Simple Ethics Question - Shooting During Archery Season

[OregonSteeler]

I live pretty close to public forest lands and prefer to do my shooting there. I've already sighted in but my hunt isn't until November, so I'd like to get out at least once more in the next couple weeks (month of Sept). There will be archery elk hunting going on and I've always felt a little guilty shooting during their season. Though, I'd be shooting closer to mid-day and not far off the road system (obviously adhering to all safety ideals).

For those archery elk hunters, do you mind hearing rifle shots during the season? Especially knowing where it's most likely coming from and why....

 

[mtnbiker208]

if this matters, you hear gunshots in the woods of north idaho every weekend. Lots and lots of sxs are dumping clips all the time. I hear gunshots constantly from people target shooting all hunting season.

 

[Taudisio]

I live pretty close to public forest lands and prefer to do my shooting there. I've already sighted in but my hunt isn't until November, so I'd like to get out at least once more in the next couple weeks (month of Sept). There will be archery elk hunting going on and I've always felt a little guilty shooting during their season. Though, I'd be shooting closer to mid-day and not far off the road system (obviously adhering to all safety ideals).

For those archery elk hunters, do you mind hearing rifle shots during the season? Especially knowing where it's most likely coming from and why....

If you are shooting a rifle near spots I know there are elk, you passed 15 other spots where people regularly shoot. In that particular instance, I would be angry and confused. Not at you in particular though. It’s public land. Do what you want, everyone else does. I do the same thing (shoot rifles) and I archery hunt. I just go to the first “shooting spot” not way up top in the middle of no where, where the elk live. If I am archery elk hunting in your shooting spot, I’m sorry (not sorry).

 

[Fatcamp]

People shoot Prairie Dogs where I archery hunt. Deer hear it all year and don't care.

 

[IDVortex]

Public is public. If we dont treat it as such, the argument could be made we no longer need public land due to not everyone is able to use it.

 

[TheTone]

Shooting next to the road I could care less, hiking into some canyon and shooting I can see how that could upset people

 

[fngTony]

Public is public. If we dont treat it as such, the argument could be made we no longer need public land due to not everyone is able to use it.

Shooting next to the road I could care less, hiking into some canyon and shooting I can see how that could upset people

Great points! I think like anything it’s a matter of safety, legality and respect for others.

 

[Blurry1]

I’d be more worried about a wildlife officer thinking I was poaching more than anything else. Shoot safe and stay away from animals and I see no problem.

 

[def90]

Legality of what?

Can't shoot within X number of feet from a structure or so many feet from the centerline of a road or can't shoot over a path?

 

[Hnthrdr]

You have a rifle and they have bows you have a huge edge if they do get pissed just kidding, it’s no big deal man, killed a bull one time after hearing guys shooting like a half mile away for 4 hours straight

 

[hibernation]

You can hear gunshots in the coast range pretty much anytime, anywhere. I hunt the archery season out there, I wouldn't stress it too much if you're aware of your area, shooting safely, and keeping an eye out for parked trucks.

 

[RockAndSage]

OP, you could ask a similar question across the West, with upland bird hunting interfering with someone's big-game hunt - chukar, quail, sage hen, etc, all run through various big-game seasons, in the exact same geography. Same even with waterfowl hunting over remote watering holes, especially here in NV.

The bottom line, I think, is simply neighborly consideration. If I see a guy putting a stalk on something, of course I'm going to hold back on what I'm doing, out of the same consideration I'd like someone else to extend to me, were the roles reversed. Neither of us have "claim" to that land though. I'm not going to hold back on a covey of birds if I see a rifle hunter just walking around a mile away, when I would if the guy was obviously stalking something. Nor would I expect a bird hunter to, if I were the one with a rifle tag. In fact, I'd try to read what he was doing, and position myself in a good spot for any deer he might push out.

So, there's context, and being considerate, and being flexible. And that also extends in both directions.

Don't worry about shooting during archery elk season. But do try to do it in a place where that might be more normal, where human activity is more normal in general.

 

[DAOutfitters208]

They must not have grouse or bear seasons during September in your neck of the woods?

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Just use your brain,you know if your to close and if you would want it done to you.
Simple

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Do y’all not have dedicated public rifle ranges? Ileaugal on the national forest and public lands in the Midwest and east coast.

Not one piece of federal ground can you shoot for practice unless it’s a dedicated shooting range.

 

[hibernation]

Do y’all not have dedicated public rifle ranges? Ileaugal on the national forest and public lands in the Midwest and east coast.

Not one piece of federal ground can you shoot for practice unless it’s a dedicated shooting range.

Oh man, it would blow your mind out here. We have paid public ranges, and private club ranges, like most places. Plus a few official unofficial public ranges with no fees, range officer, facilities, or improvements. They're mostly old quarry pits, a couple are somewhat more split up into lanes. None like what you're picturing. And they're all kind of a s**tshow. One is currently closed because, allegedly, some dude shot dragon's breath in the middle of fire season and caught the woods on fire.

Our state forest and most federal lands are mostly open to target shooting, with very few exceptions. With all the logging roads we've got in Oregon, you end up with a lot of spur roads and cut banks covered in trash targets and casings.

I enjoy the privilege of being able to shoot 400+ yards almost anytime, less than an hour away, for only the cost of gas. The downside is too many people that don't understand safety or how to clean up after themselves. Or just don't care.

 

[dreadi]

It's public land? It's mixed use. Everyone gets to enjoy. I feel free to use it, and so should others.

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Sure do. All packed with tactical bob's and the rest of meal team6. And you gotta pay to use such nice facilities.

Or in under 30 mins drive a guy can be sitting on a ridge or landing, enjoying PUBLIC land (thats where everybody gets to use it) or open timber land. And have a nice enjoyable day shooting without being bothered.

Just recently learned that you guys arent allowed to shoot on public land back there. Never woulda guessed that.

Have never wished I was at a public range

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Dude I’m jealous!!! Ya all the national forest on the east coast you can’t recreation shoot, never even with archery equipment. I’m lucky I only bow hunt, but have a 500 yard range on my farm for friends and family. That’s awesome yall can shoot like that! That would be sweet for long range practice.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I didn't read all the replies. My answer is no if I'm archery hunting it probably wouldn't bother me. Having said that I would absolutely not go shooting near popular archery hunting areas during season because I just can't bring myself to. There's gotta be some empty flat BLM or somewhere else to go and I'd go out of my way to do so.

 

[RockAndSage]

Do y’all not have dedicated public rifle ranges? Ileaugal on the national forest and public lands in the Midwest and east coast.

Not one piece of federal ground can you shoot for practice unless it’s a dedicated shooting range.

WTF, seriously? That's nuts. You have my condolences. That strikes as heinous governance, as well as an infringement. Yes, in the West, we can pretty much shoot on any public land. Which is important, given than 87% of Nevada and similarly huge chunks of Idaho and Utah are literally government-controlled land (BLM, USFS mostly, with mil bases too). In the time it would take me to drive to the nearest formal, public rifle range, I could just about drive from Fayetteville to Columbia. In almost every place I know of out here, about the only shooting restrictions that happen come out during really dry, hot, drought-driven fire danger. Other than that, our freedom to shoot on public land has not been restricted, that I know of.