Dreaming of a Backpack Style Hunt

Have you been dreaming of a big mountain hunt in the West?  Backpack style, get way back in there, get into some great Elk or Deer hunting.  You’ve done all of the research, watched countless hours of YouTube channels, started applying for points in five different states.  And dreaming…   and dreaming… the chance may come or may not come, but it seems like the odds and logistics and time off are all against you. 

There’s no denying there has been a huge boom in outdoor activity and big game hunting.  Joe Rogan, Jocko Willink, Cameron Hanes, Randy Newberg, etc. have inspired all of us to get out there more and go after it.  Big game hunting in big mountains is difficult.  The odds are stack against you.  And that’s what makes it so attractive to everyone, including myself.  Not to mention the huge payoff at the end with a freezer full of delicious meat.

But getting into it as a newbie that is not located in the west seems especially daunting.  I grew up in the west and live in Idaho.  I’ve got some great friends and family that are up for anything I can dream up of from backpack style big game hunts to float trip big game hunts.  That was not always the case.  I was searching for people to go on this style of hunts and adventures with me for a long time.  Thinking back on it, if I was living in a city or in the East, I would definitely still have the drive for the big mountains.  But where and how would I start?

Getting into Backpack Style Hunts

I believe a great option for anyone looking to get into backcountry big game hunting is to start with small game hunting.  In fact, I believe anyone that has been into big game hunting would get a hell of a kick out of small game hunting.  I remember taking a friend that only big game hunted on a chukar trip once, and he was hooked.  Plenty of action, plenty of birds, awesome country, freedom of movement, etc. all lead to a spectacular time.

More recently, we’ve been using September to get into the woods and do a blast and cast for high-altitude grouse and mountain lake fishing.  We even took the kids this year and had a blast.  This style of hunting checks most all of the boxes that you would want on a backpack big game hunt.

Pros and Cons of Upland Backpack Hunting

Pros:

• Adventure
• Backpacking
• Camping
• Physical Challenge
• Mental Challenge
• High Altitude
• Weather
• Gear testing and refinement

There are items that upland hunting in this method add to as well

• Low hunting pressure
• High success rate
• Can have lots of action
• Fishing opportunities
• Low stress for packout of meat
• Long seasons
• Test skills and gear

The only cons I can think of are

• Not working on stalking/spotting skills
• No huge meat payoff

Those could limit you from wanting to consider it.  But heck, if you only have a week of work to devote to this style of hunt, and you want to have fun, see awesome country, and go multiple times throughout the year to really learn some country – give it a try.  An overnight, two-, or three-day trip is plenty to shake out your gear and get a taste of the big mountains. 

Details on Upland Backpack Style Hunts

What exactly am I talking about here?  Do you need a dog? What Gear? Where would I go?

Well, in my opinion, keep it simple.  And you can keep it cheap.  Here’s an overview of some of these items:

Where: Pick a state where you want to go big game hunting and have some points built up if you do.  Go to that same location.  Mountain Grouse is all over the Rocky Mountains so any of you popular elk and deer states such as Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming will be good.  Or tier 2 elk hunting states could be epic as well such as Oregon, Washington. 

What: My recommendation is to go after mountain grouse: Blue Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse are all prolific in these states.  I would also target an area that has a river or mountain lake to fish.  It is hard to beat siting next to a high mountain lake cooking grouse and fish over a fire.

When: Season opens in some of these states as early as September 1^st and goes fairly late.  I recommend if you are new to go early in September during a time with no rain forecasted.  This will help you limit the need for a bunch of gear.

Why: Hopefully this was covered already.  Go at last, have fun.  Stop dreaming and start doing.

How: Grouse hunting, say, without a dog and without just driving roads involves a lot of hiking.  But it can be done and you can be successful without a dog.  Just hike around.  In the early fall see if you can find areas close to water and that have good sources of food such as grass hoppers or berries.  Typically, if you are in an area like that you will see or hear them.  Then keep your eyes and ears open.  They’ll flush and you’ll likely not get a shot at the first one.  But hopefully a single or two is nearby.  Cover country and have fun.  It’s not all about the birds.

Gear for Upland Backpack Style Hunts

Gear: It doesn’t have to be complicated.  But some that you may not already have is a shotgun.  Don’t go nuts here.  A Remington 870 is the perfect starter shotgun and can double for home defense.  I’d get in 12ga so it can double as home defense.  Put a modified or improved modified choke in it.  If you’ve never shot go get some help at a local sporting clay or skeet shooting range. 

I hope you found this helpful.  Drop us a line with your experiences. 

For similar articles check out Mother Chukar and Just Add Grouse.