what do you consider "backcountry"?

[jtw]

I was thinking about this the other day. At what point are you in the backcountry? Does it require a pack in? Does it include day hunting in wilderness areas? What about roadless areas? And what about packing in behind a gate? What would you say is your line that needs crossed to be backcou try? For me Ive always considered it if I have to pack camp and there are no roads Im in backcou try. You?

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Each person that uses the term "Back country" will have there own idea of what that is. It could be as simple as driving down some Back country road.

[jstone]

I started to watch a hunting show they said they where going to hunt the back country. They got in there 4x4 machines and drove in. That's not Back Country. Back country is either using horses to get way in there or boot power.

[7mmfan]

Roadless area that requires walking or riding horses into. Usually allows you to get miles from nearest road access. Doesn't have to be wilderness IMO. There are places where you are allowed to use quads or side by sides or dirt bikes to access, AK for example. That is some real back county but you can ride machines all over it. I'm fine with that as long as the end result is a an area deep in the middle of nowhere that is difficult to access to the average day hunter.

[netcoyote]

I take it depending on the context. If I'm in my Jeep it means one thing. If I'm on foot it has a different meaning.

[BLUEBULLS]

Roadless area that requires walking or riding horses into. Usually allows you to get miles from nearest road access. Doesn't have to be wilderness IMO. There are places where you are allowed to use quads or side by sides or dirt bikes to access, AK for example. That is some real back county but you can ride machines all over it. I'm fine with that as long as the end result is a an area deep in the middle of nowhere that is difficult to access to the average day hunter.

[KFhunter]

I take it depending on the context. If I'm in my Jeep it means one thing. If I'm on foot it has a different meaning.

Didn't I see a thread a while back with a red jeep in it   



To me it means your a good day away from rescue, backcountry carries a stigma of danger and long rescue times.

[bankwalker]

I consider true backcountry to be somewhere you park the truck and have to hike to get to. And No road access for that hike.
Now with that being said. The areas of the skokomish, Quinault, and all olympic peninsula units away from the tree farms and back up into the olympic park boundary can really give you a sense of "backcountry" hunting. Reguardless of roads That's some big steep unforgiving country if you chose to hunt it away from the roads.
That's my "backcountry" every day of the year and I love it.

[HardCorpsHuntr]

3 miles and beyond from the nears motorized access point is how I would define the back-country.

[jtw]

Answers are about as varied as Id expect. Guess its one of those ideas that depend on the user.

[2MANY]

Backcountry is far enough in that I don't run into any of you crackers.

[kentrek]

It's changed over time...before it was the back yard, then the back 40, then the logging country behind that...then it was a place 6 miles hike in but soon that definition no longer worked...no longer hearing highways or quads became the new standard but even now I find that to be a lacking definition...now it's a place that nobody goes...doesn't matter how far or deep but it usually means no trails and winter time...complete solitude

[JackOfAllTrades]

Well beyond the end of the road. Human trail system might be in place, but might not be.

-Steve

[Labs07]

It seems like its just whatever you want it to be.  For me its in on foot or horse back away from people. 

[WAnoob]

I don't think you have to hike in or use horse only to be considered back country hunting.... We went on numerous trips in Alaska that we accessed by plane, or river boat and we were still in the middle of nowhere. To each his own I guess.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Any place I can no longer access is back country to me.

[bowhuntersd]

To me "Backcountry" is a place you get to by boots or hooves. It really doesn't have a distance, its somewhere you can't "day hunt" . It's somewhere you have to say over night because of terrain or distance. That's my Backcountry .

[Simcoe hunter]

Each person that uses the term "Back country" will have there own idea of what that is. It could be as simple as driving down some Back country road.

   This is so true.  10 years ago my definition and ability to access the backcountry were different than today." Take care of your knees, you'll miss them when they are gone".

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Like somebody once said about obscenity................. I cant define it, but I know it when I see it.

[actionshooter]

 Defining backcountry is a moving target.....its totally different from one person to the next and I even have a hard time defining it for myself, its always changing.
 I believe, at least for me, that its based on the circumstances.

 I was once told (very adamantly)  by a pretty hardcore buddy that it wasn't backcountry if a motorized vehicle took you there, tell that to the guy getting dropped off in the Brooks by a supercub.

[7mag.]

For me, it usually, but not always, has a wilderness designation. Alaska is completely different, because most of the state is roadless, but the rest of the country, motorized access is not backcountry. The Frank Church is an exception, because of its size and wilderness drop camps by airplane.

This is my opinion, and everyone has their own definition. I feel the backcountry is a place you have to work hard to access.