Sportsman's Library - Hunting Articles

Backcountry Bowhunting Success

By Cameron R. Hanes

The key strategy to successful wilderness hunting can be summed up in one word: efficiency. To be efficient in a wilderness setting means being mobile. I achieve this by having my camp on my back at all times. Home is wherever you are—you don’t have to keep returning to the same place at the end of each day.

Traveling to and from camp each and every day is not only a waste of time, but is also an unneeded depletion of that ever-precious commodity, energy. In the not-so-distant past, I would leave base camp two hours before light in the morning and return two, sometimes three hours after dark. This was a tremendous squandering of energy. When I decided to bivouac out, and never concern myself about where I was as long as I was in elk or on deer, potential harvest opportunities increased dramatically.

A number of years ago, I bought what is called a Bivy Sack by Outdoor Research. This one product was a key ingredient in my master plan of mobility and efficiency. A bivy sack is a compact waterproof shelter, into which a sleeping bag snuggly fits.

For those not interested in solo hunting or who simply want a larger shelter, there are options. A high-quality two-man tent like Cabela's XPG Expedition 4-Season gives you more room to operate (sit up to get dressed, cook, etc.).  If you are hunting with one or two other guys, splitting up the additional weight of a tent as opposed to a single-man shelter works well.  One of you can take the tent, one can take the sleeping pads, the other can pack a little more food, and so on.  By evenly dividing the weight, you all can live in a little more backcountry comfort.

Cameron Hanes is Editor of Eastmans' Bowhunting Journal, and author of two books. Cam will speak at four 2007 ISE. More information about bowhunting and Cameron Hanes is at www.crhpublishing.com.