backpack huntin in AZ

[apache12]

I'm interested in learning to hunt supported with just a backpack. i'm read a few articles but they were in CO and water didn't seem to be an issue. does anyone have any help or advice on backpack hunting. I'm fit and hunt already doing pretty good day hunts off road but I'd like learn a bit more.

 

any advice on gear, method, and mistakes learned would be great

 

Thanks

 

 

[reganranch]

Mountaineering gear will be your new friend, I get some stuff at Summit Hut, and REI during their quarterly sale days when a lot of the big ticket items are cheaper, I.e. Tents, Sleeping bags, Jet Boils, Boots.

 

Water is key, I would hike in during the off season( not right now down south unless you are super motivated) and find an artesian spring and keep tabs on the flow, tablets for water are a must.

 

Other BA guys will chime in on here soon, we've only skimmed the surface of backpack hunting, ill add more after my Calc 3 exam tomorrow.

 

Did you pick a good WT unit to go backpack hunting in?

[Weston]

Stash water during monsoon season, water will be plentiful and you can hike in 10 or so gallon jugs and a water filter, and fill them close to where you intend to set up a spike camp, find a cave to stash them in just make sure its hidden well, otherwise the water supply will really dictate where you're going to be able to hunt, remember even the nastiest water is drinkable with a pump filter, I use a hyper flow with a pre filter.

[Jcubed]

I would recommend reading a lot on sites that are dedicated to backpacking, light weight backpacking, and backpack hunting. For backpack hunting, kifaru or rokslide would be good starting points. Lots of useful information and people on those forums.

 

One thing that is a bit different here in Arizona is that sometimes during our hunts, we get hot weather which can make caring for meat something to consider if you get back in there a ways.

 

For gear, you must find what works for you. Personally, on my trips gear is a region specific choice. For example, on my last trip I took a two person tent but I usually go for a kifaru 6-person tipi style tent with a wood burning stove. I personally like the floorless design (allows you to wear boots into the tent) but others sometimes do not. I also enjoy the ability to fire up the wood stove and be in a heated shelter where I can cook and dry out my boots, clothes, etc.

 

The places you should focus most of you effort in the beginning in terms of acquiring gear are the tent, sleeping bag, pad, and bag. A lot of weight can be shed or gained with your choices on these pieces of gear.

 

And always remember..."ounces equal pounds"

[ForkHorn]

Would anyone like to expand on going with just a bivy vs a tent etc? I hope to do my first backpack hunt this year as well

[Weston]

For me it all depends on weather, I have a mountain hardware spire 2.1 tent that really doesnt weight much more than a bivy and packs down to almost as small as the bivy I cary, If I can get away with it and I'm going solo I'll usually bivy, although if its going to be windy or a chance of rain at all I'll bring my tent (much more comfortable to get out of the elements and feel less claustrophobic. In the sumer I'll often go out with a bivy and a microfleece jacket and cap as my sleeping gear. In the winter I'll always bring my tent because it keeps me warmer as I can use my backpacking stove and crack a door a bit and it really heats it up probably 15 or 20 degrees on the inside. Bivys are great if youre just trying to run and gun but if youre setting up a spike camp a tent is much more comfortable for me at least. If you can split a two person tent up between two people it is certainly worth the warmth in the colder months of two bodies heat being contained a bit.

 

Bivys seem like a great idea all the time until you have to spend the night in one in a nasty storm, its miserable especially if you dont build a dam around the head area because rain always seems to get in. Plus they hold in condensation something fierce and your sleeping bag will almost always be wet if you need to actually use the sack for what its designed for.

[Jcubed]

Bivy=coffin like

 

Tent allows you to move around, sit, stand (in my backpacking tipi I can stand up) and get out of the weather if it turns bad on you...more comfort but also more weight to carry.

[ready2hunt]

Backpacking is an amazing way to hunt. Just use common sense. Many seasoned hunters have found themselves turned around at one point or another. Water=Life Even some animals die of dehydration as you well know...don't push your limits until you are completely familiar with the terrain.

If you want to hike miles and miles away from civilization then have enough water to do so. Don't depend on rain and stay sheltered out of bad weather.

 

You can do a lot with a good pack, solid boots, a compass and your basic camping gear. Always have a small survival pack. I'd even suggested hiking and camping out where you intend to hunt so you familiarize yourself with the terrain and know what to expect. Have fun and enjoy your hunt.

[metau]

Gear:

 

And always remember..."ounces equal pounds"

 

Very true. And the less something weighs, the more expensive it gets.... & quickly too!

 

There are several questions you need to ask yourself. Do you plan on going solo, w/a partner or as a small group? Do you want to pack in a spike camp, or carry camp with you each day? What will the elevation/weather be like where/when you hunt? What's the max duration you would want to be in the backcountry? As this can be quite an investment gear/cost wise, do you plan on or want the option to hunt in other states or out of the country? Are you looking to outfit yourself by the start of this season, or planning ahead a year or two? What is your budget? What gear do you have already? While much of the gear is easily interchangeable, there are several things, some costly, that would/could change depending on some of your answers.

 

Take stoves for example. A small titanium pot/cup with some heat tabs is about the lightest you can go for a solo set up, with a jetboil my preferred choice when cooking for two. If you plan on hunting in very cold weather, with a group, or out of country, then the whisperlite(or international model) would be your best option. And of course do not forget about a small cooking fire, if you don't mind smelling like one while hunting. While any of these would/could work in any of the other situations, they are each uniquely suited to perform best in certain situations.

 

Now with all that said, you do not need a 2nd mortgage to do this. If you are starting with nothing other than your current hunting gear, you could get into the backcountry for a 4 day hunt for about a $100. While it would likely be an enjoyable time, I doubt comfort would be a word you would ever associate with it. On the flip side, you could spend 100 times that, with too much comfort. It all depends on what you want to do, how much weight you want to carry and of course, and how much you want to spend. The difference between a 60lb pack w/o rifle and a 40lb pack w/rifle for a two week hunt is HUGE, both to your back & your wallet.

 

 

Method: My method's do not alter drastically from day trip, walk in hunting. Do all your preseason scouting, starting with maps and phone calls to the WM. Then a trip or two in looking for sign. This is a great time to locate water sources and stash water if need be. Once you have your area selected, things are quite similar to how you hunt now, just your camp is smaller.

 

 

Mistakes: I've had many over the years. Relying on inferior gear to get you through the toughest of times. Purchasing the wrong upgrade, weight wise. Packing too much. Packing too little. Not refilling my consumables(spices, matches, TP) before a trip. I know there's a bunch more, but it's getting late for me.

 

Feel free to ask me any questions you have in regards to backpack hunting. There's still a lot I don't know, but I'll answer anything I can.

 

Jerry

[CouesWhitetail]

I love backpack hunting! For coues hunting in lower elevations I almost always use my bivy sack. It's rare that we get a lot of bad weather in AZ, and even if we do, it's generally not a multiday event. I have been snowed on and rained on in my bivy and was fine. You can get a bivy that has a hoop for over your head so it's not as confining. I don't bother with that but can see how it would be nice.

 

some pics from last year's backpack trip showing my bivy sack.

 

I use a lightweight backpacking therma rest inflatable pad to sleep on, but some like the convenience of those roll up foam pads.

 

I use a very small stove that screws on to the small propane type fuel canisters and love the lightweight nature of the titanium pots. To me it's worth the money if you intend to backpack often.

 

that little pillow you see is the kind that airlines give out on the plane. But you can get inflateable ones, or use your extra clothes as a pillow, which I do often.

 

 

[Viper]

I've seen pictures like this from down along the border

[GreeneMachine]

I thought bivy was the way to go, until I got stuck in a nasty snow/rain storm this past December while on a WT hunt. Amanda's set up is awesome, and is very similar to what I've used. However, I had a heck of time when the rain and snow started and didn't stop for a day. Problem I had with my bivy was that once you're in, it's hard to get out if it's pouring rain without getting everything (including your sleeping bag) completely wet. So once you're in, you have to hope you don't need to get out (bathroom, water, food, medication, etc.). And being zipped up in a bivy for 8+ hours is just torture.

 

I spent good money on one of the top of the line bivy's because I was concerned about condensation. Made by Outdoor Research. So I got one that was supposed to breath. Yeah right. I used this bivy on an August deer hunt to help keep the ants from crawling over me all night. It did not breath as advertised and it was horrible.

 

I returned my bivy to REI when I got back from the December hunt. Will never use one again. Just my opinion, the bivy sack doesn't offer much. If the weather is nice, a sleeping bag and pad will work fine. If you need a bivy to stay dry, I would recommend a tent instead.

 

A lot of other good replies on this post. To +1 what someone else stated, don't be afraid to filter those nasty water holes for water. It may look nasty, but it sure beats lugging gallons of water around when you're trying to go light.

 

Consider renting a backpacking tent from REI and giving it a shot. The super light tents aren't cheap, but worth their weight. Backpack hunting is the way to go, and you'll find a lot of reward in it.

[ready2hunt]

I bought a $20 tent from walmart. Sets up in less than 5min. and (when packed) is the size of a phanny pack. Fits me and my gear fine (but no room for anyone else). I do not care if I lose it or if I tears as it is cheap. Keeps me dry etc. I know everyone has their choice but I can go through many many little tents before I every reach the same price of this $$$ gear and it is smaller and weighs less than a lot of this other stuff. Just a thought

[Jcubed]

Remember too that when you kill that meat has to go out on your back as well...so decide if you will be doing multiple trips or try to do it all in one. Meat plus 60 lbs of gear can be a grueling trip out...

 

Good advice on this so far

[rcdinaz]

I can't do the sleeping on the ground thing with a bivy. My tent is almost as lite as most bivys and I have the false sense of being in a room, a very small one but I can/ have hung in there in a very nasty storm and was dry and worm. My problem these days is wanting to bring my big spotter, 15's, and a 12lb gun, so that 20lbs alone means I am no ultrlite hunter!

 

I am working to get down to one reasonable set of binocs and one tripod though.