If you could have been told just one thing.....
- Thread starter ScottR
- Start date
HuskyMusky
Veteran member
be prepared for it to suck! lol, but kind of seriously.
Expect not to find animals all over or right away where you think they should be...
expect to find many hunters.
strongly consider what your minimum size trophy you'd take will be...
this isn't TV, booners aren't everywhere,
trophy big game hunting on public land DIY isn't usually easy... to be successful.
Expect not to find animals all over or right away where you think they should be...
expect to find many hunters.
strongly consider what your minimum size trophy you'd take will be...
this isn't TV, booners aren't everywhere,
trophy big game hunting on public land DIY isn't usually easy... to be successful.
swampokie
Veteran member
Work out and get into better shape before you ever attempt a western diy hunt. By far the most important thing to me being a flatlander.
Kentucky hunter
Active Member
swampokie
Veteran member
az.mountain runner
Active Member
Everyone has given great advice and tactics if I was to sum it all up it would be , be the best boyscout you can be.
CrossCreeks
Veteran member
Just do it ! Years before my 1st hunt I stressed and planned and worried about when I should go and how much I should spend. I had a good friend that had hunted in Montana for years. He told " just do it ! do not keep waiting because if wait until you really think you can not only afford but actually accomplish it you may never do it or you will waste years that you have been hunting. Took his advice and have been hunting out west almost every year since 1993. I wish I had gotten this advice 10 years prior ! All the information given is great and needs to be considered, shooting, equipment, planning, research, ect... but just do it !
ckink65284
Member
Trim your toenails short. If not, you will wish you had...
Pack your cell phone and camera in a ziploc bag. Maybe throw some rice or a desiccant bag in there if it's going to be rainy.
Pack your cell phone and camera in a ziploc bag. Maybe throw some rice or a desiccant bag in there if it's going to be rainy.
xtreme
Very Active Member
Don't camp at 13,000 your first time out west. Maybe check the weather and yes you may need a tent. My first trip was to the top of Pole mountain in unit 76 in Colorado without a tent and It came a snow storm, about 18 inches. I did have como with my family base camp. Really wasn't that bad.
humbletaxi
Member
Don't expect the area or terrain to look like it does on google earth. What looks like really promising a spot on the computer tends to be a lot different looking when you get there, so have plenty of backup spots so you aren't let down when you get to your "honey hole" you found by satellite imagery.
hoshour
Veteran member
Make your pack as light as possible and then lighten up more, take plenty of water and purification tablets, get your pack adjusted right, don't forget to carry the t.p., pack an extra pair of glasses, get in shape and when you get there . . . slow down!
If you haven't got a light but steady tripod you'll have a hard time seeing much of anything. Make sure you know how to use your gps. Wardens and biologists are usually willing to talk and can be very helpful, as can taxidermists. Get a merino base layer and socks.
If you haven't got a light but steady tripod you'll have a hard time seeing much of anything. Make sure you know how to use your gps. Wardens and biologists are usually willing to talk and can be very helpful, as can taxidermists. Get a merino base layer and socks.
swampokie
Veteran member
Be darn sure and pack a headlamp so you can skin that muley that you down at last light 3 miles from the truck! Learned this one the hard way.
*******
Active Member
There will days of pure suffering.
It is going to hurt.
There will be times you will be afraid.
Keep going.
You can always walk another mile, but you can never take back surrender.
It is going to hurt.
There will be times you will be afraid.
Keep going.
You can always walk another mile, but you can never take back surrender.
Take good pictures, and start a photo album or a facebook album and put a description of the year and the area of your photos. Always get good and hydrated before you leave the truck, and know your surroundings. Buy a headlamp and hike in when its dark get on top and put your good glass to work! Enjoy yourself and your surroundings, and a good buddy to hunt with always makes a hunt better. The 160 mule deer in my garage that i packed out 5 miles of the biggest ****hole by myself on the last day to hunt means alot more then the 185 hanging in the house that was shot less then a mile from the road first day of season.
rsess32
Member
i'm from utah and we hunt the high country as well. Since you're accustomed to the altitude and rugged terrain i don't need to get into the importance of getting in shape. My advice would be to get a good backpack, and get as high as you can (not smoking pot high).
CoHiCntry
Veteran member
Good info right there! Seems like a lot of guy's only wanna hunt if they can kill a trophy animal. Problem is once they're there they may not have the skills to get it done. Then there's disappointment...