Helicopter acess to BLM

Y

Yell Co AR Hunter

Very Active Member
Dec 10, 2015
864
707
Yell County Arkansas
I was just wondering if you could use a helicopter to drop hunters onto land locked BLM lands. Fly in your camp set up and hunt and when your done have the helicopter come pick you up and fly you out.

The reason I was wondering is the fees for access and guide fees are getting so high. I notice a lot of outfitters are leasing up the land which land locks BLM lands. In a lot of cases leasing a smaller amount of land may give sole access to thousands of acres of land.

Anyway just thinking.
 
Bonecollector

Bonecollector

Veteran member
Mar 9, 2014
5,861
3,667
Ohio
I've actually thought about this. 2-3 guys and the cost would not be too bad. I'd plan to stay for 6-7 days to justify cost.
 
Y

Yell Co AR Hunter

Very Active Member
Dec 10, 2015
864
707
Yell County Arkansas
NDHunter said:
I think it can vary by each state but for the most part, you can do that. Also I think on some state lands, you can't actually land. Maybe a helicopter could hover a foot off the ground and you jump out? Check out this hunt on some landlocked BLM. https://rackcamp.com/2016/09/27/video-hunting-elk-and-defending-public-land-in-montana-in-landlocked/
Click to expand...
That is great and just what I was thinking about. I bet it would hack off some outfitters. They do have a pretty strong lobby and might push to not allow fly in hunting. Just searching around a guy can spend $5,000 up to around $10,000 for a guided hunt.
 
B

BuzzH

Very Active Member
Apr 15, 2015
910
953
Yell Co AR Hunter said:
That is great and just what I was thinking about. I bet it would hack off some outfitters. They do have a pretty strong lobby and might push to not allow fly in hunting. Just searching around a guy can spend $5,000 up to around $10,000 for a guided hunt.
Click to expand...
The outfitter lobby in Wyoming couldn't do that without changing statute, and trust me, they don't want to go down that road. Also, the outfitter lobby in Wyoming isn't nearly as significant as it was 7-8 years ago. Ask them how it worked out for them trying to get 75% of the NR tags pushed into special draw. They spent about all the political capital they had trying that...and had their arse handed to them bigtime.

As to your question regarding flying into landlocked BLM, its not a problem from the BLM side. Your biggest hurdle is going to be finding a helicopter close enough to where you want to fly in to make it affordable. A ship along the lines of a bell 206 jet ranger is about $750-900 an hour. Depending on where, you may want to look at fixed wing as well...
 
Last edited:
buckbull

buckbull

Veteran member
Jun 20, 2011
2,166
1,351
Sure you can. Randy Newburg I know use to do that to reach public ground that is surrounded by wilks brothers property.
 
JimP

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
7,302
8,676
71
Gypsum, Co
Just remember that quite a few states have a restriction on hunting up to 48 hours after you have been flying into a area, so that would add a couple of days to your hunt. Also with Wyoming's checker board public/private lands you might end up just hunting just a section or 2 of land before you run into private.
 
J

joens

Member
Nov 30, 2015
92
3
Miles City, Montana
The US forest service maintains remote airstrips on us forest service land for emergency fire fighting purposes . usually permission is required to use them but that involves calling the guy in charge of that strip and telling him you are using it and when. Here is a list of USFS strips in north western states https://www.fs.fed.us/fire/aviation/av_library/AAD2000.pdf it includes other airstrips so not everything on there is a remote airstrip. Here http://www.shortfield.com/ is a website that maps backcountry airstrips . but with the right plane you don't need an airstrip
 
J

joens

Member
Nov 30, 2015
92
3
Miles City, Montana
Montana's law says you cant hunt the same day you were flying.

Aircraft may not be used to locate big game
animals for the purpose of:
• Hunting those animals during the same hunting
day after a person has been airborne or;
• Providing information for another person for the
purpose of hunting those animals within the
same hunting day after being airborne;

Idaho says the same thing about waiting till the next day for spotting and restricts helicopters to airstrips but not airplanes.

• To use aircraft, including unmanned aircraft, to locate
game or furbearing animals and communicate location
to persons on the ground, or to use any helicopter to
transport hunters, gear, or game except at established
landing fields.
• Make use of any aircraft, including unmanned aircraft,
to locate any big game animals for purpose of hunting
those animals during the same calendar day those
animals were located from the air.

Wyoming says you can't spot or hunt from an airplane but places no restrictions on using an aircraft for transport.


Section 12. Use of Aircraft to Spot or Locate Wildlife. No person shall use any aircraft with the intent to spot, locate and aid in the taking of any game animal from August 1 through January 31 of the following calendar year. Nothing in this Section shall apply to the operation of an aircraft in a usual
manner where there is no attempt or intent to locate any game animal, such as aircraft used for the sole purpose of passenger transport.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom