Big Game Hunting > Backcountry Hunting
New to the game
yakimanoob:
And just to drive the point home: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE have a plan for when things go wrong. A Garmin inReach or Spot device is worth its weight in gold.
But if you can't buy or borrow one, make a plan, tell at least two friends or family members your plan, and then STICK TO YOUR PLAN. If something goes wrong and you're not in the area that you told people you would be, you have nearly eliminated the chances of Search and Rescue finding you in time.
mburrows:
Good boots, good pack, good layering for wet and cold weather, a good sleeping bag, a good sleeping pad, a decent tent, med stuff, water filtration, good headlamp, gear repair items and food.
Lots of variation.
Go do a summer fishing trip overnight to learn what you want and can carry. Your "system" will continuously evolve.
Dont pitch your tent in a depression or in sketchy timber.
Archry:
first trip out limit it to a mile away from your vehicle. That way if things went bad you have a good chance of getting back. work out further from then.
for Firestarter I like petroleum jelly wrapped in a cotton ball. even if it gets wet you can shake it out and still light it on fire
Bushcraft:
Clothing and gear selection is very straightforward and has been belabored to death for the last 20 years or so, and particularly so in recent years. Quite frankly, that infinitely re-hashed conversation has gotten stale and boring.
What's infinitely more interesting, and others here have touched on it, is...How bad do you want it?
Here's a litmus test:
Try hiking in all your load-out for a backcountry October alpine hunt 7-10 or 20+ miles into where you want to go. Then, after 3-7 days of being trapped in your tent in the cold, rain, sleet, snow, fog and wind that oftentimes feels like it's want to rip you and your shelter off the mountain (and sometimes succeeds in doing if you're using crap gear!), see if your rifle will reliably shoot a minute-of-deer-sized rock at some distance just before dark. Then, assuming your rifle system proved reliably capable enough, put that heavy rock in your pack (i.e., meat, horns and hide) in the dark and get it back to your camp. Then, put the heavy rock and some or all of your camp in your pack and begin death marching for the trailhead and your rig (that you hope starts when you get there), either in one stage or a couple of trips.
If you swear on all of your ancestor's graves that you'll never ever, ever, ever do anything that dumb or painful (or life threatening!) in your life ever again...then mountain hunting might not be for you. Don't worry. It's not a big deal. The mountain doesn't care. Understand that most that try it realize it's not for them.
On the other hand, if you like that sort "Fine and Pleasant Misery"...good on you. You'll likely find yourself doing even more dumb and painful things on future hunts. :chuckle: ;)
BeerBugler:
For the Goat Rocks...good rain pants, good gaiters and good boots.....even if it’s nice out. If there’s dew in the morning, you will eventually have to walk through a huckleberry bush and will be instantly soaked without protection.
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