Are you planning a horseback hunt this fall? maybe a wilderness hunt chasing rocky mountain elk,
hunting Western mule deer. Or maybe you've booked that dream mountain lion hunt with dogs
Whatever it may be you're after, here are some things to keep in mind when planning your next
Horseback adventure.
Benefits
Hunting horseback has many benefits. They can get you to places that many can't get to on foot. The amount of gear you can pack is increased, no more leaving things behind because of weight, mealtime can be something to look forward to, you can pack a steak instead of a bunch of freeze-dried prepackaged meals. and then when you have harvested that trophy elk, monster mule deer buck, or treed that hard-earned trophy mountain lion, the pack out back to camp and back to the truck is made that much easier. Not heard many complaints when the horse or mule is doing the
packing.
What it takes.
Using riding and packing stock comes with its own set of challenges. There is a lot of planning and work that goes on well before the hunt starts. Animal welfare is a must so basic vet supplies, extra shoes, and shoeing tools. You must be certain of feed and water, so campsites must be scouted beforehand to know if it's available or if you're going to need to pack those in as well. And you also need to have a truck and trailer to get everything to the trailhead. A Lot of these things are why many people choose to hire an outfitter.
two things
First is the horses or mules themselves. So are these rented or leased horses that the outfitter is using?
For a lot of big outfitters, those that have a number of hunters in camp at a time, rely on leased animals. And much of that reason is cost, it’s very expensive to care for the number of animals required to run a camp, year-round. So why ask that question? A rented horse is a lot like a rented car. It's passed all the safety checks and is ready to go physically. but you really never know.
When an outfitter raises or buys his horses or mules. And uses or interacts with them daily he has a
a much better understanding of what kind of animal he is putting you on. He knows how they think and what they will do in different situations.
Second, is the gear or tack, mainly the saddle. Think of these as you'd think of your boots, a small piece of gear that has a huge impact on the overall comfort and quality of your experience. If you have ever been on a horseback hunt and at the end of the day wondered why that guide is limber and loose, you feel like you need to see a chiropractor. Take a look at the saddles you're both riding.
You may not notice much difference, but I guess there is a huge difference. The difference between a well-fitting comfortable custom-made saddle and a much much much cheaper mass-produced
the saddle is huge in overall comfort at the end of the day. A good custom saddle is going to start at a price of around $4000.00 but feels like a nice recliner instead of a rock that feels like it is on fire. You can see that is a huge cost to the outfitter and may be why most of the client’s saddles are on the cheaper side of things. We use only high-quality custom-made saddles from Haslam Saddlery. And our clients sure appreciate that.
then there is you
And then there is you, yes you are a part of the equation as well. Riding a horse or mule is a physical,
athletic feat. You can't just sit there, you are there to help your animal as well.
You need to be flexible, start stretching now, not only for your sake but for your animals as well. And work on your balance. These two things will help you in so many ways.
So by doing these things and asking these questions, i believe your first or next horseback hunting
the adventure will be a success.
See you on the trail,