Elk Etiquette; Does it Exist?

[Pacific_Fork]

I’ve got too many stories of chasing elk amongst complete ass holes. But I’ll tell a feel good (selfishly) story and toot my own horn if you’ll have it

Drew a good elk tag in Nevada couple years ago. One evening I sat a good water hole. Just as two solid bulls were coming into my set up within Archery range I here a cow all to the left of me and behind. I had the advantage. But I knew these two guys were there before me and I just never saw them. So I froze and let him shoot one of the six points. Then I waved and walked out of there and eventually ate tag soup.

Now I’m not saying I’m a saint in the backcountry, but I Wish more people had etiquette

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

There is a group of people by my family’s place that sets up their camp on the dang NF road 2 big outfitter tents on either side of the road and 3-4 trucks parked around them, basically to try and keep people from going through/ hunting an area, they are friendly enough but I’ve known them for a few years now, definitely not a cool thing to do IMO…

Sounds about right. I've seen folks put election style signs at two track turn offs from the main FS road naming the camp, like elk horn camp or Johnson camp trying discourage people from even going down the two track You go down there and it could be an abandoned tent or 3 toy haulers with folks sleeping in and cooking breakfast every morning before going hunting (SxS riding)

 

[Mojave]

I hunted a 200,000 acre place with an outfitter in 2020 near Alpine Texas. Was the first US hunt on a big property. Was life changing. No drama at all.

Felt like it was such a huge experience that it has really pushed me to only put in for hunts with limited quotas. If I don't draw I pay to hunt private.

 

[Mojave]

Sounds about right. I've seen folks put election style signs at two track turn offs from the main FS road naming the camp, like elk horn camp or Johnson camp trying discourage people from even going down the two track You go down there and it could be an abandoned tent or 3 toy haulers with folks sleeping in and cooking breakfast every morning before going hunting (SxS riding)

In the Gila the Forest Service close a lot of those two tracks. Which is wonderful!

 

[realunlucky]

I just assume there be drama and roll with the punches.

I try and treat people how I want to be treated and hope karma catches up with those that don't do the same.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[Ucsdryder]

In the past 3 years…

People park at turnaround on a public road and get mad at me when I walk through their camp…

2 different guys move in while I’m working bulls during archery season. Bulls started bugling after I got them fired up. Both approached upwind and blew out the bulls

Guys move in when I’m set up on a mule deer, glass me, glass mule deer. Then set up waiting for it to cross onto public.

People are getting stupider by the day and there’s no end in sight.


I’ll add that last year when my daughter was set up in some elk a group of guys came upon us and were super cool. They watched the show and congratulated her on a good shot.

There are both types, the negative encounters seem to stick in our minds more than the positive.

 

[Hnthrdr]

In the past 3 years…

People park at turnaround on a public road and get mad at me when I walk through their camp…

2 different guys move in while I’m working bulls during archery season. Bulls started bugling after I got them fired up. Both approached upwind and blew out the bulls

Guys move in when I’m set up on a mule deer, glass me, glass mule deer. Then set up waiting for it to cross onto public.

People are getting stupider by the day and there’s no end in sight.

Pretty discouraging, I have lots of similar stories, Co is only getting worse, will be interesting to see what otc archery looks like but I doubt there will be much change

 

[Mojave]

I tend to wax over the bad. I think it is because I try to do as many hunts as I can. So failure and eating a tag isn't such a big thing.

Success is wonderful.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I’ve met WAY more good folks than ass holes since I started backpacking at a young age.

Here’s what we fail to realize… Eveyone thinks they aren’t the one being the asshole. It’s public land. There is no “your spot” or “ a bull you’re working”.

How do you know someone hasn’t been scouting and patterning that animal for months, and you happen upon it on opening morning?

Has general hunting etiquette and care for other hunters gone down in the last decade. I think it has unfortunately. Is it as bad as the internet would make it seem? I don’t think so.

We quickly forget the “good” encounters and only hear about “bad” ones.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I’ve met WAY more good folks than ass holes since I started backpacking at a young age.

Here’s what we fail to realize… Eveyone thinks they aren’t the one being the asshole. It’s public land. There is no “your spot” or “ a bull you’re working”.

How do you know someone hasn’t been scouting and patterning that animal for months, and you happen upon it on opening morning?

Has general hunting etiquette and care for other hunters gone down in the last decade. I think it has unfortunately. Is it as bad as the internet would make it seem? I don’t think so.

We quickly forget the “good” encounters and only hear about “bad” ones.

I’ll have to disagree on “bull your working” I know for sure if I roll into a drainage and see or hear a bull and actively hear hunters calling interacting with that bull… I am 100% the asshole for trying to insert myself into that situation. Now I would never do it but I know guys who that has happened to.

Yes it’s all public and the golden rule should be applied and everyone would be better off, but often times greed blinds and people do stupid stuff…

I’m not talking about blissful ignorance either yes that can and does happen, like wandering into a drainage a guy is already sitting on during rifle season or trying to sit the same wallow or water during archery ect, then it should go without saying the fella who is their first should hunt it, seems like a lot of times guys are being good people out there