Who kills more elk and deer?

[SawatchSasquatch]

Two hunter stereotypes. The dudes smoking heaters, drinking barely leaving the road. Or the “wilderness athlete” wearing $1500 worth of gear and making sure instagram knows how far they went.

 

[Taudisio]

I voted road hunter because for every one back country guy I know, I know 20 road hunters. Even at about 20% success rate for the road hunters, that’s 4 dead animals to one.

 

[Elkman17]

Quantity vs quality

 

[CMF]

For the reasons already mentioned above, I said road.

 

[MTGunner]

I voted road due to seeing them from lofty points cruising at low speed to perhaps spot something. Works for me as they drive the animals off the roads. Deer are lazy. Will take these path of least resistance. Makes my dragging a bit farther, but good ‘nuff.
I have taken good bucks late in the evening, legal time mind you, due to road hunters vehicle noises that have afforded me shots.
I find it easier to take a stand well off the road and bide my time. Sometimes it works well. Other times I get a day long rest. Good ‘nuff! If I have the opportunity to take a deer, elk or what have you it’s a good day. If not, there’s always another day. MTG

 

[Skyhigh]

I took the question as to an individual, who kills more? I’d think overall numbers road hunters, but by per capita statistic, “backcountry bro”

 

[Rich M]

More folks hunt near the road, so more critters die near the road.

The "backcountry bro" is living out the dream as much as he is hunting. He probably sees more animals on an individual basis tho.

 

[SawatchSasquatch]

Lots of good logic. I think road too. Cover a lot more ground. Though the best hunters I know go wherever they find them and pack them out.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I think your estimate of 1500 is way low hahaha more like wearing 5k worth of gear. But the road boys are killing more. Maybe not the animals we dream about, but raw numbers they kill more

 

[Poser]

I agree that closer to the road wins just by sheer volume. I do quite the mix of both styles. That being said, the bigger 300+ inch bulls I’ve killed have been “deep” and in logistically problematic areas, but that’s largely extension of choosing to hunt there because it provides the experience I’m looking for. I have no shortage of options for hunting ~800 yards from the road when I choose to.

 

[SawatchSasquatch]

I agree that closer to the road wins just by sheer volume. I do quite the mix of both styles. That being said, the 300+ elk I’ve killed have been “deep” and in logistically problematic areas, but that’s largely extension of choosing to hunt there because it provides the experience I’m looking for. I have no shortage of options for hunting ~800 yards from the road when I choose to.

300+ elk is amazing. You must of killed some in real hell holes. Yeah, stupid stereotypes, I’m sure the best hunters do whatever they need to to get it done.

 

[Jethro]

What about elk killed close to roads by guys that don’t drink or smoke and are only there cause the elk are there? Or the backcountry hunter that doesn’t have Instagram or think about being an athlete? Do those elk count in the talley?

 

[Poser]

300+ elk is amazing. You must of killed some in real hell holes. Yeah, stupid stereotypes, I’m sure the best hunters do whatever they need to to get it done.

I should clarify. 300+ inch bulls -the "big ones", not 300 actual kills.

 

[SawatchSasquatch]

What about elk killed close to roads by guys that don’t drink or smoke and are only there cause the elk are there? Or the backcountry hunter that doesn’t have Instagram or think about being an athlete? Do those elk count in the talley?

Yeah the less offensive question is just, are more killed over or under a half mile of the road.

 

[Hnthrdr]

More under .5 miles from road

 

[Hoodie]

It’s going to vary a lot by area too. When I first started hunting blacktails I hiked into the purplest spot on the OnX road layer. I did not find many deer because where I live those areas are mature second growth Doug-fir monocultures with no feed. Forest service areas with some (but not too much) thinning activity produce more deer. Also bigger bucks for the most part.

Most of my buck encounters are within 1/3 mile of the road but in very steep cliffy stuff. It’s not glassable from the road and I’ve haven’t seen another hunter in the woods in five years. This year I’m going to backpack hunt more, but it’s mostly to hunt stuff slightly closer to home since my weekly scouting trips are getting expensive with gas prices these days.

 

[ianpadron]

Road, by a country mile.

Now if the question was who kills the bigger average buck/bull, opposite