Where to set up elk camp??

[hogslayer]

Last year I decided to camp down low by the truck, but ended up having to hike 1500 feet in the morning and evening which can get old after a couple days.   So this year I am going to pack some stuff up and stay higher.   So the question is where is the best position to set up at?   Close or farther away?   Higher or lower than where the elk are?   

[boneaddict]

Which season?  Rut going or not?

[hogslayer]

Early archery.  East side

[fastdam]

I camp in the valley, take a quick drive in the dark in the morning to tje ridge top, park the truck, and hunt all morning and move towords camp, eventually ending up there, then we go get the truck.

[boneaddict]

I can tell you that I have literally had a bull "stick his head" into the tent and bugle.    

One of my favorite elk adventures of all time, a different adventure,  I had already tagged out and took my kids up to elk camp for some Dad daughter time.  I had been teaching them bugling.   We had gone to bed.  This bull walked through and let one rip right in camp.  My daughter rolled over in her sleeping bag and said
"Dad, would you stop"


In another elk camp, we had two potential herd bulls have a screaming match one on each side of the camp.  The both shredded trees in camp. 

On another adventure I bugled a bull in for Idabooner.   We sacked out under the stars.   I woke up a couple hours later and there was a nice bull standing over Idabooner sniffing him.  I was praying Idabooner wouldn't wake up and get stomped.   

what they all have in common....time of year.     In the rifle season I have had the opposite happen.   I have pushed elk completely away.

[scottcrb]

 

I camp in the valley, take a quick drive in the dark in the morning to tje ridge top, park the truck, and hunt all morning and move towords camp, eventually ending up there, then we go get the truck.

take two trucks though if your hunting with buddies makes it easier. thinking about doing what your doing and camping higher this fall.

[fastdam]

Yeah two trucks or a 4 wheeler depending where you are. I like to hunt downhill. Lots of animals move up the hill in the morning, i have the advantage. Dragging dead animals is easier when you go down, and you sweat less moving down.

[ridgefire]

Set it up wherever you end up when it gets dark or in the near vicinity of where you will be hunting when it gets dark

[coachcw]

I would camp just close enough to let other hunter know that your there . once your set up the elk will get used to it , but your do run the chance of pushing them out . as far as above or bellow id probily camp above them so the morning thermals are better but I always prefer going after them from the side . so that the wind is better . I to have had them walk right into camp while the generator was sitting there running too.

[fishngamereaper]

All depends on how much work you want to do. My elk camp is next to a road. Easier to set up. My elk honey holes per se are above camp. 1500 ft is average elevation gain/loss in elk country. I hike before dark to get into the good areas then zig zag up and down while I hunt. The nice thing about camp being below where I hunt is that all meat packing is done down hill.