The roads around the SHNF that i've driven down have all been paved, so you should be good. There may be some dirt roads somewhere as I've definitely not explored the whole place, but by and large outside of a utility easement, all the roads I've seen wouldnt be effected by rain.

Roads are fine and 2wd is no problem. Went to go look for a few piggies last night but didnt see any but the wind wasnt very good for my location. I did have a deer walk up behind me about pig thirty. It ealked up behind me and busted me and went off barking through the woods. I think i saw 3 cars total out there

No bugs at all yesterday afternoon

Not sure if you use it or not, but I highly recommend OnXMaps. Just drop it on your phone and be sure to download the maps for the area before you head out - incase you lose cell signal (shouldn't ever lose the GPS signal unless your phone sucks). It's an awesome app for planning your hunt path and marking rubs, etc... The Topo layer shows the creeks and elevations to make your planning easier and it clearly marks private lands vs. public lands/hunt zones. And any planning you do on your desktop with it just loads up on the phone app. Well worth the $30/year for a single state and a hell of a lot cheaper to use your phone GPS with customizable maps than some other hand held GPS.

Once you are out there you certainly may "go off plan" while following the signs but as a general rule I always print out a hard copy of my "planned" hunting route and leave it at home - that way if I don't show back up the fam has something to give to the GWs to give them an idea on where the hell I was going :P 162,000 acres is a lot of search area, best to narrow that down if something bad happens.

I actually just recently marked up the entire SHNF on OnXMaps and that area you looking at was one of my planned areas as well.

Plan ahead, be safe and good luck!

Most of my shots are 80 yards and under. I use an AR with a 1-6 scope but it stays on 1 or 1.5 only. I am also thinking of buying another red dot like my aimpoint micro. I should have never sold it. Basically your shots will definitely be under 100 yards and will probably be moving also so no magnification needed. Hunt with whatever you got. I use an AR in 6.8 but a bolt action 308 will be just fine. As long as you get that shot on target that is all that counts.

Be aware of falling branches!!! Always look up before you stop or sit some where.

I have been hunting there for years now and I have never seen another hunter in the field. I see them all the time on the roads where I park. My usual spots are at least 1.5 miles in off the main road. I need the exercise and I find the hunting much better deep in the woods where fewer people tend to go. I have a few spots up close but I have never seen anyone in the 50 to 60 trips I have made. I have heard a lot of shots in the woods. I wouldnt go on opening weekend or a holiday weekend and I skip saturdays also.
DOnt hunt deer in the afternoons just the morning. Hunt pigs in the afternoons!
Trust me on this! That is just the way it is

Most of my shots are 80 yards and under. I use an AR with a 1-6 scope but it stays on 1 or 1.5 only. I am also thinking of buying another red dot like my aimpoint micro. I should have never sold it. Basically your shots will definitely be under 100 yards and will probably be moving also so no magnification needed. Hunt with whatever you got. I use an AR in 6.8 but a bolt action 308 will be just fine. As long as you get that shot on target that is all that counts.

Be aware of falling branches!!! Always look up before you stop or sit some where.

I have been hunting there for years now and I have never seen another hunter in the field. I see them all the time on the roads where I park. My usual spots are at least 1.5 miles in off the main road. I need the exercise and I find the hunting much better deep in the woods where fewer people tend to go. I have a few spots up close but I have never seen anyone in the 50 to 60 trips I have made. I have heard a lot of shots in the woods. I wouldnt go on opening weekend or a holiday weekend and I skip saturdays also.
DOnt hunt deer in the afternoons just the morning. Hunt pigs in the afternoons!
Trust me on this! That is just the way it is

Thanks for the recommendation! I have a fair amount of backpacking and backcountry camping experience, so I have a garmin GPS and some Topo maps I printed off. I’ll check out OnX though, may be nicer than lugging my gps with me. My wife also gets a list of locations and check in times, or she’d never let me go by myself! That came in very handy in the Tetons for us so we have the system down pretty good.

Given how thick the brush is, would you recommend a scoped .308 or a slug gun? I like both but I’m thinking if it’s anything like a Louisiana swamp where I shot my last pig, iron sights are the way to go.