how far is good enough?

[the weasel]

So primarily for the "stand" hunters but anyone can chime in....
like the title says.. how far is good enough? I have found what looks to be a good looking saddle with a spring just off the south side of this saddle. (thinking of my tree stand location) It is about 1 1/2 from the truck, I have not been able to go check yet but hope to in the next week or so. my question is do you think that's good enough? I would think 75% of the "hunters" wouldn't normally hike that far through the woods to look... and 50% of the 75% wouldn't get more than a few hundred yards from the truck. only the serious ones would venture more than a mile with out a road/trail to walk on.
or am I crazy thinking?

[ElkNut1]

It's not so much how far but how easy is it to find? If it's secluded it could be good a few 100 yards off a road! Distance isn't the criteria here!

ElkNut1

[dtrkyman]

I hunted a heavily pressured public area last year, I found a hot wallow and great sign 1.15 miles in, but it was really tough to get to and I never saw anyone in there, unfortunately I did not get a crack at a legal bull and that wallow was in a bottom and the wind swirled so bad in there I just couldn't sit it.

[WYO_ELK]

I shot my cow last year 1 mile from the truck, she died on the trail I walked in on. Most people won't hike even a mile in.

[Stick]

Paul nailed it! I'm a distance guy but I have learned if it's hidden its gold!

[Tigger]

the other consideration is obstacles. a mile in off a trail with most of it across flat open terrain isnt enough. On the other hand, if you have to cross water, a steep slope, a "No Hunting" sign...wait, scratch that last one! , or something else that just doesnt look fun, then most hunters wont cross it.

[elkstalker]

It depends on your area, if it is an area where people typically road hunt primarily, then I would probably not expect to see others there. If it's a wilderness type area that people use frequently, that may be the low end that people are hiking in to hunt. The first year I hunted elk I scouted an area, found plenty of elk, and knew where they would be opening morning. I hiked about a mile in to the timberline on a ridge they fed on. Unfortunately, about 20 other people also knew right where they were... A few years ago I hunted a beautiful meadow 1/2 mike away from a well traveled road, it was extremely steep to get up to, and I never saw another human or human track there. Last year, I hunted a roadless area that is well known, and I saw more people in 3 miles than I did 1/2 mile in. It just depends on the area, maybe you could give me the coordinates and I could look into it for ya?

[the weasel]

Well it looks to be 1 1/2 ish miles across a ridge line that drops about 1200ft elev. as you get to the saddle and about another 400-500 ft elev. down the draw to the spring. Timbered area on a mountain with a ranch to the north a few miles. also a couple other seeps/springs within a fair walking distance, more on the northern side of the hill. And elkstalker...... its closer to you than you would guess

[JimKirk]

i agree with the distance thing. usually after a mile you lose half the hunters. what i consider more is packing out an animal. I'd not go over 5 miles if it meant packing that animal out on my back. Horses or alot of helpers could make a big difference. Usually my trail cams on public land are within a quarter mile of where I take my atv and park it.