Rookie question of the year: Camping

[MiStickSlinger]

Well I want to apologize in advance for this may be a dumb question/or questions. I want to preface this by saying I'm from Michigan, and my experience of the west has admittedly followed the watered down sightseer path.

My question pertains to the basics of where to/ how to camp on an elk hunt. I will say I am familiar with bivy hunting, I've slept in bivy tents and I have an idea of how employing that tactic works. I've decided that this fall I want to set up a tent camp(non horse), perhaps a canvas tent depending on what I figure out. The books I've read don't seem to cover this... the magazines cover camping equipment and such, but I see thread after thread of people's camps all neatly set up with cooking tents, and chairs and coolers along with their nice truck.

I'd like to know how you know where to camp. I understand you want to be reasonably close to the elk, but that's not my question. My question is do you have to stay in a designated camping area? I know some lands don't allow camping at all, like Wyoming school land. Do you camp along a trailhead? and also do you have to hide your camp? Do you have to lock everything up when you go hunting? Now remember I live outside Detroit, so there's a chance I wake up in the morning with a brick through my windshield, so perhaps I'm underestimating the kindness of fellow elk hunters.

I've done a lot of online scouting of where I want to hunt on public land, the big question mark remains as to where I will be laying my head at night. Again I apologize for these rookie questions but I appreciate any tips to help me gain an understanding of how a western elk hunt works.

 

[Muskeez]

We set up spike camp a long ways from the trailhead, so I have not tent camped off the road but see it done a lot in Northern CO. The trailheads have had camping spots, and there have been several places along the road where people have camped in the past as well. I'm sure you won't have a problem finding a place to stay. I heard of a couple vehicles getting broken in to at trailheads before, but for the most part folks seem to keep to their own areas and are respectful. We met some great guys from KY who had a huge spread of equipment and just left it and went hunting each day without any problems.

 

[SFC B]

I camp about 3 miles up a jeep trail at the edge of the wilderness area (nothing but foot traffic and horses past that point). In order to get there it takes some pretty serious 4x4 action (always with chains) but keeps out folks who don't have the commitment and casual passers-through. We set up camp and leave it as is. Anything of real value we lock in the trucks but have had no trouble. We have been using a surplus GP small tent and an adjacent large heavy tarp strung up in order to have a kitchen area. We dig a latrine (with a canvas privy) about 100 ft away from camp. I will post some pics.......

 

[genesis273]

I don't have nearly the experience as these guys, so I'll leave the answers to them.
I did want to say that there are no "dumb questions"! I promise you that there are others reading this thread now, or a few years from now with the same questions.
Outside Detroit to the elk mountains....now that's a contrast! You may just not go back to Michigan!

 

[1_pointer]

Since you have a good idea of where you'll be hunting be sure to check out the rules for camping as established by the office that manages that ground. Most BLM and USFS offices list that information on their website. If you can't find it there a call or email to the recreation specialist should get you the info you need. For the most part, dispersed camping is allowed most anywhere with quite a few places having a min distances from water sources.

 

[Southern Elk]

Here's a good book on this subject. I think you would enjoy reading it.

http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Trad...50963615&sr=8-1&keywords=traditional+elk+camp

 

[VAspeedgoat]

I was kinda in your boat this year. I had a pretty good grasp of camping off the beaten path but never in the fall in the high country or for a hunting trip. We were in the national forest just under 10000. We decided to take an off road popup I have instead of a tent. We stayed just off the main forest road in because we didn't want to be so far off the road that getting out in snow or rain would be a major undertaking. This proved wise as it was raining when we left. We weren't allowed to be over 100yds from the road anyway so check the regulations with the regional office you hunt in with either national forest or blm. One thing we did that proved wise was to get tucked back in some trees to break the wind, which got up over 30mph one night. There were other guys camping around us but no one was in a designated spot but even our spot had been used before so keep your eyes open for old fire rings. We locked up the guns in the truck at night but other than that we left everything unlocked or out in the open. I would worry about ritters more than people, we cut a pretty good black bear track not far from camp but had no issues.

Mistakes we made were counting on a generator to run some electric heat. I don't know if it was elevation or what but it never ran right. I forgot my buddy heater so that pretty much stunk. A wall tent with a stove would have been easier to get into that area with rough muddy roads and would have been warmer and drier at night. Even if we had the buddy heater I don't think we would have gotten our stuff dried out. A stove puts out nice dry heat. Also we anticipated cooking dinner every night but we were often tired or it was raining so take extra stuff like sandwich stuff incase nobody wants to cook.

Also pay attention to locals. This saved my butt twice. Once from getting into terrain too steep for my truck and once on the day we left. We were heading into a new area when some locals openly grinned as we drove by. A few minutes later we were on a steep grade debating on turning around or going on. We decided to turn around due to rain in the forecast. Thirty minutes later it rained. Had we not turned around I might still have my truck stuck there. The other, on the day we left was kinda close too. We had plans too drink a couple of celebration beers and cook our steaks at lunch and may spend one last night before heading home. While driving to camp we noticed almost 3/4 of the local guys had already left or were packing. We decided to go. While folding up the camper it rained again. While driving down the mountain we were often jackknifed slinging mud everywhere. It rained for two solid days after we left. So the moral is pay attention to the local guys, there's a reason they think out of staters don't know didley.

 

[hank4elk]

I have camped in NF/BLM/Public lands in the west since the 60's.
Personally,I've never had anything stolen or vandalized
Only problems have been in crowded places.Real popular destinations.Yosemite comes to mind. Hunting CO during the 80's with CA plates...lol.

I am former Park Ranger so I have a pretty good read on people and know what & who to ask before going into a new area. And yes I have dealt with some horror stories.

I avoid any crowded areas if at all possible . I camp off the road mostly. By myself.
I like spots with nobody, but an area with a few hunt camps in good/only spots can be benficial. I go check in and see who's camping and see what's up. The usual "You folks hunting?" "How's it going?" Check the condition of them.
If there are beer cans/trash,loud music/people with a bon fire going or questionable looking folks then maybe not a good spot to camp.
I hunt from my truck/camp every year. I backpack in or just set up a base camp.99.9% of the time there a couple other camps of hunters and usually real nice folks with intel.
Being tight lipped can be as good as "There are elk everywhere.their going nut's" LOL
And everybody watches camps. One's with Grand pa and Grand ma just along for the trip are golden. Someones always around.
Calls to the local NF office can yield a wealth of information and your 1st place to call.IMHO.
If you look at an area,but have heard rumors of out of state vehicle messed with , theft,or rowdy behavior ,ask local LEO's, NF, BLM,also local sheriff .

 

[JMG]

Pretty much where ever you go, here in Montana, you will see places that folks have used for camping or hunting camp. As mentioned above, look for fire rings or places (scars) where folk have driven to get off the road. When looking for a potential campsite, walk in and if it is indeed a campsite, then drive your vehicle to the spot. Most spots are adjecent to the road you're already on. Here is some language on one Block Management map that pertains to camping: (be certain to check regulations such as Forest Service, BLM, State Lands, Block Management) "you cannot occupy the same campsite more than 16 days during a 30 day period; camp must be located within 100 yards of open roads; direct access by motor vehicle is permitted to and from campsite using the most direct route to avoid damage to soils and vegitation; at the end of the 16 day period, individuals MUST relocate 1/2 mile away for the currently occupied campsite".

When going into a new area, I pretty much just look for old campsites. You'll recognize them. I have two Wall tents when we go for a week of hunting. Keep in mind the bigger the camp, the more stuff you have to haul around.

 

[Muley_Stalker]

I have to agree that there's no dumb question when you don't know the answer. Never worry about asking anything.

You already got good answers. No sense in me repeating.

 

[Corax]

The picture shows the extent of my outfit - small trailer, SUV, and a Cabelas Alaknak tent with a wood stove when it is cold enough to need it. I camp by the side of the "road". Other posts have done a good job of the details.

Good luck.

 

[putm2sleep]

Cool question and Merry Christmas!

It is what you make it. Just go do it. Take mental notes, look at setups ask guys here before you buy, and think how and what you might like. Don't die and you will be fine. Lay your head wherever ya dam like! If you find a better place : move. ( i would recommend not using a stove inside your tents or propane heaters. Get a great bag and stay alive)

How close to elk is relative. If you find elk, I would recommend leaving them 'there', don't go try and make a fire and tell stories and camp in their bedroom.

Then start making your Christmas lists checking them twice! Gear up and then you just keep making your setup better!

It never ends - making camps and making camping

 

[MiStickSlinger]

Thanks for the great advice guys. My next step is to start putting together a list of essential camp gear

 

[kmf]

My friendly free advice for gear is to go camping near home. You can go home or to work during the day but a few nights camping and a few mornings making breakfast and such you will learn a lot more about gear and essentials.

 

[MiStickSlinger]

My friendly free advice for gear is to go camping near home. You can go home or to work during the day but a few nights camping and a few mornings making breakfast and such you will learn a lot more about gear and essentials.

I've got some camping experience, I have done some backpacking trips in Canada and have camped in Michigan, I just need to narrow down gear essential for the western hunter

 

[Epfd217]

The rules of the land will decide where you can camp. If you can't find the rules, call the agency.

As far as where to set you're camp, thats hard to decide until you're on the ground. Just like finding a place to hunt, scout out several spots and check them out when you get there. If you're hunting around opening weekend of a gun season, then expect to have competition for spots. As far as hiding and/or locking things up. Its doubtful you will hide your tent camp unless you are a ways from the road. I don't lock anything up really, but I also don't leave valuable items in places where they can walk away. 95% percent of people are too respectful to look inside of your truck or tent. I keep the truck locked to help people resist their temptation.

This year I was an elk rookie and a western hunting rookie. My buddy and I are experienced backcountry campers and had several plans for our trip. We picked a spot that had several logging pads along the National FOrest road that allowed dispersed camping. We camped right off the road for a few days while we learned the area. After a couple days we realized that the area we were in was pretty scarce of elk due to ongoing logging. We moved to a different area in the same forest and backpacked our camp in about 2 miles. We left the truck at a trailhead and hiked in with everything on our back. We had scouted a couple spots previously should we choose the backpack route. It worked out really well and provided flexability.

 

[windymtnman]

In Colorado, it's permissible to camp about anywhere on National Forest lands unless there's a specific posting that it's not legal. You can travel a short distance off road or trail to establish your campsite too. I find that if a truck or OHV can make it up a trail, someone (everyone??) will set up a hunting camp there. Sometimes a non resident bunch shows up and hunts for a few days, pull out and another group from somewhere else shows up. The 2nd group doesn't realize that area just got pounded by the previous group, and on and on it goes.