Upland Hunting/Camping Trip

S

Sadie'sGun

New member
Where is the best place to take a camping vacation (camper trailer, tent camping, backpacking, etc) and make day hikes to hunt at the same time with your dog?

Additionally,
What birds did you hunt?
How difficult is it to show up and be successful with only satellite imagery scouting?

I enjoy the adventure into the unknown with the dog and learning something new with every trip. There's something more satisfying about researching and doing it without a guide.

I've been thinking about Wyoming near Jackson Hole and the Colorado Rockies. What others?

Any state park recommendations or regional areas in the US are welcome.

Thanks, DS
 
Sierra Nevada National Forest for mountain quail and possibly grouse and the Mojave National Preserve for Gambel's quail and chukar. Both are beautiful and offer millions of acres of public land to roam.

The mountain quail learning curve is pretty steep but learnable if you know what you're looking for in the forest. The desert is pretty hostile but a wonderful place, you can find Gambel's quail almost anywhere in the area and look for chukar in the steep rocky canyons. There are even places with very little cactus, more pinon/ juniper forest where you can find birds.
 
Last edited:
Montana wouldn't be bad either, early season Huns and sharptails , 1st week of pheasant season can be pretty mild . Central and eastern Montana .
 
There are really endless opportunities depending on what you would like to experience and hunt. Forest, high desert, Sonora desert, high plains.

I think a camping adventure in the boundary waters would be an awesome trip also.
 
Last edited:
lol there many places to do this but you didnt say what you want to hunt. no birds around jackson hole or cody. if you want to hunt birds in wyoming johnson county or torringing. some around powell but not many.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Yes, there are a lot of options but i'm just curious about what's possible and what some people have done successfully.

We're starting to plan some future camping trips and I would like to work in some bird hunting on the side if possible. Why not kill two birds with one stone? :D

I like the idea of a desert camping/hunting trip. That would get me out of my comfort zone.
 
Sadie'sGun said:
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Yes, there are a lot of options but i'm just curious about what's possible and what some people have done successfully.

We're starting to plan some future camping trips and I would like to work in some bird hunting on the side if possible. Why not kill two birds with one stone? :D

I like the idea of a desert camping/hunting trip. That would get me out of my comfort zone.
Click to expand...

Most of those are around Carlsbad; you should try there :thumbsup:
 
quail hound said:
I think a camping adventure in the boundary waters would be an awesome trip also.
Click to expand...

This trip was one I won't ever forget and hope I get to do again, we only fished on it but i'd love to hear stories of hunting it as there are great grouse woods up there.
 
GREAT read on the subject!

A HUNTER'S ROAD, by Jim Fergus
"A journey with gun and dog across the American uplands"
1992, Holt publishing.

Fergus is a great wordsmith and I loved this book.

My opinion? Every hunter should read this book.

Oh, and also RUN, RAINEY, RUN by Mel Ellis.

(he was field editor for Sports Afield and these are well-written stories of his hunts and adventures with his exceptional GSP, Rainey. My favorite book.)

I hope you do the trip and have wonderful experiences. :thumbsup:
 
quail hound said:
Mojave National Preserve for Gambel's quail and chukar.
Click to expand...

But keep in mind that the Mojave rattlesnake is the deadliest. Few survive its bite. Tog accordingly.:eek:
 
BritChaser said:
But keep in mind that the Mojave rattlesnake is the deadliest. Few survive its bite. Tog accordingly.:eek:
Click to expand...

True but if you plan on a December or January trip snakes shouldn't be a problem plus that's a great time to get out of the mid west but expect freezing weather over night.:cheers:
 
Have always wanted to start the grand slam for the grouse species in North America if I recall there are seven in total, unrealistic to do in one year unless I win the lottery. But a bucket list for my retirement.
 
Miforester said:
Have always wanted to start the grand slam for the grouse species in North America if I recall there are seven in total, unrealistic to do in one year unless I win the lottery. But a bucket list for my retirement.
Click to expand...

I don't think that's unrealistic, you could probably pull it off in MT in a week or two. Let me see if my list is complete.

Chicken
Sage hen
Sharptail
Blue
Ruff
Spruce

Am I missing one? Assuming you don't care about all the subspecies I think that's a good challenge.
 
quail hound said:
I don't think that's unrealistic, you could probably pull it off in MT in a week or two. Let me see if my list is complete.

Chicken
Sage hen
Sharptail
Blue
Ruff
Spruce

Am I missing one? Assuming you don't care about all the subspecies I think that's a good challenge.
Click to expand...

Yeah you forgot the ptarmigan, don't think they have those in Montana....lol
 
Miforester said:
Yeah you forgot the ptarmigan, don't think they have those in Montana....lol
Click to expand...

Ahh yes, the ptarmigan. I don't know why but they didn't come to mind. Colorado, with all those snowed in roads :D, would be your best bet there I'd imagine as it's a long hike to ptarmigan country in CA.
 
Superior National Forest Northern MN, roughed grouse, national forest campgrounds... Gun Flint Trail from Grand Marias certainly a good option. Finland to Ely along highway 1 another. beautiful camping, hiking and hunting. Just have to worry about wolves if you have a dog.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top