backpacking during a bow hunt

[matthewkphx]

Well I am just fully depressed because I have been involved in planning two trips in September and I just found out that there is a two-week elk bowhunting season in the area at the same time. Should I be calling these trips off?

The first is a group hammock hang at Dane Springs. This is a car camping trip with a little bit of hiking.

The second is a BSA backpack trip up the Houston Bros trail.

Any thoughts?

[Tough_Boots]

I wouldn't worry about it.

[chumley]

Hunters tend to be pretty responsible as a group. Especially bow hunters. The are you are going is full of people camping and hiking all summer and autumn, and there is almost always some hunting season open (elk, deer, bear, turkey, etc.) You have more to worry about from drunk late-night target shooters and quad riders than bow hunters.

(If you're especially concerned, feel free to wear hunting orange for extra visibility. But I've spent countless weekends up there and have never personally felt the need to do so).

[matthewkphx]

I googled around a little and it seems like bow hunters shoot from a range of maybe 40-50 yards. I'd like to think they could distinguish between an elk and a bunch of noisy scouts at that range. I think I'm starting to Feel better about these trips.

Thanks for the responses.

[FOTG]

@matthewkphx

from a range of maybe 40-50 yards

That number is even a tad high, best bow hunter in world with best equipment is not shooting a live animal past 40 yards. Maybe hitting targets at 50 yards but kills are generally going to occur closer to 30 an 35 yards..that being said some HAZers have had had success with the below strategy really keeps the hunters guessing and can add a whole new dynamic to hike..

http://hikearizona.com/photo=414043

[Bradshaws]

When I comes to hunters I worry less about being shot than I do about wander into an area that they're hunting

When I did hunt, I had this happen to me. I had been sitting in a blind for hours when 2 hikers walked through my shooting lane effectively ending that days hunt. Most hunters won't take this too hard (it's just part of the game)but I could imagine some hunters getting very upset especially in the last days of the hunt.

I was wondering if anyone has had a problem with a hunter getting upset from you walking into an area they're hunting?

[SuperstitionGuy]

My only problem was when the bow hunter stayed silent as I pulled off the trail, dropped my pants and relieved myself.
When I stood up I was almost face to face with him but I maintained my anger fortunately and later I wished that I had grabbed the bow out of his hand and heaved it off into the nearby catclaw forest! :tt:

[Bradshaws]

I've walked into and ended two hunts Both times it was varmint hunters and both times the hunters were very, very unhappy.

The fact that we were all well armed kept the situation tense but under control. We shared an uncomfortable "hello" then went our separate ways. As we walked off there was some quiet grumbling as they packed up their weapons, blinds and calls.

[matthewkphx]

Wouldn't it be really dumb of a hunter to set up along the Houston Brothers trail and next expect hikers? It's not like we are going to bushwhacking. We will be on an established and popular trail.

[chumley]

@matthewkphx
Yup. It would be really dumb.

There are some really nice canyons up there (Dane Canyon for example) that make for great off-trail exploring. And they are frequented by elk and other wildlife, where you might be more likely to encounter a hunter during hunting season.

But most hunters up there are very familiar with the terrain and have scoped the area and know exactly where they want to be. They also know where the marked trails are!

Then again, these guys were standing on the trail, in the middle of one of the most traveled parts of the Superstitions -- Reavis Ranch -- and actively hunting. They were shooting at close range with the target clearly visible and aware of other people (like me) in the vicinity. http://hikearizona.com/photo=371587

[Bradshaws]

There's a lot of very lazy hunters out there ;) and from some of the photo sets on HAZ coming upon a hunting blind near a trail isn't as rare as it should be.

I think it's dumb to set up on a trail but it's not the smart hunters you have to worry about

[chumley]

I'm not a hunter but I've seen enough poo on the trail to know that it's not just SuperstitionGuy out there ;)! Trails are used by animals too. But if you are hunting near one, you certainly should not be angry/surprised if a person walks by on it!

[Bradshaws]

you certainly should not be angry/surprised if a person walks by on it!

I agree.................Common sense would dictate that, but the world is in a desperate shortage of common sense and for that matter the world is full of people that do incredibly stupid and dangerous things. I brought this up not because it happens everyday but because it does happen. :bdh:

Is it reasonable for a hunter to get mad and start an altercation over something like this? NO, but it happens. Is it reasonable for someone to start a fight over the way someone is looking at another person? NO, yet many people have been accosted, beaten and even killed for simply looking at someone wrong.

This is something I have come across while out and about, that's all

[songdog]

clean, I'm part of that AZ group hammock hang event and I'm not happy at all about being in the woods with hunters. Been there, done that....it's too dangerous for my comfort. I've had the window in my pick up shot out just driving down a country road during hunting season. Bows, rifles, makes no difference....some know what they are doing....others don't. Anyone can get a permit to hunt these days. I'm backing out of the trip.

[matthewkphx]

Hey Songdog.

Maybe we should consider an alternate location?

[songdog]

Hey Songdog.

Maybe we should consider an alternate location?

I'm open to suggestions. Right off hand I can't think of anyplace else that would be as awesome as the Rim. Guess we could go back to the original suggestion of one of the formal campgrounds...ugh!

[FOTG]

@songdog
Just curious do you have any numbers on how many people in AZ have accidentally been shot by hunters while hiking...my instincts tell me they are veryyyyyyy lowwwwww...

[The_Eagle]

@friendofThundergod
I'm guessing if it was higher than Zero, it would have made the news.

[SuperstitionGuy]

@matthewkphx
As an experienced Scouter I would say do not change your plans. The boys will make enough noise for the hunters to be aware of their location and the boys activities may just drive the Elk to the hunters. This is a win win situation for both parties. If you find a hunter that doesn't approve of your being there just move on to another location near by.

By the way, Elk are used to hikers and campers and are well adjusted to seeing humans in the woods.

One other thought for friendofThunderGod: I am not aware of anyone being shot by a bow hunter in Arizona but there was a rumor once in Minnesota that a hunter from Minneapolis, killed, dressed and took a hiker in for processing.

[FOTG]

@The Eagle
Ill take those odds any day before cancelling a hike or changing plans