Using Creek bottoms to hike into the high country

[JohnWayne]

I'm hunting Wyoming Area F and am interested in hunting at the mountain top where a creek forms. I'm thinking about following the creek bed up to where I want to Glass from (couple miles in). I'm have a hunting partner, wondering what other experienced hunters think. Might be easier traveling, very steep in some areas, average width 30 to 70 yards wide some large boulders and scrub trees NO willows.
Would it be to risky being that other predators may also use this corridor? High grizzly populations and probably cougars as well. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[arwaterfowler]

Hiking along a creek in the willows is the last place I wound would want to travel in Griz country. I would suggest looking for an alternate route of possible.


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[wa-hunter]

in my experience creek bottoms usually aren't the easiest path of travel do to lots of brush. i tend to stay high on ridges for ease of travel but everywhere is a little different.

 

[Hilltop]

I like to have elevation when I'm hiking for the most part. Better visibility and usually less obstructions than in the bottoms.

 

[JohnWayne]

Agree, from Google Earth they look like pretty smooth going. I'll explore following the creek and getting up on a ridge and walking it is a better option. Have any of you guys coyote camped out in griz country? I've hunted for 6 years in Wyoming around Cody never saw a wild bear but have seen a few tracks less than a day old.

 

[Triple BB]

Well Duke, I say give it a shot. Best way to learn what not to do is do it once.

 

[tim]

a lot of times the creek bottom gives you good access. Been there, done that, did it, will do it again.

 

[mnhoundman]

We hunted F last year, either I'm a grizzly magnet or there are alot of bears there! We saw them almost every day with one close encouter. Walking the creek bottoms would be good, but the one I went through was full of grizzly sign and made for a spooky walk I retreated back out to where I could see. Seems like in that country you are watching your back for bears more than watching for deer.

 

[badgerbob]

Creek bottoms have a way of ending up in a headwall here. That is they get steeper and steeper until you come to a point where several draws drop down into it and it is literally a cliff and no longer accessible.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Agree, from Google Earth they look like pretty smooth going. I'll explore following the creek and getting up on a ridge and walking it is a better option. Have any of you guys coyote camped out in griz country? I've hunted for 6 years in Wyoming around Cody never saw a wild bear but have seen a few tracks less than a day old.

Google Earth make things look a lot flatter than they really are. I have found that walking along creek bottoms whether they have water or not, many times the brush is way too thick to walk through. Lots of times the canyon walls will narrow down and you will find yourself unable to climb out of the overgrown creek bottom.

 

[mntnguide]

Trees fall down..usually in creek bottoms is where I have found the most tangled messes of all sorts. I prefer ridges without a doubt. I like to be above where game might be and I use elevation to my advantage...being in the bottom, does you no good if you spook something and I cant call or locate very well when im in the bottom of something compared to being on top. So what if it takes a little more in the morning to get onto the ridge to hike, the creek bottom takes you to the same spot, but usually it gets steeper and rarely have I found them easier to navigate. . . Also, what appear to be "scrub" trees on Google Earth, might look VERY different in person, just gotta keep that in mind. I have found myself in a nasty hole a time or two due to looking at google earth and thinking.."that looks nice".....

 

[Horsenhike]

Bad plan overall. Occasionally creek bottoms allow access, primarily when the ridges are off limits, but have never been kind to me.

They also funnel snakes. I hate snakes.

 

[roknHS]

Creek bottoms are places where you die and the buzzards won't even fly in to pick the bones...............

 

[tim]

one thing I have found is the internet is full of hard and fast rules and it all depends on terrain. Are you above or below timberline? are you in thick woods or ponderosa pine stands that don't have a lot of underbrush. Are you concerned about where your scent goes.
are you concerned about not letting animals know you are there. So it all depends. I have found creek bottoms to be very useful and I have found them to be full of underbrush and a pain in the ass, it all depends. So I can't and won't make an unprecedented you should or you shouldn't.

 

[sodaksooner]

I agree with Tim, It just depends on the creek....You don't really know till you get there. Just be prepared with an alternate plan.

That said, we normally stay out of the bottom and just bite the bullet and get some altitude. Most of the time that works out better, at least in my case.

 

[go_deep]

Creek bottoms are places where you die and the buzzards won't even fly in to pick the bones...............

LOL!

I've got one place I walk up a creek bottom, till it hits a massive canyon then I hike high and go around.

 

[JohnWayne]

Thank for your thoughts. I'm going to explore other options, good luck this hunting this fall.

 

[ivorytip]

creek bottoms have been the end of me several times, ill be tired and wore out and glass down at a creek bottom and say to myself.... that will be so much faster getting to camp. most of the time im climbing back the way I came to get out of that thick wet brush.....but did jump a big a$$ buck in the thick bottoms too one year.