Advice for Arkansas wilderness area hunt

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I’m planning on a week long pack in archery hunt in one of the Arkansas wilderness areas. At the moment I’m heavily leaning towards the East Fork Wilderness area. My plan at the moment is to hike in to a good spot along the river and set up my hammock camp and hunt the surrounding area. Though I do have a buddy offering to let me setup camp on his lease, so options. I have no true target animal as much as going on a hike through the mountains armed with a selfbow. I want to go during the first week of November so that hogs are fair game as well.

 Any tips for hunting the wilderness areas in Arkansas while I’m still in the planning stage?

I appreciate any input as I’ve never hunted outside of Missouri.

Kyle

[Dave Lay]

Kyle, Ive done quite a bit of pack hunting our wilderness areas, I live closest to east fork but have never back pack hunted it, but have hurricane and richland areas.
I killed my 2nd biggest buck on one such hunt several years ago. Pigs are a possibility as are bears and of course whitetails. Some advise would be to either camp by water and use a filter or pre haul water in. A hammock might be a cold sleep unless you have a quality hammock and pad. You will want a place out of the rain or other weather that time of year, it’s pretty unpredictable. I’d go with a light tent and good pad and bag, but that’s me you can take a light weight ENO or other such hammock for that afternoon nap if you so incline.
  Also, keep in mind if ya kill something, you may need to get it to ice if the weather is warm, that may mean a load or two for meat and another one to retrieve your camp, so ya might be kinda choosy depending on how far ya camp from your truck. I’d take a wilderness camp any day over camping on a lease but the game numbers will probably be lower as no new growth goes on in the interior of a wilderness area and animals just dont seem to hang out in the numbers as they do where new growth occurs. BUT that time of year is ideal for rut and they will still be on the acorns so alot of the above is out the window. Like anywhere else hunt saddles and bench bottlenecks , check out old growth terrain changes caused by logging pre mid 80’s when the wilderness areas were designated . If you plan to tree stand hunt, I’d haul it in on a prehunt scouting trip and stash it
     Hope this helps. Holler if I can help in anyway
     

[Mo_coon-catcher]

Getting the hammock gear setup I started getting pieces at a time that matched quality to my budget and I ended up with almost all onewind gear. But it’s rated for 15* with the underquilt blanket combo and probablt good for 40* with the underquilt blanket combo without doubling them up for the underquilt with a good silnylon tarp to keep the rain off. My plan was to hike along the river until I found a good spot a ways from the parking area so I’d be less likely to be disturbed. I’ve got a sawyer squeeze filter and have a couple smart water bottles ready to go with it. If I manage to harvest anything was what I still had to figure out.

With where your from you might know a buddy of mine from Russelville. Which is a big part of the reason I’ll be hunting down there this fall to pick up some traps and visit with him a bit, Art Bennet.

I definitely appreciate the advice. If you think of anything else, I’m all ears, or eyes in this case.

Kyle

[Dave Lay]

Kyle, I have a buddy that uses that under quilt blanket combo winter back packing and seems pretty happy with it. I also have a sawyer filter with the smart bottle I use hiking but prefer a bigger MSR filter if I’m cooking or doing long multi day float trips but it’s a lot bulkier than the sawyer.not sure where you are going to access the wilderness at the river but there’s quite a bit of ATV and 4wd traffic at the south end along the river, I’m not sure I’d leave a vehicle there for a week.  Be prepared to cross the river a few times, but it’s shallow at shoals and could be almost dry that time of year,
    Your plan sounds solid there’s a old road that runs into the wilderness from the south end that’s bermed at the wilderness boundary you could use for access
     I think I’ve heard Arts name but not familiar with him.
   You won’t have a cell signal down along the river so you might consider a inreach or similar to contact others if needed especially if your solo, accidents do happen.
       If I can help in anyway give me a shout , best contact is my email
[email protected].   Thanks, Dave