How far do you hike in?

venison · Mar 19, 2004

On my hunt last year I ran into 11 hunters by 8:00 am,I did not get away from all the other hunters until about a half mile in ,I decided to take up muzzleloading just to have less hunters to deal with.My question is how far back in do you have to hike to have an area to yourself?I know each area is different,I am just trying to get info on how far in us mm members hunt.

ICMDEER · Mar 19, 2004

For me this is an "it depends" answer. If I am bow hunting, we actually do a lot of "road hunting" because it is early and there are not hardly any other hunters around. And amazingly, the bucks seem to hang by the roads that time of the year in the area where we hunt. Hiking is actually less productive.

In rifle or muzzleloader season, I try to get away from people. It could be a mile, or more often 2-3 miles. Another thing I do is avoid opening days.

The last time I went to western Wyoming, I hiked in 4-5 miles and saw 14 other hunters by 10 am the opening day. I have not gone back because it is just impossible to get away from the crowds.

Good question.

NVMDF · Mar 19, 2004

Anywhere from 200 yards to 7 miles.
not a lot of other hunters where I
go.

NVMDF

BeanMan · Mar 19, 2004

When I hunt without horse support I limit myself to 3-5 miles. That's about as far as I feel like packing out a critter on my back. The steeper the country the fewer people I see. I generally set up a back country camp and freight in some food and cooking stuff a few weeks before season and cache it so I can eat well but still have a relatively light pack (30-40 pounds).

BeanMan

ridgerunner · Mar 19, 2004

Anywhere from 3-7 miles in. You could go a shorter distance as long as you include more verical. That tends to really make people drop out.

_droptine_ · Mar 19, 2004

4 miles seems to be the magic mark for most places I look at.

OSOK · Mar 19, 2004

AFAP.

kingfish · Mar 19, 2004

I hike to where the deer are....Not where the hunters aren't!!. Sometimes a little pressure is a good thing...

Cass · Mar 19, 2004

5-6 days AFAP. on bowhunts,
AFAP. daily on riflehunts
3-4 days AFAP on muzzleloader hunts.

-Cass

berto · Mar 19, 2004

2 miles x-country on foot.

around here it seems that is the max distance between trails/roads anyway!

Spartan117 · Mar 19, 2004

go till you see deer.

TheKnack · Mar 19, 2004

The steeper the climb to a hunting area the better in my opinion.
Not many guy's are as crazy as some of us.
If your legs are not burning then your not far enough.
Best,
Jerry

graybeard · Mar 19, 2004

As far as necassary!!! On a sunny hillside I can identify quality antlers from 5 miles away with my swarovski spotter.

couesbitten · Mar 19, 2004

In the last 7-8 years, I've seen, on average, about 1-3 other hunters in the field in the areas I hunt deer. I'm usually 2-5 miles in. I always hunt where you have to pack your deer out. Few hunters are willing to put in that much effort. I will also hunt in areas where the deer numbers are lower, and thus so is the hunting pressure. Most pressure I've seen recently, was 3 years ago in WY. Had to be 15 other hunters in the same general vicinity, and I was approx 5 miles in. I did miss a chance at a beautiful nontypical though. Haunts me to this day!
Where I hunt elk, I'm usually in about 2 miles. In 3 years of hunting this area, I have seen exactly 3 other hunters in the field.
Scott/Couesbitten

venison · Mar 21, 2004

Thanks for the replies,I plan on doing things a bit different this year,I plan on concentrating more on the high elevation timber pockets if I get into crowded conditions.That seems to be agood way to get away from the crowds,and I was surprised at the amount of game I saw in the timber(a mother black bear with 2 yearlings and a giant cow elk within 5 minutes and within 50 yards of each other)....jeff

BUCKSPY · Mar 22, 2004

No farther than I have to. You're plan sounds sneaky. How big is a giant cow elk?

elk_horn · Mar 22, 2004

How far do you hike in? What? how old are you? You Hike in as far as you want too! there are too many answers to that question....

BrianID · Mar 22, 2004

I'm with BUCKSPY, I won't hike any farther than I have to. Normally I hunt at a mile or so from the road but I have a few places that I hunt less than 300 yards from the road.

BCbucks · Mar 22, 2004

All depends on the animal I am after.

The last few years, I have learned that hunting where the crowds are isn't such a bad thing. The big bucks tend to still be there and they've adapted to the habits and tendencies of most hunters and avoid getting shot.

What I do is hunt differently than everyone else and the results have shown for themselves with some dandy bucks.

However, now and again, when I want to hunt unpressured muley bucks, I'll get into the most inaccessible and remote basins and hideaways that the average hunter won't work to get into and stay in there during prime hunting time....which in my view is dawn till dark.

BCBOY · Mar 22, 2004

One Step. LOL! Seriously man, it don't take much to get away from the crowds up here. I can go an entire season without seeing another human footprint. Even in areas that get pounded by road hunters, I step out of my truck and take a couple of steps into the timber and I have the whole place to myself. LOL! But even at that, I love to cover the backcountry. Not uncommon that I'll hike in 10 kms to where I want to do my serious hunting. I guess it all depends on where I've seen the big ones in the past. I find myself hunting those areas more than the areas close to the truck.

IdahoMuley · Mar 22, 2004

As far as it takes! if i know theres a big one i will walk for a hundred miles.

BOHNTR · Mar 22, 2004

Well I don't know exactly how far it is, but I do know I tell everyone it's farther than actual each passing season.

BOHNTR )))----------->

Moosie · Mar 22, 2004

"How big is a giant cow elk?"

ALL you dumb guys are the Same... A Giant Cow Elk is like the "LEAD COW" or a "FAT DOE".. It is a Bit bigger then a "BIG" forked horn, but smaller then a BUTT LOAD of Cows together.

Venison, Lemme give you a tip, If you're after a COW, shoot the Smaller one, They taste better and they weigh less

NOW, ON to the Question... I actually like to Road hunt. I think that there is nothing like sneaking up on a Buck with a new Hondad 45CC GMT PC 4,500 with a Fat 3-GR Lift suspension fronted with a 1k HP wench to Yank that sucker up out of a Borrow Ditch once ya Dump it !!!!! That being said, Every now and Then I leave the Rod for a Bit... Can I bless you with some Pictures of Myself on some trips ? OHHH I can, Well GAAAAAWLY, thanx PArd,

HOW FAR !!!! WOW, GOOD Question. I often Ask myself that exact thing !!! I have set some Standards and Here are some Examples of some Different Critters with Different Distances to Help you judge......

ELK !!! BIG decision. They get a Bit more Heavy. You shouldn't go back in more then 5-6 miles without horses, These are truely BIG HEAVY animals...... that being said, Some of us still look over the 5-6 Mile ridge to see whats there :

Here I am packing a Spike Elk out last year a Buddy Shot in the Hills last year about 4.8 - 13.8 Miles Back in... (I'm bad at judgeing distances actually so Bear with me). It wasn't a bad Hike out, I got most of it out in the First trip and It was Mostly down hill. My buddy was Tiered so He packed out the Jackets. I was Truely thankfull !!!! If you Look Closely at the 2nd Ridge over behind me you can See the Canyon the roads in. Rule of thumb, If you can See the Road , You're too close, Heck, I'm guessing this trip Fully loaded didn't take more then 10-11 Hours :

Although I like Snow, Sometimes I just like Hiking up roads. Which Gets me to Hunting DEER !!! This buck was an Easy hike out of a Canyon and uphill only 1,350' To the top. this is a buck I got last year. Notice it says Stay on trail... Shhhhh don't tell all my Road hunting Buddies I left the Trail to get a Deer, they will be mad !!!

I went on a Backpack trip with a Buddy last year to get him a Deer too. this trip was only 5.2 Miles in so (Mostly those WUSSY TRAILS) We figured We'd go Light and Only bring in ONE dutch oven to cook on. I also Brought my Video Camera but Lest the Film in the Truck.. OOPS, I did Remember the Gun and Bullets so Don't give me too bad of a Time.

IN AK I was Dropped 6 billion Miles last year from NO were so my Moose dam Near walked into camp... I'm not sure how to tell you how far I hiked in cuz I think it was less then 1/4 miles.

My Idaho Bull a few Years Ago was only 2 miles off the road. It was Downhill most the way after getting it out of the Bog....

WELL.. THAT About Covers it... A few other Critters you might Get would be :

SKUNK, 1-2 Miles :

Chamoise or Tahr, (Cheat and Use a Helicopter to fly you into camp

)

.....What I do know (LAst but not least... Is a "TROPHY" COW you were talking about. I would recommend infinity miles but use a 4-wheeler, Like I recomended from the get go :

PS, If you need anything else please ask.

[*] -Moosie

~~If you're going to walk on thin ice, Ya might as Well DANCE !!
WALK the TALK, Or shut the HECK UP !!

venison · Mar 22, 2004

thanks for sharing those pictures moosie,nice animals. thanks also for the serious responses. I dont post much, and most of the time it is to poll the hunters here so that I might learn a few things that will make me a better hunter.Maybe some of you thought it was a stupid question,I didnt think it was,I can sure see where founder was coming from on some of the smart asses that frequent this site. A giant cow would be like moosie said,A herd cow,and I am 44 years old and I am not A rookie, I have got my animal 8 years in a row now,but I am always willing to learn more.Most of the time it is not the animal I was hoping for,thus my quest for information continues.Good luck and good hunting to everyone this season....jeff.

Moosie · Mar 23, 2004

Thank you for the Response. People here should folow my serious Responses. All this Smart alec crap if Diiiissssssspicable !!!!!

Good luck on your Trophy hunting this Year Mr Venison. It is Obvious you care Greatly on finding a Spot without people and Realised last year you actually need to leave the road to find a spot. If you follow my advise, You'll see more then that elusive trophy cow and a sow and cubs.... I promise you, or your Money back !!!

[*] -Moosie

~~If you're going to walk on thin ice, Ya might as Well DANCE !!
WALK the TALK, Or shut the HECK UP !!

Deerlove · Mar 23, 2004

Moosie whats the key to finding trophy does?? LOL You know the big fat herd doe? Russ

Moosie · Mar 23, 2004

Deerlove, A trophy DOE is no Laughing Matter. Some people take it real serious. Here is a Link to such an Event :

http://www.geocities.com/doerecords/

I've worked Hard at that website with fellow hunters to establish a working relationship with the Great Outdoors.

(Once my first website failed It was All About NINJAS !!! Here is a Link to that one :

http://www.realultimatepower.net/

I can Talk more about the Art of NINJA and how it helps you to Flip out and Kill MAssive Cow Elk but Thats a Chapter in my Book I'm writing. More info At the end on this on that stuff... BUt moving right along.....

I'm more of a "LEAD COW" hunter myself. Here is some meathods I've used to Establish if a Cow is Truely a "LEAD COW". Some might think I'm kidding but just like the TROPHY DOE comment, this is Serious stuff I tell ya !!

Here are a Few Pictures I took while Hunting the Elusive Spike Elk last year. this first picture is a 3rd LEAD COW sneaking through the Bush. I knew it wasn't a Lead Cow because it didn't exume the authority, It looked around and Waited for another Cow to make it's choice. then it Slipped out :

I also Busted these two that were Followers , Not leaders :

But if you see such Cows, You can Always folow them to the CASTLE (As I call it) were the Lead cow is at. Below you can see what I mean. In this Picture below, there is a cow standing in the Middle. Lokjing downward. Now, Most Novice hunters would Shoot this Cow thinknig ti was the Lead cow. But it's not. After studying it for almost 2 hours, I determined it wasn't the right one. It takes Pacients and Hard work to establish Hunting guidelines and Self disipline not to shoot a Unworthy Younger Imature cow.

As you notice in the Next picture, ALWAYS carry good Binos. this picture I'm carying a 8x32 set of Swarovskis but usually I have a Pair or 10x42 simmons. the 10x's only cost me 14 Bucks I think but well worth the Investment. What I like most about them is Even when It's foggy or rainy the Clarity is THE EXACT same as it is when It's clear. there is NO difference. With the Swarovski being so Clear, Once it's Foggy your Eyes aren't used to it...

in this Next picture, Look how the front cow takes Charge and LEADS the rest of the Cowws off.... truely the Animal I was looking for !!!

I had to leave them so as not to spook the Rest of the Cows so We came back the Next day and Found them Again Fortunately...

We followed them And Caught them on a Hillside. NOW, In this next picture (Never been Released yet.) You will get an ADDED Bonus !!! If you look closely the Elk standing next to the Lead cow on the Right (Looking at teh picture) is a Spike elk !!!!

The Lead cow is Jsut to the Left of it with her Hiny (Pooper) facing me. I think she realised she Was safe once we found this Spike. the Spike HArbored nice 14" long points with a Little trash on one side. If you care I do have Pictures of it but I don't want to get off the topic we started on.

Anyways, good Questions. If you have any more Questinos Please Ask. Unlike most people I take the Internet Serious and Think everyone is Entitled to an Honest answer. I'm actually working on my own Website right now but Jsut can't get the Funding. I'm trying to Sell this trophy cow hunting Bok but haven't found a Publisher yet.... Something about People won't buy it and My typing Sucks... I tell you what, I'm sitting on a fetchin' GOLD MINE !! Anyone interested in this Investment can Email me.

Anyways, I need to eat lunch now but I'll be back. God luck to everyone hunting trophy cows and FAT DOES !!!!!

[*] -Moosie

~~If you're going to walk on thin ice, Ya might as Well DANCE !!
WALK the TALK, Or shut the HECK UP !!

venison · Mar 23, 2004

moosie,I do have a question.Do you ever get right into the black timber and blowdowns,the real thick stuff? I guess my whole point is that I never really have made a point to hunt the black timber,and I was surprised at how the animals seem to be so much more calm than those that are more in the open ,and they were not as hard to spot as long as you move through the stuff extremely slow.I will still hunt the edges of cover like I usually do,but from here on out I will spend at least aportion of the mid-day in the thick stuff. A last minute equiptment failure forced us to hunt out of a motel ,so that is why I had the problem with not getting back in as far as usual.

I really appreciate your comments moosie,I think we meed more dialogue on hunting tactics around here if the more expert people are willing to share. thanks,jeff....

Moosie · Mar 24, 2004

When you reference "EXPERT" I'm asuming you're talking about someone else. I'm a Novice and I'm just out to learn like the Next guy. But I'll do what I can

I hope I don't offend anyone with the Analigy but Hunting is just like SE{|}. You need to spend time getting ready, You need to do it as long as you can, And go into the thick of it and not Skirt around the Edges.

Having a Big gun helps too because You can Shoot farther (Back to hunting now, Stay focused).

[*] -Moosie

~~If you're going to walk on thin ice, Ya might as Well DANCE !!
WALK the TALK, Or shut the HECK UP !!

TheKnack · Mar 24, 2004

LMAO!!!!!

RLH · Mar 24, 2004

this was all good, except for bcboy talkin' in metric terms. it's miles dude, miles. you're just tryin' to impress us 'muricans cuz we think that a kilometers is further than a mile. now next time i'm tryin' to kentucky windage somethin' i'll be thinkin' "meters or yards?". then after i miss "musta been yards". stop cornfusin' me.

Moosie · Mar 24, 2004

RLH, I agree, I actually was going to Fly up to that Beer drinking, EHHH saying, save the queen believing Country and Slap him. But, I figured some people jsut need to make themselves look good on the net and Like to Blabber about nothing ... *WHO ME* ?

Just o you can Figure it out,

25.4mm = 1"
and 3.280839895 feet = 1 meter (Unles it's a Survey conversion (Design programs such as inroad for Microstation) then it's 3.28083333333 which Blows when you convert State plane coordinates over because in Idaho you're in the 2.4 Million Series for the eastings. Over a 2 mile Stretch of Rehab project it can Cost you several Feet !!!! Blows BIG time. See, We were doing a Property aquisition and the Conversion...

Ohhh, You guys don't want to hear other people that talk just to make themselvefs luk Smart. Never mind.. Asx another Hunting question again

[*] -Moosie

~~If you're going to walk on thin ice, Ya might as Well DANCE !!
WALK the TALK, Or shut the HECK UP !!

RLH · Mar 24, 2004

good hell, bring back the bigfooters. you guys have entirely too much ejukayshun fer me. when i think standard, it's like 3/4" and 9/16" and stuff. you know, wrench sizes. when i think metric i think "who was the damn commie that invented this crap", because i'm tryin' to make a crescent wrench work on somethin' that i ain't got a wrench to fit. now we got metric distances too?!?! hell with al queda, lets attack canaduh and their metric shootin' guns. all we'd hafta do is stand yards away instead o' meters and they couldn't hit us. why don't bcboy post metric antler sizes too? man i'm all confused.............

Cass · Mar 24, 2004

The video of moosies spike hunt was hillarious
Otta see him bust his collar bone trying to ram a tree

-Cass

BCBOY · Mar 24, 2004

LMAO!!!
I don't know much bout the imperial system, except maybe when it comes to the B&C scoring system. They started the metric system just before I hit school, so I don't know nothing else. LOL! I believe Moosie gave the right mathematical formula to convert Metres to Miles.

Moosie · Mar 25, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Mar-25-04 AT 11:31PM (MST)[p]You know you're talking to a Canadian when he types "Metres"

Hey Venison, What happened bro, did ther Word SE{} offend you ? I was jsut trying to help you out.

CASS, Wasn't it here that I got Reamed for being an UNETHICAL hunter cuz of the Tree Incident ? Heck, Seems like a guy posts something funny (OHH yes it was

) and he's Unethical. Next you're going to tell me Finding a Sheep atractive isn't right... SHAME SHAME, I remember back on the farm when.. Regardless, My Point is, I come in here, MAke some serious posts .. Excuse me while I stop Snickering.... Uhhhh OK, Like i was Saying, some Serious Posts and he's unethical.

(Need me to post that link again

)