who bowhunts the back country?

[bojangles]

i'm not even sure what back country is, technically, but the word seems to be tossed around a lot by the who's who of richy rich hunting kids.

 

look, i'm not gonna buy some $350 pants, but i would like to get in there to some solitude some day. not sure when my life is gonna calm down to that point, but hopefully i can pull it off some time soon, like maybe a couple of days this fall.

 

is it all that and a jelly samwich? i've been looking lustfully at some maps and some places on google earth, wondering if there's any critters out there, or just tumble weeds and rattle snakes.

[trphyhntr]

technically, but the word seems to be tossed around a lot by the who's who of richy rich hunting kids.

 

 

came into troll and say how trendy the word "back country" is on IG with kids. saw this, thank you.

[oz31p]

I do.

 

What's ig?

[trphyhntr]

instagram. its a good spot horn porn

[GreyGhost85]

It depends on what your definition of "back country" is. I have spent a lot of time in what most would consider "back country". I donMt notice much difference in game from 1-10 miles from a road

[mattys281]

It depends on what your definition of "back country" is. I have spent a lot of time in what most would consider "back country". I donMt notice much difference in game from 1-10 miles from a road

 

I tend to disagree. I hunt pretty much exclusively in areas that have to be walked into, whether it's designated wilderness area or just someplace ugle between roads. I don't notice a huge difference in game numbers, if anything there's arguably fewer animals due to the nasty terrain. Deer & elk like easy areas just like people do.

 

What I do notice though, is that you can get into areas that are populated with uneducated animals. That's a huge plus. I've gotten away with some noise and movement that wouldn't be tolerated by a well trained road deer. They're a bitch to pack out though...

[oz31p]

instagram. its a good spot horn porn

And here I though it was all douche bag hipsters and 12 year old girls.

 

It depends on what your definition of "back country" is. I have spent a lot of time in what most would consider "back country". I donMt notice much difference in game from 1-10 miles from a road

For me the backcountry is defined as walking to get there and sleeping there with just the stuff you carried in your back pack.

[trphyhntr]

 

instagram. its a good spot horn porn

And here I though it was all douche bag hipsters and 12 year old girls.

 

 

be right back killing myself

[bojangles]

i think i'd like to give it a whirl anyways.

 

i'm not into trends, and think with big brands pushing "back country" lingo around, it's gonna get popularized, and possibly not be what it is in the near future. but i know, they gotta sell their $350 pants and $600 packs, so some certain wanderlust must be prostituted out so we'll all train to hunt and drink mountain ops and whatnot.

 

but i'm looking for solitude and challenge, probably not the real thing, but maybe just a taste of what i think it might be. reading my grandpa's memoirs got me thinking about what a softy i've become. he punched cows in the old days by himself in the wilderness, sometimes a couple days ride from camp. i think i'd like to do something as tough as he was, even if just once.

 

since hunting is my thing, it seems it might be my opportunity at hand.

 

i'll chat more tomorrow, thanks for the lively conversation.

[mattys281]

i think i'd like to give it a whirl anyways.

 

i'm not into trends, and think with big brands pushing "back country" lingo around, it's gonna get popularized, and possibly not be what it is in the near future. but i know, they gotta sell their $350 pants and $600 packs, so some certain wanderlust must be prostituted out so we'll all train to hunt and drink mountain ops and whatnot.

 

but i'm looking for solitude and challenge, probably not the real thing, but maybe just a taste of what i think it might be. reading my grandpa's memoirs got me thinking about what a softy i've become. he punched cows in the old days by himself in the wilderness, sometimes a couple days ride from camp. i think i'd like to do something as tough as he was, even if just once.

 

since hunting is my thing, it seems it might be my opportunity at hand.

 

i'll chat more tomorrow, thanks for the lively conversation.

 

 

Anything that's marketed specifically towards hunting is way overpriced. If you want a good backpacking pack, sleeping bag, etc, stay the heck away from hunting stores and hit up ebay for some stuff that's aimed at backpackers, not hunters. They have way better gear for much cheaper. REI has their own brand that's been very durable for me and at a bargain price compared to Kelty, North Face, Gregory or any of the others. I've been using a REI mars pack for long trips for about 8-10 years now. Super comfortable and no trouble holding up to 50 lbs of stuff for long trips.

 

I think with guys like Cameron Hanes and the Eastmans doing all their videos and writing books and what not, it definetely has gotten trendy. But like any other trend, most people will be all gung-ho and into it for a year or two (at most) and then their gear will be up on ebay. The back country will always be a lonely place because it takes a lot of effort to get there, and most people aren't real good with the effort part. Spending money on gear? Sure. Walking 10+miles with all that crap on your back? Not so much. And for the ones that do, all it'll take is one early snow storm and being stuck shivering in the tent for two days, or a freak night time storm with lightning and hail to come out of no where and most will turn tail and not look back.

[oz31p]

 

i think i'd like to give it a whirl anyways.

 

i'm not into trends, and think with big brands pushing "back country" lingo around, it's gonna get popularized, and possibly not be what it is in the near future. but i know, they gotta sell their $350 pants and $600 packs, so some certain wanderlust must be prostituted out so we'll all train to hunt and drink mountain ops and whatnot.

 

but i'm looking for solitude and challenge, probably not the real thing, but maybe just a taste of what i think it might be. reading my grandpa's memoirs got me thinking about what a softy i've become. he punched cows in the old days by himself in the wilderness, sometimes a couple days ride from camp. i think i'd like to do something as tough as he was, even if just once.

 

since hunting is my thing, it seems it might be my opportunity at hand.

 

i'll chat more tomorrow, thanks for the lively conversation.

 

 

Anything that's marketed specifically towards hunting is way overpriced. If you want a good backpacking pack, sleeping bag, etc, stay the heck away from hunting stores and hit up ebay for some stuff that's aimed at backpackers, not hunters. They have way better gear for much cheaper. REI has their own brand that's been very durable for me and at a bargain price compared to Kelty, North Face, Gregory or any of the others. I've been using a REI mars pack for long trips for about 8-10 years now. Super comfortable and no trouble holding up to 50 lbs of stuff for long trips.

 

I think with guys like Cameron Hanes and the Eastmans doing all their videos and writing books and what not, it definetely has gotten trendy. But like any other trend, most people will be all gung-ho and into it for a year or two (at most) and then their gear will be up on ebay. The back country will always be a lonely place because it takes a lot of effort to get there, and most people aren't real good with the effort part. Spending money on gear? Sure. Walking 10+miles with all that crap on your back? Not so much. And for the ones that do, all it'll take is one early snow storm and being stuck shivering in the tent for two days, or a freak night time storm with lightning and hail to come out of no where and most will turn tail and not look back.

What he said. /\

[Pac8541]

Feed the Soul and get away...

Nailed it.

 

I haven't done any backcountry hunting; I am neither equipped nor prepared enough for that yet. The furthest I've been from a road has been maybe 3 miles. A couple buddies thought I was nuts hunting out of my 2-man tent last Nov in 22N! Their definition of "roughing it" is far from mine, cuz there was nothing rough about those 4 days. But, I have done a fair amount of backcountry flyfishing and I do that specifically for what it does for my soul. In my profession, its therapy on a career survival level; a humanity life preserver. It is literally what keeps me sane. We ALL need something like that, and the fishing is only part of that equation. Adversity experienced in that manner IS freedom. The environment under those circumstances allows us to be who we really are, good and bad, and be honest with ourselves to a degree that is not possible elsewhere. We all want and need to bring something home for the effort but frankly, I'll take a lifetime of empty tags if I can do it without seeing hundreds of hunters/fishermen before I embrace glassing from my hood and hauling everything out by quad.

[208muley]

I love "backcountry" hunting. It's a lot of work and game numbers tend to be much less as there is less water, no roads no dirt tank or trick tanks. Do you need all the high priced gear? Probably not, but I will say that having top quality gear that is made for the backpacker is lighter (easier to carry) and in some ways could be a lifesaver. Because backpack hunting for 5-7 days is a grueling adventure anything to can do to maker it more comfortable on yourself is worth the price of admission. That is just my opinion.

 

With that said, do I have $350 pants? Nope I use $60 Eddie Bauer "guide" pants... $60. I did spend some money on a down puffy jacket, super light and super warm and compresses down to a softball. Don't skimp on boots!! Try them all to find one that fits YOUR foot. Packs??? Good lord a book can be written on this subject. It's a personal thing, internal vs external frames, type of bags from one big sack to lots of pockets and the ability to haul your gear AND boned out meat. On and on and on.....

 

For a guy starting out without a real mentor I would try a 1-2 nighter not far from a road and take what gear you have. Bring a note pad to write down your thoughts as the trip goes on to refine your gear once you get back.

 

One last thing, body condition is everything!! While round is a shape, it's not the shape you want when you are 15 mi in 5 days into a hunt!! Legs, feet and lungs!!!!!!!

 

Any questions you have just ask, while I darn sure don't know it all, I do have some experience backpack hunting and am more than willing to at least give you my opinion.

 

There are people that hate it and those that love it! Start with small trips to see which one you are to find out if you want/need to spend the cash on it.

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

I spend most of my hunting time way off roads with camp on my back or on my animals. I like hunting from a nice base camp as well but I will take a backpack trip more often. You can go bow hunt from a backpack for 4 plus nights very easily. Don't let all the gear heads and pro hunters fool you. Yes the gear is better and nice but I spent like 500 bucks total and went from zero bow or gear and backpacked for 4 days for my very first bow hunt. I was not uncomfortable and had a blast and was hooked. I spent maybe 15 days out the next year and more the year after that. It's alot of fun and it hurts and it sucks and then you are wishing it wasn't time to go. If you want to see a full set up for a local diy average dude let me know. None of my gear is on TV or podcasts but I can get in anywhere they can.

[Tac]

i would love to but i have a hard time staying away from the warm comfy trailer at night.