Elk camp - fire vs no fire ~~~ lets hear opinions

[6x6in6]

What bucklucky said.

[Kain]

By the time we get back to camp I am usually to exhausted to make dinner let alone start a fire.      Sometimes my dad will start one if he is too worn out for the evening hunt but that is not common.  If we are both to sore to make the evening hunt we go road hunting.   

[JPhelps]

I agree that wood smoke is a natural smell and doesn't bother elk.  Although if I do my job right they should never smell the smoke.

[BOWHUNTER45]

By the time we get back to camp I am usually to exhausted to make dinner let alone start a fire.      Sometimes my dad will start one if he is too worn out for the evening hunt but that is not common.  If we are both to sore to make the evening hunt we go road hunting.   

[ghosthunter]

A few years back I was hunting black powder elk in Bethel. 2 ft snow on the ground. I hiked out a ways and sat under a tree with a small fire between my legs. One of the largest bull i have seen walked right up didnt even know I was there. I could only shoot cows. Told the guys camped next to us and the next day they shot that elk.

Elk smell smoke year round.

[wall of wood camp]

I have to agree with those that have fires.  what is an elk camp without a nice fire.  hence my log in wall of wood our camp didn't get the nickname by not having a good supply of logs.  we burn at least 10 cord a season too the fire burns all day and night.  the elk still come within ten yards of me smelling like the biggest campfire in the mountains.  not too critical when you only need to be within 200 yards or so.  I have been successful with four spikes in the last 4 years so i would have to say smoke doesn't bother the elk at least during modern rifle, they are used to it all year long.

[bone head]

elk are use to that type of smoke, i'd rather have that on me than the smell of whatever you had for breakfast. like some of the other people in here said its something they smell in the summer time. we burn slash piles every year and watching the elk around that doesn't bother them at all.

[dreamunelk]

Early archery season the nights are just to short.  Rifle or late seasons I think we are talking about a tradition here.  Some of the best belly laughs I have ever had occurred around a camp fire during hunting season. 
Did I say those were milk duds!

[bucklucky]

I used to never do this but since Im getting older now (35) the past 4 years I have been known to build a fire on a landing in my walk in units while glassing for bucks, the more comfortable I am in the freezing cold the longer I can sit, spotted 20 some deer one day and killed a buck the next with fire burning next to me. Built 4 different fires this year while spring bear hunting, everytime I built a fire I spotted a damn bear  Built a fire during a fricken bad storm that dumped a couple inches of rain in a couple hours and soaked me to the bone, built a fire and a ragger , got pretty much dried out and went back to hunting. Didnt kill a buck but saw plenty of deer just not a shooter buck. Who says you have to build a fire at camp, its fun to build a fire while your hunting too 

[Axle]

Smoke is a neutralizer. It will help get rid of bad smells.

[Hyde]

If there's not going to be a campfire, I'm not going.  Even back in the early days when my partner would hit the hay immediately after dinner, I had one alone.  It's better with friends though.  I keep a scent bag and when I get back to camp, I strip and place all my stuff in the bag and seal it.  I put on my camp duds, and carry on.  After breakie, I slip back into the hunting clothes, and hit the trail. That way, I don't have to worry about getting food smell and campfire cigar smoke all over my hunting duds.  I camp in a trailer now, and shower each night.  Back in the tent days, we would go to a nearby campground that had a shower and get one about day 3 of the 5 day hunt. 

If you pay attention to the wind, you'll be fine... campfire or not. 

[CamoDup]

We have to have a fire, thats part of hunting is sitting around the camp fire telling stories ( all true of course).  and the little  BS rule about 3 foot fire ring? ya right

Come up to the Little Naches sometime and look at some of the wood piles. 4 -5 saws in our camp and not any little ones..

We rifle hunt by the way.

SOUNDS LIKE OUR CAMP!! 

[Alaska316]

Gotta have a fire when buddies are in the mix. Just take two 55 gallon drums, cut one in half and weld them together. cut air holes around the bottom. This allows a fire for warmth and lies. And smoke is not a problem. Try it.

[JLS]

I used to never do this but since Im getting older now (35) the past 4 years I have been known to build a fire on a landing in my walk in units while glassing for bucks, the more comfortable I am in the freezing cold the longer I can sit, spotted 20 some deer one day and killed a buck the next with fire burning next to me. Built 4 different fires this year while spring bear hunting, everytime I built a fire I spotted a damn bear  Built a fire during a fricken bad storm that dumped a couple inches of rain in a couple hours and soaked me to the bone, built a fire and a ragger , got pretty much dried out and went back to hunting. Didnt kill a buck but saw plenty of deer just not a shooter buck. Who says you have to build a fire at camp, its fun to build a fire while your hunting too 

Built plenty in the field.  Killed my biggest bull while I was sitting by a small fire under some limestone cliffs.

I am a lot less likely to have one when bowhunting.  Heck, by the time you get back to camp after dark, you don't have a lot of sack time before you're getting up to be out on your favorite ridge before daylight.

[bucklucky]

I never build a camp fire during archery season, you only have like 3 minutes to get some shut eye before you have to wake up again to go hunt  Dang short nights anyway  But I sure love hunting in september  ..... Is it september yet