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.

[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..