Real world difficult hunts

[Random 8]

I occasionally watch a "hunting" show on TV when I'm really bored. They're usually 75% advertising, culminating in somebody making way too much noise and movement bagging a trophy animal after deciding which trophy animal in the camera frame to bag without breaking a sweat. Jeez, it's just that easy eh? These people couldn't harvest a fawn in Northern MN.

I hunt whitetail in Northern MN. The weather and terrain add a good level of difficulty. Cedar swamps, doghair aspen regrowth, willow/tag alder/canary grass brushland, impassable muskeg, jungle thick jack pine or balsam, and at least where I am everything is pretty gosh darn flat so no natural terrain funnels. Simply seeing deer, any deer, is a challenge. Add in weather that can go from 60 to sub-zero in 24 hours with every kind of precipitation and wind spinning around the compass a couple of times, and trying to guess what the deer will do is nigh impossible. Additional difficulty is added by relatively low deer densities. Somehow, through all of this, I manage to bag a deer nearly every season. I am quite proud of this, and it takes a lot of work and woodscraft.

Who else has, shall we say, "interesting" hunting conditions? Share your toughest game.

 

[entropy]

I'll agree with you. Northern MN deer. BTDT.

 

[redneck2]

Well, a LOT depends on the area you have available and your relative knowledge. Remember that (a) these guys have a ton of time. For many, it’s all they do. And (b), they’re hunting prime private land.

For example, it took me five years to get my first turkey. After four years without success on public draws, I hunted a farm less than a mile from my house. Got a jake the first day. Got a gobbler six years straight afterward.

I took my best friend’s son on his first hunt on my brothers farm. He got a large gobbler opening day at 7:20 a.m.

Having great land and knowing what to do makes a world of difference.

As for deer, most guys are, well, stupid when it comes to deer hunting. I was for years. I’d try to set up blinds in the middle of the woods, then go in every day. All you do is spread your scent everywhere and telegraph your position. When I started setting up on edges and wait for deer to come out to me, I started getting deer every year. Nice deer.

Ever notice that you may see a nice deer opening day. Maybe once more. Then just does? Pressure makes the big deer move. If you go into a buck’s habitat more than once, most likely he will be gone or at the least go nocturnal

 

[jmorris]

The most difficult for me would be to watch someone on TV doing it.

Dove hunting can be pretty hot here, duck hunting is best when conditions are the worst.

Deer hunting is the most difficult when there are none.

That said, I think the only thing that could be more boring than watching someone hunt on TV, would be to watch someone unsuccessfully hunt on TV...

 

[H&Hhunter]

Solo Mt. Goat was a challenge. I hunted above 12,000’ the whole time and had to pack in every ounce of water. The terrain was either steep up or down and mini free climbs and bouldering were the norm. The pack out was epic. My goat hunting was pure endurance both physically and mentally.

 

[Ernie Bass]

Where I live, you have to go deep into the woods and swamps when hunting pressure starts. And know where you are going and be there before the sun comes up. Most will not move to far from Bedding which is thick, will come out again in about 4 hrs or so. Noon is a really good time to catch them on the move. And again at dusk.

 

[HB]

Public land hunting gets tough, quick.

 

[Telum Pisces]

The pine goats where I live now are some of the toughest to hunt on public land. That being said, I hunt mostly public land and I bag 3-5 deer a year. My kiddos will take 1-2 as well. Our deer are small though. 80 - 85 lb doe is normal average weight with bucks only averaging 140-160 on the top end. You'll get close to 180 every now and then for a buck before the rut time.

But until you have done a truly primitive style hunt where you have to pack in all your gear to include the water you will need to drink for days, you have not experienced a tough hunt.

I am talking the kind of hunting where you have to hike into your hunting area, bring everything you need, set up camp, hike 4-8 miles each day for said hunts each day and do that for multiple days at a time, that's tough! I have done two type hunts. It's the highest of highs and lowest of lows. I love those type hunts though. It feels so good to be so far removed from civilization, yet you realize how tied to civilization you really are once you are away from it's conveniences. I am going on another such hunt this year. I'll do them from time to time until I am too old I suppose.

 

[jmr40]

I watched a bear hunting show over the weekend filmed in Canada. The hunters and guide had to throw rocks at the bear to chase them away to get to the stand. There were literally 6-8 bear all around the stand and bait pile the entire time, for hours every day they hunted. They just waited until one showed up that they wanted. The bear knew the hunters were there, but ignored them.

I've had several tough hunts over the years. I was in college in 1977 when I got together with a group of guys for a week long backpack hunt. I still prefer to hunt in a similar manner. I'm getting too old for a true backpack hunt anymore. But I still manage to get 3-4 miles from the road for most hunts.

It wasn't the toughest, but 2 years ago I finally made a DIY elk hunt happen in CO. So far it is the most memorable. I was 60 at the time and I put in a lot of miles in rugged steep country at up to 11,000'. If I'd killed one getting it out would have made it the toughest. ​

 

[Ernie Bass]

I love YouTube video's of Rabbit Hunting with Beagles! Just love to watch the dogs.

 

[Telum Pisces]

That's another reason why I love the hunting show called Meat Eater. His shows do not always end in success and it's more about the hunt itself than the kill at the end!

 

[caribou]

For me, the hardest is deep cold weather.....anything below -30 is actually painfull.

The rest is joy, through and through....

 

[DocRock]

Elk hunting in the Rockies. Even a pack hunt means a ton of elevation every day. Last year I camped at 10,000 ft in the snow and was ridiculously exhausted every night. Had to sleep with a half gallon of water in my bag so that I'd have some that wasn't frozen in the morning. Also got some frostbite on my nose. I sure would enjoy one of those TV hunts for once...

 

[LoonWulf]

My toughest hunts always happened AFTER i pulled the trigger. Nothing akin to what some of you guys do of course.

couple of the more memorable ones....tho certainly not as physically draining as some of them...and again, i usually get to go home shower and hang out in my garage....so i cant really call what i do tough.

One spot I hunt is about 2 miles round trip, you start at about 9K and you drop and rise about 1500ft (might be closer to 2k, its been a while since i looked at the topo) out and back. One day I decided to walk DOWN the mountain on the other side of where i usually stop, after some sheep, and ended up on the flats at 6500. Had to hike back up, back down, back up. Dont usually carry much water on that hunt because its usually only an hour or so, was not happy when i got back to the truck.

Nother area is about 6 miles round trip, easy walking...IF you remember boots, and its a nice day, and your pack isnt full of random crap........and you dont loose your keys, so you have to come back the next day and basically jog the entire way in and out....That one was really only bad because im out of shape, did it two days in a row, and raced a storm in and out.

 

[1965tinman]

For me, the hardest is deep cold weather.....anything below -30 is actually painfull.

The rest is joy, through and through....

how often is it below -30?

 

[FL-NC]

Deer hunting in Fl can be tricky, as far as success goes. Not only are the deer smaller than most places and the diversity of terrain state-wide, the weather is unpredictable and the rut calendar is literally all over the place.Look at this insanity.

 

[HB]

The pine goats where I live now are some of the toughest to hunt on public land. That being said, I hunt mostly public land and I bag 3-5 deer a year. My kiddos will take 1-2 as well. Our deer are small though. 80 - 85 lb doe is normal average weight with bucks only averaging 140-160 on the top end. You'll get close to 180 every now and then for a buck before the rut time.

But until you have done a truly primitive style hunt where you have to pack in all your gear to include the water you will need to drink for days, you have not experienced a tough hunt.

I am talking the kind of hunting where you have to hike into your hunting area, bring everything you need, set up camp, hike 4-8 miles each day for said hunts each day and do that for multiple days at a time, that's tough! I have done two type hunts. It's the highest of highs and lowest of lows. I love those type hunts though. It feels so good to be so far removed from civilization, yet you realize how tied to civilization you really are once you are away from it's conveniences. I am going on another such hunt this year. I'll do them from time to time until I am too old I suppose.

I’ve done 1 DIY OTC elk hunt in CO on wilderness but I can’t see myself packing in water. Especially at elevation, I drink over a gallon of water per day. At 8# a day... I’d only be out for a night or 2. Plus water to cook with.

Have you considered a filter? Or were you in an area without creeks?

 

[HB]

Public land duck hunting can get interesting as well. I am fortunate to live a few miles from the Missouri River and the Mississippi Flyway brings millions of birds through MO.

You are basically required to get up at midnight to secure a spot. Ain’t no heated pit blinds here!!

 

[BigBore44]

Public land duck hunting can get interesting as well. I am fortunate to live a few miles from the Missouri River and the Mississippi Flyway brings millions of birds through MO.

You are basically required to get up at midnight to secure a spot. Ain’t no heated pit blinds here!!

Duck Dynasty ruined duck hunting around here. People don’t realize that ducks have been called to all the way from Canada and they’ve seen every decoy spread. They also apparently don’t realize that shotguns aren’t good to 200 yards.

They can’t call (but they sure think they can). They can’t set a spread (but they’ve got 150 deeks out). And they can’t shoot (well, they can’t hit anything).

 

[George P]

I agree about FL and CO (have lived in both) but Northern NV on BLM land is some hard hunting. No tree stands, no feeders, and where they were a month ago when you scouted means they'll be miles away on opening day. Decomposed granite and loose shale, elevation changes from 4000' to over 10, limited physical access due to terrain, etc. A friend drew a mountain goat tag - once in a lifetime. He had scouted heavily out in the north central part and found one on the second day. Shot wasn't too difficult; rangefinder said 270 yards +/-; bang and down..........on a ledge..............across a small canyon................1500' down very steep loose shale.....................1500' up the other side........................1500' back down and up again. Goat was down about 8AM; he got it back to his camp/truck at 5:30 in the PM. That animal got a full body mount.

 

[Patocazador]

My toughest hunts always happened AFTER i pulled the trigger.

Amen. I killed a bull elk across a canyon .. about a 400 yd. shot. I had to climb down the canyon, cross the river and climb the other side. Getting the bull to the bottom was easy but I then had to debone it and carry the meat up the wall to camp. That was 6 trips not including packing up the head and hide for taxidermy. That load was close to 80 lbs.

Hardest unsuccessful hunt was for bighorn sheep at 11,500 feet. Altitude sickness kicked in and I thought my brains were going to bust out of my head, Worst headache ever plus no oxygen to breathe.

Easiest hunts are dove shoots and an African safari. In Africa everyone waits on you and does everything except pull the trigger.

 

[HB]

They can’t call (but they sure think they can). They can’t set a spread (but they’ve got 150 desks out). And they can’t shoot (well, they can’t hit anything).

Its a bad cycle. When everybody is sky busting the ducks wont work. When the ducks don’t work, people get desperate.

I prefer to hunt little holes. The big sloughs are worse than dove season.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I hunt the back corner of our property, after letting the grandkids ride the SxS around through the year I ride it to the 4x8 stand/hut and sit with a heater or battery fan (no A/C), anything I could possibly need I've put in the back of the SxS parked about 12ft from the stand, sometimes I catch myself sleeping (I think deer like the different sounds), if I camp I have a 16ft enclosed trailer I sleep in with power and a well. I don't think I'm physically able to do the hunts that everyone is talking about and if I could I don't know if I would be able to bring my 10yo grandson.

 

[entropy]

Its a bad cycle. When everybody is sky busting the ducks wont work. When the ducks don’t work, people get desperate.

I prefer to hunt little holes. The big sloughs are worse than dove season.

I quit duck hunting after steel shot was mandated. My dad and I adjusted by calling better, setting better spreads, and waiting for them to come in closer. Then the surrounding sky busting got even worse than before steel shot. We gave up in disgust.

 

[Telum Pisces]

I’ve done 1 DIY OTC elk hunt in CO on wilderness but I can’t see myself packing in water. Especially at elevation, I drink over a gallon of water per day. At 8# a day... I’d only be out for a night or 2. Plus water to cook with.

Have you considered a filter? Or were you in an area without creeks?

This hunt has no water available. I have to go by boat and it's surrounded by saltwater everywhere. I make camp on the beach area so it's not too hard to get your water there. But n remote primitive hunt where you have to go in by boat, float plane etc... is once tough thing to do. Get dropped off and you are on your own for days!