By Chad Baart
Here are some tips that I would like to share with you to help you plan your next big hunt. I am a blue collar hunter like most and I have learned that quality Do-It-Yourself hunts can be done inexpensively by doing a little homework..
First you will want to contact a biologist for the state that you are considering and ask about population studies. You want to make sure that the species you are after is in the area that you plan on hunting. This will give you a good starting point.
Next, you will want to study the states harvest data and you will also want to check the drawing odds if applicable. When you contact Fish & Game, see if they will give you the names of the people that have hunted that unit before. When Gage our Field Editor drew a Mountain Goat tag, Fish and Game gave him the names of the last 8 people that drew the hunt before him. (4 years worth) This greatly increased his chances at a true trophy.
Now that you may have some areas in mind, you will want to check the season dates. We like to make sure that the season dates coincide as close to the rut as possible. This may indeed provide a better opportunity of harvesting a good animal.
Once you obtain this information, it is now time to start checking the maps. Google Earth is a great tool, one I will not do without. Now comes the big question. Can you access the roads that you see on Google Earth? You will need to contact the Forest Service to find out what roads are closed. You don’t want to find out that the access road you chose has a locked gate. If at all possible, it can prove to your advantage to get away from the heavily traveled areas. Make sure that you load waypoints from Google Earth into your GPS. This will help you find points of interest when you get to your destination.
When traveling to another state, your efforts most likely will focus on public lands. Though these areas may see more than their fair share of hunters, I would be willing to bet that the further you get from civilization, the greater the chances are of you having the woods to yourself. An alternative to hunting public lands would be to see if the state that you plan on hunting has some type of Block Management or Access Yes program. Landowners are paid a fee to let you access their land. Often times the number of hunters is limited, and this may offer you less hunting pressure than that of general public access. Most ranchers involved in this program will be able to tell you not only how the herd is doing, but will often times point you in the direction of where the big buck likes to hide.
If you belong to a local archery club, talk to others who may have done the hunt already. When a friend of mine went to Arizona to hunt Javelina, another club member had been on that particular hunt twice already and set him up with all the information that he needed. He ended up with the name and telephone number of the rancher that he needed to contact, which enabled him to cross private ground and gain access to a great hunting area.
Get to know the locals. I have started some great friendships across the country. Even though your hunt was planned around public ground, make sure to ask around and get to know the local people. You may be surprised at the outcome of speaking with strangers. I still keep in touch with those that have been kind enough to let me hunt their place. If this happens, a letter once in a while or a Christmas card, may just land you a place for next season.
You may want to try swapping a hunt with someone. I have done this on several occasions with great success. You may want to go into an on-line meeting with caution though. Make sure that you check out a person and have a good idea about their ethics and rule out any quirks. I did this and found not only a great place to hunt in the Midwest, but also bonded with life long friends. In this occasion, just remember that it’s best to share your expectations before making the commitment.
With today’s airline problems, I have found it best to ship my gear and bow ahead of time. This can be done if you have a known recipient on the other end. I learned a lesson from a partner’s experience. When he showed up to hunt in the Northwest, he found out his bow was in Texas. His gear did not show up for 4 days. Luckily I had a backup bow ready for him to use when he got here.
Now that you have figured out where you are going to hunt, it’s time to start focusing on the details. This is where an excellent hunt can make a downward turn, or worse yet, turn into a disaster.
Get to know what the weather is like in the area that you plan on hunting. When you contact the biologist, ask him what type of weather you should expect on your hunt and pack accordingly. Check out Dave’s article on Backback Bowhunting for information on what to pack.
If you find yourself driving through higher elevations, be prepared for the worse. Make sure that your fluid levels are up to par, and also carry chains, shovels, and put together an emergency survival kit in the event that you get stranded. It is always a good idea to top off your tank whenever possible, as gas stations tend to be spaced a greater distance apart the further that you go west. Also, it is good idea to travel in the mountains with an extra can of gas.
You might want to consider a satellite phone as cell phone reception is not available in much of the back country. If you do get stranded, remember that even though you may not have cell phone reception, you still may send a signal to rescuers every time you try to make a call. Make sure that you leave an itinerary with someone, and establish contact and return times. This may just save your life.
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, you may contact Chris Denham at Western Hunter Magazine for assistance. He provides hunt application and planning services and just may have the piece of the puzzle that you are looking for when planning a Do-It-Yourself hunt……
