How far in do you backpack?

[Rob P]

What's the furthest that you have backpacked in or you are capable of packing in and can realistically carry out an animal on your back? No horses.

I remember one Eastman's episode where Nate Simmons said he was in 18 miles! That's pretty damn far. Personally 3 to 5 miles is all I've done.

 

[Firearrow]

I went in about 11 last year for mountain goat in MT. Hike about 6 miles that evening, and the rest the next morning. 18 miles is what he might have wound up going in total, but he could have started at 9, and just had to go back further to find game. I say, and this is just me, go in only as far as you have to. So people will even agree with this, there is good animals 3-5 miles in to Wilderness Areas, you just need to know your area. Hunt smarter, and harder.

 

[zachbow]

I have hunted in as far as 11 or 12 miles. Havent had to pack anything out of there yet. I get really picky when I get that far in. I am going in there this fall. Think I am gonna line someone up with horses to come pack out my bull for me. Thats just to far to pack an elk out of on your back. I think I would pack out a deer that far, but would rather have some four legged friends for an elk.

 

[BOHNTR]

Depending on which area I'm hunting.....4-9 miles in.

 

[wolftalonID]

I love all the creature comforts of base camp. I only go in as far as needed, being where I set up base camp is so far into the back country as you should be to find em.
I hike about in the day and go back to camp at night.
Like Firearrow said, hunt smart, not hard. Although combined can be fun from time to time!

 

[307Wapiti]

I usually hunt with my old man who has horses and we pack in 6 miles from the trailhead. Last year was my first season hunting archery with a friend and we backpacked in a mile and a half with a 1500' gain in elevation. Ended up packing my bull out 3 miles, and it was gnarly country. I enjoy the "work" part of the hunt too though . . . it's all part of it.

 

[twp1224]

6-8 miles to basecamp and then hunt in a 2-3 mile radius.

 

[AKinID]

The furthest I have packed in and out was 12 miles, on a Dall Sheep hunt with my dad. But the most difficult pack was on a backpack hunt for moose. The pack out was 6 miles, but we had to do it 3 times.

 

[hoytnut]

I went in 15 mi.s on one trip, but I didn't kill anything. I had my chances, but passed due to the size and location of the animals. I think every responsible hunter needs to assess his own ability and then weigh out what capability he has to ethically get that animal out. For every hunter and animal killed this will likely be different. I've personally witnessed too many hunters wasting game because they killed the animal in a tight spot or rough area and I've always promised myself that I would avoid doing the same. Therefore, when I hunt I always keep in the back of my mind whether or not I can get the animal out successfully if I kill it.

 

[*******]

Average is 8 to 11, sometimes up to 17 or 18. Depends on the area and the duration. I've never done a hunt that was more that 5 miles back for less than 2 days of solid hunting.

 

[wolftalonID]

I put on the pack frame, strapped by 5 year old son to the back and hiked to the end of the road and back. Getting ready for the season! lol

 

[Wyoflightmedic]

I went in 15 mi.s on one trip, but I didn't kill anything. I had my chances, but passed due to the size and location of the animals. I think every responsible hunter needs to assess his own ability and then weigh out what capability he has to ethically get that animal out. For every hunter and animal killed this will likely be different. I've personally witnessed too many hunters wasting game because they killed the animal in a tight spot or rough area and I've always promised myself that I would avoid doing the same. Therefore, when I hunt I always keep in the back of my mind whether or not I can get the animal out successfully if I kill it.

This is spot on. I have even seen hunters who do not pack in waste animals because they went to far from their main camp or truck.

 

[mthuntress]

Depends on hunting pressure; avg. for me is 1to 10 miles from road. I took my best mulie buck to date in '08 becuase I "got back in" away from the other hunters.I packed him out 13 miles on my back and no I didn't waste any meat and it was one of the best eating deer I've had in years.It's the hunters responsibility to take the proper care for the animal that they harvest and I hate hunters who waste any meat!
The buck I ended up nicknaming "Fish hook" due to a kicker that looks like a fishhook scored 163 3/8 gross.
And yes I'd due it agian

 

[Twojump]

There is a limit to what I will do... an area I hunt a lot has an area outside my comfort zone. I know there are animals in there, but on my solo trips it's just too dang hard to get them out of there alone... without an extraction plan or help, you would waste a lot of the animal by killing it too far away.... I myself will let them walk if I get that far away.

Usually 6 to 8 miles is about as far as I go alone...

 

[Twojump]

I think you have to consider more than just miles too... weather conditions can play a big part of the situation too.... if you were 3 or 4 miles out and you killed a big bull and it was 85 degrees out... you'd have a big problem there too...

It's probably different for each hunter.... know your limits.

 

[Maxhunter]

Farthest I've pack is 17 miles for dall sheep in AK. Out west anywhere from 3 to 8 miles mostly when solo. If I get a deer I bone it out completely 1 trip. An elk will take me 2-3 trips solo boned out. Horses would be nice but I don't like the hassle of dealing with them. Hiring a packer would be a good idea but I'm afraid they'll know my good hunting spots and then everyone knows. I always come back later to get my camp last.

 

[SDbowhunter]

Therefore, when I hunt I always keep in the back of my mind whether or not I can get the animal out successfully if I kill it.

Good words to live by

 

[ID_MW]

It always sounds nice; going in light and deep and coming out heavy- but its that heavy part that can never be underestimated, especially if you hunt solo. If the pack into a backcountry unit seems difficult, wait till the adrenaline wears off and you have yourself to thank for the heavy load of meat and gear on your back, with more of the same over the course of a few days of packing, unless you get help or hunt with a buddy. This is not a threat or warning, its a promise. Pride can occasionally take a backseat to the reality of a grim hunting dilemma: Will that meat hung up in the tree spoil before I can get it out? Honor your kill; know your limitations and vary them accordingly to the situation.

 

[anglinarcher]

Dang, I'll be 6-8 miles back and I know I'll have a good set of chores to get the meat out without spoiling. I'll be cooling in water tight bags in a stream for a spell to buy myself some extra time as well.

 

[8750]

++ on cooling in the stream.