Solo for Wild Hogs

A multi-mile hike can seem short while having a quiet conversation with hunting buddies, and by the time hunters know it, they’re at their spot, glassing at first light.

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Attempting to entertain yourself during a solo hunt can make a four-mile trek seem a lot longer than it actually is. Whether hunting alone or with friends, however, there is a great sense of accomplishment in creating your own success on a public land DIY backpack hunt, and the taste of succulent wild hog meat is one of the most delicious rewards to take home from the mountains.

Depending on the country I plan to hunt, I need to make the decision of choosing a spike camp or a car camp. Throughout the years, I have always considered each option before heading afield, and I truly enjoy both. Each option has its time and place. I love having an abundant amount of food and water in the vehicle, but a backcountry spike camp gets me away from the crowds. The process of carrying camp on your back can be beneficial to backpack hunters who want to get far away from other hunters. Having an abundant amount of water, a large food supply and several luxurious items at car camp is certainly a nice option, but requires a lot of round-trip miles to and from the core hunting areas.

I prefer to pack a simple one-person tent and a tarp, which only shelters one person and gear. The tarp works great as a lean-to shelter, which protects the tent against any harsh weather conditions. I chose this shelter system simply because it’s lightweight and protects me from the elements. I also pack an ultralight stove and a simple water filtration system. I prefer the simplicity of filling up my water from a spring and screwing the filter to the mouth of the bottle. My go-to dinners are Top Ramen and Mountain House. A Jetboil stove boils the food efficiently.