Chopper Hunts Into Landlocked Public Land

[deltadukman]

If the helicopter doesn't touch the ground, and just hovers and you jump a few feet, does that count as "landing"?

 

[StupidLightweight]

If the helicopter doesn't touch the ground, and just hovers and you jump a few feet, does that count as "landing"?

Yes. It counts as the same thing.

 

[gbflyer]

This happens more than one would think. The good sizable landlocked parcels in MT that I will leave unnamed, have multi people accessing via heli. I inquired a few years ago before Randy and all these other influencers did it and I was quoted 4k round trip. The landlocked section was only 35 mins from the hanger.. With an increase in demand, I’m sure prices have gone up as well.


Just like Alaska, you have to wait 24 hours from when you land to hunt.

We can’t use a helicopter in Alaska for anything that has to do with hunting. Period. Fixed wing, yes.


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[StupidLightweight]

We can’t use a helicopter in Alaska for anything that has to do with hunting. Period. Fixed wing, yes.


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That's because the entire state is a backcountry landing strip. A helicopter would be cheating. On BLM and State Trust land in Wyoming, you must land and depart from an existing road.

 

[gbflyer]

That's because the entire state is a backcountry landing strip. A helicopter would be cheating. On BLM and State Trust land in Wyoming, you must land and depart from an existing road.

Also every road is a runway. Thank you Sen. Stevens. We miss him.


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[huntsd]

randy newberg did this and has an episode on it.

 

[Geewhiz]

Yes. It counts as the same thing.

That is incorrect. If it hovers and does not contact the ground it is not landing and would be considered legal. Good luck, however, finding a charter company that is willing to “risk it all” for you. I’ve tried.

 

[StupidLightweight]

That is incorrect. If it hovers and does not contact the ground it is not landing and would be considered legal. Good luck, however, finding a charter company that is willing to “risk it all” for you. I’ve tried.

I'm not gonna argue with you. Montana may be different. To paraphrase what I was told by BLM and State Lands personnel in Wyoming: "If a person steps out from a hovering aircraft, that is a landing."

Regardless, I'm not sure what hovering accomplishes when you must land on an existing road.

 

[406flyfish]

We can’t use a helicopter in Alaska for anything that has to do with hunting. Period. Fixed wing, yes.


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Correct. I should have Clarified.

 

[nm.otter]

Bit of an update at the end

 

[OKHunter84]

Of course Wyoming is going to try and find a way to make this illegal. The outfitter welfare will have to kick in. I find it to be a huge load of BS that the rancher wasn't charged with hunter harassment.

 

[FLS]

Wonder if the pilot has to be a licensed outfitter? If you took them on horseback you would?

 

[Geewhiz]

Seamed weird to me that they hunted the same day they flew but evidently that’s legal in Wyoming?

 

[StupidLightweight]

Seamed weird to me that they hunted the same day they flew but evidently that’s legal in Wyoming?

It is legal if you use the aircraft for transportation purposes only. On BLM, a waiting period of XX hours would be no biggie, but on WY state trust land, you can’t camp, so there would be no way to hunt that landlocked land.

 

[ChrisA]

It is legal if you use the aircraft for transportation purposes only. On BLM, a waiting period of XX hours would be no biggie, but on WY state trust land, you can’t camp, so there would be no way to hunt that landlocked land.

Couldn't you just hangout for the required time and not actually camp? Whats the definition of camp?

 

[One300wsm]

I have no doubt both sides are ass hats, and even if no laws were broken anyone is allowed to sue anyone in civil court. Some big ranches are owned by attorneys and they love to flood people with bs civil suits. It has historically been an effective way to keep people away from private land just to avoid the hassle of defending against such things.

Corner crossing and landing on islands of public land sounds like a good use of time to many people, I’m just not one of them.

I say if you have the time and money and it’s legal have at it. I’m sick and tired of rich landowners thinking they own an controll public land. So anytime someone can screw them I’m all for it.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Couldn't you just hangout for the required time and not actually camp? Whats the definition of camp?

Good question. I’m curious to know if “camping” is defined.

 

[omicron1792]

I say if you have the time and money and it’s legal have at it. I’m sick and tired of rich landowners thinking they own an controll public land. So anytime someone can screw them I’m all for it.

Aren’t you the one that’s been adamant about banning thermals, yet helicoptering in is ok?

 

[Big Sky Guy]

Was a bit frustrating hearing what was done and where things are at now. When I imagine a scenario where a public land hunter steals a head from one of the guides’ clients I hope they would be treated with the same grace (no hunter harassment and just theft under $1k).

I also imagine myself in that situation and being in Montana there is never a time I don’t have at least one unfilled tag so would be curious if hunter harassment could be brought with a deer/turkey/bear tag when retrieving an elk skull, presuming I was carrying my rifle.

 

[One300wsm]

Aren’t you the one that’s been adamant about banning thermals, yet helicoptering in is ok?

No Sir, you have the wrong Rokslider. Unless I was in a drunken state and blacked out and forgot about it, but I haven’t done that in a while. But since you mentioned it I can give you my opinion. I don’t have a problem with using thermal for Predator hunting and finding wounded game that you have shot legally. Other than that I don’t see a need for it. Just my opinion me personally I don’t own a thermal. Have no need for it.
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