Always wondered... How far is "far" in your book?

[a3dhunter]

Usually anything under 3 and I am camping at the truck, anything more than 4 and I am looking to pack in camp. I don't consider anything "far" unless it's over 5 miles. I think 8-9 miles is the furthest back I have went.

 

[Lawnboi]

Where there's a will there's a way!

Unless there's no way to cool the meat.

I will learn the hard way one of these years as many probably have

 

[OR Archer]

There's so many factors to consider. For elk I'm usually driving 8+ hours across the state to hunt. We will usually go in about 4 miles or so and set up a base camp then hunt out from there. We may end up another 3-4 miles in. Just depends on the terrain and where we find the critters at.

 

[Jager]

This year I went in with another guy and we ended very similar to Fulldraw's We had been scouting 4-5 miles but once season started found the elk deeper. Shot my elk 7 miles in. We packed it all to a staging point and got most out that night and walked back in the next morning and got the rest and camp. I think that is pretty close to what I would consider the limit. But of course this was my first real back country hunt and had way too much gear. Damn GIF.

Later in the year taking my wife hunting... slept at home, drove an hour and walked in about 2.5 miles. She shot a nice elk. This was realistically a solo hunt for me.... meaning... all the packing was on me. I will definitely say that packing an elk out 2.5 miles when you are packing the cape and everything is it... One thing it taught me is that I need to learn to cape out the skull....packing out a cape, skull, with hide attached is the most stupid thing I have ever done...

You got out there and did it though Crumy.

Yeah caping out a face and capping a skull is the way to go. Try and get onto a taxidermist and ask if you can go in and watch a bit of hands on maybe. If you shoot females at all in the season, they make good practice to hone your skills on.

When we are talking these distances, are we talking along a trail or Xcountry?

 

[G Posik]

I have done some hikes that were in the 10 mile range in on a trail. Then hunt a few miles off the trail. Probably not some of my smarter choices in life. I prefer to keep in under about 5 miles. But hey have to go where the elk are.

Glenn

 

[5MilesBack]

I have gone in stages. When I was younger (1980's) we'd pack in with less than adequate equipment and freeze our rear ends off. Lack of good technology and lack of money ensured that we had the heaviest of gear that still didn't keep you warm or safe in heavy snow, winds, or cold. So went to truck camping and was still very doable and we still killed a lot of elk and deer. However, I found that I was covering 15+ miles a day, leaving camp well before first light, and returning well after dark. That's all fine and dandy when you're young, but now that I'm almost 50.....those 5 mile hikes in and out are the majority of the day's hunt. Multiply that times several days and.........well, it's suddenly better to carry your camp in, set up, and hunt from there. However there are also those hunts where I want to cover a specific range, so need to have my camp on my back and not set up somewhere I won't be at the end of the day.

For me, "far" never really is quantified until the packout. Packing in is easy, and there really is no limit to that.......go until one is down. But there is definitely a "too far" when you're packing out. That cow I shot 6 miles from the trailhead........that was "TOO FAR" for a cow. The bull I shot last year was almost 5 miles and I would have gladly hauled him twice that far. So it's all relative for me.

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

The problem with the rapid urban expansion here in Colorado is that "15-20 miles" on one trail equates to 4 or 5 on another trail. Nothing worse than humping into an area you think is good only to be greeted by a Lycra clad REI shopper walking her ugly ass poodle

 

[littlebuf]

Where the animals are is far enough. Sometimes it's three miles sometimes it's 15 ( not exaggerated) I don't let mileage dictate where I hunt or how bad ass I am.

 

[Highcountry_Hellrazor]

The problem with the rapid urban expansion here in Colorado is that "15-20 miles" on one trail equates to 4 or 5 on another trail. Nothing worse than humping into an area you think is good only to be greeted by a Lycra clad REI shopper walking her ugly ass poodle

Awesome! And very true unfortunately in some areas. Good thing most yuppies stay on the trail.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I have done a few really long trips in WA.

We did a six day, 70 mile loop a few years back while archery hunting. That was an epic hunting trip.

This is my dad with his bear, fifteen miles into a wilderness. This is one of our favorite spots.

 

[Fletch]

The problem with the rapid urban expansion here in Colorado is that "15-20 miles" on one trail equates to 4 or 5 on another trail. Nothing worse than humping into an area you think is good only to be greeted by a Lycra clad REI shopper walking her ugly ass poodle

I read an article a few years ago trying to identify the most remote area in the lower 48. It said the most remote area was in the Beartooths around the Montana / Wyoming boarder where the maximum distance you could get from any road was something like 21 miles.

 

[2rocky]

Sometimes one mile is too far, and 15 isn't enough.

It is about hunting, and while I can appreciate a long hike, what is the point of walking past good animals and good country.
My Smallest elk was the result of covering 90 miles in 5 days, while my biggest was killed just outside camp.

 

[Eagle]

I read an article a few years ago trying to identify the most remote area in the lower 48. It said the most remote area was in the Beartooths around the Montana / Wyoming boarder where the maximum distance you could get from any road was something like 21 miles.

Most remote area in the lower 48 is supposed to be the Thorofare area SE of Yellowstone Lake and outside the park. 28-30 miles from roads from what I remember. That very well may have changed in the last couple years though.

 

[ChadS]

The problem with the rapid urban expansion here in Colorado is that "15-20 miles" on one trail equates to 4 or 5 on another trail. Nothing worse than humping into an area you think is good only to be greeted by a Lycra clad REI shopper walking her ugly ass poodle

Bahahaha! Very true!

 

[Jager]

For me, "far" never really is quantified until the packout. Packing in is easy, and there really is no limit to that.......go until one is down. But there is definitely a "too far" when you're packing out. That cow I shot 6 miles from the trailhead........that was "TOO FAR" for a cow. The bull I shot last year was almost 5 miles and I would have gladly hauled him twice that far. So it's all relative for me.

Ha ha I think we can all relate to that.