Backpacking in border units?

[REDFIELD11]

Does anyone have a lot of experience backpacking in border units in areas with a lot of illegal traffic? What are your experiences? Did you have many/ any encounters with illegals? My gut feeling is it would not be wise, but wanting to get in deep into some areas that I believe hold higher numbers of deer and that possible monster. Anybody have good experiences? Bad? Advice? Thanks for the input.

[Jimmyc]

A side arm, a cell phone and a map of exactly where you will be to someone at home. Check in every night with them.

Get to hiking and harvest that big buck.

[Coues assassin]

Terrible idea border units have no deer

[johnnie blaze]

pretty sure that there is a road with INS closer then anywhere you could backpack into.

[QhunterAZ]

Had a friend who would bow hunt the border units every year. Had 2 friends who followed along at a distance for long range over watch with rifles. he said he had a few scary encounters. how much of it he was exaggerating who knows. Look for some primitive wilderness areas anywhere in the state with a few square miles you have to walk. few people are willing to hike in anymore lol.

[idgaf]

I am planning a backpack hunt for january, if the new unit 2 and 4a January hunts do not get in the way. I have seen all kinds of illegals and you know the bad ones instantly. If you are nervous and worried about it my suggestion is find a unit north of I10 because you will not enjoy the hunt. BP has severely reduced traffic(that and a bad economy) so most of the ones you see now have less than honorable intentions. The country is some of the most beautiful on the planet and the hunting at the right times can not be matched.

[5nRamirez]

Like others have said carry a side arm..

I tend to camp up high away from trafficking trails...but beware as most mules are also thinking the same to avoid detection do your scouting before hand and know the hot routes the illegals are using at the time.

[DesertBull]

More roadless areas in 22, 23, 27, 31, 32,and 33 which might make for better backpacking.

[CouesWhitetail]

I backpack and hike a lot in those border units and haven't had major problems. But I check in with border patrol to find out if there is a lot going on in the area before each trip. Traffic and activity changes and so it's a good idea to get current info. You might want to contact forum member AZLance and see if he will share info with you. He works for Border Patrol and helps us out a lot.

 

also, you might consider getting a Delorme inReach unit to help with communication while you are in those units. You can send and receive messages and have your location tracked every ten minutes and sent to whoever you set up beforehand to receive that info (like your wife or border patrol). Also a good idea to inform border patrol so they don't waste manpower chasing you down.

[8OWHUNT247]

The traffic slows down during hunts (at least, thats what I've seen in the last 6 years) seems like they don't want to get intercepted by a hunter as much as you dont want to get intercepted by them.

 

Be aware but enjoy a great hunt in some beautiful country.

[mattys281]

I hunted down there a few years ago for the first time and witnessed three new democrats tramp into our country on the very first night. Turns out that beat down trail I was sitting on was a coyote trail, not a game trail. If you find the best looking trail youve ever seen and its approximately 30-60 yards up hill from and running parallel to a maintained hiking trail, be ready to see more than deer. The ones I saw were marked off with orange flagging tape too. Pretty smart really, just shadow the hiking trail through the remote areas.

 

Anyhow, of the ones I saw it went like this: first by cruises by me at 20 yards, never sees me. A minute or two later the second one cruises by, he spots me. I wave to him, he waves to me and carries on. Another minute or two later the third cruises by and doesnt see me, but then I see the second one come back with the third and point me out to him. I wave again, they wave back again, and then leave. i was sitty 20 yards off their trail. Decided to pack It in for the night after that.

 

Lesson I took away from it: carry your side arm and try to hide better next time.

[trphyhntr]

Had a friend who would bow hunt the border units every year. Had 2 friends who followed along at a distance for long range over watch with rifles.

 

 

wtf??

[nighthawk]

 

 

Had a friend who would bow hunt the border units every year. Had 2 friends who followed along at a distance for long range over watch with rifles.

 

wtf??

+1 ??

[Eagle mountain ranch]

I hunted down there a few years ago for the first time and witnessed three new democrats tramp into our country on the very first night. Turns out that beat down trail I was sitting on was a coyote trail, not a game trail. If you find the best looking trail youve ever seen and its approximately 30-60 yards up hill from and running parallel to a maintained hiking trail, be ready to see more than deer. The ones I saw were marked off with orange flagging tape too. Pretty smart really, just shadow the hiking trail through the remote areas.

Anyhow, of the ones I saw it went like this: first by cruises by me at 20 yards, never sees me. A minute or two later the second one cruises by, he spots me. I wave to him, he waves to me and carries on. Another minute or two later the third cruises by and doesnt see me, but then I see the second one come back with the third and point me out to him. I wave again, they wave back again, and then leave. i was sitty 20 yards off their trail. Decided to pack It in for the night after that.

Lesson I took away from it: carry your side arm and try to hide better next time.

Three new democrats that's good chit right there ...Lmao !!!!

[backcountry_brad]

Bring an AR 15 with you and sleep with one eye open