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

[JLS]

Only 50 days, but who's counting?

[BowBender87]

I dont think anything can really cover human scent.  I really doubt a wood fire or the smell of one would scare away elk.  However no matter what you smell like...if the wind isnt in your favor...your not gettin close.   

[hunter360]

I won't go unless there is a fire!

[grundy53]

Smoke doesn't spook elk as much as human scent does. If they can smell the smoke they were going to smell you anyways....

[kenzmad]

I wasn't even aware that it was possible to have elk camp without a campfire. I thought it was the law. I wont even bother asking my hunting partner if he wants to try it without a fire.

kenzmad

[Elkaholic daWg]

 Me too Kensmad. In years past I knew of  hunters that would show and set up camp days early would hang their hunting  (Pants, coats) clothes on a line where the smoke would be able to blow through them so that it would mask human scent.

[runamuk]

Just the thought of any sort of camping without a fire seems wrong

[Huntbear]

Fire all the way.  Not that big a deal to build one to sit around while dinner is cooking.  Used to be you had to build one to cook your meals on or you didn't eat.

[akirkland]

Gotta have a fire!

[Icdeadelk]

No fire = no huntin stories........ Gotta sit around and tell of all the animals you could have shot 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

That is actually one of my reasons for coming back home (West-side) to hunt Elk, not being able to have a fire during Early Archery, but as stated by others, no real time to build one, I let the others in camp take care of it, when I walk in after dark, I like to sit and eat real quick, then "hit the sack".
Without a fire, no reason to be in camp, might as well sleep wherever....

[wsucowboy]

elk hunting with out a campfire is like cooking bacon naked Sure you can do it but it just ain't right. The campfire is where we relax, tell about the days hunt and hunts in the past, eat dinner and drink some pendleton. The campfire is where that 3x3 you missed a few years ago turns into a 360 inch bull that stayed just out of bow range.

[rosscrazyelk]

I love a great fire -- with that said when it comes to elk hunting we only sit around one every once in  awhile. Most of the time the fire is contained in the wood stove. But I have seen guys start a fire while out hunting and I don't think it bothers the elk

[pianoman9701]

According to accounts I've read by real mountain men and Indians from the late 1800s, they used campfire smoke as a cover sent. It's naturally occurring in the forest and covers up icky human "run the hell away" stink.

[rasbo]

fire good,cover dinkle berry smell after 5 days in dry camp...keep squaw happy,make big wampum