Chopper Hunts Into Landlocked Public Land

[MtnW]

Any western outfitters or freelance helicopter companies offering helicopter access services for hunters wanting to access land locked public land blocked by private land owners? Have always thought about this , and now reading several hunters are successfully doing these types of chopper hunts. Does anyone know the many restrictions involved in doing this type of helicopter access hunts and what western states where it is not illegal? I read where Montana has a law similar to Alaska of no hunting for 24 hours from a flight.

 

[Crazyarm606]

Sounds very expensive and lots of trips. But I don't see it being a problem. A joker from Bozeman had his own heli and use to land in the wilderness to fish. There was pictures and videos of him doing it. Even face to face video conversation confronting him. No way to doubt who is was and he only got a 500 fine. Im sure fuel to fly that day was more....it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission

 

[Customweld]

I don’t think you can legally use a helicopter to do that in Idaho.

 

[TreeWalking]

Was circa 2010 but a Montana F&W employee told me I could parachute into a parcel but could not land in a plane or chopper to the parcel nor go out in a plane or chopper. Not sure if that was accurate.

I had an ex-Army Ranger employee at the time that would jump with me and we could use drop barrels with food and bear fence but we also needed a ride out in the air and told that was a no-go.

Too old to risk a jump now and the Ranger has passed unfortunately but I could step off of and onto a chopper quite nicely.

I flew as a passenger in a super cub in Alaska then had a hike from Hell in and out of the hunting area. Killing the mountain goat was the easy part. I mentioned to the guide that if I hitched a ride on a chopper that this would be easy. He observed that using a chopper would not be much of a story compared to leaping over crevasses in the glacier and battling brush and devil's club for miles in and then out. He had a good point.

 

[wapitibob]

An outfitter in OR does it. You can use a chopper in MT and WY, just depends whether ground is BLM or FS.

 

[Customweld]

This is Idaho’s law:
To use aircraft, including any unmanned
(drone), in any manner to spot or locate game animals,
game birds, or furbearing animals and communicate the
location or approximate location by any
whether radio, visual, or otherwise to any person then on
the ground, or to use any helicopter to transport hunters,
gear, or game except at established landing fields when such
use is at recognized airports or airplane landing fields, or at
heliports previously established on private land or established
by a department or agency of the federal, state, or local
government or when used in the course of an emergency
search and rescue operations.

I guess if a fella jumped out and the craft never landed, you might be getting across on a technicality.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

This is fairly easy to Google. The last time there was discussion on this, some folks posted up state regulations for some western states where it was legal.

 

[JF_Idaho]

I just read this story about these guys doing it in Wyoming. Turned into quite the scene haha

A Landowner Stole Our Trophy Elk - Petersen's Hunting

Here's how an elk hunt turned into an elk heist.

www.petersenshunting.com

 

[Weldor]

No mention if charges were brought? Sad state of affairs for sure.

 

[JF_Idaho]

No mention if charges were brought? Sad state of affairs for sure.

From this article which includes video of the confrontation.

Watch: A Landowner Stole My Buddy’s Public-Land Elk to Deter Us from ‘Hunting This Outfit’

While elk hunting on public land in Wyoming, a few buddies noticed a rancher running off with one of their skulls. So they tracked him down.

www.outdoorlife.com