Trad only bow area's ??????

[sbschindler]

IN Montana there are no Traditional only area's, at least that I'm aware of. We have some Archery only area's that are there for safety reasons and most are small units under a 100 acres's.

[RAU]

I dont know of any traditional only areas. As far as far as I can tell, around here anyway,these days any bow that is hand-held vertical is traditional, including the most aggressive, hi-tech compound any of us could ever imagine. Horizontal bows, mounted on a rifle stock and trigger fired is the determining factor in "MODERN ARCHERY". Sad but true. We"re all SUPER weirdos now!!!!!!!!!! WOOD ARROWS?!?!?!?!?!?  COME ON!!!!!!!!

[DeerSpotter]

I don't know of any in MN.


But My Northern 40 is !

[helo]

None in my neck of the woods. It is a great idea. I thought idaho had one at one time?

[slivrslingr]

The Trout Creeks look like this:

 

It's big country with lots of hiding places for the deer.  I've been lucky and found a place that holds deer, mostly smaller bucks and a few good ones, saw a huge 5x5 last time.  Been chased out by snow 2 of the 4 trips out there, not a good place to be stuck as there aren't to many people driving through after sage grouse season closes the middle of September.  

If I'm not mistaken, Idaho had a "primitive weapons" season, meaning stick bows and side lock muzzleloaders, but the compound and modern muzzy shooters didn't like it and got the game commission to cancel it.

[centaur]

I live 5 minutes from an "Archery Only" area that holds whitetails, antelope, and turkeys, but it is not trad only and to my knowledge is the only AO area in Wyoming. Lots of wheelie guys, but I have seen a recurve shooter there on one occasion. It is one of my favorite stump shooting areas in the off season.

[buckeye_hunter]

We have a "bow only" hunting area about 30 minutes away. You can also bowhunt the general hunting area across the lake. Prior to gun season hunting is actually better in the area where guns are allowed. Guys come in by the dozens to hunt with crossbows in the archery only area, but leave the gun hunting area alone. I guess they figure since there are squirrel hunters on the other side the deer will be more spooky.

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

Bow only is common here in Manitoba. Trad only would be something instituted by individual landowners as I can't see the province individualizing that way.

When establishing my bear outfit I wanted to be Trad only but after some feedback realized just as Mr. Grimes said in an earlier post. To deny a kid to hunt with his/her father just because of wheels was not fair. It did not represent who I am or what I believe in. Or for that matter, even denying a guy to hunt with his friends who might use wheels I find wrong. I am however lucky enough to have 250 square miles that will be almost all trad. only and for sure bow only.

The only issue I see with this type of segregation (that would benefit us trad guys) is that everyone would want their own weapon specific area reducing the areas we hunt now.

The whole idea sounds great but likely would create problems in the future. Again, private land would be the best way to go....Ryan

[helo]

Hey great picture silvrslingr country looks awesome. Just how long is that trad only season. Are n.r. allowed that might tempt me to try just for the reason of trad only and great looking country.

[Greg Skinner]

About ten years ago there was quite a bit of talk about establishing both trad bow only seasons and primitive muzzleloader only seasons for elk in specified game management units. There was also talk of either/or in choice of weapon. The issue wound up being extremely divisive amongst all the hunting community.

 Rifle hunters already resented bowhunters of any kind having an early season during bugling, so they voted against it.  Compound bow hunters just resented the fact that trad hunters would have any special season of their own, even though they always had the option to pick up a stick bow.

The game dept admitted openly that bowhunting of any kind was not a very reliable management tool because of the low success rate, so game management was not the real issue.  They suggested an A or B tag for select game management units to restrict weapons and/or choice of sex - bull or cow.  I was in favor of a C tag that would allow a person who wanted to restrict his hunting to a traditional bow that would allow hunting in any unit statewide.

  As it turned out politics won out and all we got was more restrictions on where we could hunt with any choice of weapon.  Really though, the wolves have had the last word, because some of the places I used to hunt back in the 90's are virtually devoid of elk today and it is not because of overhunting or lack of management.

In theory the trad only season or unit sounds great and would provide great hunting opportunity with minimal impact on game animals for those who chose to partake.  However, game management is more about managing dollars and people than it is about wildlife and numbers count.

[slivrslingr]

helo-The season is about a month long, usually opens the last week of August and ends the last week of September, check the ODFW web site for specific dates.  It is a draw only unit, but there are unlimited tags so it's a guaranteed draw, non-resisdents are more than welcome.  The guy in the photo is my brother who came out from Missouri.  I'd contact the ODFW office in Burns and see how the winter was down there and get some ideas where to go.  My best advice for anyone going there is to give yourself plenty of days to hunt, bring good binos and a spotting scope, and be patient, the deer are there but not behind every bush.  

GS-Thanks for the clarification on Idaho's situation.

[bigugly1]

We have bow only areas but not for trad only. These areas are all close to towns and very hard to get permission to hunt on. I'll keep asking though lol

[Friend]

Western KY's Higginson Henry WMA is somewhere in the neighborhood of 4500 acres. Archery only during the spring turkey season. H & H was one of the sites that birds were trapped from and relocated to support KY's turkey re-intro plan back in the 80's.

[fredhill]

Originally posted by Manitoba Stickflinger:
Bow only is common here in Manitoba. Trad only would be something instituted by individual landowners as I can't see the province individualizing that way.

When establishing my bear outfit I wanted to be Trad only but after some feedback realized just as Mr. Grimes said in an earlier post. To deny a kid to hunt with his/her father just because of wheels was not fair. It did not represent who I am or what I believe in. Or for that matter, even denying a guy to hunt with his friends who might use wheels I find wrong. I am however lucky enough to have 250 square miles that will be almost all trad. only and for sure bow only.

The only issue I see with this type of segregation (that would benefit us trad guys) is that everyone would want their own weapon specific area reducing the areas we hunt now.

The whole idea sounds great but likely would create problems in the future. Again, private land would be the best way to go....Ryan

i agree. where does the segregation stop? should there be an area for guys who made their own self bow? should a match lock MLer get a special area away from those modern flintlocks? it's a personal choice what equipment you choose to use. your woodsmanship is the determining factor.

[snag]

Originally posted by slivrslingr:
As previously mentioned, Oregon has 2, Canyon Creek unit near John Day and the Trout Creek mountains in the SE corner.  Canyon Creek is only trad for the first week of archery season, but the Trout Creeks are trad only for the whole season.  The Trout Creeks are know for their big, but hard to find mule deer.  It's quite remote but you can drive in.  I've been there 4 times and hope to go again!

The big muleys don't migrate into the Trouts until after the archery season. The deer hunting is really pretty pitifull. Kind of like they threw us a bone. As far as the Canyon Creek hunt, as soon as the elk start to get pressured they come right down onto the lower private land. Better options than these two.

[slivrslingr]

snag-In my experience there, the deer are around, just in pockets, not spread throughout the unit.  Find a pocket, go stalk mulies.  I stumbled into a good spot my first time in there that holds deer and have had plenty of opportunities.  Most the bucks I've seen have been small, fork horns and 3 points, with a few nice 4 points as well.  The biggest I've seen was a huge 5x5 that is easily the biggest deer I've seen on the hoof.  They are around, but didn't get big by being stupid.  I think they lay up in the aspen thickets and move around at night.  Not to ask a stupid question, but where do they migrate in from?

[bawana bowman]

We've got 14,000 acres in Kansas that will be Trad only beginning the 2011 season at Caney Creek Outfitters. It's not stated on the website as of yet, been busy with construction of the new Lodge this year. Site will soon be updated with pics of the new lodge and changes in management procedures and hunting operations.

The new Trad only area has been open to wheelies in the past. But due to an excessive amount of hunters taking unrealistic shots, and wounded deer not being recovered, wheels have been banned.
They now have to play in the more open areas which we designate for firearms.

We also have 1000 acres in Alabama which became trad only this year. The property is only hunted 2 weeks out of the year. (Last 2 weeks of January)
Beginning January 2012, if enough interest, hunts on this property will be available only to Tradgang Members.
There are limited openings for these Alabama hunts, only 4 hunts available. (1 group per hunt, max of 5 hunters per group.) And an abundant deer herd.
Current limits are 1 Buck and 1 Doe, or 2 Does per day per hunter. No Trophy fees, just a flat fee for the hunt.
This property hasn't been offered on the website for a few years but will be back on as soon as the site update is completed.

Anyone interested can PM me for details on hunts for either property.

[RedSasquatch]

Kentucky has a primitive weapon only area connected to Boone National Forest at Cave Run Lake.

[camoman]

From what I understand we have several Bow Only places in Texas on Public land. I will be hunting public land next season if I'm not deployed and will be able to tell you more about it then.

[huntsfairchase]

None that I know of here in Wisconsin, but sure would be an awesome thing to see happen someday!

I shouldn't say "none", like many, our little 80 is traditional only! lol