoid pissing off a whole mountain of orange vests with 'technically" legal, but unacceptable behaviors..

Things such as... When should I be posted in my spot by? How long before sunrise so game settles down before the day opens?..

We planned on using quads to reach deeper into the country, before hiking deeper.. Quads can be loud.. What is the general consensus on use, times, where, ect in your opinions?

What else should I be aware of that isnt found in the manuals?

For the record, This hunt will be 3rd rifle, on public land, so I'm sure I wont be lonely out there..

Thanks for your input
 
Welcome! Great first post! Keep the quad on the road so elkassassin doesn't tune it up. There's plenty of acreage, don't camp on top of anyone or hunt on top of anyone. If you pack it in, pack it out. Get to your spot a half hour or so before light. Most importantly, have fun!


#livelikezac
 
>Welcome! Great first post! Keep the
>quad on the road
>#livelikezac

You say "on the road".. Is taking the quad up the trails not allowed? Honestly, the trails we scouted last weekend might not even be visible with snow on the ground (3rd rifle possibility).. So quads, on trail, in backcountry.. yes or no?

:)
 
Get a BLM land ownership map and Forest Service travel map then just stay on the trails and roads that are open to ATV's. When people say "road" they sometimes may mean "established trail". Don't go building your own road with the quad. Rules for ATV's vary from forest to forest. In certain places in Idaho you cannot use an ATV on a "trail" for hunting only on "roads" big enough for vehicles. Check the state hunting rules. I know in Colorado you have to have your weapon cased and unloaded on the ATV.

Its big country if someone else is hunting a spot go somewhere else.
 
What idh said, every area is different. A lot of areas are clearly marked, a lot of areas aren't. Get some good maps and if your still not sure talk to the proper department, forest service, blm.....


#livelikezac
 
I've seen alot of poor etiquette over the years hunting in Colorado.

1.) I hate the 8:00 am guys, maybe they are afraid of the dark or afraid to get lost or just stayed up to late. Walking into a park at that time of the morning after you've been there an hour before light, then setting up shop a few hundred yards from you.

2.) The Ahole atv guy that decides the signage does not apply to them. Blowing up a walk in area, typically around 8:00 am.

3.) Hunters unwilling to help out another hunter. I know out of state tags cost alot of money, but you still have to have some morals. e.g. my buddy got his atv stuck bad a few years back about 2 hours before light on opening day of elk hunting. myself and him worked or asses of trying to free the atv. I guess about 15 atv's drove right past us that morning without even acknowledging we were there, and we were only 5 feet away.
 
As many have said get a map, speak with the BLM or forrest service guys and confirm what is open to ATV and what is not. Drive at a normal speed. I have twice been hit in my jeep by atv riders driving to fast and paying more attention to the mountain side and not the road.

Leave the atv on the edge of the road just out of way. Many times guy will pull up to a spot and get a little ways off. Next guy pulls into the spot goes a little further. after a few year guys are driving down a trail a couple hundred yards.

Also all ATVs need an OHV sticker from the state. They are something like $20 but are required for all ATVs.

The biggest is always watch your wind. If a guy is sitting in a canyon head with the wind in his face do not walk the opposite side with your wind rolling into the area he is sitting. Also if you run into someone in the woods. Nod wave hi and and then try to determine a direction that gets you away. Do not be afraid to talk to them but also do not yell...

Where are you hunting? What unit?
 
Some good advise in the previous responses.
First of all have a great time with your son, they grow up quick. I dont know how old he is, where or what you are hunting but recognize his limits.
I have seen examples of good and bad hunters on many trips, be the bigger man and set the example, dont let bad hunters do it.
Build a nice campfire, have some smores, walk slow, keep the wind in your face, and take in nature. If he is young, the focus should be on his experience.
Goodluck on your adventure.

Mike
 
.
>
>Leave the atv on the edge
>of the road just out
>of way. Many times guy
>will pull up to a
>spot and get a little
>ways off. Next guy pulls
>into the spot goes a
>little further. after a few
>year guys are driving down
>a trail a couple hundred
>yards.



>
>Where are you hunting? What unit?
>
>

The ATV Trails we scouted are marked on the maps I have, but do not have any signage.. They lead from the County Road, up into the back country.. Our intention was to take the quads up the trails a ways, and hike in from there..

And we are in 3 / 301. Two deer Draw licenses, and one OTC Elk.. 3rd Rifle.
 
Make sure you shoot at a legal elk. To do this, read the regulations booklet. Take an "ethical" shot. This means knowing what your shooting limitations are and not shooting at the elk when you know it is beyond your limitations. Now the way I would interpret this is that you know at what range you have a high probability of making a first shot kill and don't shoot beyond that. I used the word "probability." Some may indignantly insist that it can't be about mere probabilities, but I think it must always be this way. It is a fact. Sometimes people miss. You should feel that you have an 80% chance of making a first shot kill or even better. Be aware that many factors come into play in assessing your limitation. You aren't going to be shooting from a bench at a rifle range. You may be out-of-breath. You may be excited. You may have limited time to line-up and take the shot. All those things go into the consideration of "can I make the shot." If you shoot, keep shooting until the elk hits the ground, unless you are sure you missed. Try not to shoot at an elk when it is too close to other elk -- you might miss and hit another elk or a shot may go through your targeted elk and wound another elk.

Be sure of your target. Don't shoot a motion in the bush. See the elk. Confirm it is a legal elk. Consider your ability to make the shot first.

I have taken three elk. I didn't have to think much about whether I could make the shot with these elk. Last year I had an elk appear and disappear in about 10 seconds. I was uncertain that I could make the shot, so I passed up the shot and went home empty handed. On further self-analysis, I think I COULD have made the shot. But at the time I didn't know that because I had not tested and established my limitations. There was also another problem I had: I was not mentally prepared when the elk showed up. I was day dreaming about something else, I didn't really think I was going to see an elk, I was kind of thinking fatalistically. Then when the elk showed up I lost my composure and didn't think through the scenario timely. I don't think I made a mistake passing on my shot. I think my mistake was not knowing my limitations and not keeping my mind in the right place so I was ready when the opportunity presented itself. Just as a side note, my other three elk were not affairs of 10 seconds, so I had ample time to gauge the scenario, get my mind focused, and take the shot. It doesn't always happen that way, evidently, so be mentally ready.
 
Tell Erik to get himself a real ATV...

>I've seen alot of poor etiquette
>over the years hunting in
>Colorado.
>
>1.) I hate the 8:00 am
>guys, maybe they are afraid
>of the dark or afraid
>to get lost or just
>stayed up to late. Walking
>into a park at that
>time of the morning after
>you've been there an hour
>before light, then setting up
>shop a few hundred yards
>from you.
>
>2.) The Ahole atv guy that
>decides the signage does not
>apply to them. Blowing up
>a walk in area, typically
>around 8:00 am.
>
>3.) Hunters unwilling to help out
>another hunter. I know out
>of state tags cost alot
>of money, but you still
>have to have some morals.
>e.g. my buddy got his
>atv stuck bad a few
>years back about 2 hours
>before light on opening day
>of elk hunting. myself and
>him worked or asses of
>trying to free the atv.
>I guess about 15 atv's
>drove right past us that
>morning without even acknowledging we
>were there, and we were
>only 5 feet away.
 
>The ATV Trails we scouted are
>marked on the maps I
>have, but do not have
>any signage.. They lead
>from the County Road, up
>into the back country..
>Our intention was to take
>the quads up the trails
>a ways, and hike in
>from there..
>
>And we are in 3 /
>301. Two deer
>Draw licenses, and one OTC
>Elk.. 3rd Rifle.
>


There's plenty of trails marked on maps but are they marked ok for motorized vehicles/atv or just marked as a trail? I hunt a unit near you with lots of "marked" trails but motorized vehicles aren't allowed which is why I hunt there.

#livelikezac
 
Lots of good advice on here. In any situation, think how you would want it if the roles were reversed. On public land, chances are you will bump into others. Most people are reasonable and understand that. But if they're not, don't be confrontational. There are plenty of places to hunt.

Good luck, and have some fun!
 
I agree with everything mentioned above. I will only add that time with your son is the most precious time a dad could ask for. Making memories hunting with dad, regardless of the outcome, will be something he will remember for a lifetime. Hunting is addictive, don't be surprised if on the way home you're already planning for next year!
 
Thanks for the insight guys.. :)

Next question.. I have read multiple times about Outfitters harassing people.. Claiming they are on private land, ect. How big and frequent of a problem is this? Not too worried about it because I have good GPS and good maps.. But is it something I should be prepared to endure? Is there any recourse besides going nose to nose?
 
Never happened to me, not to say it doesn't happen. Justbe sure to stay on public.



#livelikezac
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-15-17 AT 05:31PM (MST)[p]Actually Erik's wife let him buy a ATV a few months ago. Big Yamaha Kodiak.
He'll probably still get it stuck
 

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