Disappointed in some of my fellow hunter!

[firemanrikker]

I am a first time caribou hunter. My buddy and I set out for the Haul Road with great hopes. I was very impressed with the truckers and pipeline workers, they were helpful and respectful of the hunters in the area. However I was disappointed with the some of the hunters in the area, leaches as my buddy and I learned to call them. After working our butts of stocking some single bulls other hunters knowing we were working a bull would not hesitate to jump in and try to “still the kill”. One particular incident my buddy worked a bull into crossing the road were I was about 15 yards off the other side of the road. When the next truck load of young hunters saw the bull thinking about crossing the road they pulled over and jumped in front of me. After letting them know that I intended to take the bull if he crossed, they responded that they would “allow” me the first shot.

I love Alaska and Alaskans, and have been here for 5 years. Hunting is a big part of my life. But this is the first time that I have been disappointed with fellow hunting enthusiast! Is this the norm for the Haul Road and is this what I have to look forward to in October?

For those of you that I talked with while hunting and shared your advice and knowledge of the game I thank you and hope to see you again in October. But for the leaches, I hope you find a little hunting educate and respect for your fellow hunters. Get off the road and put a little time and sweat into the hunt!

 

[EricL]

hunting forum

hunting forum

You should jump over the the Alaska Hunting Forum. There has been some lengthy topics on this exact thing! Eric

 

[Daveinthebush]

Unfortunate

Unfortunate

Unfortunate but true of so many people now hunting the Haul Road. Best thing is to get away from the road a bit and you will more than likely never see another hunter farther than 1/2 mile away.

Just like deer hunting back in New York. Road hunters and unethical hunting practicies.

 

[Alaska Gray]

Sorry to hear that. I had that happen to me before. Things like that can ruin a nice trip real quick. Like EricL said jump to the hunting section here. It's been a big discussion.

 

[bowshootr]

Good Idea

Good Idea

Thats a good idea Dave. Instead of getting all upset (thats me), maybe plan on doing a 1/2 mile off the road thing. Let the leaches and slobs fight over the road 'bou and let the real guys get out and enjoy real hunting. At least the roadhunter guys can't make 500 yard shots with their bows like roadhunter rifle hunters almost can (i've seen some try elsewhere). I almost, 'almost' promise I won't get upset if I see a group of road hunter make a kill and I don't. By the way, I have nothing against rifle hunting, in case anyone is wondering.

 

[AKDoug]

I'll see you in October if you go up late. In my experience late October and early November weeds out the weenies and makes for a much more pleasurable hunt. Twice I have even hunted in the trees south of Cold Foot and been successful.

 

[gogoalie]

I've heard it said more than once...

I've heard it said more than once...

From guys in Anchorage, saying the Haul Road just ain't worth all that gas money, slob hunters, etc. etc, for one (1) caribou...

 

[Daveinthebush]

One caribou

One caribou

As a bow hunter, harvesting an animal is not the one and only goal in my heart. It is being outside, the experience, the hard work, watching the wildlife, the weather and just the awesome beauty that Mother Nature provides.

It is amazing how many people can not see the forest through the trees. On my trip north I saw beavers, grizzly, a hundred sheep, thousands of caribou, pika, grayling, northern pike, birds, muskox and I am sure more animals. Twisting the words of Robert Service: It isn't so much finding the gold, but the search.

Yes, harvesting an animal is wonderful but it is not the end all. It is the experience, the land and the wonder of it all and the testing of ourselves that makes bow hunting such a thrill.

 

[lstaubin]

A few years ago I was bow hunting the Mulchatna herd about 85 miles NW of Iliamna (drop off hunt). I spent 3 hours belly crawling up to within 35 yards of a bachelor group of nice 'bou bulls that were bedded down. Was trying to get just a bit closer when some yahoo 400 yards away opened up on the 'bou with his 300 win mag... The highest stick of vegetation within miles of me was only about 4" tall. The putz had to see me.... I was dang lucky not to have gotten killed that day!
Ya don't need to run the Haul Road to find idiots...

 

[Kay9Cop]

Yes, harvesting an animal is wonderful but it is not the end all. It is the experience, the land and the wonder of it all and the testing of ourselves that makes bow hunting such a thrill.

Dave, you're right; it's the experience and not harvesting an animal. But, I believe this is why the Haul Road is bad. I just came back from a hunt on the Haul Road and was unsucessful. I still had two days left to hunt and there were several herds near the road but I chose to leave. I had good experiences overall but the hunters who would jump out of their truck and walk up to a herd I had been stalking by crawling on my belly through the tundra were beginning to get annoying. The worst was when two groups of hunters started arguing, at the top of their lungs and with much profanity, over who had spooked the caribou away when they both had pulled up directly in front of a herd that was getting ready to cross the road. This was the very same herd I had spent five hours trying to get close to and was about 70 yards away from several nice bulls when the trucks pulled up. This arguing and immature behavior by hunters was what finally ruined the experience for me. I was glad to have gotten out and enjoyed my first bow hunt in Alaska but was soured by the actions of some who were only concerned about getting a kill.

 

[fulldraw]

Yeah pretty amazing when you are the first one to pull over and start gettin your stuff ready to walk out and try and put a stalk on something, when all of a sudden up pulls a truck with a couple of jerkoffs who won't even bother to make
eye contact yet there are stopped 10ft away from my truck grab there stuff and start racing out in the field.You are a lot better off if your able to distance yourself from the road pirates,90% have no plans of packin that bou any farther than the ditch next to there pickup..

 

[Erik in AK]

For future reference:

If you ever have a stalk blown by another hunter as mentioned above i.e. you're obviously on the sneak and they pile out of the truck and start stalking the same animal(s) take down their plate # and vehicle info and drive to Happy Valley or Galbraith and let the Trooper know.

"Road Pirating" someone's stalk is just as illegal under the the hunter interference statute as if it were an anti-hunter banging pots.

I spoke to a trooper today, on the Haul Road, and he said he would ticket anyone engaging in such behavior.

 

[fulldraw]

Thxs for the info Erik, I could only imagine that this must happen to everybody
at least a couple of times over the course of a few days on the road..It sure makes me enjoy it more when I just put on my pack and start walkin...

 

[Daveinthebush]

Erik

Erik

Your are right! According to the Fish and Game regualtions on page 21:

"It is against state law (AS16.05.790) to intentionally obstruct or hinder another person's lawful hunting, fishing, trapping or viewing of fish and game. Illegal activities include positioning one's self in a location where human presence may alter the behavior of fish or game another person is pursuing. It is also illegal to create a sight, sound, smell, or physical stimulus to alter the behavior of fish and game another person is attempting to take. "

Maybe it is time to start taking down license plates and turning the road hunters in that are interfering with others hunts.

 

[Jerod]

Your are right! According to the Fish and Game regualtions on page 21:

"It is against state law (AS16.05.790) to intentionally obstruct or hinder another person's lawful hunting, fishing, trapping or viewing of fish and game. Illegal activities include positioning one's self in a location where human presence may alter the behavior of fish or game another person is pursuing. It is also illegal to create a sight, sound, smell, or physical stimulus to alter the behavior of fish and game another person is attempting to take. "

Maybe it is time to start taking down license plates and turning the road hunters in that are interfering with others hunts.

You need to finish the rule as stated... let me finish it for you...

"It is against state law (AS16.05.790)...
...is attempting to take.

The law does not prohibit lawful competitive practices among hunters, fishermen, or trappers.

Violators of this statute are subject to a fine of up to $500 and/or up to 30 days in jail."

There is the loophole they need to get away with what they are doing.

It is unfortunate, but if the other person decides to hunt an animal that you are on, they have the legal right to do so. I see the competition as part of the road hunt. If you don't want to deal with it, you have options. Nobody is holding you to hunt right off the road, and nobody is making you go there to hunt in the first place. I hate to see first timers have to deal with this, but these issues aren't new, and have been discussed for years.

If you don't like fishing for reds shoulder to shoulder with strangers, then you don't fish the Russian River on weekends. People know the situation there, as well most people do with the Haul Road now. If you hunt right off the road, or within close proximity, these are the things you can expect. It is sad but true. Desperation is more important to some than the respect for others.

 

[Daveinthebush]

Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship

"The law does not prohibit lawful competitive practices among hunters, fishermen, or trappers."

The acts of many on the Haul Road are NOT "competitive practicies".

Bow hunting is NOT a competitive practice.

It is a solitary sport where a person is one-on-one with an animal that he intends to harvest.

Having your buddies drive up and down the road to move a crossing heard to you is not legal. It is wildlife harassment in any state.

Jumping out of your truck and running across the tundra to fling arrows at caribou that someone else has already started a stalk on is not a competitive practice.

If you consider what is being done by many on the Haul Road as "competitive practices" then you need to redefine your own personal definition of sportsmanship and hunting ethics.

 

[TradBow]

Fireman,

The only thing I can tell you is get used to it. It matters not where you go though the haul road seems to concentrate the states finest. These battles can and do happen in the middle of the bush miles from no where.

Alaskans have the misconception that everything needs to be theirs, it's god given rights to run fish wheels, halibut skates, kill as much as often as they can regardless of the next guy and to some extent the resource.

It sure is nice to see some of the good guys on here though as small a group as we maybe!

Enjoy it while you can.

 

[fullkurl]

happens everywhere for sure.

happens everywhere for sure.

This wasnt a "bowhunt" but when I was up at about 7000' this year deciding between which two sheep to shoot, I glanced up the mountain which topped at about 7100' and to my amazement a fella was looking down his rifle scope at me. I just prayed he had his finger off the trigger. I was so angry. My son and wife were with me and I guess they were my biggest concern.
The guy continued with this stuff (apparently he didnt have a clean look at the rams) until I finally just shot the dang sheep. He then retreated over the mountain into the clouds to who knows where.

This stuff happens where and when you least expect it.

 

[Daveinthebush]

Cheap spotting scope delima

Cheap spotting scope delima

Especially back in New York, those that did not own spotting scopes of bino's used their firearm scopes to see what others were doing.

A great reason for moving to Alaska!

 

[Jerod]

"Having your buddies drive up and down the road to move a crossing heard to you is not legal. It is wildlife harassment in any state.

Jumping out of your truck and running across the tundra to fling arrows at caribou that someone else has already started a stalk on is not a competitive practice.

If you consider what is being done by many on the Haul Road as "competitive practices" then you need to redefine your own personal definition of sportsmanship and hunting ethics."

I would agree that the first statement is illegal. By the letter of the law, you can not do that. Your second statement however, is protected by the letter of the law. That is "competative practices". The first person on that animal does not have sole ownership of that animal, and it is fair game to others.

Like I said, it is unfortunate that the law is this way, but this is the loophole in that law that will allow them to get away with this type of behavior. I will disregard your last statement because I don't feel a personal attack is necessary. I posted pretty obviously that I do not condone behavior like this and I do respect other people. What I am posting is that the people doing this are doing it legally, albeit not ethically and surely not sportsmanlike. If you are going to point your finger, make sure to point it in the right direction.