BACKCOUNTRY BOWHUNTING

You dont say where or when youre planning your "extreme back country hunt," or how long you plan to be gone. It makes a huge difference.

What works for guys in mid to late august in nevada and utah wont work for later season in the mountain states. Packing enough calories, and the right gear can be a challenge if youre planing to be out for more than 4-5 days. Even with the lightest foods it is difficult to pack enough calories on your back for anything more than a week. Water can be scarce too depending on where you want to hunt. If water is scarce in your hunting country, you can bet that there will be lots of hunting traffic using it. . .

Generally, aside from safety and conditioning, food and water will be your limiting factors.

You might consider scouting a few places and caching water and food, or other gear you might need so youre not having to pack it all at once, or spend a lot of time dealing with when you want to be hunting.

there's lots written and discussed about this topic here on MM and other places. start getting in the best shape of your life and you'll do great!
 
Most Important BE IN GOOD SHAPE!

Get Cameron Hanes book "Backcountry Bowhunting" it'll be a great help.

____________________________________________________________________
"You can recover from a tough hunt, you can't recover from quitting" - Cameron R. Hanes
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-29-09 AT 10:23AM (MST)[p]

Yep,
Also wear some light clothes while hiking and change out of them completley for sleeping and that chilly next morning.
The sweat will chill you to the bone once the sun goes down.
It's hard to glass effectivley when you are shivvering and miserable.
Keep your boots warm overnight when on a cold hunt, the sweat will freeze if they are left outside.
I awoke to -17 one morning and can still remember putting on those frozen boots...no fun.
Your feet are your lifeline take care of them well and they will take care of you.
In the high country weather can change in an instant making you miserable at best, dead at worst.
Know just what you are getting yourself into.

Think light weight on every single piece of equipment you have, it all adds up.
Freeze dried meals are the way to go, light weight & filling.
Always consider where you are getting your water from, at 8 lbs a gallon it is heavy.
Is your water source safe?
Bring some sort of water purification system, giardia is the schitz.
When spiked on a high ridge, water will be way down in the canyon and you will need to go down sooner or later, sometimes that is a mile away or more.
As in all hunting make a plan as to where you are going and roughly where you will be camped and stick to that plan, tell someone back home, so they know how to find you.
It is real easy to hurt yourself when packing heavy loads.
Think about how you will pack out that animal, especially elk or moose let alone a big buck.
Lots to think about but backpacking is my favorite way to hunt.
Physically demanding? yes and very rewarding.
I do at least one backpack trip a year I'm set to do two so far this year.
Best of luck.
HH
 
+1 on Cameron Hanes' book, another good read is Public Land Muleys written by David Long. Like Cameron, David has some great advice for the backcountry hunter. The two books together give you some great ideas how to tackle such a hunt - preparation and gear wise and also contain some hunting strategy. Also, echoing what has been written above, you must be in great shape and you must invest in the toughest, lightest equipment you can afford. Food and adequate water are critical and must be planned for accordingly. It takes some real time and serious investment to pull off such a hunt, but the rewards are like no other. Good luck and if you think you want to do it - go for it!
 
Be in the Best shape of your life. That should go for most hunts (except maybe a backyard whitetail stand). Being able to go the extra mile, or pack out that extra load will make a difference. Plus is just good for your health to be in excellent shape.
 
Amen to caching a water supply....Hiking up high a couple times pre season,to drop off water/food gets the legs and mind in better shape. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking while you are up top too!

be prepared for WINTER in August.





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LAST EDITED ON May-01-09 AT 01:22AM (MST)[p]Thanks for all the advice... I currently have a pair of Rocky boots that i fear am wearing out and need to be replaced. Any advice on a GOOD boot that will hold up and handle backcountry terrain?
 
Again, search the forums there's 20 threads on that subject.

Again, the terrain makes a huge difference.

That said, I've had good luck with Meindle, i have and wear the Alaskan, the Perfect Hunter, and the Canadian, i've used the Lowa Sheep Hunters and a few swiss brands.

I've heard great news about kenitrek, and I know that Schnees has a great reputation.

Again though, terrain is the main factor, dont buy a full shanked mountaineering boot if you dont need one. . .

Buy the style of boot you need for your hunt or you will be sorry. If you have the wrong boot setup you will never forgive yourself. . . this is as critical a decision as deciding when to leave, how much food to pack, and where youre going camp . . . If youre feet go bad, so goes the hunt. . .
 
LAST EDITED ON May-01-09 AT 09:29AM (MST)[p]Tfinal, have you been to Nevada or Utah? the "mountain states" lol.
 
LAST EDITED ON May-01-09 AT 12:36PM (MST)[p]
Yes, i have, I'm sorry, i did not mean to sound condasending but western montana, up through eastern BC and western Alberta, most of central ans western colorado, western wyoming, parts of north eastern and central utah, and a few places in nevada are special.

We could argue all day long about this, the point I hope I made and the one that i think is clear to the person who posted the question, is this, location, duration, and time of year are critical to making the correct choices when planing your extreme hunt. You have more options in the warmer areas regardless of what state your in.

Red, if you have something useful to add lets hear it. . .
 
TFinalShot...
I didn't think you sounded condescending at all, you were just telling it how it is. I appreciate your advice, and the names of some good brands. One thing i keep hearing about a backcountry hunt is how your feet are the most important thing.
 
well T, supprised that post wasnt just nuked, seems to be a trend latley, you wouldnt know anything about that would you??

O,somthin useful, pick a spot and hunt hard..a bit of duct tape and moleskin arent a bad idea to have in the pack.
 
lets see if I can put in my two cents.
#1. hunt where water is not to much of a pain to get to.
#2. let your glass do the walking it's not like rifle hunting. You need to see them before they see you.
#3. It will be hot in Aug so I were my high toped running shoes. Lite, cool and I have never had to worry about hot spots or blisters. Will not keep the water out.
#4. Stalk in somthing other then just you boots or shoes. I stalk in wool socks. If you can't do that put somthing over you shoes to make them quite.
#5. Always check the wind. Twice!
#6. Never drink right out of the water sorce. Use a filter.
#7. Keep your pack as lite as you can becuse you will be packing a deer out.
#8. Load your pack then dump it out and start leaving things at home that you will not. Keep the things you can use for two diff things instead of just one.
#9. Be safe.
#10. HAVE FUN!


("For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9")
 
Cameron Hanes book is a good read and he makes a lot of good points. But remember a lot of these "influential," outdoor writers have a vested interest in the product they are promoting/using. Usually sponsored by the company supplying them with gear. They dont always use the best stuff, good, but not the best. Take it with a grain of salt. But I agree with everyone, a lot of glassing, good water source, and a great pair of lightweight boots.
 
hntfool summed it up nicely: "Pack light. Be in great shape and glass your ass off." I would also add.....if your hunting at high altitudes, camp at the trail head the night before you hike in.Helps acclimate you especially if you live at lower elevations. The next morning, take your time getting into your area. It's not a foot race. Save your energy for the 5-10 days of hunting you will be doing. Remeber, it's 10% physical and 90% mental. Be mentally tough!
 

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