doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Possible to do an upland hunt by train?

Would it be possible to do an upland hunt by train here in the USA, western states? Thoughts? Any interest?

If my memory serves me correct seems as though a few years back someone/company was trying to organize such an outing.

The Durango and Silverton Railway(colorado)will drop you off in the wilderness. I imagine there would be grouse there, but I have never hunted it.

What a wonderful idea. Are you thinking train only, no car rentals?

Amtrak used to have a ban on firearms even in checked luggage. That said I've read that quite a few bird hunters would travel frm Chicago to SD for their fall hunt.

It might be fun to take the Empire Builder from Chigago to Seattle, grouse in WI, pheasants in Western MN and ND, Sharptail, Pheasant and huns in Western ND and eastern MT Quail in central WA and Seaducks in western WA. You would have to book a guide at each place or at least rent a vehicle.

There used to be a high end bird safari by train in Africa, don't remember the details

all you need is your own Pullman and a remote siding to be dropped off on.

but I think you need a hammer gun to do this right.

Last I had heard, the Rovos Train had derailed with many casualties. I am not sure if they are still in business.

Here in the US, in 2010-2011 Amtrak started allowing checked firearms somewhat like an airline. Before then, no.
They do not allow hunting dogs on the trains.

I use the California Zephyr, and Empire Builder out of Chicago, and get dropped off where my friends or guide can pick me up. I sleep well in a roomette. Mostly, it's a way to avoid the driving on return. Rooms are spartan. Meals are included.
I have access to a private railcar, and when I inquired about having it towed, Amtrak said they would be happy to. Regional freight haulers said No. So, I felt restricted to sidings adjacent to Amtrak tracks. If you have never ridden a train, tracks generally aren't running through sylvan glens. So, my Edwardian excursion would be experienced in "'da hood" for the most part.

I like traveling to hunting destinations via rail when it makes sense. It's a shame that Amtrak won't take dogs. That would make the whole process much more interesting.
At the present time, it is a way to avoid the drive, and have sex enroute.

Alaska Railroad used to drop off and pick up between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Lots of game on that route.

I figured Alaska has to have something like this, but you might want to carry a few slugs and buckshot loads in your pockets when you're up there hunting. This is where the double barrel excels, in the remote areas. You have to carry everything on your back or do without, and you pretty much have to decide on what are the essentials to reduce that weight on your back. Everything you carry has to do more than one thing and if you have a double then you actually have two guns, with two barrels, two triggers, two locks, two firing pins.



Be that as it may, before taking this trip in Alaska you better be REAL sure you want to do this.

The Shooting Sportsman magazine in its Sept./Oct. 2007 issue has an article titled "Hunting Trains." On page 159 within that article is a another article titled "Yes, You Still Can." The Royal Canadian Pacific Railway was offering wingshooting trips which were called "Fall Feathers Tours."

Huns and Sharptails were the primary quarry with hunts taking place at various stops in Alberta and Saskatchewan with Calgary the point of departure. Its my understanding that these wingshooting trips are no longer offered even though the Shooting Sportsman article states that the 2007 hunt/trip was booked full, months in advance.

That seems like a good Idea.