Have tundra taildragger, I will fly us, know where we can hunt elk in the west?

[weber8993]

Hi guys, I am a brand new member to Eastmans'. Just started today. I have hunted elk for 35 years. Just killed a nice 6 pt with my bow this year. But I would like to try hunting some new areas and new states. Does anyone have some harder to reach areas where there are some good elk in the west (ID, WA, WY, MT)? I live in Oregon. I have owned a plane for 20 years. I have over 1,000 hours in back country tail wheel. Currently I fly a Cessna 170B with 180 horse and tundra tires. She flies at 145MPH and lands at 36 MPH. She does real well, has a weight limit of 950 lbs. I just refurbished this bird to brand new. I have flown and landed the Frank Church Wilderness. I have flown to Kenai Alaska and salmon fished. Have flown the Rockies many times to Indiana and to Minnesota.

What I would love to do is find some new areas that are difficult to get to without a plane or horses. I can fly us in if you know of spots like this. I have landed in driveways. Grass. Dirt. Small rock. If anyone would like to team up to find some big bulls, send me a note. Lets open the dialogue. I am not very good with this technology, so if I don't answer in a few days, maybe email me at [email protected]. I really appreciate Eastman's making this forum possible and for all your time even considering my idea. Happy hunting!

 

[sneakypete]

What a great offer! I hope someone takes you up on the offer!

 

[drifli]

So what's you"re screen name on BCP ?
Welcome to Eastmans, great place, great people and a wealth of knowledge!
I've spent a little time in planes, mostly the kind that leave red streaks on hillsides but I grew up in the smaller variety -180's, 210's.

 

[Slugz]

Weber,

Welcome to the forum, always room around the fire for another. Thanks for the offer, retired Tomcat/Super Hornet guy here living the elk life in Colorado. Will keep my eyes out and ears open. Where in Oregon are you based out of?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I have flown and landed the Frank Church Wilderness.

AM I wrong....I thought it was illegal to land in a wilderness area unless it was an emergency?

 

[Awise1]

Is that the Chamberlain Forest Service airstrip you have flown into in the Frank Church?

 

[mntnguide]

There are numerous Legal airstrips throughout the frank church wilderness...Thats how most people get in and out of it. There are a lot of pilots who go around landing at all the different strips throughout the summer and fall...REALLY annoying when you are trying to hunt in there sometimes! haha. But yes, it is fully legal to land at the airstrips within the Frank

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

There are numerous Legal airstrips throughout the frank church wilderness...Thats how most people get in and out of it. There are a lot of pilots who go around landing at all the different strips throughout the summer and fall...REALLY annoying when you are trying to hunt in there sometimes! haha. But yes, it is fully legal to land at the airstrips within the Frank

Thanks, I did not know that.

 

[drifli]

Frank Church is full of old Back Country strips. You would be amazed at what goes on in all the states with the big push towards Alaskan Bushwheels. This combo has turned some great backcountry planes into amazing short strip - land almost any ware planes. Check out BackCountrypilot some time. What this guys and gals do is amazing!

 

[tim]

Colorado
Idaho has a lot of strips in wildnerness areas. a lot of them. they can be very useful or annoying, depending on your situation.
most where in before the 1964 wilderness act.

 

[xtreme]

The place where I broke my ankle has an air strip. You could literally hunt elk from the strip as a matter of fact I talked to a hunter from Cruces who could have shot a 360 bull there, I forget why but it was illegal for him. Another hunter killed it later in the season. Its Beaverhead Work Center. Easy strip to land on for just about any plane. I could even land my Bellanca. I don't fly now but had some great experiences even flew down to the river in the Grand Canyon. I always wanted a true stol.

 

[TimberJunkie]

I flew into the Selway Wilderness with a friend about 15 years ago, we went whitetail hunting, we definitely saw elk, no real big bulls, but really a cool spot. There was a guide in there too, but they were really cool with us being there. We stayed three days and killed a few really nice whitetail bucks. Can't remember the name of the little airstrip, but easy in and out for sure.

 

[TimberJunkie]

Just texted my buddy with the plane, it's called Shearer airstrip in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness in Idaho. Beautiful and remote.

 

[Shooter]

I flew into the Selway Wilderness with a friend about 15 years ago, we went whitetail hunting, we definitely saw elk, no real big bulls, but really a cool spot. There was a guide in there too, but they were really cool with us being there. We stayed three days and killed a few really nice whitetail bucks. Can't remember the name of the little airstrip, but easy in and out for sure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF36wlKKJGo

 

[TimberJunkie]

that's it. it was about a 20 minute flight from Hamilton, MT on the other side of the Bitterroot Wilderness.