I feel like I got poached out of my first buck.

[Pointdexter]

I'll try to keep this condensed as much as possible. I still don't know how to take it.

I'm 35 and have been trying to bag my first deer for 7 years with no luck. I have no guidance and literally no time to "just get out there". So a friend from work to gets his buck every year invited me to his place near princeton with the sole goal of helping me get one. Perfect.

On thursday the 10th, we were surprised by a 2x2 buck, and through my noobishness I couldn't' get him lined up in my scoped to pull a clean shot. He ****ed off in a small hill with his harem. We spent the whole day trying to flush him out and waited past the hour of sundown with no luck.

On friday we decided to let that group chill out and went north of tulameen looking for other bucks based on a locals sightings. No luck.

On saturday we get up a 530, and head back out to where we KNEW the 2x2 buck was and was met by a slow moving SUV. He eventually went down another spur and we got to our spot. I had 4 hours of****ing around left on my vacation for the year, and god dammit I was close to getting my buck.

We start to walk towards to hill where we saw the buck, and eventually spot the does. My friend goes down the road 200 yards and is trying to find a way to cut in. I'm looking at the old skidder track we went up, but I want to see that buck first.

The hill with the buck is on my left, and a road 200 yards away is to my right. Then that grey SUV rolls onto it. The driver gets out and glasses me with binos. I have my binos on him, and I wave trying to get him to leave.

But he doesn't. He looks at the mountain that we're walking towards and glassing, and he hops in and drives further. The whole time he has his window down, and hes creeping real slow. Then he stops,and I see a spotting scope rest on his window.

****. He's spotted our buck. My buddy is already making his way into the valley that begins at the base of this hill, and the driver and his friend get out with their rifles and a bag, and a shooting mat and set up at the front of their vehicle. It's too late now. So I start to frantically wave at my friend to let him know about whats going on and then I hear a shot ring out, followed by another roughly 5 seconds later. I use my binos to look at the grey SUV and the guys are getting back in a backing up.

They drive up to us and asked if the road he's on goes around to the other side, and my friend calmly tells him and asks the driver: “What size of a buck was it?” and the driver says: “A nice 3x3. Thats all I want” and my friend says “well, we were hunting a 2x2 we were knew was on that hill. Good shot I guess.”

I’m so pissed I don’t say a thing.

Then the driver says “yeah, that was a 420 yardshot...the other hill (he points to the one beside the buck hill) has some does, we haven’t gone there yet” My friend tells him that we’ll check out other spots. We didn't stick around to see if it was a 3x3 or not.




So that’s it. I can’t help but feel like I got ****ed somehow. Granted, the buck he shot was on the other side of the hill, but weknew there was at least a 2x2 buck there.


I guess I’m just trying to figure this whole scenario out. I’m pretty frustrated here. Do you experienced guys have some advice?

Sorry for the long read....

[northof49]

Kinda crappy but just the way it goes sometimes and thats always the risk with hunting around road access. You guys may never have got a shot anyhow. Try get back out for the rut if you can. Also...nothing poached about it...totally legal as long as they had tags.

[Pointdexter]

Kinda crappy but just the way it goes sometimes and thats always the risk with hunting around road access. You guys may never have got a shot anyhow. Try get back out for the rut if you can. Also...nothing poached about it...totally legal as long as they had tags.

Ah ok. Thanks

[Big Lew]

Yes, that's very frustrating all right, but there'll always be others that don't give a darn
if they're butting into another's active hunt. Your situation would be more cut and dry
had you been in the process of stalking or aiming at that buck. It seems that there's
more and more inconsiderate people out there the last few years. I'm old school and
there's no way I would purposely go around another hunter to try and shoot an animal
he was actively hunting. When bow hunting I've had several people race up to me or
yell and honk their horn to try and scare the deer I was stalking away. I had one bunch
of tree planters, one of them a bow hunter, race their truck as fast as they could right
up to my while I actually had my bow fully drawn as I waited for a buck to present me
with a full broadside. It's pretty sad that there's lowlife around us with no real morals
or concept of consideration and fairness...it's all about them. I imagine they would be
really upset if you had done that to them...even to the point of trying to get revenge.

[Fella]

Maybe poor etiquette on his part but that’s the crappy part about walking around on roads

[Steeleco]

If you have nothing constructive to add DON'T!!

[quadrakid]

It was never YOUR buck. Those other hunters did not know your situation. It sucks but thats just the way it goes. Hope you get a buck soon. It will happen.

[Steeleco]

I'd say you have a good area to go back too and try again by yourself. Karma can be a bitch

[RyoTHC]

You live locally to Princeton?
seriously don’t sweat it, it’s any buck and white tail dor open... odds greatly increase AFTER this weekend, give it a few days for the woods to calm back down... there was just an invasion of trucks atvs and side by sides cruising up and down every fsr since Friday.

also thanks for the google chuckle.

keep at it, you’ll get it.

[ACE]

Don't carry those thoughts around with you . . . . let them go. Your chance will come again. Enjoy your time in the field.

[whitlers]

Can't really blame the other hunter but I can see where you're comming from. Shitty how it played out but sometimes that's hunting. Don't let it get to you.

[monasheemountainman]

Yeh man that sucks but they have every right to the area that you do. Bad luck get one next time definitely not poached as title says

[Wild one]

Frustrating yes but that is the risk of hunting near road

Season is not over yet

[338win mag]

That kind of thing happens alot, not the other hunters fault, nor yours. I'd try that area again for the buck you were looking for or there may be another.

[nature girl]

That's what hunting is all about. You don't always get what you expect. Think of it this way you got to go to Princeton and tulameen and see a few animals and spend time with your friend. And see the wonderfull outdoors. I used to hunt tulameen lots you just have to get to spots where the crowds will not go. Like real crappy spots.
You never know you may get out hunting again. See one time you may be that guy that shoots a big deer that maybe someone else was after. Hunting is all about timing you have to be in the right spot at the right time. Well that is what I think anyways.

[Liveforthehunt]

That's hunting sir ... has happened many of times with me usually being on the right side of the story . Nothing the guy did wrong he was there for the same reason as you

[Darksith]

frustrating but certainly not poached. Keep trying

[RackStar]

Just gotta go find another one. Should be easier next weekend. I had my first 6pt elk 50 yards away screaming at me and had another hunter come and blow it out on me as i was waiting for a good shot. It sucks. Hunt more remote or prepare for the possibility of this.

[RyoTHC]

Just gotta go find another one. Should be easier next weekend. I had my first 6pt elk 50 yards away screaming at me and had another hunter come and blow it out on me as i was waiting for a good shot. It sucks. Hunt more remote or prepare for the possibility of this.

exactly !

we experienced just this on Sunday.

hiked in a bit to a spot we knew held deer, just as we sat down and got our sights on the target deer, down the valley two shots ring out from a big gun, and up the WT go and like a flash they are into the next dimension.
turns out even though we hiked in, we just hiked closer to a different road someone was driving up and hunting a bit up.

also keep in mind it wouldn’t be called hunting if you got the one you wanted every time or were successful more often than not ^^

[butthead]

thats a shit happens moment

[Rieber]

Timing is everything but when hunting on or near roads, this is exactly one of the challenges. Sucks, but stop letting it eat you up. Heck, I've even had another hunter drive right around me and honk his horn as I was aiming on taking a buck one time off a FSR. Ding dongs everywhere up there but honestly it's all part of the crap you can experience when you are a road hunter or near roads. Crappy for sure but we need to get away from roads to minimize these problems. Just wait until you have a buddy or two to help you find a buck or animal you know of, and one of them actually shoot what you asked them to help you with. That's another crappy feeling - depending on how you look at it. Or when your driving and your buddy hops out and plugs the big buck you spotted. All part of the game I say. lol.

[MichelD]

That's road hunting. It helps to figure out a few spots off the road. Not that far in the bush either.

I got a Region 2 blacktail and a Region 8 mulie last year each time less than 300 yards from busy roads with trucks and quads going by regularly.

[hawk-i]

The first one to pull the trigger wins!

[Jagermeister]

I'll try to keep this condensed as much as possible. I still don't know how to take it.

.......................................
Do you experienced guys have some advice?

Sorry for the long read....
You just have to suck it up Princess.
One day, you will be walking up a road when a hunter in a truck will pass you with nary a wave and disappears around the corner. The road dead ends future up and one is compelled to return.
You come around the corner with the truck-hunter not in sight but there is a hugh buck staring in the direction that the hunter had gone. Of course you get the shot off and the buck drops in it's track. You are in the process of dressing it when the truckie returns. He slows down as he passes you and continues along with nary a wave.
The next day you sign in to HBC to discover this dude lamenting about missing out on a big buck that was shot after he passed by and how pissed he was about that. You then proceed to tell the story of your super-duper non-typical that you bagged when it came out to investigate a truck that just passed by.
Are you happy now?

[brian]

Pointdexter, there is an old proverb that says something to the effect of... ”you can’t control the actions of another person, you can only control yourself.” In this case you can’t control the actions of the other hunter. They took an animal legally. Most hunters would have driven off and given you the space to hunt, but you can’t count on it. You can’t control his actions, no point dwelling on it. But you can control yours. You lost an opportunity on a decent buck because you lost it in your scope. That gives you something you can control. You can work on being more proficient with your rifle so you don’t make that noob mistake again. Get it so natural you don’t even think about it. You bring up your rifle and that reticle is pointed right where you are looking. Next time an opportunity like that happens, you’ll be able to capitalize.

[RackStar]

Don't carry those thoughts around with you . . . . let them go. Your chance will come again. Enjoy your time in the field.


Good words to live by. I use to go hunting and be stressed the whole time about getting a animal I would not enjoy myself. Now I stop a smell the roses, and kill way more shit, just go enjoy life and the hunt. And when I say the hunt that is every moment up to pulling the trigger. Enjoy all of it, because one day you’ll be to old or f’d up to keep at it.

[Ron.C]

Enjoy all of it, because one day you’ll be to old or f’d up to keep at it.

^^^^^^^Good advice right here

[Rieber]

http://huntingbc.ca/forum/images/shades_of_green/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by RackStar http://huntingbc.ca/forum/images/shades_of_green/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=2123821#post2123821)
Enjoy all of it, because one day you’ll be to old or f’d up to keep at it.

- You know, I'm taking this to heart because that really sums this game up - doesn't it?

[drewsky]

Amen to that.....

[GreatWhitePopogeebo]

When you see buddy get his rifle take 3 shots shrug your shoulders goto the pub have a beer and remember the look on his face works wonders

[walks with deer]

i believe deer are like dogs they feel anxiety..if they can do it so can you..agree with rackstar post..enjoy it bud.

[walks with deer]

plus at least you havent had the guilts for killing yet..

[Vini]

Agreed that is part of road hunting. Shitty for you but par for the course. I would be upset myself as they did see you and continued to hunt that close. And probably not the safest thing to shoot in an area where there are definitely hunters on the ground. If we pass an empty parked truck or see people with boots on the ground, we move on fairly quickly. Last thing I'd want to do is accidentally shoot someone. You will get your chance as long as you get out there.

I'm going to hyjack your thread slightly...

What are the HBC member's thoughts on blocking a spur road with your vehicle as you hunt the area? Obviously confirming that no other truck is trying to get out. When we come up on a truck parked on the side of a spur road and know it may only go a short way further, we do a quick 360 and find another road.

[Rieber]

What are the HBC member's thoughts on blocking a spur road with your vehicle as you hunt the area? Obviously confirming that no other truck is trying to get out. When we come up on a truck parked on the side of a spur road and know it may only go a short way further, we do a quick 360 and find another road.

Can't do nothing except wish them peace and love and good hunting. Can't do nothing about it anyways so just move along.

Or you can winch his truck out of the way so you can drive by. Then hopefully you get to see the look of his face as he wonders how you got past his vehicle.

Don't block roads.

[whitlers]

This is crap and when I see a truck blocking a spur road so nobody else can drive in I feel like winching a big log under their truck or let the air out of at least two of their tires. Who the hell do they think they are? A good idea here is to drive up to the vehicle and start honking your horn or fire a bunch of shots to get their attention and make them think you're messing with their vehicle. Maybe if you can, take a poop right at the driver's door so he has to avoid the mess. If that guy ruined your intentions of hunting that area by blocking you out, you should have fair opportunity to ruin his hunt.

Or you can winch his truck out of the way so you can drive by. Then hopefully you get to see the look of his face as he wonders how you got past his vehicle.

Don't block roads.

I agree with this. However if someone is parked nearing the end of a spur road and NOT blocking it. I will usually turn around and let them hunt the area in peace. There is always somewhere else to hunt but I do not condone someone blocking a road. That is BS

[Wild one]

Agreed that is part of road hunting. Shitty for you but par for the course. I would be upset myself as they did see you and continued to hunt that close. And probably not the safest thing to shoot in an area where there are definitely hunters on the ground. If we pass an empty parked truck or see people with boots on the ground, we move on fairly quickly. Last thing I'd want to do is accidentally shoot someone. You will get your chance as long as you get out there.

I'm going to hyjack your thread slightly...

What are the HBC member's thoughts on blocking a spur road with your vehicle as you hunt the area? Obviously confirming that no other truck is trying to get out. When we come up on a truck parked on the side of a spur road and know it may only go a short way further, we do a quick 360 and find another road.

Don’t block roads it’s a dick move and if you are going to act like a dick expect to be treated like one

[RyoTHC]

This is crap and when I see a truck blocking a spur road so nobody else can drive in I feel like winching a big log under their truck or let the air out of at least two of their tires. Who the hell do they think they are? A good idea here is to drive up to the vehicle and start honking your horn or fire a bunch of shots to get their attention and make them think you're messing with their vehicle. Maybe if you can, take a poop right at the driver's door so he has to avoid the mess. If that guy ruined your intentions of hunting that area by blocking you out, you should have fair opportunity to ruin his hunt.

Or you can winch his truck out of the way so you can drive by. Then hopefully you get to see the look of his face as he wonders how you got past his vehicle.

Don't block roads.


every time I find a vehicle or trailer blocking a public access FSR I take pictures of license plate and vehicle, document time and date and forward it to the CO.

and each time the CO has been very thankful for the information and has followed up.

[Rieber]

I agree with this. However if someone is parked nearing the end of a spur road and NOT blocking it. I will usually turn around and let them hunt the area in peace. There is always somewhere else to hunt but I do not condone someone blocking a road. That is BS

Absolutely - and exactly what I do. I don't want to interfere with someones hunt and I don't want to hunt someplace where I know someone already is in. A little respect and common sense is all that we can hope for.

[ratherbefishin]

Sometimes you can work it to your advantage, i was up on opening day and road hunters all over the place.I like to walk and shot a nice buck ,later a guy came down and he had a really nice one- he had gone up to the top of the his and watched as the buck crossed the road after the road hunters passed and kept moving up the hill right to him.The road hunters never even saw the buck

[HarryToolips]

This is crap and when I see a truck blocking a spur road so nobody else can drive in I feel like winching a big log under their truck or let the air out of at least two of their tires. Who the hell do they think they are? A good idea here is to drive up to the vehicle and start honking your horn or fire a bunch of shots to get their attention and make them think you're messing with their vehicle. Maybe if you can, take a poop right at the driver's door so he has to avoid the mess. If that guy ruined your intentions of hunting that area by blocking you out, you should have fair opportunity to ruin his hunt.

Or you can winch his truck out of the way so you can drive by. Then hopefully you get to see the look of his face as he wonders how you got past his vehicle.

Don't block roads.
What really gets,their attention is poop smeared under the door handles...

To the OP: I know it sucks but that's hunting sometimes..,the buck you originally saw may not have been there anyway, mulies don't stick to a core range near as commonly as whitetails..

[Sharpish]

This is rubbish. If the spur road is a short one, and you were there first, parking on it states that fact. It’s usually not big enough for more than one anyways. Move on and don’t **** someone else’s hunt up.

You think a 300 yard long spur road is big enough for 2 or 3 guys? Get out of your god damn vehicle and do some walking. Asshats.

[Sharpish]

Or get up a little earlier and stake out your own spot first. If I see a vehicle on a spur road I move on. Someone always has to be that guy driving past your truck and doing loops past you while you’re hunkered down in the bush at first light.

[boxhitch]

............You think a 300 yard long spur road is big enough for 2 or 3 guys? ............Definitely.
Not sure what you would expect for a buffer around your parked car. Just because it is pointed one way or on a spur is no indication of where the owner is travelling
I park off the road, but in a days travel sometimes can be 2 km away in any direction, depends where sign and wind leads me. A parked vehicle has no importance or claim as far as I am concerned.
Just be cautious and aware of your target background

[Wild one]

This is rubbish. If the spur road is a short one, and you were there first, parking on it states that fact. It’s usually not big enough for more than one anyways. Move on and don’t **** someone else’s hunt up.

You think a 300 yard long spur road is big enough for 2 or 3 guys? Get out of your god damn vehicle and do some walking. Asshats.

I try to give others space if I see a truck parked off to the side and go elsewhere. But block the road my level of respect goes way way down. It’s almost like someone is challenging me on who can be the bigger asshole and well let’s not go there lol

Roads are for vehicles and people can use them for many reasons beyond hunting. If you choose to road hunt expect to have the risk of running into other vehicles. Want to be left alone get off the road that was built for the purpose of driving on

Yes respect to your fellow hunters and giving space is the right thing but a little common sense from all parties is needed. Don’t forget those roads are used by more than just hunters

Sure glad I avoid people as much as possible when I am hunting because entitled idiots piss me off

[northof49]

No right to phuck with someone's vehicle, let air out of tires and smear shit around.....grow up. Also recently took a young fella out to introduce to hunting and parked off to side at entrance to last cutblock at end of branch road and hiked in to a good vantage point to sit and watch the sweet spot till last light. Sure enough....last 1/2hr asshat shows up drives right by my truck at side and proceeds to drive every old spur in the block jump out and glass every inch of it while stereo blasting away. It was obvious we had walked in to stake it out for last light and would be sitting there somewhere. That is a dick move....and wasted our evening. Sounds like some here think there’s nothin wrong with that. If its the end of the road move on. No need to be on top of each other.

[SemperAurum]

Last I heard, it was still a free country and folks are allowed to legally, drive, hunt, walk, or play music anywhere that they choose.

If your vehicle is parked somewhere or you decided to walk some where it does not gve you exclusive rights to the area.

[Redthies]

There are tons of dicks out there. I hike when I hunt, and while I can’t help cringing a bit when someone rips around near me on a quad, it’s public land, so I have no more right to it than they do. I try and think, “meh, maybe the deer they spook will head towards me”. It does still piss me off some times, but what can you really do without being an even bigger dick?

[The Hermit]

For me, it's not all about the kill in fact it's way more about the journey... learning from mistakes, being out there with friends, or cruising the timber solo step by slow step and taking in as much nature as possible. I've been bow hunting elk for 13 years without killing one. I've learned that the more I focus on killing one the more frustrated I become and the less I enjoy the experience. Hope you kill soon and get over the angst.

[Ubertuber]

Keep trying OP, the bucks are out there, you just need to keep at it

Blocking a road, no matter what size or distance to the end, is a douche move. I wouldn’t smear shit on their doors, but I understand the desire. Take a picture of the vehicle and the surrounding and send to CO. It’s about all you can do.

Remeber children, road blockers are douches, don’t be a douche. Simple as that.

[slowjo]

Don't carry those thoughts around with you . . . . let them go. Your chance will come again. Enjoy your time in the field.

that says it all. public land hunting is full of pitfalls. persistence is key. there’s likely more deer to be had.

[Rieber]

What I say I would like to do, or feel like doing and what I actually do are two very different things. First off, I simply get pissed off for about 5 seconds, probably mutter a couple curse words to myself and then move on and forget about it. Hunting time is precious and I'm to old to start any confrontations - you never know who you're dealing with. Last thing that I would ever do is create a situation that endangers the life of someone out there. You never know, a guy could have a medical issue that needs immediate attention and he may only have moments to spare to get himself to safety/help. I'm not going to complicate things for anyone.

I like to leave others alone and also like being left alone. I don't touch anyone's property - don't want anything to do with it. If I see a vehicle in a spot that I had hope to go to, I just turn around soon as I see them because I consider the area ruined for me for the day because I have no idea what was done in the area. There's other days for me. Ruined might be too strong or incorrect word.

Now here is where I back-pedal a little - if the the guy(s) were in a short dead end that is safe to target shoot in (with a good backstop like a dirt bank), then blocking the road does provide a good measure of safety.

[northof49]

Good to hear but post 34 sure sounds childish and concerning. Hopefully just the keyboard talking. Certainly sounds confrontational and bordering on vandalism. So much area out there I just don’t get the anger. Can’t understand trying to disrupt their hunt and phuck with their stuff.

As for myself I have never blocked a road and when if I find someone already hunting in an an area I could care less and simply move on. I would hope others would do the same. I hope they have a good hunt and are successful. Best to always have back up plans or go scope out some new areas and just enjoy the time out there.

[Bugle M In]

I have seen a bad thing happen when one person blocks a road, and another tries to let that person know that it was wrong.
Didn't work out well for either groups, just a bunch of smashed up trucks, no bullshit!

Why people block the road, I have no idea!
I have gone o then near end of a spur road, and pressed my truck up into the timber, just so someone else could get by, or, better yet,
to not be a dick!
Truth is, my truck is there, so that should tell someone I am around most likely, especially if it is not a campsite.
Now, if that person also wants to hunt the same hill, nothing I can do about it.
Just be warned, I hunt it hard and all day, so I ain't going no where.
If anything, I will use them to my advantage if I can.

But I get how some want to tow a truck off the road if it is blocking.
I almost concur in theory, but reality I different!

Video, video, video!! of truck and plate and if you have a gps, put that in the pic with the vehicle in question.
Then forward on.
It may take time, but the owner will get a call.

[MichelD]

I don't want to make out I'm a saint or anything, but I always pull off to side of any road I'm parking on to let people get by if they want. I may be walking farther up the road, but chances are I will be way off in the trees somewhere.

[Sharpish]

I think it’s more offensive when the idiot decides to drive around a Jeep Parked at the entrance to a 200 meter long spur road and wreck someone’s ambush.

[Wild one]

I think it’s more offensive when the idiot decides to drive around a Jeep Parked at the entrance to a 200 meter long spur road and wreck someone’s ambush.

first if the person is new to the area they may not know it’s a 200 meter road. Second many would assume your in the bush hunting when they see your truck. Third it’s a road you should expect trucks that is what it’s built for

Myself I would have went elsewhere but likely I would have also been at my location already. Completely support giving other hunters space but where is the limit.

I work in the bush if I see your truck and it’s where I need to go work do you expect me to go elsewhere?

When I ran a trapline would I need to avoid checking the sets in the area because of your truck?

Yes other hunters should respect eachothers space but let’s use common sense if you’re going to hunt on Or right near a road you need to understand you are choosing to take a risk of being interrupted.

Roads are built for travel and not just hunters if you want to limit odds of being bothered get in the bush. Don’t block a road thinking you own it either because it maybe be screwing with someone’s job or a crews job and possibly an emergency situation. DON’T BE A DICK or you will in time run into someone who won’t tolerate it

Sucks you had your ambush screwed up but pick a better spot next time is the lesson you should learn from it.

[Rieber]

Before I got married in '87, I worked several years in Mining Exploration and believe me when there was a vehicle blocking the roadway - oh man, there better have been a strong reason why that road was blocked. Hunters did not receive any love for blocking roads and it happened several times up Laredo and up the New Denver/Silverton area. I've been right there when trucks were pulled out of the way. DON'T BLOCK ROADS unless is a safety issue. I would consider a few things to be safety issues like: washed out road, imminent land slide, half the road missing, someone blasting or someone falling a tree.

Anyways, I'm just out there to enjoy the backwoods and I'm going to do my best not to interfere with anyone else out there. As a backwoods user, you decide for yourself how you wish to be treated out there and act accordingly. You chose how and where you park but when you impact someone else, don't cry if you find that someone has decided to take action to deter you from you repeating that same incident.

Peace and love Bro's - DON'T BLOCK THE ROADS.