Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure

Author Jack Ballard On The Move

BY JACK BALLARD

As a proverb for big-game hunters, “he who travels farthest from road, findeth most game” is a maxim worth memorizing. But if you’re counting on your pickup or ATV to get there, you may need a contingency plan. In response to erosion, wildlife disruption and illegal travel, public land managers are increasingly regulating and restricting motorized travel.
For hunters with just an ounce or two of ambition, that’s actually a good thing. Numerous research projects in recent years underscore an undeniable conclusion — the most (and the biggest) bucks and bulls stomp the earth in non-motorized areas. Elk are especially reluctant to populate regions heavy with motorized disturbance. Based on personal experience, I’ll confidently assert that on public land, elk hunting is most productive a mile or more from motorized access routes. Throw in the bonus of unspoiled scenery and reduced pressure, and it’s easy to argue that the finest hunting in the country is found far from the comfort of a pickup cab or the seat of an ATV.
However, it’s really not that difficult to get around without a vehicle. Reasonably fit hunters have a number of non-motorized transportation options. Here’s how to get the most from these “primitive “ means of transportation.
HIKING
Hiking is the most typical means of backcountry locomotion for good reason — it takes no specialized equipment or livestock, and capitalizes on the human body’s physiological adaptations for undertaking long journeys on foot. Primitive peoples often trekked the entire day barefoot or in moccasins, so it’s not unthinkable for a reasonably fit hunter to cover five or ten miles in a day.
But unless the soles of your feet are tougher than mine, I suspect you won’t be hiking barefoot. Over the years, I’ve hunted in a variety of “shoes” from brawny leather boots with a dozen eyelets and weighty rubber soles to high-top basketball shoes. I finally settled on waterproof, lightweight, hiking boots for probably 80% of my hunting. They’re comfortable, reasonably warm, and suitable for all conditions except extreme cold or snow. For years I tried to economize with cheaper footwear, but have found that the added comfort, support and durability of more expensive boots is well worth the extra 50 or 100 dollar investment.
Beyond good boots, though, pay some attention to the socks you put into them. Due to an unfortunate genetic inheritance from my parents, I wound up with soft skin and a propensity to sweat. Want to talk blisters? The skin on my feet can rupture in house slippers. I’ve yet to find the perfect cure for my blister-prone appendages, but well-fitting, moisture-wicking socks help. I also keep at least one extra pair in my daypack and change into them at lunchtime when I also remove the inner soles and give both boots and linings time to air dry.
Poorly fitting footwear and soft skin can lead to blisters, but another sure way to hurt your hooves is by adding extra weight to the normal load your feet carry. Each fall I encounter hunters who have so much extraneous gear dangling from their backs that it’s a wonder they’re not mistaken for backcountry pawnbrokers. Pack some water, a first-aid kit, firestarters and other necessary emergency gear. Beyond those essential items, though, get stingy. You’ll cover much more ground with an eight pound pack than with twenty.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Compared to hiking, horseback riding seems like a dream — especially if the horse belongs to your outfitter. But guess what? There’s no colder place on a frigid fall day than a frozen saddle at dawn. And there’s a reason old-time cowboys stomped around bow-legged. Your legs may be naturally suited to walking, but they weren’t created to straddle the back of a saddle horse.
Those drawbacks aside, however, four-legged locomotion can be an incredible boon to backcountry hunters. A couple of years ago I drew a mountain goat tag in a wilderness area. My goat fell over twelve miles from the trailhead, but thanks to a friend and his four horses, I only packed the goat a mile down the mountain into camp.
Whether you own or rent horses, or ride as a result of an outfitted hunt, there are a few simple steps to make the most of your steed. First of all, learn some riding skills before you head out, because there’s no sillier sight in the mountains than a hunter hobbling back to camp, hot on the heels of a “dumb” animal. Secondly, if you’re unaccustomed to riding, dismount every hour or so and hike for ten minutes. On a long ride, the walking will help keep you limber and mitigate the cramps and stiffness in the inner thighs so commonly associated with riding. Thirdly, plan for the cold. Riding can be unbelievably frigid. Even if it’s warm when you head out, tie an extra layer of clothing behind the saddle in case the temperature drops. Finally, remember that “trail hunting” from a horse isn’t a whole lot more effective than “road hunting” from a pickup. Ride to your destination, but then work your boots.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Under the right conditions you can actually cover more miles on a bike seat than on horseback. Mountain bikes are an extremely efficient form of locomotion, especially in prairie and foothill country. Mountain bikes are also legal on trails in many national forests. Gated roads which prohibit motorized access are often open to bicycling and these are perfect places to turn the pedals to good use. Additionally, some private landowners will allow access to the backside of the ranch on a bike, even though they require pickups to be parked at the ranch house.
Like many other sports, mountain biking can be taken to varying levels of investment. Although it’s easy to drop 1,000 dollars on a mountain bike, most entry-level or used cycles are sufficient for hunting. I purchased a good used bike five years ago for $30, a serviceable cycle that cost over ten times that much new.
More important than fancy equipment is your ability to use it. Pedaling a mountain bike isn’t any different than pumping a road bike, but navigating narrow trails and obstacles takes some practice, skills which you’ll need to develop before heading afield. As you might find yourself farther from your vehicle than you care to walk back, it’s also wise to learn some basic bike repairs and adjustments. What’s sillier than a hunter chasing his horse? A mountain biker pushing his bike. To avoid such a predicament, be sure to carry a spare tube and know how to change it. Understanding the basics of adjusting your bike’s shifting mechanism is another essential skill. If you learn how to keep the tires inflated and the gears shifting, you’re at little risk of getting stranded in the outback.
While a repair kit is essential equipment for backcountry bikers, the most important accessory is a helmet. A fall from a bike can be dangerous. Wearing a helmet is the simplest way to protect yourself from harm.
No matter how you get there, roadless areas offer the best there is in big game hunting on public land. With multiple ways to access the backcountry and increasingly efficient tools for doing so, accessing the wildlands has never been easier. Now’s the time to go mobile.