Anyone ever?

[CODAK]

Just got back from a 5 day pack into some extremely remote area, where I haven't seen a hunter the past five years and know exactly where the elk pre-rut and start to get their pecking order and round up the cows. Thing is, two groups out-of-staters camped right in the spot where they always have been, totally shutting up the elk and dispersing them everywhere. I mean right there! The greatest part of the situation was the fact they had know clue what they were doing, didn't have water and totally screwed up the elk! No wait, there's even a greater part... they said the CO DOW told them to come there!! Exact location.... Anyone ever had this happen?? Lost beyond words. They lasted two days and hiked back out. Talk about a frustrating hunt...!

 

[mntnguide]

Pretty common with out of state hunters IMO. especially people not familiar with the game they are chasing..I have seen groups camped right on an active wallow with no idea why they arent seeing elk with all the sign around. Just part of the game of hunting in all areas no matter what now adays.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Wow what a bad deal. It's a shame to loose a great spot by people that just don't have a clue.

 

[go_deep]

Guessing their not coming back next year...

 

[Jrod]

Just throwing it out there but maybe you coulda told them the situation. Tell em to camp in spot A and elk will move to spot B so on and so forth. Don't have to tell em where u think the dominant bull will be but maybe a satellite and use them to your advantage. If you have only a small window and they have same window maybe work together. Dont hate me, just throwing it out there. Cheers

 

[CODAK]

Jrod:

I was trying to be as nice as possible, but told them after they said "they were bugling like crazy the first night we were here and then they all of a sudden went quiet" that when you camp too close to where there are elk, that happens. I tried to help them out as they were in no means able to fend for themselves up there. Very rugged country and two of them were sick the whole time with altitude, "it didn't look this steep on Google Earth". Ha! This is normal backcountry CO hunting. Thing that really ticked me off is when they said they wouldn't even shoot one back here because they wouldn't be able to pack it out... Then why come?! Can guarantee they won't be back again, but dang, why did they have to pick the same days to be up there... Sh*t sure happens just wasn't expecting that curveball.

 

[Slugz]

CODAK,
Not sticking up for em but its public land hunting. Some groups in state & out of state just don't have the experience in the woods to get it done. I know, its frustrating though. I had a similar experience once in my honey hole. Guy and his son got way in over there head and camped a few hundred yards from me once. I did the standard intro and welcome the first day. Said they were just camping. I caught him next morning going down the trail with a shotgun to hunt dusky/blue grouse. He knew we were archery elk hunting. I politely asked if he would bird hunt on the other side of the mountain, he obliged. If I wouldn't have said anything he would have rolled right into the elk with me and scattered them.

The not packing it out though is inexcusable IMO. Sorry to hear that.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Yea it's a bad deal but that's what happens a lot on public land. We all like to think our secret spot is known only to us. If someone at the DOW told them about the location you can be asurred many other people also know the location. Those guys didn't kow jack about hunting those elk and ruined the spot for a while. Those elk will be back in a few days after things quiet down.

 

[rjroberts15]

I not sure what the big deal is. It's public land. They have a right to be there just as much as you do. They were following the advice of a knowledgeable person and they made one pretty big mistake. They learned that they were unprepared and camped in the wrong spot.

What did you learn? Did you find where the elk went?

 

[ivorytip]

the big deal is its frustrating. ive had that happen a few times with out of state hunters that have no clue what's going on. usually Cali hunters,,(no offense cali) ive had them walk right through a set up screaming on a call that sounded like a coyote getting murdered. yes its public land, I think the most frustrating part is them not doing their homework first. why hike that far in there if weren't even going to pack anything out? its a good thing that new people are joining the cause, hunters ed classes should have a section based on common sense and a emphases on research, and (not saying they did this) but ethics needs to be drilled into their heads.

 

[SGM]

Yes several years ago the DOW put on its web page to hunt right where my family has hunted for years. I mean the mountains name, draws, etc. To make things worse Field and Steam and Outdoor Life both got wind of it and wrote articles about the area too. I had no idea this had happened until we went up the day before to set up camp. To say the least we where shocked by all the camps and hunters. Usually there where scattered camps but this year we could not find an open spot. Big camps from out of state folks too with 10 to 15 in some camps. Yep all these folks had every right to be on the public land and yep DOW and the books where just trying to help but it sure was not what we expected from years past. Anyway's the hunt was a complete bust due to literally hundreds of people in the woods, big camps banging, chain saws going, board folks shooting in camp etc. Opening day we heard 22 shots, yes 22 all from the same area. Ended up all those shot where from a large group from out of state folks at one bull which they did get. My guess it looked like Swiss cheese. Guess my point is that it took us several years to find this spot (without help from DOW or any book) and to have it blown wide open to a bunch of folks that put in no time or leg work was very frustrating and disheartening. Yep they had good intentions but those intentions had some very bad consequences as few elk where taken, the regulars in the area had their hunts ruined and the trash that was left after the hunt was disgusting. DOW now CPW should never give out exact location but more general as to get folks on the right track but not over running an exact area.

 

[rjroberts15]

Definitely a frustrating situation to have a hunt ruined.
We (in California) have more than our fair share of stupid "hunters".
I don't hunt the forest around here very much anymore because I don't trust the people up there (people using there rifle scope to glass).

 

[Shane13]

Man, that really stinks. On one hand, we need lots of hunters to vote and to financially support conservation efforts, but more people and the same or less space to hunt is tough.

 

[ivorytip]

Definitely a frustrating situation to have a hunt ruined.
We (in California) have more than our fair share of stupid "hunters".
I don't hunt the forest around here very much anymore because I don't trust the people up there (people using there rifle scope to glass).

nothing more hair raising than to be glassing and to spot a scope pointed in your direction!

 

[JimP]

Back to the OP's post, I have experienced the same thing with resident hunters so you can't just blame out of state hunters for this. Also if you call the Parks and Wildlife hunt planner they will tell you where to go for the best hunting for your unit. They usually have no idea of where the elk with congregate before, during, or after the ruts. As to where they set up camp, why not if they didn't know any better? It is public land. Now what would of happened if it was just some hikers out for a week long hunt into a secluded area that they thought that they would be alone? You would of had the same problem.

It is all in the saying. "Welcome to public land hunting"

 

[Daubs]

Opening day we heard 22 shots, yes 22 all from the same area.

First, we are talking about public land. First come, first served. I've hunted public marshes and river in Nebraska for waterfowl for 30 years. Yes, it's frustrating when people find your secret honey hole, and even worse when newspapers or magazines write about your spot, or Game Warden's tell people where to go...but remember, it's PUBLIC land.

When you started hunting there you may have pushed someone else out of their honey hole...circle of life.

I hunted private land in Missouri that bordered public land...and stopped counting at 100 shots fired on opening morning...at 9 AM!

It is what it is.

Yes, it's frustrating, but that's hunting public land.

 

[Jrod]

Oooo That's a drag. I guess the only consolation would be you wouldn't see them again in there. Good luck out there.

Jrod:

I was trying to be as nice as possible, but told them after they said "they were bugling like crazy the first night we were here and then they all of a sudden went quiet" that when you camp too close to where there are elk, that happens. I tried to help them out as they were in no means able to fend for themselves up there. Very rugged country and two of them were sick the whole time with altitude, "it didn't look this steep on Google Earth". Ha! This is normal backcountry CO hunting. Thing that really ticked me off is when they said they wouldn't even shoot one back here because they wouldn't be able to pack it out... Then why come?! Can guarantee they won't be back again, but dang, why did they have to pick the same days to be up there... Sh*t sure happens just wasn't expecting that curveball.