Utah400Elk
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I have read a lot of post lately wherein people are talking about the USFS/BLM closing roads.
When I lived in Utah I hunted out by the Flaming Gorge for archery elk. I started archery elk hunting the area in 1989. There were very few roads and basically no quads. All of my hunting was done on foot. I hiked a lot, got away from the roads and saw a lot of animals. Over the years I watched as the roads multiplied and the elk were pushed further and further back. Before I left Utah, the areas I had previously hunted were basically void of elk. These new roads have been there for over 20 years and are used by a lot of people.
I watched the same thing with deer hunting. There were areas that I used to work to get to (hours of pre-dawn hikes). Now there are roads that make it very easy to drive the same areas. These areas previously held a lot of big deer. Now?not so much.
I personally think it is good for hunting to have more Roadless areas.
One of my best hunts was a pack trip into the Uintas. 12 miles from the trailhead and we were alone. We had a great trip and went 2 for 3 on elk. We could have gone 3 for 3 but the third hunter decided not to shot a spike at 3 yards.
My best hunt ever was a deer hunt in AZ two years. This was my son?s first deer hunt and it was snowing/raining on opening morning. To keep him and my wife happy, I drove to an area with a good overlook and waited for sunrise.
(My Son waiting for his first opening morning)
http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos3/9649waiting.jpeg
My wife asked him how he liked hunting and his response was priceless and perfect! He said ?Mom were not hunting until we are hiking!? I was very proud. We got out of the truck in the rain/snow and hiked up a little ridge. I had told my son since it was his first hunt he got to choose the deer we shot. Well we ended up shooting a little two point (he wanted that deer). This was definitely not me biggest deer but it was my best hunt.
(My son with "his" first buck)
http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos3/1826deer.jpeg
We saw four legal bucks that morning and we were never more than about 1000 yards from the truck (just over a little ridge).
My wife, a non-hunter, was shocked. As we were loading up several trucks stopped to ask where we shot our deer. They would continually tell us that they hadn't seen anything as they drove away on the roads. My wife commented that they needed to get of their butts and hike.
For full disclosure?I am 43 and have a few significant health issues. I recently fought/am still fighting cancer and I can't hike like I did when I started. As I have said, I have a young son who is getting into hunting. These facts will make a lot of areas inaccessible to me but that doesn't change my thoughts on Roadless areas.
Please tell me what I am missing. I think the proliferation of roads has hurt hunting and I think it is a good idea to shut a few down/a bunch. Please keep any and all responses respectful. We can disagree and not be jerks about it.
When I lived in Utah I hunted out by the Flaming Gorge for archery elk. I started archery elk hunting the area in 1989. There were very few roads and basically no quads. All of my hunting was done on foot. I hiked a lot, got away from the roads and saw a lot of animals. Over the years I watched as the roads multiplied and the elk were pushed further and further back. Before I left Utah, the areas I had previously hunted were basically void of elk. These new roads have been there for over 20 years and are used by a lot of people.
I watched the same thing with deer hunting. There were areas that I used to work to get to (hours of pre-dawn hikes). Now there are roads that make it very easy to drive the same areas. These areas previously held a lot of big deer. Now?not so much.
I personally think it is good for hunting to have more Roadless areas.
One of my best hunts was a pack trip into the Uintas. 12 miles from the trailhead and we were alone. We had a great trip and went 2 for 3 on elk. We could have gone 3 for 3 but the third hunter decided not to shot a spike at 3 yards.
My best hunt ever was a deer hunt in AZ two years. This was my son?s first deer hunt and it was snowing/raining on opening morning. To keep him and my wife happy, I drove to an area with a good overlook and waited for sunrise.
(My Son waiting for his first opening morning)
http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos3/9649waiting.jpeg
My wife asked him how he liked hunting and his response was priceless and perfect! He said ?Mom were not hunting until we are hiking!? I was very proud. We got out of the truck in the rain/snow and hiked up a little ridge. I had told my son since it was his first hunt he got to choose the deer we shot. Well we ended up shooting a little two point (he wanted that deer). This was definitely not me biggest deer but it was my best hunt.
(My son with "his" first buck)
http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos3/1826deer.jpeg
We saw four legal bucks that morning and we were never more than about 1000 yards from the truck (just over a little ridge).
My wife, a non-hunter, was shocked. As we were loading up several trucks stopped to ask where we shot our deer. They would continually tell us that they hadn't seen anything as they drove away on the roads. My wife commented that they needed to get of their butts and hike.
For full disclosure?I am 43 and have a few significant health issues. I recently fought/am still fighting cancer and I can't hike like I did when I started. As I have said, I have a young son who is getting into hunting. These facts will make a lot of areas inaccessible to me but that doesn't change my thoughts on Roadless areas.
Please tell me what I am missing. I think the proliferation of roads has hurt hunting and I think it is a good idea to shut a few down/a bunch. Please keep any and all responses respectful. We can disagree and not be jerks about it.