Mountain Hunting Regrets

[Dust1n]

What has everyone regret after a few days in the mountains?

Warmer Puff Jacket
Upgraded Hiking Boots
Extra Coffee for Rain Days
Etc, Etc

Lets hear your regrets so others can learn from your mistakes!

 

[id_jon]

Meager pre-season physical training.

 

[Moserkr]

Taking a “shortcut” off the mountainside.

 

[akbrett]

last year i forgot to bring a warmer set of gloves/down mitts. only had thin mechanics gloves hands got cold a few diff times when we were sitting idle

another trip i should have taken my boots and pants off to cross a stream... but i thought i could make it and was lazy. hiking in wet boots sucks.

 

[Bambistew]

Running out of pre-cooked bacon
Running out of Snickers
forgetting my stove and filter on a 10 day fly out trip
Not having a spare light source when a headlamp craps out
echo the shortcut mentioned above - a 4 hour hike turned into 20

 

[Maverick1]

Taking a “shortcut” off the mountainside.

“It’s only an inch on the map, how bad can it be?”

 

[Billinsd]

Trying to sleep in sweatpants and an emergency blanket on a steep slope!!!! This was 25 years ago

 

[Fishn4eyes]

Probably not what you were getting at but not starting more mountain hunts (sheep mainly) when I was younger.

Unfortunately I couldn't afford it then and now it's getting to be a bigger challenge getting physically ready to go do those difficult hunts.

The day of reckoning is not that far off, dammit!

 

[cacklercrazy]

What has everyone regret after a few days in the mountains?

Warmer Puff Jacket
Upgraded Hiking Boots
Extra Coffee for Rain Days
Etc, Etc

Lets hear your regrets so others can learn from your mistakes!

Regretted going last year with a foot injury. Should of stayed out of back country and hunted where it was easier. I love the back country, but I need a break last year. I definitely dieing to find out how well the foot does after surgery.

 

[zman]

Having nothing to alleviate ass rash.

 

[Moserkr]

Having nothing to alleviate ass rash.

Bordeauxs butt paste - the HD version - has worked wonders for my young kid. I wish they made a small tube version for backpackers. Ive never had an issue and eat mtn house no problem, but i see where it could be a godsend for others.

 

[Wapiti1]

A way to cook a ptarmigan. Jetboil ptarmigan doesn't work very well, IMO.

Jeremy

 

[ColeyG]

I seem to always find myself wishing I had more days to hunt and/or running out of time. If I plan 8 days, 10 would have been better to get the job done. If I plan for 10, 12 would have certainly guaranteed success...

The "shortcut" mistake is a good one and a very tough lesson that it sounds like many here have learned the hard way. Almost always better to stick with the "known" rather than gamble on the unknown in technical or very difficult terrain.

I don't have images of some of my more memorable moments in the mountains because I cut out a camera to save weight. I regret that as well.

 

[Ratbeetle]

More water storage. Taking your last sip and then gazing down 2k feet to the water you're going to have to go get...sucks.

 

[Jimbob]

Setting up camp on a slope. Sliding on top of your mat and pushing your boots out from under your floorless shelter during a rainy night makes you learn that lesson quickly.

 

[5MilesBack]

I don't have any regrets up there. I live for my Septembers in the mountains these days. I only regret that I didn't start going during archery season when I was in high school. I had no idea what I was missing.

 

[hflier]

Taking a “shortcut” off the mountainside.

This lol. I am with you on that one. Packed that damn deer 2X as far because of it.

Ron

 

[Moserkr]

This lol. I am with you on that one. Packed that damn deer 2X as far because of it.

Ron

I never had the issue packing out an animal and Ive learned since my many “shortcut” mistakes. But what came to my mind was a scouting trip to check cams. Had my hunting buddy’s german shepard along, and he left his dog’s boots in the truck. First mistake, its a city dog not used to rough granite. Second mistake, we thought we could shave off a few miles on the way out by taking the short side across the mountain face instead of climbing up the other side to the pass we came in on. Ended up dropping down further than we needed to due to being cliffed out. Dogs pads got wrecked and he hid under a boulder, probably thinking it was the end. Had to drag him out and start carrying him down a steep mountain. Then we ran out of water with no filters. Came across a weird camp near the river we finally got to at the bottom, a scene right out of a scary movie. Four tents set up and open, packs left in camp, shoes n socks outside the tents, water bladders hanging and filtering water, belts, clothes, everything in the camp - but not one person. We yelled a bit and no one came. Presuming they were on mushrooms, skinny dipping, or both lol. So we left, didnt touch their water, and found a spring nearby where we finally drank and filled up. Dog had water at the river. Got out of there and hiked two more miles to the truck, carrying the dog half the time. A half day scout turned into a full day of hell. Never again...

 

[GetWestern]

Not telling my wife before I go to not text me or send me Snapchat’s of her everyday telling me how much she “misses” me.

 

[Antares]

My mountain hunting regret is not doing more mountain hunting. I live in the best place in the world and I still let day-to-day life get in the way. I need to get my priorities straight.