Effects of covid on hunting?

[std7mag]

Here in PA, state parks & forests were shutting down because they claimed too many people were there.
So what's going to happen when literally hundreds of thousands are gonna be in our state parks, forests, and gamelands?

I'm also hearing that the first week will not be buck only. Which increases the number of people hunting first week.
Last time they did that it was like a war zone!

 

[K22]

I live and hunt in PA. Stop hunting public land long time ago - too dangerous - too many, ignorant, unsafe and inexperienced hunters.

The last time I hunted public land in PA was on State Game Lands which I had hunted many times before and knew the area very well. I leave the cabin at 5:30 AM, hike three miles in rough terrain to get to my "old faithful" spot, name so because on the opening day, I almost always see bucks because other hunters drive them to me because of the way in which they access the mountain. Just before day light this idiot sets up right in front of me, about 70 yards. I signal him with my flash light several times to alert him that I'm here but he ignores me. I'm really pissed so I walked down and confront him about ruining my stand. His response, "It's public land; I sit anywhere I want." This is only one of many such encounters I had on public land but I had had enough. It was the last time I hunted public land.

I'm fortunate that I have two private farms for deer hunting and five farms for ground hog hunting.

 

[Olspark]

Here in PA, state parks & forests were shutting down because they claimed too many people were there.
So what's going to happen when literally hundreds of thousands are gonna be in our state parks, forests, and gamelands?

I'm also hearing that the first week will not be buck only. Which increases the number of people hunting first week.
Last time they did that it was like a war zone!

I haven’t heard mention of that yet but I was glad to hear that e-bikes are no longer permitted on game lands.

 

[rkittine]

Sounds like the issues we always had here in New York in the Catskills. There I would only hunt on a parcel of land that a friend of mine owned and that was well posted and fenced. Farmers were known to truly spray paint COW on the sides of their livestock.

Bob

 

[Siko12]

I mean, We were all told to stay indoors so.... that a bummer.

 

[searcher]

I have applied for a certain deer tag in a very coveted "X" Zone in California for like 30 years or so. I opened up my mail last week and I almost fell over - I got it! I can only guess that either they felt sorry for me - or this Covid has stopped many folks from applying and that gave me a better chance in the draw. While I would have thought more guys would be out hunting - may be just the opposite?

 

[jds holler]

I don't know if you could credit Covid for this, but a face mask is the MOST important piece of cammo that you can use to hide yourself form most critters.

I learned years ago that when calling coyotes, we could pretty much toss all the fancy cammo clothing, and wear our face/head nets. jd

 

[Adam in WI]

we could pretty much toss all the fancy cammo clothing, and wear our face/head nets. jd

Like so?

 

[jds holler]

Yeah, that'll do. jd

 

[284winner]

Here in PA, state parks & forests were shutting down because they claimed too many people were there.
So what's going to happen when literally hundreds of thousands are gonna be in our state parks, forests, and gamelands?

I'm also hearing that the first week will not be buck only. Which increases the number of people hunting first week.
Last time they did that it was like a war zone!

While state, county and federal forest campgrounds get hunter numbers every fall, it's nothing compared to summer visitors. I think the numbers will be easily safe and manageable. Outdoors is a safe place for people to be around each other using common sense. Fisherman weren't using alot of common sense filling fishing boats with 3-4 people from different house holds but hunting is a little different.

 

[std7mag]

^^^ Says the man that hasn't had someone come & sit on the rung of your ladder stand, while you were in it!

Or found out at least 3 other people were hunting out of your stand.

 

[okie]

Sounds like the issues we always had here in New York in the Catskills. There I would only hunt on a parcel of land that a friend of mine owned and that was well posted and fenced. Farmers were known to truly spray paint COW on the sides of their livestock.

Bob

LOL

 

[sw282]

Back in the 90s l used to hunt with an Army friend during Bear Season. We'd stay at his families cabin near Coudersport in Potter County. We hunted public land and l commented about all the hunters. George commented, ''There will be 10 times this many on the first day of deer season''. Beautiful up next the New York border. Just don't make the mistake of hunting that area with Georgia tags... Got checked so many times game wardens started recognizing me.

 

[msinc]

If you come to my cabin you will not ne required to wear a mask!!!

 

[Toddmack]

I live and hunt in PA. Stop hunting public land long time ago - too dangerous - too many, ignorant, unsafe and inexperienced hunters.

The last time I hunted public land in PA was on State Game Lands which I had hunted many times before and knew the area very well. I leave the cabin at 5:30 AM, hike three miles in rough terrain to get to my "old faithful" spot, name so because on the opening day, I almost always see bucks because other hunters drive them to me because of the way in which they access the mountain. Just before day light this idiot sets up right in front of me, about 70 yards. I signal him with my flash light several times to alert him that I'm here but he ignores me. I'm really pissed so I walked down and confront him about ruining my stand. His response, "It's public land; I sit anywhere I want." This is only one of many such encounters I had on public land but I had had enough. It was the last time I hunted public land.

I'm fortunate that I have two private farms for deer hunting and five farms for ground hog hunting.

I can't even imagine hunting that way. Glad you found some private ground to hunt.

 

[Toddmack]

LOL

I'm with you Okie, we're both laughing at the same joke. Public Land!!!!!!

Just north of you, I lived a short time near Amorita. Just northeast of Alva.

 

[Park ranger]

This summer was crazy. Almost double the visitation. I’m exhausted.

 

[searcher]

K22's post made me think back about 30+ years ago when I was hunting near Beaver, Utah on opening morning. Well before light, I walked into an area scouted previously that showed promise. As it became light, I could see blaze orange everywhere around me - I'm talking like 30 hunters I could see in the same valley as I. Still, there were does running through the "gauntlet" in this steep valley, no doubt spooked over from another valley similarly occupied with hunters. So I decided to sit tight for a bit for fear of everyone thinking "I" was busting their stand. About 15 minutes into gray light, another string of does runs through, this time accompanied by a spike. Surely, there were 30 sets of eyes watching them. Then - BANG!. One of the hunters drops the spike with a poorly placed shot. (Fork-horn or better zone). The spike is flopping on the ground and everyone starts yelling for whoever shot the thing to go down and finish the job. Guys are yelling back and forth and pointing fingers towards whom they thought shot the poor critter. Unbelievable. This was truly a situation whereby any deer shot at - from any angle - would have posed high hazard to those around.

 

[gary0529]

I stopped hunting on public land 20+ years ago when I followed 2 guys off the mountain and overheard one say that he got off 2 “sound “ shots
Read that to mean he fired at something unidentifiable in the woods that made noise as whatever it was moved through the brush
Scared the crap out of me and have not yet returned to Virginia public lands to hunt

 

[Siko12]

Hunting on public lands are dangerous IMO, i have seen bullets fly in all directions, Some really laughable mistakes and i decided to stay off public lands.