Early camp set up

[Optimusprime]

How many of you pack your camp in  and set up before hunting opens up? How far ahead and what does yours look like.  I'm thinking of setting up maybe a week in a half in advance, just to streamline things. Do you see any pros/cons to this?

[6x6in6]

If it's on NF land, there is the 14 consecutive day limit on dispersed camping.  But, I have never been asked to leave by NF personnel in my many times exceeding the 14 day gig over the years.
Outside of that potential con there is those people who may decide they like your camp gear more than you do when you return.   

[kentrek]

A week to two weeks before season......esp this year since nobody is buying st hellens tree farm permits

Ours is 7miles in an is just a tarp cook tent then we pitch seperate tents once we get there

[Optimusprime]

You guys ever hear of people straight up jacking other people's camping stuff?

[syoungs]

I've heard about it around yakima, but could have been a urban legend. I don't trust people enough to leave out my stuff.
In the rimrock I camped close to what appeared to be a abandoned camp, few old Walmart tents and cheap chairs, last day I was there a guy came pulling in setting up his wall tent, mad I was there cause he had left his "camp" setup as a placeholder.

[wlandrum]

I agree with 6x6in6, I just don't trust leaving my stuff out there, well at least without me coming back to it that evening.

[Broken Arrow]

I ran into some jack wagon one year in Siouxon unit who decided he needed to put up his rifle camp the first week of archery season. I parked my truck right next to his wall tent as he said he wasn't hunting but securing a spot...and proceeded to hunt where i always have. The guy came unglued, said this was his area...been here for 20 years...bla..bla....i just kept saying are you hunting right now?....the next day he downed 2 big trees along the road so no one could even get close to the area. I politely informed the local sheriff about his friendly activities and the 2 days later the trees had been cut and removed and so was his camp. Thinking he maybe had warrants. I think in this sense 2 month early was a little to much...lol.

[Quackwhacker]

That's a little excessive. I like to take the family for a camping/scouting trip the week before season. Sometimes I will leave my camp.

[vandeman17]

I don't mind people leaving their camps a few days to maybe a week or two before their hunt. My issue is if they get upset if their stuff gets stolen or if someone moved their stuff. I view it as hanging trail cameras. I know that by leaving them out, they are at risk of either being messed with or stolen and that is a risk I accept.

[CP]

A lot of people just setup a $5 value village tent to claim their campsite and save the good stuff for when they actually move in. 

[vandeman17]

A lot of people just setup a $5 value village tent to claim their campsite and save the good stuff for when they actually move in.

I see that a lot too. If it is on public land and you want to camp there then there is no reason that you can't or shouldn't politely take the tent down and set up your camp. If I did something like that I would hope that nobody was camping there but if they were, I would find a different spot. The risk you run is like mentioned earlier how some jackwagons think it is their spot since they have camped their for years or left an old tent and could possibly take things overboard. 

[Antlershed]

I don't mind people leaving their camps a few days to maybe a week or two before their hunt. My issue is if they get upset if their stuff gets stolen or if someone moved their stuff. I view it as hanging trail cameras. I know that by leaving them out, they are at risk of either being messed with or stolen and that is a risk I accept.

How would you know they aren't still actively camping there? Maybe they are out scouting for the day. If I setup a camp, I shouldn't have to sit there 24/7 cause some jackwagon thinks it is ok to steal or move my stuff should it be left unattended...

[MAVsled]

2010
unit 360 Bethel/Yakima
set up camp early by 5 days.
Left Sunday the weekend before opener, returned Thursday eve.
Hunted, took a spike bull on opener. After 3 cold days, on Tuesday took the meat home to West Seattle for butchering, wrapping and put in freezer.

Friends decided to return as well on Wednesday, after I had left. Their plan was to return on Friday for the final weekend.

I returned Friday afternoon as well to camp, relax and pack up on Sunday.
Cots, lanterns, wood stove, folding tables, chairs all stripped from the tent....rather stolen.
Surprised the thieves just didn't pack the wall tent too.
only good thing is my personal-hunting gear I had packed back home with me earlier, including my rifle.

now I set up trail cams around camp, just in case evidence may be needed.

[hrd2fnd]

I'd be willing to camp sit for anyone concerned

[Mfowl]

I don't mind people leaving their camps a few days to maybe a week or two before their hunt. My issue is if they get upset if their stuff gets stolen or if someone moved their stuff. I view it as hanging trail cameras. I know that by leaving them out, they are at risk of either being messed with or stolen and that is a risk I accept.

How would you know they aren't still actively camping there? Maybe they are out scouting for the day. If I setup a camp, I shouldn't have to sit there 24/7 cause some jackwagon thinks it is ok to steal or move my stuff should it be left unattended...

Its not that difficult to pick out a "dummy" camp. When you pass by it several times going to and from your hunting area at different times of day and never see anyone in it, then the day before the opener there is a trailer and a wall tent in the exact spot, its pretty obvious what was going on. I always arrive 2-4 days early for ML elk season and I pass by plenty of these camps while I'm out scouting before opening day. I don't appreciate it but it has yet to interfere with my camping or hunting.