I drive 16 hrs one way. While it's a bitch to do alone, the hunt is worth it. But I also wouldn't do it for anything less than 6 full days in the field.
I drive to Montana twice a year to hunt. Spring is around 20 hours and fall around 16 hours. Audiobooks are something I look forward too. I try to time it so I can arrive around noon and take a short nap, then go out and check the area that evening.
I have shipped a skid ahead of time all boxed up with my stuff and I then fly. Rent a truck and pick up the skid at the freight terminal with a rental truck. They will load and unload with a forklift for you. Cheapest way to do it is to drop off and pick up at a shipping hub.I drive 16 hrs one way. While it's a bitch to do alone, the hunt is worth it. But I also wouldn't do it for anything less than 6 full days in the field.
That’s what I’ve done. Use my time to learn more about the area every time I hunt.I would drive but I enjoy cross country trips. There is a good chance you tag out in the first day or two. That will leave you 2-3 days to either take your time in the drive home or to go scout different areas/species. If you fly, make a good plan for the meat to sit there 4-5 days while you wait for your return flight home. My furthest solo hunt was 28 hours. To me the key in staying fresh on a trip like that is to do short stops every 200-300 miles.
Driven to Iowa 3 times for 1st shotgun season. 28 hours, 5 day hunt. Sucks donkey balls.
drive til I’m tired, sleep in rest stop. Get there next day.
How can driving possibly cut into hunt time is you get there before season opens and leave when it’s over.
Drive there never bad. Drive home is the awful part.
I’d do it every year for those pig whitetails! Cuss it every year as well
Do you have friends and family in Iowa on or you public land it ? I imagine shotgun season around my area in Iowa would be tough on public but Im curious how youve fared out .
I vote fly , book now its cheap as dirt. Then if you kill one and want to drive home just miss your flight and get a rental car and take off for home .