Planning the Hunting Trip

The real purpose of any big-game hunting trip is to have an enjoyable and rewarding experience in the great outdoors. In addition, every hunter hopes to climax such an experience by taking a prized game animal. That is the unsurpassed thrill of any hunt.

To harvest both these pleasures from your trip, it is wise to do some thoughtful and early planning. Careful preparation not only assures your own enjoyment, but it is the best guarantee for the success of the hunt and the safety of yourself and your hunting companions.

When planning any hunting trip, always consider the following factors: The trophy wanted; the right hunting area; a congenial hunting partner, and provisions for shelter, food, and warmth.

THE HUNTING PARTNER

Perhaps the most important is the wise choice of a hunting partner. Solo hunts, or occasionally taking off into the hills alone to enjoy getting back to nature, are fine experiences. But in big hunting country, where the re­maining concentrations of our big-game supply are found, hunting alone is not sensible. It is far safer, especially when after the larger species of game, to hunt with a partner and it is less laborious to be able to share the necessary heavy chores. But most important, a hunting trip, like any satisfying experience, must be shared with someone to be completely en­joyed.

Unless the partner has been on previous hunts, good questions to ask about him are: How stable a person is he? How does he react to unavoidable inconvenience? How dependable would he be if the chips were down and someone's life depended upon his decisions and courage?

The partner who qualifies in such vital respects, and loves the outdoors, is apt to have the numerous other qualities which will make him a prized companion. And, of course, he has the right to expect the same overall sportsmanship and dependability from you.

For short hunts, or hunts not involving wilderness country and pack trips, a party of two hunting companions is ideal. It is indicative of the importance of good hunting partners that in many instances the same two fellows hunt annually, over a period of many years. Often they are as varied in financial, social, and occupational status as the poles. But as hunting companions their likes and interests are the same and they make a fine partnership.

For the big hunts, or any type of big-game hunting where an extra member won't crowd the party, three members are better, psychologically, than two. A third hunting partner acts as a buffer when the hardships of a hunting camp cause tempers to get raw, or physical discomforts or lack of success in bagging game cause people to become discouraged. For wilder­ness hunts into big country, four hunters make an ideal group. Each has a hunting partner, and partners can alternate.

CHOOSING A HUNTING AREA

The game one wishes to hunt is, of course, a fundamental consideration. No hunter should ever plan a hunt with the simple hope that he will bag anything that jumps up, or that he is "out after everything." Well in ad­vance of his hunt, he should determine what species he wants most, then route the hunt into a region where he is most apt to find that species. Addi­tional species should be regarded as a bonus.

Broadly speaking, the best areas for any game species are those regions where game has been hunted the least. There the biggest trophy heads will be found. Competition with other hunters will be less keen. Danger will be less all the way around. And the game itself, in proportion to the degree it has previously been in contact with man, will be less wary.

In this respect, a costly trip into a wilderness area may be far less ex­pensive in the long run than one or more unsuccessful trips into areas where the chances are slimmer.

I learned this the hard, "cheap" way on elk. When I was a boy, elk country was a two hours' drive from home. I felt then, as so many hunters do, that I couldn't afford a pack trip into real wilderness elk country, but that I could afford one or even several short trips close to home. For six years, partners and I went into this nearby area and hunted our hearts out trying to bag that first prized wapiti. At the end of the sixth year, the nearest I'd ever come to elk was stale tracks and the sight of an elk carcass at somebody else's camp.

The next year I decided to put the same amount I had spent the past six years into one good hunt in country where I could bust an elk, even if I had to lay off hunting for the next five. That year, in Idaho's vast Selway forest, I killed my first bull. Oddly enough, I returned there for the next twelve years and never missed getting one.

SOURCES OF HUNTING INFORMATION

In choosing a region in which to hunt any game species, one of the hunter's best tools is a good map. Some of the best maps for the purpose are the hunting maps published by the state game departments especially for hunters. These usually are available free by early fall in states having shootable numbers of any game species. The interested hunter may obtain one simply by writing the Fish & Game Department at the capital of the state or province in which he wishes to hunt.

Having obtained such a map, it is wise to keep it for the next season. Often the new maps are not available while the hunt is in the planning stage; but usually only minor changes will be made from the map of the previous season.

Another good source of information about possible game areas is the official census of game published by the Fish & Wildlife Service, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. This brief game-count by states gives the estimated game population of all states, the annual estimated kill, and the trend as to increase or decrease. A study of such a census often gives the nonresident hunter a fair notion of a region where his chances at a species will be optimum.

The periodic kill-report of a state, or the country, published by the big outdoor journals, is another source of reliable and broad information.

A fine, dependable source of local information is the game warden or conservation officer. Such men are in constant touch with the game situation in their individual hunting areas, and will usually advise hunters whom they know to be good sportsmen of choice hunting areas.

Again, much valuable information may be had from local ranchers, sportsmen, and other inhabitants of an area who are obviously honest and sincere. In depending upon this source of information, the stranger should beware of the ubiquitous Hot Stove League. Tips "privately" given, usually in return for a favor or a drink, are often biased, exaggerated, and in many cases manufactured out of thin air purely to send a hunter on a wild-goose chase.

Once the beginning hunter has made a hunt, then experience begins to help him. But for both veteran and tyro, all the above sources of informa­tion—except the last—will help him to find a suitable game region where his chances will be good.

EARLY PLANNING

It is hard to stress too much the necessity of planning the big-game hunt early. Winter and spring months are not too soon to plan for the fall hunt.
First, one's vacation time should be arranged, if possible, to coincide with a known game season. Often by planning early enough, the annual vacation can be made to fit the hunting season. This frequently entails added work or favors to the company or the boss, but it is worth it.

Next is the important matter of hunting licenses. The minor difficulties of getting the proper hunting licenses apply most to the nonresident hunter. Increasingly, in the management of big game, the states and provinces are determining the annual hunter harvest of game on the survival-potential of a species' population on its winter range. This system often will not per­mit general open hunting, but necessitates hunting on a permit-basis, or limited-number licensing, and subsequent game-kill.

Whenever the number of hunters is top-heavy in proportion to the in­tended game-kill, the applications for such permit-basis licenses are heavy, often running several dozen to one; then "lucky" permits are decided by a public drawing.

In many states, application for special-permit licenses is open to resident and nonresident alike. In others, preference is given to the resident over the nonresident hunter. Each state has its own system of licensing, and the regulations regarding licenses should be known early.

As one specific example of special licensing, Wyoming has had for many years a law prohibiting the sale of more than 2,500 nonresident big-game licenses for elk, deer, and bear in combination. These licenses are in great demand, and normally are sold out before March or April prior to the next season's hunt. Every year hunters are disappointed, sometimes after having flown in from long distances, at not being able to obtain these licenses. They complain to their outfitter, "We thought that some way you'd be able to get them for us."

One outfitter this year had a stenciled "WARNING" printed on his stationery that went out to hunters from midwinter on, reminding them to get their licenses early.

In planning the big-game hunt, nonresidents especially should investigate the matters of licenses and hunting laws early. Often the pertinent informa­tion will be contained right on the state hunting maps. Otherwise, when writing it is wise to ask for full information on licenses and hunting regu­lations in the state or province.

OUTFITTERS AND GUIDES

Some states and provinces require the services of a licensed guide for the nonresident hunter. Such a service is considered by the game commissions to be necessary not only as a measure to prevent game-law violations but, equally important, to keep hunters unfamiliar with the country from be­coming lost. In primitive country, the lost-hunter situation each fall is a serious business. The Forest Service, Fish & Game Departments, mounted posses, and state flying organizations have to donate time, money, and effort to retrieving lost hunters from rugged, remote mountain terrain. Re­quiring the nonresident hunter to employ a licensed guide or outfitter largely eliminates this problem.

In many cases, the incoming big-game hunter, even when not required by law, prefers to hire a professional outdoorsman familiar with the area, game, and general outdoor living, who can insure the success of the hunt.
He knows the country—how to get into, around, and out of it in the easiest manner. He knows where the game is, and the best ways to approach it.

He can lead the hunter to the best trophies. And as part of his services, the guide does much of the prosaic camp work, such as tending horses and pack mules, logging up wood, setting up camp, and lugging things around. This leaves the hunter all his time to hunt and enjoy himself.

When an outfitter or guide is to be used, arrangements should begin well ahead of the season. Midwinter and early spring is not too soon. An outfitter takes care of hiring guides, wranglers, a cook, and other help, if necessary.

As with other personnel and services, the best comes high and is most in demand. Often with the best outfitters, the unknown nonresident hunter coming to a region for the first time can only make reservations if another party cancels out. Good outfitters are often booked full for the next fall im­mediately after the current fall hunts. Their satisfied hunters simply say, "Well, write me down for next fall. And I'll likely bring a friend along with me, if you can handle that many." To get on the repeat list of such reputable outfitters one must usually arrange months in advance.

Lastly, all hunting equipment, personal gear, and necessary camp duffel should be obtained well in advance of any big-game hunt. This is important, not only in order to have the basic necessities ready when the hunt begins, but so that all gear may be checked beforehand for fit, condition, and suitability.

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