Shooters/hunters

[CapLock]

What do you guys think about recreational shooting in the mountains during big game season? As a hunter I've never heard lots of shooting during a big game season. As a shooter I don't want to ruin a hunt for anyone. Should I even worry because it's not like I'm hiking back miles to target shoot. Really just be hard on the road hunters I guess. Not like they are going to harvest anything anyways.

Whats the general opinion on this?

[Colorado Osprey]

I wouldn't worry about ruining someone's hunt. It happens all the time during bow season to bow hunters. That's part of hunting public land.

As a general rule I don't go anywhere near the woods during rifle hunting seasons because I am afraid of getting "accidently" shot.

[espAmerica]

A couple of Cautions:

Firing a gun in a hunting area during the season may get you a visit from the Game Warden. If you do not have a valid Licence (and caliber West of I-25) how will you prove you were not hunting (poaching)?

If you mess up someones hunt they may call you in for "harassing hunters" which is illegal in Colorado.

[spqrzilla]

I don't know any of the usual shooting areas that are not right on public rights of way. I can't think how shooting there is going to ruin anyone's hunt.

[van7559]

I would tend to tell ya to shy away from the idea. But it is public land so you all have rights! Be curtious and all should be fine

[gnihcraes]

Archery season, we always would shoot in camp, but never out in the woods. This would be about the same I'd think during gun season? (all safe, proper directions, backstops, not across roads etc)

[Danimal]

Hunting near a normal shooting area is dumb, so chances are you wont ruin a hunt for someone else. Though anyone that would hunt by a normal shooting area is dumb, and might actually have a higher chance of them shooting you.

I wear bright colors, not necessarily orange, but bright unnatural color and go to places that normally have other people shooting for recreation. If there are people shooting there all the time, chances are the animals know they don't want to be there normally, and don't hang out around those areas during the rest of the year. You wont ruin anyone's hunt.

I would not wander back in the woods early in the morning or in the evening near last light wearing a fur coat and antler hat if that is what you are getting at, though I hear that is the only way to target shoot these days.

[TRnCO]

while I was archery elk hunting in unit 61 this year I heard gun shots on several occasions and it was obvious that someone was target shooting by the number of rounds that were being fired. I would guess that the shooters were maybe 1 mile from where I was hunting, and the elk were not bothered by the gun shots. It bothered me at first, I kind of had the thought "are you kidding me", but after watching the elk totally ignore the noise, I didn't let the shots bother me either.

By the way, on one occasion who ever the shooter was needs to practice better trigger control. Just because it's a semi-auto doesn't mean pull the trigger as fast as possible. When your girl friend got her turn, she probably out shot you because she emptied the mag. much slower.[Tooth]

[jgang]

A couple of Cautions:

Firing a gun in a hunting area during the season may get you a visit from the Game Warden. If you do not have a valid Licence (and caliber West of I-25) how will you prove you were not hunting (poaching)?

If you mess up someones hunt they may call you in for "harassing hunters" which is illegal in Colorado.

Couple of questions:

1. Is it illegal in CO to hunt predators with "sub-caliber" weapons during big game seasons in certain areas?

2. Is it prima facie evidence that discharge of a "sub-caliber" weapon constitutes hunting/poaching? I.e., isn't it up the the GAME WARDEN to prove you WERE hunting/poaching?

Just wondering. I am fortunate to have my own place in Wyoming and never worry about such things.

[TRnCO]

1) NO
2) NO

To expand on #1, a person can legally hunt coyotes without a small game license during a big game season if you have an unfilled big game license, BUT you must only be hunting coyotes in the same unit that your big game license is issued for. Harvesting a coyote does not void your big game license.
Also not required to wear orange if only hunting small game during big game season.

A freind of mine and I had a run in with a landowner/hunter a couple years ago and he threatened to call the game warden because we were calling coyotes and didn't have orange on. I told him to call the warden because we were also
1) carrying an electronic call....which is illegal for big game
2) I was carrying a .204....which is illiegal for big game
3) I was carrying an AR with a rnd. capacity of more than 5 rds...illegal for big game
4) no orange...illegal for big game
5) didn't have a deer tag,...this took place during late plains deer season..


After argueing that we MUST WEAR ORANGE, the guy never did call the warden, because I think in the back of his mind he knew we were right, but since we were right along the fence of HIS property, he wanted to give us hell and make sure we knew that he was watching us...We ended up calling the warder and reporting the jack wagon because in the end he was harrassing us and we'd done nothing wrong and we hunt in the area a couple of times a year and wanted it on record that the guy had basically harrassed us, WHICH is against the LAW..

[spqrzilla]

It is illegal to hunt small game and furbearers with a rifle of greater than .23 caliber during regular deer and elk seasons west of I25 without having an unfilled big game license in your possession.

A sort of silly regulation but still, citeable.

[Song Dog]

A couple of Cautions:

Firing a gun in a hunting area during the season may get you a visit from the Game Warden. If you do not have a valid Licence (and caliber West of I-25) how will you prove you were not hunting (poaching)?

If you mess up someones hunt they may call you in for "harassing hunters" which is illegal in Colorado.


To the OP,
I was spoken too last year during blackpowder/archery season by the CDOW for "harrasing hunters". It's not a charge that's taken lightly. They threatened to confiscate any licenses(hunting and fishing) and also threatened to not allow me to buy any for 2 years after the date of infraction and also a $130 fine. "It is the general public's responsibility to know where to target shoot during any hunting seasons." -per the DOW officer. So with what I was threatened with, I do not target shoot in any public land area during any hunting season. I go to a range. After the incident I found my actions to be rather disrespectful to my fellow hunters. I mean, how would you like to spend $ on a license, only to have your game be chased off by someone not even hunting. I'd be pretty damn pissed off. But that's my opinion, yours may difffer. It's your license and money...shoot at your own risk.

[blackford76]

Several years ago, another forum member and I picked up a couple new guns at the Tanner. It was in the middle of rifle season for elk, we couldn't wait to try out our new toys, so we went to the Harris Park USFS "shooting" area to let 'em rip.
As we were getting ready to pack up and head home, we were confronted by two elk hunters who said they were camping "just over the hill", and that we had ruined their entire hunting trip. I was about to apologize when the smaller crabby guy changed his hold on his rifle to what could only be described as "menacing".
To the many of you here who have dealt with MX'r (Josh), know that he doesn't f^ck around, and he isn't small. Well, I'm bigger than he is, and much less tolerant. Keep in mind that we are both holding our 'new' Golani sporters, and open carrying 1911's. Crabby guy's buddy takes a quick step back and un-slings his rifle. I'm thinking this shit is about to get stupid, when Josh sees a herd of elk walk out of the tree line behind the hunters. Josh points to the elk, and said in his best sarcastic drawl, "Yup, sure did bother them there elks with all our shootin."
Well, I guess only the one guy had a cow tag, and he filled it right then and there.

[spqrzilla]

The only time I really got pissed off by target shooting while I was hunting was at the edge of the Flattops Wilderness, east side off Dome Peak. I was hunting along a hiking trail and was headed back to camp midday.

As I was coming down the hiking trail, just where it met the forest service road, I found a moron had set up his sighting in target and shooting bench such that he was shooting across the hiking trail. His target was not against a bank but instead, his impact area was also not 50 yards away from another's camp 1/2 mile down range. F'ing idiot got a large piece of my mind, personally delivered.

[CapLock]

I tried to go up again today. Didn't want to go too far, so went up by Idaho springs. Place was full of people. Never did get to fire a shot. Also think I'm going to look into the Colorado Rifle Club. Seems that they have no waiting period. If I don't get my trigger time I'm not a happy camper.

[Diesel24]

This actually occurred to me at the beginning of archery season, I went out to shoot my AR in the woods and about halfway into it i realized it was archery season. I immediately stopped because first of all i didn't want to shoot anyone by accident, and i also didnt want to ruin somebodys hunt. So it's the range for me from now on until hunting season is over! Well except for when i actually go out to fill my tag lol