Water source question

[HikerHunter]

I would fill up at the last water source I’m confident in and only take about 2 days. A lot can happen in a couple days: fill a tag early, find a surprise water source, not find any game, etc.

[Hillbilly Zen]

Why not just hunt the water?  Legit asking.  Sounds like You know where it is, and how the animals get to it.  Is it heavy pressure down there and nocturnal drinking?

[jackelope]

I would either hunt closer to the available water or find a different place to hunt. I wouldn’t carry that much water in. If you really want to hunt there, suck it up and make the water trek every other day or so. I drink a lot of water. No way I’d be interested in going short/without or carrying it all in with me. I’d probably figure out a different place to hunt personally, especially having never scouted it. I’d definitely make a trip in there to see what you’re dealing with before going in. Are the deer really going to be on top if there’s zero water? Getting on top and literally staying on top will be a huge challenge either way.

[treeclimber2852]

If you’re on top, find a drainage on the north facing slope and start working your way down it.  You’ll find water before you hit it where it’s marked on the maps, even if it’s just a trickle or puddle.  Take a zip lock sandwich bag- it makes dipping water out of small puddles a lot easier - and be prepared to filter/treat it.  You’ll likely be drinking the stanky stagnant stuff…otherwise, yeah, you’re hiking down and back up a lot longer for the cool clear stuff. 

[Ifinch36]

We don't want to hunt the water because it's at the bottom on each side, and would really limit what we would be able to see. We're looking at this as a "high risk, high reward" hunt. There's no trails in and I don't think there will be much, if any pressure. We're ok with it being a total bust, but we won't know unless we try. The springs are on the north side slope, and there's definitely water, maybe just need to dig a bit.

[Alchase]

Funny, I use to carry a 1 quart canteen. I could make that last all day. Then I bought a 72 oz bladder, and now I drink the whole friggen thing.
For some reason sucking out of a straw, does not satisfy or quench my thirst like drinking out of a canteen use to. There have been times I will top off my bladder at mid day. I still suck most of it down.

There is no way I would hit the back country without a decent water supply.

[Boss .300 winmag]

We’ll post your adventure when done, successful, or bust a story is good no matter what happens.👍

[Ifinch36]

Thanks for all the input and suggestions. I'll definitely let you guys know how this turns out.

[Hillbilly Zen]

We don't want to hunt the water because it's at the bottom on each side, and would really limit what we would be able to see. We're looking at this as a "high risk, high reward" hunt. There's no trails in and I don't think there will be much, if any pressure. We're ok with it being a total bust, but we won't know unless we try. The springs are on the north side slope, and there's definitely water, maybe just need to dig a bit.

If you think you’ve found a no trail area with no pressure in Washington state modern rifle season, wanting to hunt it makes sense to me.  Hopefully you dont wake up opening day on a ridge full of headlamps!  Not many unknown hilltops in this state on that ten days in Fall, so if yours turns out to be one of them take it to your grave!  Best of luck to you, and bring down a monster!  Maybe it will snow, and all your water problems will be solved by a couple cans of stove fuel.

[Magnum_Willys]

Check your pack, start dropping gear and replace with water.  Every 4 lbs adds a day.  Me max is 38# pack plus 12# water = 3 days = 50# ( but if long pack in you might burn a day up and back leaving one day there )

[3dvapor]

Hike in early to scout and stash water where you're going to hunt.  2 scouting trips you'll have all the water you need.  Just pack the bottles out.  Easy enough even to scrunch them down when you pack out. 

[Stein]

I just did a 2500' elevation gain ruck and can say it would have to be awfully good hunting for me to make another trip for water after the first load ran out.

I agree, lower pack weight to a minimum, take as much as you safely can and call it a day when you run out.  Go slow, hike when it's cool and conserve as much as you can.  Then, when your buddies are napping, chug some of their water.

[Ifinch36]

We're really trying to get away from people, and I honestly think we may be able to. We're hoping that that anybody else that look at this spot, looks at it and says "you're crazy". Unfortunately we won't know until we do it. Luckily two guys in our groups scheduled opened up together and it looks like we'll be able to get some water packed in, so that kinda solved our problem. Again, thanks for all the input, and I'll do a post after the hunt.

[Stein]

If there's a whopper behind every bush, PM me and I'll bring up some water.

[MtnMuley]

I've been in hunts with little water and never sweated it. If a guy gets thirsty enough, he'll drop the elevation to get water. Luckily, I don't require much water daily unless it's super hot. With meals like Peak Refuel requiring 5-8 oz each, it really helps on hunts like you're talking about. Sounds like you guys will be needing quite a bit of water, so I'd pack in heavy and if you need more mid trip, daisy chain down to the bottom with everybody and shuttle a big load back up once.