Getting away from your truck

[DirtFarmer]

Wanting to hear from guys that know how to get out there and put boots on the ground. Most of my hunting is parking a truck in the morning darkness on a logging road waiting for day break. Getting impatient throughout the day and walking along road sides occasionally stepping off a few feet into the bush (all the while wishing I was hiking a ridge line or glassing a secluded bowl). My questions is about gaining confidence and knowledge about getting off the roads and into where the animals are. I know the quick answer is “get a gps app and walk into the bush” or “the animals are on the roads!”. Looking for more of a convo about the wilderness, how to or if you follow game trails and gaining the confidence of being in the woods without that nagging worry of getting lost.


thanks for the read,


Dirt

[geologist]

Learn how to use a GPS and compass/topographic map 1:20000.

Once you are comfortable orienteering you can venture out into the bush.

[stoneramhunter]

Wanting to hear from guys that know how to get out there and put boots on the ground. Most of my hunting is parking a truck in the morning darkness on a logging road waiting for day break. Getting impatient throughout the day and walking along road sides occasionally stepping off a few feet into the bush (all the while wishing I was hiking a ridge line or glassing a secluded bowl). My questions is about gaining confidence and knowledge about getting off the roads and into where the animals are. I know the quick answer is “get a gps app and walk into the bush” or “the animals are on the roads!”. Looking for more of a convo about the wilderness, how to or if you follow game trails and gaining the confidence of being in the woods without that nagging worry of getting lost.


thanks for the read,


Dirt

Hi
I would suggest spending time with someone that has the skills to be in the back country and soak up what knowledge you can. Its a shorter path to confidence in my opinion. Also dont completely rely on a gps or other electronic devices learn how to use a compass and map.

Best of luck hunting

[HarryToolips]

Hi
I would suggest spending time with someone that has the skills to be in the back country and soak up what knowledge you can. Its a shorter path to confidence in my opinion. Also dont completely rely on a gps or other electronic devices learn how to use a compass and map.

Best of luck hunting

This is sound advice right here... I personally don't use a GPS, I am experienced in using a compass, map, the sun, and/or natural navigation techniques to find my way about, even in territory that is new to me.. I find that when one doesn't rely on a GPS it makes you more cognizant of your surroundings and makes you constantly pay attention... that being said, I have nothing against a GPS and they can be a very handy tool - I recently downloaded a program on my phone that tracks me like a GPS and I've enjoyed how truly handy it is.

I had the advantage of learning these skills to begin with in the military however...

The more you do it, like anything else, the more comfortable you will become at doing it..

Feel free to PM me for more details...once you get the navigation aspect of bush travel down , learn to identify key habitat for the game your pursuing..

[walks with deer]

Hi
I would suggest spending time with someone that has the skills to be in the back country and soak up what knowledge you can. Its a shorter path to confidence in my opinion. Also dont completely rely on a gps or other electronic devices learn how to use a compass and map.

Best of luck hunting

Yes agreed

[mike31154]

Map, compass, gps & know how to use them, not much more to say. Perhaps find a knowledgeable partner for a couple outings. I have to admit I usually rely on the gps & have gotten close to being lost once or twice. Here's a gps screenshot of a pretty good hike I took some years ago. I bumped 2 Whitetail does not 50 meters away from the truck after I headed up an abandoned trail. The FSR shown has since been punched farther up the mountainside & there's a sizeable cutblock. I didn't spy another ungulate on my entire hike up & back down. In my limited experience, I've seen more deer close to the road than during my hikes in to the thick stuff.

The up is shown, down would have been a slightly different route.

[Bustercluck]

What are you hunting? And where do you live?

Most mountains are easier to navigate than flats. You should be able to look at topi maps/Google earth and get an idea of the lay of the land and where you want to go. Take a look at the drainages. The natural thing is small creeks run downhill, join bigger creeks and then onto rivers. As long as you don’t cross a peak and go uphill you should be able to find your way back. Most main logging roads tend to follow valley bottoms(rivers) as well and the Spurs go up into more remote spots. So park your truck at a small creek that leads into a bowl you want to explore, follow the creek up and pretty much any creek you follow up will bring you back.

On the island near the ocean, pretty much every logging road leads to a dump. Follow the natural lay of the roads and you’ll come to somewhere where they’re dumping loads of logs.

If you’re in the alpine you’ll notice other things like the south facing slopes are green and the north facing slopes are more rocky. Pick out landmarks like peaks for reference of where you are.

Be prepared to spend the night. My day bag has a tarp, food and the means of making a fire.

Hang ribbon trails.


There’s more, but I don’t tend to walk around looking for animals. I tend to target where I think they will be and go there. Sometimes I wander around, but not really something I do to find animals.

[DirtFarmer]

What are you hunting? And where do you live?

Most mountains are easier to navigate than flats. You should be able to look at topi maps/Google earth and get an idea of the lay of the land and where you want to go. Take a look at the drainages. The natural thing is small creeks run downhill, join bigger creeks and then onto rivers. As long as you don’t cross a peak and go uphill you should be able to find your way back. Most main logging roads tend to follow valley bottoms(rivers) as well and the Spurs go up into more remote spots. So park your truck at a small creek that leads into a bowl you want to explore, follow the creek up and pretty much any creek you follow up will bring you back.

On the island near the ocean, pretty much every logging road leads to a dump. Follow the natural lay of the roads and you’ll come to somewhere where they’re dumping loads of logs.

If you’re in the alpine you’ll notice other things like the south facing slopes are green and the north facing slopes are more rocky. Pick out landmarks like peaks for reference of where you are.

Be prepared to spend the night. My day bag has a tarp, food and the means of making a fire.

Hang ribbon trails.


There’s more, but I don’t tend to walk around looking for animals. I tend to target where I think they will be and go there. Sometimes I wander around, but not really something I do to find animals.

im on Vancouver island hunting Deer. It sounds like taking in my surroundings and trusting what I’m seeing is going to be a big part of being comfortable.

[Night Hawk 3]

im on Vancouver island hunting Deer. It sounds like taking in my surroundings and trusting what I’m seeing is going to be a big part of being comfortable.

Join a local orienteering club to learn the basic skills, then put them to use in bigger terrain.

you’re on the Island, so this is your club: https://vico.whyjustrun.ca/

NH3

[dino]

I was born and raised on the island.
I shot lots of blacktails. Never road hunted.
Compass, gps unit and hunt the ridges above fresh cutblocks. Hunt in the rain is best. Island blacktails are different than mainland blacktails.
Watch the wind and go slow.