Daily Hunting "circle"

[2rocky]

When you are hunting out of a fixed camp (and plan to return to camp that night), What is a reasonable distance in your mind for that path?

 

[Gr8bawana]

It usually depends on how far we have to chase the elk. If we can see or hear them we're gonna keep going. We don't really have a pre-determined distance.

 

[2rocky]

Let's assume you are still trying to find the elk....once you are in 'em all bets are off!

 

[Hilltop]

Let's assume you are still trying to find the elk....once you are in 'em all bets are off!

You guys have to look for them?

 

[Gr8bawana]

I think we would keep going until dark. We always carry some food and water but no overnight gear.

 

[Timberstalker]

Where I typically hunt it is common to travel 10 miles on foot to find elk. Keep in mind this is not 10 miles in, just 10 miles of zig zagging and cross county. I'm rarely more than 2.5 miles away from camp or truck.

 

[tttoadman]

I went with 4-6 because that is what i like to do. Not always reality.

 

[WYhunter24]

I carry a small amount of overnight gear (heavy duty tarp, space blanket, down jacket, and extra snacks). With my "day pack" I am set up to spike out overnight if I'm in a great area. I have only ever used this once, but I was glad to have something better than the clothes on my back to stay warm if I find myself in a killer area that isn't worth leaving and coming back to super early.

Maybe a few years of spiking out on fires around the west made me jaded as to what a "bed" is...

 

[Gr8bawana]

Elk beds are a good size

 

[ivorytip]

i think a lot of people walk in just a little to far than they need to. if that's their thing then more power to them. I use to go way back in, now I look for places that people walk past to go in deeper or places people just drive past to go up higher. been great for me, but it also makes a diff on the elk pop in ur area.

 

[Head in the Clouds]

Last season, my biggest concern was killing one farther in than I could pack out. My second was running into a mother bear with cubs.

I managed to find out that ~3 miles is doable for one guy in three trips, but I think 5 would have been my limit. I also found out what it feels like to meet that mother bear... Thankfully, she didn't decide I was a threat...

This year, I'm going with more of a "just hunt and find a way" approach... And I'm taking bear spray.

My question is, how do you judge just how far you walked without GPS tracking? I calculated my pack trip from the map plus a little extra for elevation. My general experience has been that most guys overestimate the amount of walking they do.