Bowhunting only areas during gun season.

[Jphunter]

There are some public areas around me that are bowhunting only, even during gun season. Normally I would pick up my gun and hunt areas that were open for gun hunting. I am thinking about bow hunting these bow hunting areas during this gun season. In one way I feel like I'm missing out by not having a gun in my hand, but I also think it could be really good with gun hunting going on around it. Does any anyone else do this?

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[whitetailassasin]

I've never heard of this, but I do believe it could prove to be a good idea. Depends on how much pressure the archery side gets. And vice versa.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[Horizontal Hunter]

There are some public areas around me that are bowhunting only, even during gun season. Normally I would pick up my gun and hunt areas that were open for gun hunting. I am thinking about bow hunting these bow hunting areas during this gun season. In one way I feel like I'm missing out by not having a gun in my hand, but I also think it could be really good with gun hunting going on around it. Does any anyone else do this?

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Don't expect any great shakes hunting them. I have hunted them for years in Connecticut. Every year I see hunters in there with a high powered rifle or shotgun. They don't bother with the orange either.

Bob

[ Post made via iPad ]

[seeds]

There are some public areas around me that are bowhunting only, even during gun season. Normally I would pick up my gun and hunt areas that were open for gun hunting. I am thinking about bow hunting these bow hunting areas during this gun season. In one way I feel like I'm missing out by not having a gun in my hand, but I also think it could be really good with gun hunting going on around it. Does any anyone else do this?

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Don't expect any great shakes hunting them. I have hunted them for years in Connecticut. Every year I see hunters in there with a high powered rifle or shotgun. They don't bother with the orange either.

Bob

[ Post made via iPad ]

This ^ is why there is still a blaze orange requirement to hunt those parcels in WI....The law says it must be worn "in areas of the state with a gun deer season". You wouldn't - for example - have to wear blaze in WI's northern forest during the antlerless hunt. You WOULD have to wear it in archery-only public parcels in Waukesha county WI.

[whitetailassasin]

Shame to have to compete with that

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[Jphunter]

Yeah I'm not sure what kind of pressure these areas around here get during gun season. It's a two hour drive to most of these areas so I can't really just drive by periodically to monitor. I guess I'll just have to give it try.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[Horizontal Hunter]

This ^ is why there is still a blaze orange requirement to hunt those parcels in WI....The law says it must be worn "in areas of the state with a gun deer season". You wouldn't - for example - have to wear blaze in WI's northern forest during the antlerless hunt. You WOULD have to wear it in archery-only public parcels in Waukesha county WI.

Blaze orange is required; they just don't wear it. It makes it harder to hide when they are poaching. I have seen it at least once every year for the last 6 or 7 years now.

Bob

[ Post made via iPad ]

[parkersdad]

I will call the warden if I see it in our area. There is a heavy game warden presence in my area.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[rochester coops]

I was excited to try this a couple years ago, as I was sick of the unsafe, and general insanity of gun season. Then I started hunting a couple of these areas. In 1 I witnessed someone hunting with a shotgun and listened to stories of locals (1 first hand, another from a DEC officer) who gun hunted them. Also found spent shotgun shells at another. I don't assume anything anymore, no matter what the law/regulations say. I will definitely wear orange if I hunt them again.

[Wlog]

There are some bowhunting only areas around me but they get just as much pressure as every where else if not more.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[justdirtyfun]

On paper this idea is worthwhile but I haven't done it yet. Maybe the local game warden could be contacted for a few questions? Each area/state would be unique as far as pressure and poaching I guess.

[ Post made via Android ]

[Racks&Beards]

Oddly enough I did just this for the first time this year. I took last week off work and split the week rifle & bowhunting. I was bowhunting an archery only piece of public land, and didn't see any increase in action....actually the whole week was kind of a bust for me, as I only saw 6 deer total between both rifle & bow hunting. In MO you're not required to wear orange when on you're on an archery only place.

I did notice that I was mostly alone out there during the week. I only saw 2 other vehicles over the 3 times I went out there. I figure between it being gun season and on weekdays not many were getting out to bow hunt.

[addisonlee]

There's a bow hunt only area in the local state forest I hunt but it gets pounded by bow hunters (3-4 trucks in each parking lot) during the archery season. The area is also open to gun during the firearm season and also gets hit hard as well. There's a big group of guys that drive the whole area every year. Not to say you won't see deer but there's definitely human scent all over the place come gun season and to top it off there's plenty of hikers, horse riders, bikers, etc. that use the trails within the area. I've learned to stay out of it come gun season.