Way Out West Part II
“To My Brother Vince: For all the trips I’ve been on and all those that are left to me; you truly were there with me”
In our last installment we talked about what to hunt, so now, let’s consider what we’re taking with us. Here is a classic example of what I used to tell my kids in my classroom (as well as my son): “do as I say, not as I do”! Usually, when I pack for a trip, I need to lift weights for about 2 months ahead of time so I can pick up my bag. These days, when airlines charge a premium for overweight baggage, it can become downright exorbitant to fly to your destination. While sometimes, it’s better to “have it and not need it as opposed to needing it and not having it”, we really need to think things out before we pack.
We’re fortunate to have specialty stores such as Cabelas, Bass Pro, Gander Mountain, Dick’s Sporting Goods and the like. With today’s modern fabrics we can purchase outdoor clothing that is efficient in keeping us warm and dry, without excess weight. As we can encounter temperatures anywhere from minus 6 degrees to 60 degrees, it’s important to layer our clothing, so as the day grows warmer or colder we can put on or take off as needed. Much of what we can buy today has a water repellant (resistant) capacity that can keep up with the weather that can change at a moment’s notice.
One of the most miserable experiences that I ever had was in Montana’s Cabinet Mountains. I had a pair of “broken in” boots that weren’t really broken in at all. By the end of the second day, I had blisters that rivaled silver dollars (for us old folks that remember what a silver dollar looked like). I brought a second pair of boots for use if it snowed, but were well broken in. For the rest of the trip, I wore those boots and had I not done that, my hunt could have been over by the second day. The idea here is to keep warm, dry and comfortable.
For us “do it yourselfers”, the more time spent in research will equate as to how successful your hunt can be. Remember, it’s hunting, and fair chase requires us to be ethical. In the west, millions of acres are available to us through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Forests. However, a good deal of this land is “checker boarded”, which means that portions of it is leased to private concerns such as ranchers or energy interests. Here, it’s wise to contact the Bureau of Land Management (that’s what we pay taxes for, after all) and arrange to get maps of those areas that we’re interested in hunting. These maps show those areas within the BLM that are open to hunting as well as those which are leased and possibly not available. In conjunction with the BLM, you should also contact the state game departments who can not only direct you to the state and county maps showing accessible areas, but can also direct you to the game biologist for that specific area. Here you can obtain valuable information as to how the game animals survived the previous winter (which in the west can be brutal) where water is located (important for their survival) herd concentrations, any evidence of CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) in the areas and other vital information. It’s always a good idea to have a list of questions written down before you call the biologist and not after you hang up!
Are you traveling in an RV? Are any campgrounds nearby and do they offer full hook ups? Is there a town close by, with a grocery store? And if you are driving, does that town have decent hotels? Believe me, I’ve stayed in hotels where I’ve had the best of both worlds: I could climb into bed and sleep on the floor at the same time. Is a car/truck rental nearby if you are flying in? These and more questions require answers and planning before you take your first step from home and not after you arrive at Dead Deer Gulch and find out that you’re pretty much stranded!
What are we shooting? There have probably been more fist fights over rifles and calibers than having a Priest, a Minister and a Rabbi in a bar at the same time. Most outfitters will tell their clients to bring a rifle that they can shoot well. It’s far better to kill cleanly and humanely with a .30/06 that you shoot well than to wound one with a .300 Weatherby (that kicks like hell and causes you to flinch and pull your shot) because a store clerk told you it was the “ flattest shooting gun ever made for out west”. Which brings us to another point: regardless of what you shoot; shoot it!!! There is no substitute for the confidence that comes with a rifle that you know you can shoot well! Shoot at least 20 rounds before you leave, and shoot it again when you get to your destination before you begin your hunt. A lot can happen to a rifle between Virginia or West Virginia and Wyoming. So, when you arrive at your destination take time to find a safe range and shoot your rifle to check its zero. The time to make any necessary adjustments to your scope is before you enter the field, not when you are drawing down on a 30” Mulie and wondering where your shots went.
A lot of Easterners will tend to overestimate when it comes to the distances you encounter in the west. For us that hunt the hardwoods where a 50 yard shot tends to be the average, a 300 yard shot can be downright daunting! A rule of thumb to consider is to sight your rifle 2” high at 100 yards. For most cartridges useful for western hunting (.30/06, .270, 7MM Mag, etc) this will put a “no holdover” point of aim out to 300 yards. Also, remember that your game is usually smaller than you imagine it to be. A mature pronghorn buck may weigh around 125 lbs. and stand 30” high at the shoulder. This means that his small stature at 250 yards will seem to indicate that he’s 350 yards out when he’s really not. Here, it’s a good idea to hold “dead on” rather than compensate for distance that’s not really there and shoot over your target.
One item on my “bucket list” was being able to drive out west. Now that I’ve retired from teaching I have the time to do so, and before Thanksgiving I’ll be driving out to western Montana for a Deer/Elk/Bear hunt. One of the great joys in life for my wife is to be able to tell me “I told you so”! For my next blog I’ll report on my exploits and we’ll see if I’m able to follow my own advice.
Way Out West (Part I)
Elk, shot in Wyoming
To be honest, I’ve only been to Africa one time, and planning for that trip was an adventure in itself, not to mention the fulfillment of a lifetime dream that’s shared by many hunters. To say that the trip was successful would be an understatement; it was so successful that I was offered and accepted a position with the safari company for the next several years in which I assisted other “new” hunters plan their trips to the Dark Continent.
But Africa isn’t the subject of this article. For us, living in the greatest country in the World, other venues are readily available for our hunting pursuits. The western states offer a wide variety of opportunities for the sportsman; deer (Whitetail, Blacktail or Mulies), Elk, Bear, Pronghorn, Moose, not to mention less pursued species. We can fly there, drive there, take the train, take our RV’s and each offers its own rewards and challenges.
Our first question is where we want to go, and what do we want to hunt. For our purposes, let’s say the “western states” are anywhere west of the Mississippi, which takes in the Plains States such as Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Oklahoma and Texas, not to mention the Rocky Mountain States. Each offers any number of opportunities and this can become as daunting as Lindsay Lohan explaining a speeding violation in traffic court. Consider selecting a single species that really appeals to you. Perhaps you’re looking for that once-in-a-lifetime Whitetail; a real wallhanger! Here’s where the “homework” begins.
Many states offer quality whitetail hunting, but some are better than others. There are any number of organizations such as Safari Club, the Dallas Safari Club, the North American Hunting Club that can provide great insight as to what’s going on in the world of hunting. Their magazines provide a “where to go directory” at the back pages. In addition, the old standbys such as “Outdoor Life”, “Field and Stream”, “Sports Afield” are readily available and offer great information. Nothing beats meeting folks who have “been there and done that” and picking their brains. The outdoor sports shows which are held annually across the nation showcase great destinations, not to mention the outfitters who can put it all together; which brings us to the next point: do we want to “do it yourself” or book a hunt with an outfitter.
Unless you have a friend that lives in the area in which you want to hunt, I’d suggest using a registered guide for your first hunt. First of all, he knows the area, and how the game is moving. If he’s a member of that state’s Guide Association, he must meet and maintain professional standards. He should be able to assist you in obtaining the necessary non-resident hunting licenses which is invaluable. Non-resident licenses in western states can be terribly confusing and constantly change in accordance with State game biologists recommendations. Your outfitter should be well versed with the nuances in the Game Departments and should be able to assist you in correctly completing your license application. Your outfitter should be able to provide all the necessary equipment and accommodations to make your stay with him comfortable, whether it’s a fully equipped camp or a “town hunt” in which you stay in a hotel and are picked up each morning to begin your hunt. For those of us fortunate enough to have made many trips out west, it’s inevitable to hear “horror” stories about unscrupulous outfitters. If you do book with an outfitter, make sure he’s a member of the state’s association and is registered. He should provide a list of references that can tell you about the operation the outfitter runs, the terrain in which you plan to hunt and other useful information. Don’t be afraid to call references! And finally, try not to have pre-conceived notions about your hunt. Certainly you can have reasonable expectations and have every right to them. However if you “script” your hunt, you can leave yourself open to disappointment. Hunting is just that; sometimes it’s your day and at other times the quarry wins! Your outfitter should work to provide you every reasonable opportunity to obtain your trophy, but he must adhere to ethical hunting. Having been associated with several Outfitters over a number of years, I’ve been privy to “horror” stories on their end. Guides can’t be expected to perform miracles. They have no control over the weather which can drastically affect hunting in the west. They can’t magically produce a 180 inch whitetail or a 390 inch bull elk, although I’ve had first hand knowledge in which some clients expected just that, and complained bitterly when it didn’t happen. Again, the idea here is “fair chase” hunting.
Mule Deer shot in Wyoming.
An important consideration when hunting outside of your state is your physical condition. If you should travel to the Rockies remember that you have altitude to contend with. The terrain is mostly steep and physical exertion is the rule of the day. This means you can’t just jump in a plane, or an RV, arrive there and run up and down those mountains! Simply walking is a great way to try and get ready for your hunt. If you live in a mountainous region, walking up and down hills is a good idea. Try and take a loaded pack. Be sure that your equipment is broken in. On one trip to the Cabinet Mountains in Montana, I brought what I “thought” to be a pair of broken in boots. They weren’t, and I spent many miserable days and lots of bandaids over blistered feet which left a lasting impression. And while we are on the subject of blisters, I have several scars on a tender part of my anatomy because I didn’t take the time to ride a horse a couple of times before I went on a Rocky Mountain pack trip. The moral of the story is to “plan ahead”.
If you have any medical considerations, it’s vital that you let your outfitter know about them so he can arrange accordingly. This applies to any dietary considerations, so it’s important to let your outfitter know well before you get there, not when you arrive! One of my outfitter buddies told me of a sad story of a client having a massive heart attack on a mountain. Unfortunately the client died before any advanced medical help could arrive. A pre-hunt physical with your family physician is never a bad idea.
C.J. MacElroy, the founding father of Safari Club International, was once asked to recall his most memorable hunt. His response was his first hunt. It was full of anticipation and excitement, and he envied the first time (out of state) hunter for those reasons. Not a bad legacy!
On our next installment, we’ll talk about a “do-it-yourself” hunt and what to take.
Getting The Range 