Being one who hunts public ground, ive noticed that ive pretty much had the run of the mill in my area, seeing only 3 other bowhunters all season!
Maybe its timing, as far as my coming and going, but it sure is odd not seeing more folks bowhunting, even with the new xbow legislation.
Im not complaining, but im wondering if any others have seen a decline in there areas? :coffee:
i see more bowhunters out here now for sure. seems theyre everywhere somedays...
I've seen fewer people this year on the public land I hunt in PA. (I've also had one of my better years in terms of seeing deer.)
I'd assume combo of the economy and gas prices is limiting many guys to a few weekends.
wish we could say that here. I have seen more people on public hunting than any other time I can remember. Have friends tell me the same thing here..
No shortage of bowhunters here in Washington state - at least in the roaded areas that I occasionally like to hunt...keeps me returning to wilderness areas that are more difficult to access....
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
I have hunted local State land 6 or 8 times this year and have yet to see another bow hunter. No cars parked at pull offs, I also have not see any upland game hunters this year either......not sure why! I have been near a few swamps and have heard them hammering the ducks and geese.
They're out there. At least hereabouts. Drive in with ATVs in the dark and then sit in stands, so you don't run across them on the ground.
This past week I saw trucks around the public ground I hunt from seven different states. No shortage of bowhunters around here.
If I saw fewer bowhunters I would regard that as a resurgence! :laughing: :laughing:
QuoteOriginally posted by huntnmuleys:
i see more bowhunters out here now for sure. seems theyre everywhere somedays...
X2
I liked bowhunting 25 years ago. People thought I was crazy to hunt with a bow. I was alone out there.
25 years ago I was hunting with a Dick Palmer longbow and a back quiver. You can just imagine the stares and chuckles I got.
I hunt on 600 arces of state land havn't see any one hunting anything here in Northern Mi, a few 4wheelers runnning up and down the road! Firearm season starts Thurs that may change!
All my friends say the same as me, cant afford the time off to hunt at the moment(economy). and for them(the other bow hunting type) they say prices of their equipment went up with the economy going down.
I don't see a lot of bowhunting around here.
I have noticed a slight drop where I hunt in illinois, I believe it has alot to do with economy and prices than anything. not only do people believe they need to spend alot of money to get into it, but the price of gas has hurt too, I feel it, and alot of local business feel it too.
I have not been at all this year. I have a new job and I am in training/school. Try to pass on the tradition and take a child or friend hunting.
Depends on the area here. Archery only area's, I tend to see less. In the areas that have multi weapon seasons, they are out there as much as ever.
I thought that when I retired there would be plenty of time to hunt....boy was I wrong. Busier now than before. Have had the opportunity to go twice though.
Danny
Shortage of time and the price of fuel has effected the amount of days hunted for many folks I believe.
As for other archery hunters around my area there aren't any , I'm the (odd) man out there. I live in the midst of the farming community and access is unlimited during archery season but very restricted come November 1 ( gun season and road hunters). I think the amount of time needed to archery hunt during our current life style causes a lower number of people to hunt with a bow. Maxx
Depends on the area here. Archery only area's, I tend to see less. In the areas that have multi weapon seasons, they are out there as much as ever.
I've seen 4 times the number of bowhunters compared to deer at Pigeon River this year. I don't think I'll be going back anymore this year.
There are a lot of bowhunters in this part of FL (Tallahassee), but it seems to me most of them hunt private land (hunt clubs/leases big around here) or you don't see a lot of them cause they think there's no more deer on the public parcels (wrong). I went out a few weeks ago and still hunted a neighboring county's public parcel(5000 acres) and saw ONE other hunter and his truck, nobody else in the whole place. Stalked a group of three does in to 40 yds, but they made me :( lol. Then this past weekend I stand hunted in the 2500 acre public parcel right by my house, and its getting toward the end of archery season there, saw only THREE other hunters (person/vehicle.) Heard quite a bit of antler clashing out by the river and definitely heard a buck callin and making noise approaching within 60-70 yds of my stand but I never saw him. There are plenty of deer around. It does seem like gun season is waaay more busy though, cause then every dolt with a rifle and a license shows up wanting to "blast" something, haha. I certainly have never felt crowded bowhunting public land so far.
Last year our elk hunting area was over run with archery hunters and everyone i talked to said they weren't coming back.... well this year it was nice and quiet.... they DIDN'T come back. :thumbsup:
too steep for them pansy's anyway... LOL
Work before play for many I would say.
Was out today and seen zero bowhunters, Two weeks ago seen 6 xbow hunters. Have only seen two wheelie hunters in the woods all this year. Seen alot of smokepoles in the early season.
I hunt in NE Pa public land,and have seen a ok amount of bow hunters.
Have seen a ton of deer and bear.
Can't wait for Monday, Archery bear opens! :)
Deer numbers have been dropping around here for several yrs. and so are deer hunters. I never see anyone where I hunt anyway, but notice less campers, hunting rigs, etc. in area.
Fewer people here too..... I was wondering the same thing. Less people at the state land I pass, a few die hards every morning on private property. I think it is the the thought that if you can get work right now, take it.
more bow hunters here than gun hunters, the local store/greasy spoon looks like a major tourist stop with all the out of state tags.