Road Hunting
- Thread starter Ikeepitcold
- Start date
Musket Man
Veteran member
If I park next to a road after dark and go to sleep and the antelope sneak up on my truck and I spot them from it at first light, close 600 yards to 300 and take my biggest antelope buck, was I road hunting?
RICMIC
Veteran member
When headed west on one of my backpack hunts, I always looked distainfully at the wagon trains loaded down with ATV's. Well, I just went on my first antelope hunt with a couple guys in their late 60's. That would make me just a kid in my early 60's. I found that there can often be miles between the antelope, and the ATV on the two-track made the initial search a whole lot more productive. I was as much enjoying seeing new country as I was hunting. We did make some long stalks, but the antelope I did get were fairly close to the road. I would guess that they were more used to folks driving by all the time.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
The realities of antelope hunting are sometimes quite different than our perceptions!
highplainsdrifter
Very Active Member
I have no problem with road hunting as long it is done on an established road using safe gun handling/shooting practices. However, I have found it to be not very productive for most species, antelope being an obvious exception. Regardless of the species, if I am road hunting I tend to use roads to locate the animal and then conduct a stalk...sometimes a lengthy stalk.
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
Didn't you get a license plate #? That's as illegal as hell anywhere. The only way we can eliminate slob hunters (poachers) is by turning them in to the G&F. Losing their ability to hunt for a few years may teach them a lesson.
I enjoy getting away from the crowds, but with that said, I've shot 3 real nice bucks that I spotted from the rd on may way out or in. I don't think anyone would pass up a nice buck from the rd. im talking deer bucks here.... I don't "road hunt" but I wont pass up the chance if opportunity presents itself. Ive never hunted antelope but they sure don't mind when I drive past in truck
RICMIC
Veteran member
Ivorytip; We found that the antelope near the "main" gravel road that had a lot of ranch traffic would be more apt to stick around, even when we stopped. We covered a lot of two-tracks, and though we never met anyone else on them, the lopers would take off as soon as we stopped, even if they were already 800 yards away. We made some long stalks on bucks, but they had just kept on going.
tim
Veteran member
when you see the guys, just slowing crusing and looking out there windows on atv's or pickups, I never think great white hunter, usually a lot less. they cruise by my house all November.
bigmoose
Active Member
I tend to agree with badgerbob. We usually keep our eyes peeled going to and from the areas where we want to hunt. Is that road hunting? Can't hurt.
We used to elk hunt in Idaho near Kamiah. This was some of the thickest country I've ever hunted and gave a whole new meaning to the term "road hunting". We would leave camp in the dark in our truck and drive down a road until we found the trail we wanted to hunt off of. Load up our packs and rifles and hike up or down the trail for a hour or so, then step off the trail and hunt for the road the rest of the day. A compass is big help. Everything pretty much looks the same and if you get a shot, it will be a close one. My definition of road hunting.
We used to elk hunt in Idaho near Kamiah. This was some of the thickest country I've ever hunted and gave a whole new meaning to the term "road hunting". We would leave camp in the dark in our truck and drive down a road until we found the trail we wanted to hunt off of. Load up our packs and rifles and hike up or down the trail for a hour or so, then step off the trail and hunt for the road the rest of the day. A compass is big help. Everything pretty much looks the same and if you get a shot, it will be a close one. My definition of road hunting.
missjordan
Veteran member
We use our utv as well to drive to points in an area we think are good and will hike from there. In one of our spots the snow can drift so bad in deep draws that many people won't venture past it to get to the other side. So our rzr has opened up a lot of opportunities for us to get to new spots and start hiking.
I'm sure we all agree that most of us wouldn't pass up a good animal from the road when going from one hunting spot to another. I'm sure most of us also know what we mean when we refer to "road hunting". It's those people who only drive around all day hoping to see something to shoot at. Iv'e seen them elk hunting and I've seen them deer hunting this way. I know some of these people myself and I always laugh when they tell me how few animals they see and "something" has them spooked because they are usually running. We're not talking about antelope because we all know they are a little different because you have to cover such huge areas.
JScams
Member
I think as long as you follow the rules, respect the land, animals, fellow hunters and you can come to terms with what you did was right then I'm all for road hunting, hiking, back packing etc for game. I don't hunt for the opportunity to judge others.I think each way has meaning, skills needed, a little luck and passion.
Never in Doubt
Active Member
- Jul 9, 2012
- 304
- 0
I don't have anything against hunting in comfort when the time is right. Turn on the heater, drink some coffee as the rain pours down. But at the same time, I always have more success, better stories and memories when I pack hunt.
quicknick
Active Member
Its funny, i have backpacked and enjoyed it alot and i have hunted all my life but never put the two together. Ive done my share of road hunting but for the most part i do what i think most people do. I ride my quad to glassing points and glass or i do day hikes to areas and hunt. Never really had much opportunity to do a backpack hunt but im sure i would like it.