First backpack hunt?

[capoeirajosh]

Hey, guys! So, over the past year or so, I have been acquiring gear here and there for backpack hunting. Now, that I have the gear, I am looking to FINALLY do my first backpack style hunt this coming January. Pretty excited! My next obstacle though is figuring out what country I want to hike into and hunt. I would prefer to keep it in the desert/high desert as I want to be able to glass a ton of country. The past few years, I have hunted mule deer in the Dugas Rd area and really like the looks of that country. Haven't put an arrow in a deer yet, but got on loads of them and missed 2 in that area. Do you guys strictly stick to the wilderness areas or look for roadless areas on normal public ground? Of course I am not looking for anyone's honey holes. Any insight anyone can give me is greatly appreciated. Let's hear it!! : )

[HuntHarder]

Pine MTN. Good area and right where you are hunting

[capoeirajosh]

Pine MTN. Good area and right where you are hunting

I was looking at that on my map actually. Is that pretty thick country up there or is it glassable?

[HuntHarder]

Great area with lots of game. Bear, elk, coues, muleys and lions. Some areas are a little thick, but lots of glassing, lots.

[mattys281]

I usually bivyout in the roadless fringe areas around wilderness areas. My favorite winter time ridge is within an hours walk of a hwy cross country. I can hear the cars on the hwy, but have never seen another soul on it, except my daughter and my hunting buddy that goes with me. You dont have to go that far to lose the crowd, and you should always consider game evacuation. I would go much deeper for coues than for muleys.

[capoeirajosh]

I usually bivyout in the roadless fringe areas around wilderness areas. My favorite winter time ridge is within an hours walk of a hwy cross country. I can hear the cars on the hwy, but have never seen another soul on it, except my daughter and my hunting buddy that goes with me. You dont have to go that far to lose the crowd, and you should always consider game evacuation. I would go much deeper for coues than for muleys.

Something like that does sound favorable for getting game out. Also, for a first backpack hunt. Not looking to go super deep on a first time thing. Gonna try to focus on locating mule deer as well. Not that I would turn my nose up to a coues at all. In my experience, the mule deer are just way easier to stalk and are less jumpy.

[mattys281]

 

I usually bivyout in the roadless fringe areas around wilderness areas. My favorite winter time ridge is within an hours walk of a hwy cross country. I can hear the cars on the hwy, but have never seen another soul on it, except my daughter and my hunting buddy that goes with me. You dont have to go that far to lose the crowd, and you should always consider game evacuation. I would go much deeper for coues than for muleys.

Something like that does sound favorable for getting game out. Also, for a first backpack hunt. Not looking to go super deep on a first time thing. Gonna try to focus on locating mule deer as well. Not that I would turn my nose up to a coues at all. In my experience, the mule deer are just way easier to stalk and are less jumpy.

Smart move for a stalk hunt. Muleys tend to stay put longer when they bed too. I never met a coues deer that didnt suffer from extreme adhd, especially during the rut. They usually get up and move before im done planning my stalk. Coues deer are much easier to ambush though.

 

Glass in the morning and afternoon, but if youre not on something two hours before sundown, have yourself a good ambush spot picked out to spend the evening. Good time to try rattling and grunt calling, both of which can work on coues and muleys.

 

Just my .02

[capoeirajosh]

 

 

I usually bivyout in the roadless fringe areas around wilderness areas. My favorite winter time ridge is within an hours walk of a hwy cross country. I can hear the cars on the hwy, but have never seen another soul on it, except my daughter and my hunting buddy that goes with me. You dont have to go that far to lose the crowd, and you should always consider game evacuation. I would go much deeper for coues than for muleys.

Something like that does sound favorable for getting game out. Also, for a first backpack hunt. Not looking to go super deep on a first time thing. Gonna try to focus on locating mule deer as well. Not that I would turn my nose up to a coues at all. In my experience, the mule deer are just way easier to stalk and are less jumpy.

Smart move for a stalk hunt. Muleys tend to stay put longer when they bed too. I never met a coues deer that didnt suffer from extreme adhd, especially during the rut. They usually get up and move before im done planning my stalk. Coues deer are much easier to ambush though.

 

Glass in the morning and afternoon, but if youre not on something two hours before sundown, have yourself a good ambush spot picked out to spend the evening. Good time to try rattling and grunt calling, both of which can work on coues and muleys.

 

Just my .02

Yeah, I have definitely ran into that issue before. Spotting something right before dark and not being able to get on it for lack of time. Sitting in ambush sounds like a better idea during that time.

[MT_Sourdough]

Remember water. When I am solo backpack hunt in this state, I carry in water and cache it out before the season starts. I do not want to rely on water sources and filtration systems in the desert. Having water available will save on time and energy when you want to be hunting for horny critters, not of water.

[capoeirajosh]

Remember water. When I am solo backpack hunt in this state, I carry in water and cache it out before the season starts. I do not want to rely on water sources and filtration systems in the desert. Having water available will save on time and energy when you want to be hunting for horny critters, not of water.

This is for sure plan on doing. Stash some water beforehand.

[mattys281]

 

Remember water. When I am solo backpack hunt in this state, I carry in water and cache it out before the season starts. I do not want to rely on water sources and filtration systems in the desert. Having water available will save on time and energy when you want to be hunting for horny critters, not of water.

This is for sure plan on doing. Stash some water beforehand.

Consider bear proof containers. Ive returned later to find my stash scattered and empty.

[capoeirajosh]

 

 

Remember water. When I am solo backpack hunt in this state, I carry in water and cache it out before the season starts. I do not want to rely on water sources and filtration systems in the desert. Having water available will save on time and energy when you want to be hunting for horny critters, not of water.

This is for sure plan on doing. Stash some water beforehand.

Consider bear proof containers. Ive returned later to find my stash scattered and empty.

Even during January?

[mattys281]

Ive had two incidents. 1 was october ish. Stashed some water with a friend for his October hunt, but he couldnt make it. Tried to pick up his water for him during the January archery hunt and it had been raided. Looked like the work of a thirsty bear.

 

2 was rodent related. Something small chewed into my food pocket on a dec hunt in 22 mazatzal wilderness area and helped itself to my cliff bars and special k yogurt bars. In its defense, it didn't eat everything. Apparently said rodent believed I had plenty to share. While I appreciate the gesture, I went ahead and left the uneaten portions for him to find the next night, and started putting my snacks in the tent with me. Probably not the brightest idea in bear country but it was cold enough that I hoped they were hybernating or had moved lower down. Plenty of bears in az that dont sleep through the winter, so its always good to be mindful.

[capoeirajosh]

Ive had two incidents. 1 was october ish. Stashed some water with a friend for his October hunt, but he couldnt make it. Tried to pick up his water for him during the January archery hunt and it had been raided. Looked like the work of a thirsty bear.

 

2 was rodent related. Something small chewed into my food pocket on a dec hunt in 22 mazatzal wilderness area and helped itself to my cliff bars and special k yogurt bars. In its defense, it didn't eat everything. Apparently said rodent believed I had plenty to share. While I appreciate the gesture, I went ahead and left the uneaten portions for him to find the next night, and started putting my snacks in the tent with me. Probably not the brightest idea in bear country but it was cold enough that I hoped they were hybernating or had moved lower down. Plenty of bears in az that dont sleep through the winter, so its always good to be mindful.

Good to know!

[oz31p]

If I were you I would try a first backpack hunt during nice weather. Your libel to get some very serious very cold weather in pine mt in jan. and consider a floorless shelter with a stove.

 

Personally I don't think any bears in 21 hibernate.

 

The top of pine mt is think but most of the drainages are very glass able.