GF wants her first hunt to be a high buck

[JeffRaines]

Thank you everyone for the advice. This is my first back country hunt as well but I’ve been a backpacker and a hunter my whole life. This hunt was actually her idea. I loaded up the packs with everything we’re going to take gave her only her clothes, orange, rifle(she’s determined to take her own), her sleeping bag and pad. It all came to 20lbs and even that was to heavy for her to walk around the block with. Now I’m looking at ways to make it even lighter for her. She refuses to take just one gun because she’s paranoid about bears an lions.


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If she can't do 20lbs around the block, she isn't ready to hunt high buck. I'd be very concerned about that.

Yeah 20lbs around the block... even body weight around the block is nothing compared to climbing 3000'... not to mention needing energy left in the tank to actually hunt, and if you get an animal down...

Maybe settle for a backpacking trip or two this year and next year start hitting the hills hard as soon as you can so come next years high buck she's ready.

[fishngamereaper]

Not being in mountain shape and trying a mountain hunt is a recipe for disaster. Spend this year down low walking miles of gated roads and see how it goes...you need to stand your ground if she's not ready for the mountains, or you'll be carrying her off the mountain.

[yakimanoob]

I agree. I don’t feel she’s ready at all but refuses to cancel the trip


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Girl's got grit.  Keep her 

@ 5'2 and 80lbs, you could probably carry all her gear for her and not add much weight to your pack vs a solo hunt.  Let her carry what she wants to carry and go have a great trip with your lady 

Has she done any backpacking? 

[yakimanoob]

Not being in mountain shape and trying a mountain hunt is a recipe for disaster. Spend this year down low walking miles of gated roads and see how it goes...you need to stand your ground if she's not ready for the mountains, or you'll be carrying her off the mountain.

I don't necessarily agree (although I certainly agree with the level of caution you're going for, reaper).  LT, if your priority is your hunt and you think bringing her along will compromise that, then yeah, maybe standing your ground is advisable.  But since giving a go at the high buck was her idea, that doesn't seem like an advisable path if you want to keep dating her 

To reaper's point here, I wouldn't go diving through a labyrinth of alder 3 miles from a trail with a newbie mountaineer carrying a firearm.  But folks shoot deer from the trail every year, so while it might reduce your chances of taking a buck, sticking close to the trails might be the least of the evils.  Worst case, you go on a backpacking trip together in beautiful country with a little more steel and gunpowder than you'd regularly carry. 

[fishngamereaper]

Guess I didn't have to be so discouraging..

My main point was when your not in mountain shape you have a higher likelihood of mechanical injury...

[huntnfmly]

Since it was her idea like said before she's a keeper.
Let her pack what she needs like said before and you pack the rest. You don't have to go for a week were you'll need more supplies go for a couple days sounds like she really wants to go and if you're worried about her causing lower odds on your hunt you're hunting for the wrong reason.there is so much more important things to get from both of you out in the woods together than harvesting an animal

[yakimanoob]

Guess I didn't have to be so discouraging..

My main point was when your not in mountain shape you have a higher likelihood of mechanical injury...

It's a very good thing to keep in mind.  That's why I was curious if she'd ever been backpacking before.

LT, you mentioned you had been backpacking and hunting but never both.  Just keep in mind that your risk is much higher on a backpack hunt than on a backpack or a hunt.  If you don't already carry one, I highly recommend a Garmin or Spot PLB with 2-way messaging. 

[Ltburrows]

She hasn’t been on any back country trips that I know of. We’re only planing a 2 night trip so gear won’t be much of an issue. Just a weekends worth of stuff. I’m not asking her to carry half of everything just the things from my earlier post( sleeping bag, sleeping pad, rifle, water and clothes. But even that was to much for her. It also doesn’t help that she’s a extremely cold sleeper so she requested my -20 bag. I do understand that the risks are higher when you combine hunting and back country trips. Although this is my first back country hunt I’ve carried firearms every time I go into the woods since I was 18 as for GPS I’ve never used one before. I’ve always been a Map, compass and ranger beads man. But have been looking into Garmin rhinos. I’m going to see if a smaller will make the difference. I have her in my old 50+10L pack right now.


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[jstone]

When my wife and I go hiking or camping I always make sure that she knows where we are, how to get out by herself if something happens to me. She also carries her own pistol. Enjoy your hunt. Just always be prepared for anything.

[Ltburrows]

When my wife and I go hiking or camping I always make sure that she knows where we are, how to get out by herself if something happens to me. She also carries her own pistol. Enjoy your hunt. Just always be prepared for anything.

As an Eagle Scout I always am


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[yakimanoob]

Does the "LT" mean you're military or ex-military as well?  You'll have to forgive us members of the internet peanut gallery for trying to tell you about risk management .

[hunter399]

Don't listen to these guys take her and have fun.
With that said don't push to hard as far as you can.
When I was younger and my wife and I where still dating,we would go on day hunts and hike 10-12 miles a day .we came back with blisters and spaghetti legs that felt like we had rubber bands for legs.There is certain closed gates areas that my wife won't even hunt with me,even though I would never walk that far now.
So just say in don't push the hunt to hard,have fun.Good luck.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Only 80 lbs?  Just sit her on the shelf of a Bullpac and tie all the gear around her 

[huntnfmly]

 

[Ltburrows]

Does the "LT" mean you're military or ex-military as well?  You'll have to forgive us members of the internet peanut gallery for trying to tell you about risk management .

No actually, LT are my first and middle initials. Lol. No apology necessary. As I’ve said since I was a teenager, I’m not stupid enough to know everything. Everyone’s criticism and opinions are greatly appreciated and will be considered


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