Want to make the most of your next weekend outdoors?
Mixing hiking and hunting into one trip is easily one of the best decisions you can make for a backcountry adventure. Not only will it save you time and help you access deeper into the backcountry, but it also allows you to cover more ground pursuing your quarry.
Better still?
You can:
- Reach spots that weekend crowds never see
- Stay fit while scouting new territory
- Turn a single trip into a real adventure
Here’s how to plan the perfect wilderness weekend…
Here’s what’s inside:
- Why Hunters Are Hitting The Trails
- Planning Your Wilderness Weekend
- Gear You Actually Need
- Safety Tips For The Backcountry
Why Hunters Are Hitting The Trails
Contrary to popular belief hunting and hiking go hand in hand. They both send you into the great outdoors, and they’re both extremely popular these days.
Hiking drew roughly 63 million participants in 2024. It was the most popular outdoor activity nationwide. That’s a huge group of people who already enjoy hitting the trails.
Close behind are hunters. There were 14.4 million hunters 16 years and older in the United States in 2022, per the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Crowd A and crowd B both seek many of the same things: fresh air, physical exertion, and unplugged time away from computers and cell phones. Doing both is a no-brainer for anyone who spends their weekends outside already.
Sure, road hunting ranch style can be alright. But throwing some miles on the trail with spot and stalk will give you access to places that less than 1% of hunters will ever see. Less pressure, more game and scenery that most folks don’t take the time to earn.
Planning Your Wilderness Weekend
Ultimate wilderness weekends don’t just magically happen. They are the result of significant effort planning weeks (or months) ahead of time.
Here’s the framework to follow:
Match Your Weapon To The Trip
If you’re covering serious miles on foot, weight matters.
A heavy rifle and large rounds will fatigue you quickly. That’s why many hikers who hunt gravitate to lighter, smaller packages that won’t beat you up after day one.
The .300 Blackout is also popular with backcountry hunters. It performs extremely well in short-barrelled rifles, has less recoil than larger calibers, and packs enough of a punch for hogs and whitetail at any normal hunting range. Stocking up on some 300 BLK Ammo before your trip will save you money, and affordable 300 blackout ammo allows you to practice more pre-season without breaking the bank.
A few reasons the round works so well for hiking hunts:
- Lightweight compared to full-size cartridges
- Works easily with suppressors
- Reliable in short-barrel rifles
- Plenty of hunting loads on the market
Pack enough for the hunt itself, plus a handful of extras for emergencies.
Pick Your Ground First
First, think public land. National forests, wildlife management areas, BLM land…these are all places you can find millions of acres of public land to roam.
Study maps and satellite images to find:
- Trailheads within a reasonable drive
- Elevation changes that hold game
- Water sources for extended stays
- Legal hunting zones for the season
After you choose an area look up the state hunting regulations. States all have different regulations for tags, weapons, and season dates. Google Earth and a mapping app like onX allows you to map out your whole route from the couch before you reach the trailhead.
Build A Simple Itinerary
Don’t try to do too much. A good wilderness weekend has clear checkpoints:
- Day 1: Hike in, set up camp, scout the area
- Day 2: Early morning hunt, midday rest, evening hunt
- Day 3: Break camp, hike out with time to spare
Build slack time into your schedule for weather, wildlife and the inevitable unforeseen. All too often the best trips are the ones where nothing is hurried.
Gear You Actually Need
Overpacking is the fastest way to ruin a hiking hunt.
When you’re putting one foot in front of the other over challenging terrain, every ounce counts. But skimping on supplies can be dangerous too. The right balance is packing exactly what you need.
Essentials for a two-night trip:
- Lightweight backpack (50-65 litres)
- Sleeping bag rated for the season
- Small camp stove and fuel
- Water filter or purification tablets
- First aid kit
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Map, compass, and GPS
Don’t skimp on hunting-specific equipment. Knife, game bags, blaze orange, and binos are all a must.
Make sure all of your equipment works at home. There is nothing worse than a filter leaking or a stove not lighting up when you are 10 miles away from the trailhead.
Safety Tips For The Backcountry
The wilderness doesn’t care about your plans.
Outdoor participation hit an all-time high of 181.1 million people in 2024. That’s almost 60 percent of Americans over the age of six. With more people outside, there are bound to be more accidents. Hunters who bring hiking into their hunting trips create additional hazards that weekend warriors will never consider.
Follow these rules to stay safe:
Tell Someone Where You’re Going
Leave a detailed trip plan with a friend or family member. Include:
- The trailhead you’re starting from
- The area you plan to hunt
- Your expected return time
- What to do if you don’t check in on time
Watch The Weather
Mountain weather is unpredictable. It can be sunny in the morning and snowing by noon. Check the forecast the day before heading out and always pack layers for the worst case scenario.
Know Your Wildlife Neighbours
Bears, mountain lions, and moose roam together. Store your food away from camp, make noise on the trail, and carry bear spray where required.
Practice Before Season
Long hikes with a loaded pack are brutal on out-of-shape legs.
Get yourself fit in the weeks leading up to your trip. Pack your back to real trip weight and hike hills several times a week. A few short hikes will greatly improve your conditioning by opening day. Don’t forget to hit the range too, so your first shot of the season isn’t a mystery.
Final Thoughts
Combining hiking and hunting turns an average weekend into a real wilderness adventure.
To recap the game plan:
- Pick public land with good access
- Use a lightweight rifle setup
- Plan a simple three-day itinerary
- Pack only what you actually need
- Prioritise safety at every step
The payoff is time in areas most hunters will never experience. Farther away from solitude, improved scouting and more opportunity at game that’s never been pressured all season.
That’s what makes it all worthwhile every single time. Plus, it teaches you skills that you will take with you on every future hunt, map reading, shooting under pressure and just knowing what your body is capable of when the going gets tough.
Begin conservatively if necessary. One night in a local area will help you work out the equipment issues and practice your routine before attempting something more extended.
Now get out there and start planning the next weekend.
