My obsession with bowhunting in backcountry-style locations began after I read veteran bowhunter and outdoor writer Greg Miller’s book, Bowhunting Forests & Deep Woods. As he described walking deep into public land to escape other hunters and, more importantly, to find bigger bucks, my mind drifted to all the nearby areas where I could hunt in the same manner.
Then, after losing a significant amount of weight and improving my fitness, I gradually shifted my hunting approach from sitting in a hang-on or ladder stand on private land to using a backpack and tree saddle, venturing into places I had never been before.
Areas that once felt intimidating to enter have now become my favorite places to hunt. Yes, I admit that dragging out a buck deep in the woods is tough and tiring. Yet, like many things I’ve done lately, it’s rewarding to be able to say, I did that on my own. Some might call it a minor midlife crisis, but I love the challenge and the feeling when success finds you deep in the backcountry.
E-Scouting Remote Access Points
A successful DIY backcountry hunt starts long before boots hit the ground. Digital mapping platforms such as HuntStand, onX Hunt, or even Google Earth can help you identify overlooked areas of public land and rugged terrain that keep everyday people or hunters like me from accessing these areas.
When finding your next adventure or scouting, remote access is one of the most important features. Trailheads, creek crossings, and old logging roads that allow you to go beyond the pressure points are ideal places to find and mark on your map.
Getting into the backcountry is already challenging in itself, but finding an old creek or similar spot can make it much easier to pack in and, hopefully, pack out heavier. These areas are also key to keeping your scent hidden and avoiding detection by deer.
When looking for a good area to hunt, try to focus on what I call edge habitat. These include funnels, benches, saddles, or pinch points between bedding and food.
Such spots help you narrow down potential locations where bigger bucks might be, and they also provide good places to set up your saddle and hunt. Once you arrive in person, you can scout more to refine your search and identify the best specific areas.
Next, it’s important to find escape zones. I’m not talking about routes to leave, but areas where bucks retreat after opening-day pressure. As the weather begins cooling and more hunters hit the woods, bucks tend to change their patterns to thickets, overlooked ridges, or even swamps, depending on the region.
Last season, I was hunting an area in early November. The first two days, all I saw was the beam of another hunter’s flashlight as they walked past my tree, well before daylight. That was my indicator that the pressure was heavy, and I needed to move deeper into areas where the deer had moved to escape it.
I headed down into a steep ridge, where I soon found a rocky creek bed with clear signs that deer were using it to travel back and forth from the top of the ridge and to bypass the pressured area. Over the next two days, my deer sightings increased, and I was able to get a shot at a mature Missouri buck.
When scouting for these types of areas, mark multiple access routes in case wind or hunting pressure forces a change. Once you’re in, keep scouting, glassing, and adjusting. Remember, mobility is your greatest advantage, especially for those using a tree saddle and carrying their gear with them.
Packing Ultralight Gear
When your entire day or even your camp is on your back, every ounce matters. Invest in lightweight gear that allows you to go deeper without burning out.
If you walk into my garage, you’d see a wall full of hunting packs, each different in size, shape, and purpose. Each one serves a specific role, making the hunt more successful and enjoyable.
For example, when hunting in the backcountry for the day, I choose a medium-sized pack. Inside, you’ll find all my hunting accessories, like a grunt call, rattling bag, scents, scent elimination sprays, and my archery gear, such as my release, range finder, and binoculars.
Trusting in my hunt, I also carry a knife, a cleaning kit, a game bag, and cleaning gloves. To finish, I pack plenty of water and several healthy snacks to keep me full and energized all day.
If I am going into rough country that is hard to get a deer out of, I will choose one of my frame packs to help quarter up my game and pack it out in the same way when elk hunting. Inside, it will be the same as my regular day pack.
When going into extreme backcountry, staying overnight is the best option. In this case, I choose one of my larger packs, along with an ultralight tent or hammock and a compact sleeping bag rated for the time of year and climate I’ll be hunting in.
I also pack my JetBoil to cook an easy, hot meal, and I can also make coffee or boil drinking water if needed. With the quick-cooking system, I will also pack a couple of freeze-dried meals and high-calorie snacks. Again, extra water is crucial.
Keep your hunting kit just as lean, yet cover all your possibilities when packing and choosing the proper backpack.
Saddle vs. Compact Treestand Setup
Backcountry bowhunters often debate between a tree saddle and a lightweight hang-on stand. Both work well, and I have used them both many times. A tree saddle is extremely lightweight and versatile, allowing you to set up almost anywhere. It’s best for covering ground quickly and adapting to hot sign.
Plus, it’s great for making quick adjustments throughout the day when movement has changed, wind directions shift, or another hunter has moved in, requiring a change of location. A compact treestand, such as a climber or hang-on style, is heavier but can offer more comfort for longer sits.
Pair a saddle or lightweight stand with ultralight climbing sticks, and both create a versatile setup. Whichever you choose, practice your system at home until setup and teardown become second nature. Efficiency saves energy, reduces noise in the woods, and leads to a safer hunt.
Staying Mobile and Adapting
The beauty of a backcountry bowhunt is freedom. You aren’t tied to any stand locations or pressured areas, and you can adjust daily. If deer movement dries up, pull your setup and move.
If hunting pressure creeps in, relocate to a ridge, swamp, or overlooked thicket. Mobility also means minimizing your footprint. Stick to quiet entry routes, carry scent-control wipes instead of bulky sprays, and keep gear streamlined.
The less you disturb the area, the more natural deer movement you’ll encounter.