Where to go, what to hunt, first backpacking hunt?

[tyleriam]

Hey hey. I live in Tennessee. I backpack with Scouts, grew up hunting in Georgia white tail and wild pigs mostly in deer stands, went on a guided private ranch elk hunt in Colorado unit 444, 15 years ago, and took a bull. The experience ruined my desire to sit in deer stands staring at food plots, but I also have no desire to do another private ranch guided hunt. I'm seeking advice on where to rifle hunt in 2025 or 2026, but I think I have a somewhat unique set of criteria for what type of experience I'm after.

Basically, I want to backpack/hike/camp around beautiful, mountainous country and challenge myself with the added excitement of potentially harvesting big game. I'd even consider a small game hunt earlier in the season, rabbits maybe? I don't have a burning desire to kill a trophy; I'd be just as happy taking home a cow, elk, or mule deer doe (not interested in white tail, plenty here near me). Not killing anything will not be considered failure; seeing some game and getting the adrenaline pumping would be cool with me. I've been busy being a father, but neither my son nor any of my buddies wants to do something like this, so it will just be me. I want to be able to get an OTC tag if possible, so I don't miss doing this for another year on a draw. I'm open to any state, I just want the country to be worth the trip in terms of beauty.

I've thought and read a lot about OTC tags in Idaho, but being from the south, I'm not sure I'm prepared for the temperatures that far north. I'm not a dumbass when it comes to being safe but I know the conditions in the mountains can change much quicker and be more severe than what I've experienced and I'm not terribly comfortable while sleeping in grizzy country. I've also considered Arizona a first trip, as it may be safer/easier. You might say I should go back to Colorado, but I've spent time in Colorado skiing and visiting/hiking, so I'd like to see something different.

Any guidance is appreciated!

 

[cmahoney]

CA


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

Sounds like you need to due a bit more research.

Start with figuring out exactly what species u want to target. Then hit the various agency websites and look into draw data, or subscribe to a odds platform and dig in.

 

[180ls1]

Pick the terrain(s) you want to spend time in first, then grab a tag for X species and go have fun.

 

[Taudisio]

Pick the terrain(s) you want to spend time in first, then grab a tag for X species and go have fun.

I would do this ^. Pick an area you want to see, find out what species are plentiful there, snag a tag and go enjoy yourself. I would limit myself to deer only for your first trip wherever you go. Elk can take time to figure out in an area, and deer seasons are great for learning and figuring out if elk hunting there would be worth your time.

CA, as mentioned above has a lot of area and OTC tags for blacktails/hybrids, but you need to be using non-lead. Those tags also have an early archery season that is good for the same tag if you bow hunt. Tons of different terrain.

 

[TaperPin]

Having poked around a number of RockyMountain states, I tend to think parts of each one remind me of parts of all the others. Colorado goes from wester slope high desert sage to green alpine areas that look identically to western Wyoming, to rocky areas that look just like something in the Wind River Range or parts of western Montana. Southern Colorado feels a lot like New Mexico. Most mountains in Idaho seem an awful lot like Montana if they aren’t like a section of northern Wyoming to a Wyoming kid. In every state you’re often 10-20 miles away from a completely different experience

I suspect you’re burned out on the big tourist destinations that make it in hiking books for Colorado, but Colorado is so large you’ve only scratched the surface. In every state you could throw a dart and discover a great little area of the world off the beaten path. Firefighting in Colorado and Wyoming as a 20-something, we responded to hard to get to lightning caused fires and some of my favorite spots weren’t near any hiking trail or tourist destination, and about as random as throwing a dart.

 

[Ozarkansas]

I’d say this year, cut your teeth hunting whitetail or black bear in the southern Appalachians either in Eastern TN or one of the other nearby states. You’ll learn a ton and not have to spend very much money or gas. In the meantime start researching different western opportunities, maybe put in for some points in some states, and get ready for a western hunt in 2026.

That’s not to say that you can’t hunt out west this year, but I think you’ll get more bang for your buck (and be able to spend more time in the woods) doing an eastern backcountry hunt. Almost all the skills you pick up butchering/packing out a whitetail and living out of a pack out east will be transferrable out west.

 

[OKHunter84]

I know a spot that would fit your criteria for an OTC black bear hunt. I'll give you some general advice if you want. Shoot me a PM.

 

[ORJoe]

Black Bear.
Seasons are long so you don't need to go the same week as every other hunter. Pick the time you want to go by weather.
Spring or fall in most states.
Tags are cheaper than the big value animals in most states.
Idaho has dirt cheap tags in certain areas. Access to those areas can be rough in spring due to snow, but easy in fall.
Locals might be nice to you since you're trying to take away their problems instead of resources.
If you hunt them in scenic places they taste better.

 

[tyleriam]

I know a spot that would fit your criteria for an OTC black bear hunt. I'll give you some general advice if you want. Shoot me a PM.

I would PM you if I could figure out how to do it! Haha. I got my 14-year-old son to look, and even he couldn't figure it out.

 

[ddd-shooter]

I’d say this year, cut your teeth hunting whitetail or black bear in the southern Appalachians either in Eastern TN or one of the other nearby states. You’ll learn a ton and not have to spend very much money or gas. In the meantime start researching different western opportunities, maybe put in for some points in some states, and get ready for a western hunt in 2026.

That’s not to say that you can’t hunt out west this year, but I think you’ll get more bang for your buck (and be able to spend more time in the woods) doing an eastern backcountry hunt. Almost all the skills you pick up butchering/packing out a whitetail and living out of a pack out east will be transferrable out west.

Great advice

 

[butcherboy]

I would pick the animal you want to hunt first then you can start looking at different states. Being in mountains further north isn’t going to be any different than mountains in AZ or NM. Steep country is steep country, thick is thick, bad weather is bad weather no matter what state or mountains you are in. I’ve been in snow storms in July in NM and sweltering heat in CO. You just have to be prepared for anything. Another good option without the backpacking scenario is an Antelope hunt. Not as adventurous but a good way to cut your teeth on a DIY western hunt.

 

[highcountrymuley]

To DM just click on the name of who u want to send to. At the bottom of the box that comes up will be a tab that says "send direct message" Cluck on it and go into the world of direct messaging!
I would do a backpacking hunt close to home first. There is some cool terrain in TN and KY that u could get back into. Do a summer pack into some western areas after that then decide what species, weapon, terrain, tags u can get, etc. Enjoy the adventure and be smart about your limitations and stay safe.

 

[TheYukiYama]

I'd agree with the comments on black bear and CA. The Sierras are arguably the most beautiful in the country. Very high black bear numbers. Deer aren't crazy good compared to some other western states but the OTC tag makes it easy. Low success rates largely due to most hunters only hunting opening weekend and not leaving the truck. If you hike in a mile or more and spend a week, you'll likely get a deer or bear or both. If you do decide to go this direction, send me a PM once you are able to (you have to be a member for a little while and there's a minimum numbers of messages I believe).

 

[dan33]

Hey hey. I live in Tennessee. I backpack with Scouts, grew up hunting in Georgia white tail and wild pigs mostly in deer stands, went on a guided private ranch elk hunt in Colorado unit 444, 15 years ago, and took a bull. The experience ruined my desire to sit in deer stands staring at food plots, but I also have no desire to do another private ranch guided hunt. I'm seeking advice on where to rifle hunt in 2025 or 2026, but I think I have a somewhat unique set of criteria for what type of experience I'm after.

Basically, I want to backpack/hike/camp around beautiful, mountainous country and challenge myself with the added excitement of potentially harvesting big game. I'd even consider a small game hunt earlier in the season, rabbits maybe? I don't have a burning desire to kill a trophy; I'd be just as happy taking home a cow, elk, or mule deer doe (not interested in white tail, plenty here near me). Not killing anything will not be considered failure; seeing some game and getting the adrenaline pumping would be cool with me. I've been busy being a father, but neither my son nor any of my buddies wants to do something like this, so it will just be me. I want to be able to get an OTC tag if possible, so I don't miss doing this for another year on a draw. I'm open to any state, I just want the country to be worth the trip in terms of beauty.

I've thought and read a lot about OTC tags in Idaho, but being from the south, I'm not sure I'm prepared for the temperatures that far north. I'm not a dumbass when it comes to being safe but I know the conditions in the mountains can change much quicker and be more severe than what I've experienced and I'm not terribly comfortable while sleeping in grizzy country. I've also considered Arizona a first trip, as it may be safer/easier. You might say I should go back to Colorado, but I've spent time in Colorado skiing and visiting/hiking, so I'd like to see something different.

Any guidance is appreciated!

If ya wanted to get some gear and test run it this year I plan to do some backpack hunting in cherokee nf when im back in Tennessee. Not sure where you are in TN but you're more than welcome to tag along man.

 

[AntelopeEater]

I'd agree with the comments on black bear and CA. The Sierras are arguably the most beautiful in the country. Very high black bear numbers. Deer aren't crazy good compared to some other western states but the OTC tag makes it easy. Low success rates largely due to most hunters only hunting opening weekend and not leaving the truck. If you hike in a mile or more and spend a week, you'll likely get a deer or bear or both. If you do decide to go this direction, send me a PM once you are able to (you have to be a member for a little while and there's a minimum numbers of messages I believe).

I was going to post something similar, OTC bear tag and you can hunt the world famous Sierras!