In your experience, where are the biggest, most rugged mountains?

[timekiller13]

The least-flat states in the US are WV, PA, and KY.

West Virginia has some rough country. Several years ago I was bound and determined to hunt the bow only areas. I went and scouted a few pieces of public and decided it wasn’t worth packing a deer out of there!!

 

[Dos Perros]

One range we hunted...it looked not too bad, but the terrain was either pretty gentle, or steep as shit, lots of cliff bands, and giant steep rock slides. It was exhausting to hunt around because getting from A to B wasn't very straight forward. You'd look at elk just over a mile away and think "ain't no effin way we can get there and back with meat."

Honestly haven't been in too many ranges I thought were cake.

 

[CorbLand]

While Not the biggest/tallest mtns, the most rugged ones I’ve ever encountered were the Florida (fla-REE-da) mtns in Southern NM. Also known as “the Rock”. I Spent 6 days in there in 2020 chasing Ibex with a bow and it was STRESSFUL! I heard that ~ 1 hunter dies each year from falls. The hunt regs even suggest using “professional climbing gear”. In addition to that it’s 100% cactus and thorns, there’s zero water, incredibly high winds all day, and it’s chock full of rattlesnakes and cougars.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

My wifes uncle drew this tag. I am hoping to be able to join him for the hunt.

Every time I have driven passed the Frank Church, "**** that" is pretty much the phrase that comes to mind.

 

[Balderdash]

Due to the high elevation, I'd throw another vote in for the Sangre's in CO. Stunning to look at, real work to move around in them, espevially closer to the top. Another area that I found more rugged than average is the Gore range in CO. Not as well traveled in the mountain west as some, but have knocked around a few areas through the years.

 

[hunt1up]

I live in about the flatest part of the 2nd flattest state in the union. Talk about depressing!

The difference in the lowest and highest point in the whole county is 245', the county is 1035 square miles, and those two points are like 30 miles apart. Did I mention it's flat?

 

[S-3 ranch]

Sangre de christo west of Trinidad Colorado, saw Tooths ?montana ?

 

[Hoodie]

North Cascades in Washington. More glaciers by far than anywhere in the lower 48. Pretty much the only place in the contiguous US where alpinists can train for climbs in the bigger ranges.

 

[Huntindog45]

klamath region in California. Not only is it straight up and down but the vegetation is so thick it is unpassable. And it rains constantly.

 

[ozyclint]

I live in about the flatest part of the 2nd flattest state in the union. Talk about depressing!

The difference in the lowest and highest point in the whole county is 245', the county is 1035 square miles, and those two points are like 30 miles apart. Did I mention it's flat?

Sounds rugged. Come to Australia's interior or gulf country.

The elevation profile of the Murray/Darling river system, which I live near the headwaters of, rises to about 1350m then drops to 300m elevation in about the first few hundred kilometers of its course then takes, at a guess, about 2500km to reach sea level at the mouth of the Murray river in the southern ocean.

 

[Jmort1754]

Sangre de Christo

 

[OregonSteeler]

Not the highest or hardest mountains; but I can vouch that the Oregon Coastal Range during a wet winter pretty much sucks a$$. You're just not going to stay dry no matter what you do if you're walking around for an extended amount of time.

 

[Sled]

Lots of people apparently need a geography lesson!

"In the USA, but outside of Alaska...*

Notice the time stamp and edit...

OP changed it up after the first post

 

[Augie]

My hunting partner would say the Absaroka Beartooth wilderness lol. Big country, steep, thick, and loaded with grizz.

 

[roadrunner]

Another vote for the Florida's (in southern NM). The second, any mountain or ridge with 75 lbs of elk meat in my pack.

 

[Jimss]

"Hell Canyon" here in Colo where I've been dumb enough to shoot and pack out 3 mature bull elk!

 

[BaconSammich199]

West Virginia has some rough country. Several years ago I was bound and determined to hunt the bow only areas. I went and scouted a few pieces of public and decided it wasn’t worth packing a deer out of there!!

We might not have the elevation but the rhododendron, greenbrier’s, and slick red clay make up for it

 

[Ridley]

MT Whitney should be on the list, it is the tallest in the lower 48 and goes from 4,000ft to 14,505 in a very short distance. Just not much to hunt up there. But for pure elevation gain, the most mountainous state in the union, Hawaii has em all beat. It’s not particularly steep but from Sea level to 13,776 on Mauna Kia is no joke.

 

[WVelkhunter]

My son has an Ibex tag in the Floridians this year. Sounds like he's going to get broken into "out west hunting" the rough way!

 

[3325]

I would 2nd Frank Church, but also add in the Winds as well. Maybe the Absarokas.

Thank you. The Winds deserved a mention. Easily as rugged as the better known Tetons. You can tell the Tetons are high and rugged from the road. The Winds are more deceptive until you get back in them.

Incidentally, at least one mountain goat has been spotted in the Winds, probably a dispersal from the Snake River Range herd.

Lot's of Bighorn Sheep in the Winds.

The late Todd Skinner, legendary world wide big wall climber, learned and honed his skills in the Winds.

 

[awbowhunter]

Colorado has the most 14k + mountain peaks by a mile. There's quiet a few places in CO. I have experienced that are both high and rugged.