How far from the trailhead are you willing to go?

[smokerroller]

How far from the trailhead do you go to start hunting? I am just curious on how far most guys will go. Over the last 3 years I have gone 5 miles, 3, and 3 miles to "start" hunting. Each time I faced 3/4 mile of extremely steep trail nearest the 4 wheeler. Each time I got into bulls but only hauled out meat (a cow) from 3 miles in. By the way, my mileages are just educated guesses. I do not have a GPS yet.

 

[brn2hnt]

I'll hike almost anywhere, I usually try to limit distance by meat packing logistics. If the weather is warm, I'll plan on a distance and topography that allows for 2 trips even if it's dark. Won't sleep till the meat is out. Cold weather (3rd season CO etc) I can go a lot further as I can hang quarters in a tree and pick out over a day or two. I have started hunting from camp and as far as 4 mi from camp.


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[topher89]

I'll hike almost anywhere, I usually try to limit distance by meat packing logistics. If the weather is warm, I'll plan on a distance and topography that allows for 2 trips even if it's dark. Won't sleep till the meat is out. Cold weather (3rd season CO etc) I can go a lot further as I can hang quarters in a tree and pick out over a day or two. I have started hunting from camp and as far as 4 mi from camp.


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This. I will hike a little farther for deer because the packout won't be as bad as an elk (only guessing, I haven't been lucky enough to get an elk yet). Weather is also a factor because I need to be totally sure that I can pack out all the meat.

 

[rayporter]

my pard and i have killed 8 elk less than 2 miles from the trailhead [ with lots of hunters and camps around]

this is straight line by the gps.

 

[wapitibob]

I never hunt from a marked trailhead.

 

[5MilesBack]

I "start" hunting as soon as I leave the truck. I shot one 6-point bull only a couple hundred yards from the truck, and have seen or run into several others within a 1/4 mile. But that doesn't always mean that I'm parking at a trailhead.

But I'm willing to go several miles back, whatever it takes.

 

[dirtytough]

My main spot for elk it doesn't get good until 3 miles in. And if you glass one from there it's a minimum of another half mile to get to it. I've killed one 7 miles deep in there but most are around 3.5-4 miles.

I hike in the dark the first 3 miles usually.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

As far as required. If you have the will and a viable plan you have almost unlimited options.

 

[mtwarden]

I often cover a lot a country in a day, but it always nice to get something close

If I know there are going to be other hunters in the area- I typically take off an hour or two before shooting hours with my lamp

 

[Trr15]

A couple years ago I found an archery hotspot only about 2 miles from the paved road. It's high country, but relatively easy hiking (no trails at all). I've found some nice bulls each of the past 2 seasons. I used to always think I had to hike miles upon miles before I was in "elk country". I realize now that is not the case. Just need to find the right spot.

 

[5MilesBack]

If I know there are going to be other hunters in the area- I typically take off an hour or two before shooting hours with my lamp

That's what everybody else does. So I sleep in a bit and clean up on the elk they passed in the dark.

 

[mtwarden]

That's what everybody else does. So I sleep in a bit and clean up on the elk they passed in the dark.

so that's who has been doing that

 

[justinspicher]

I quit getting stupid early to bang around in the dark as well.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

I get in anywhere from 3-10 miles, the day before then I'm ahead of everyone else the next day. Then when you guys that sleep in and start finding the elk I passed in the dark, you push them up the mountain straight to where I'm sitting where I also slept in.


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[5MilesBack]

I get in anywhere from 3-10 miles, the day before then I'm ahead of everyone else the next day. Then when you guys that sleep in and start finding the elk I passed in the dark, you push them up the mountain straight to where I'm sitting where I also slept in.

I'm certainly not chasing them 10 miles.

But here's a question: Has anyone ever had the elk chase you?

In the last 3-4 years on several occasions I've been anywhere from 2-3 miles back from the truck on an evening hunt. I get into the mix with a bull and before I can seal the deal, it's dark. So I start hiking out. Then the bull follows me.......screaming his head off chasing me all the way to the truck. And at the point that it's now dark........I haven't made a peep, other than the sound of me hiking out. The first time it happened I was laughing because it was almost 3 miles to the truck and now......while I'm standing there putting my stuff away in the truck, this bull is standing on a ridge line above me still screaming his head off at me.

Then I've had it happen about a 1/2 dozen times since. In one case, the bull actually got ahead of me and my buddy and now he's standing between us and the truck screaming. It's pitch black, and we're just standing there laughing. It's almost as if he's yelling "Hey, where you going......we're just getting started".

Same thing happened one night after hunting above my camp. That bull kept me awake all night screaming. Sounded like he was about 100-150 yards above my camp all night.

 

[rayporter]

mmmmmmm

that would be upsetting.

 

[Ross]

All depends on the day for me. Sometimes right from the trail other times miles from it. I'm elk hunting where the elk happen to be and so many times things evolve as the day progresses. Indeed have had them escort me out many times. Evening calling can be the best and most frustrating as the light ends the day. I will get super aggressive as darkness is approaching as the next day may present zippo with that bull so I go for broke with no expectation the next morning with that bull.

 

[5MilesBack]

Indeed have had them escort me out many times. Evening calling can be the best and most frustrating as the light ends the day. I will get super aggressive as darkness is approaching as the next day may present zippo with that bull so I go for broke with no expectation the next morning with that bull.

I think that's the key. These have all been bigger bulls as well. I'm fired up, they get fired up, and then it's dark. They're elk......and ready to go through the night if need be, so they give chase.

 

[theleo91386]

It's even more fun when they light up in the middle of the night when you take a pack string across some shale or through some dry timber.

 

[PY Bucks]

Where ever the elk are.