Backpack Hunting—Huntable Area/Alternate Options?

[Acorn]

I am planning a backpack/spike-out archery elk hunt this fall and want to make sure I have sufficient area to hunt/backup options. I don’t want to pack all the way in, bust something out or not find elk, and then have to spend time and energy to pack out to another location. The area I am going to has medium/low elk density, it’s a general unit.

How many distinct options/areas would you want to have available from your spike camp? How much huntable area (in sq miles or acres) would you want to have around?

 

[D_wit22]

This doesn’t entirely answer your question…but I would truck camp until I exhausted all of those options and then maybe look at deeper country. The way I see it, you can cover way more ground with your truck then you will on foot. LOTS of good areas within 2 miles of the road.

Spike camp you might have a plan A,B.
Truck camping your could have A-Z

 

[wapitibob]

This doesn’t entirely answer your question…but I would truck camp until I exhausted all of those options and then maybe look at deeper country. The way I see it, you can cover way more ground with your truck then you will on foot. LOTS of good areas within 2 miles of the road.

Spike camp you might have a plan A,B.
Truck camping your could have A-Z

Exactly what I typed then deleted when I saw your post.
We've spiked out a few times but the full on BRO experience has never been needed in the areas we have hunted. You can find good huntable areas with few roads, and i would stay away from trailheads.

 

[D_wit22]

If I shoot a bull while truck camping, I always tell people I killed it from a spike camp 12 miles from the closest road

 

[Poser]

I'll justify backpacking in if:

1. There is 1 high percentage area
2. There are 2-3 "good" areas

But, its always a gamble. Even if you are able to glass up elk the day before, they could be long gone by the time you get there. I do tend to know my areas well enough that I'm confident at least some elk will show up every couple of days, but, even then, I've hit it in exactly the wrong window -arrived and smelled fresh elk, but none present, waited for 2 days and then moved a few miles only to glass elk moving into where I left 24 hours prior. But, still, these are areas I've scouted extensively and been into many times. Backpacking in blind is a huge gamble and often not the best play unless you have lots of time to hunt or are counting on luck more than anything else. Some people do get lucky.

 

[bz_711]

Have you hunted elk before?
Have you harvested an elk before?

 

[Acorn]

Have you hunted elk before?
Have you harvested an elk before?

Yes, I have hunted for elk the last two years. Haven’t harvested yet, but I was within bow range multiple times last year. I am going to the same unit I hunted last year, so I do have some intel on where elk were last year.

 

[Roger17]

Yes, I have hunted for elk the last two years. Haven’t harvested yet, but I was within bow range multiple times last year. I am going to the same unit I hunted last year, so I do have some intel on where elk were last year.

Well then, go there and kill an elk this year.

 

[spike camp]

Yes, I have hunted for elk the last two years. Haven’t harvested yet, but I was within bow range multiple times last year. I am going to the same unit I hunted last year, so I do have some intel on where elk were last year.

Truck camping or packed in?

Regardless, I’ve basically never truck hunted in 25 years.
Just not my thing.
So what I look for is an area that’s at least 3x3 miles or more, but has huge terrain features.

 

[Rizzy]

Backpacking in typically gets me on 1 herd of Elk per spot. Once its played out I drive to another spot and pack in again. This could go on every 2 or 3 days....

 

[Acorn]

Truck camping or packed in?

Regardless, I’ve basically never truck hunted in 25 years.
Just not my thing.
So what I look for is an area that’s at least 3x3 miles or more, but has huge terrain features.

I packed into two different spots. Found elk in both. Ended up truck hunting later in the season and got into elk that way too. Like you, I just prefer the experience of backpack hunting.

 

[Beendare]

Exactly what I typed then deleted when I saw your post.

Yeah, me too. I have been successful making a big loop in the back country dragging a pack animal around until I found them. I suppose you could do that backpacking b ut getting an elk out on your back can be difficult- last year I dropped a bull 6 miles from the TH and it just about killed me backpacking it out.

I would agree with the guys above its best to probe in from a vehicle until you find them.

 

[il_cop]

Yes, I have hunted for elk the last two years. Haven’t harvested yet, but I was within bow range multiple times last year. I am going to the same unit I hunted last year, so I do have some intel on where elk were last year.

How many days do you have to hunt?

Do you have enough reps in the area to know there are elk there?

If your asking, I suppose you're anxious about whether or not they'll be there. Which is wise.

Energy and stoke is a precious commodity, try to save as much if it as possible for hunting as opposed to logistics.

If possible, glass them from as far as you can before you hump in. Confirm or eliminate from distance...as in miles away through a spotter. Even if that means day hiking into the general area to a specific glassing spot. If they're there, hike down, load up and pack in. If not, move on.

Once you're in, however, you should plan to to stay and you don't need much country, but that's dependant on the area, the topography and elk density. In some country, you can hunt the same herd at the head of one basin for a week and pull two or three legal bulls out of there. If you blow them out, you can drop into an adjacent drainage and keep going with another group. But if you're in an area where that's the only group of elk in 20 sq miles, if you blow them out, you're going back to the truck and moving or chasing ghosts.

And like so many have said - truth - you can kill a ton of elk < 2 miles from the truck...you just need to know where to look.

 

[TradLife406]

For me backpacking in is a last option. If I can truck camp I'll do that. You can stay more mobile that way. Or even better yet pack in for a day or two and if it sucks don't be afraid to bail.