Post by: Hamsteak on August 28, 2020, 11:12:48 AM
I found an area with elk sign and some trails crossing an area that would be a great spot to camp.
New to elk hunting this year and don't want to screw up my chances by camping too close, but it would be nice to wake up and be hunting straight from camp.
Post by: bearpaw on August 28, 2020, 11:14:12 AM
This may be a stupid question, but I'm going to ask it anyways. How close is too close to camp near elk travel routes?
I found an area with elk sign and some trails crossing an area that would be a great spot to camp.
New to elk hunting this year and don't want to screw up my chances by camping too close, but it would be nice to wake up and be hunting straight from camp.
How quiet can you camp, how far will you be heard? Then add a little extra distance to that.
Post by: coachcw on August 28, 2020, 11:15:27 AM
Post by: 2MANY on August 28, 2020, 11:43:22 AM
EVERY evening and all night long a bull would come to the meadow and scream his head off about 75 yards from the tent.
I'm convinced he was in love with(after all it's Washington) or wanted to rough up my wife's blonde gelding.
How we didn't kill that bull I have no idea but we didn't.
Animals don't like humans but lots of people give them too much intelligence IMHO.
Do we really think a deer/elk hears a chainsaw running in a canyon and realizes that it's man??????????
Post by: jrebel on August 28, 2020, 11:47:22 AM
Don't be that guy!!! LOL :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: Igor on August 28, 2020, 12:00:27 PM
Many years ago we had a mule deer hunting area which took us around 1 1/2 hours of hiking in the dark, straight uphill, to be there at first light. Well, one year on opening morning we came out of the trees just at first light, and there on the ground were two sleeping bags with pillows and other camping gear. This was right in the area where we would usually see deer every year. My son was pi$$ed, and we had to dissuade him because he was ready to "drop a deuce on their pillow". Never did run into those hunters........probably fortunately so.
Never saw any deer, either.
Post by: buckfvr on August 28, 2020, 12:03:49 PM
Post by: Hamsteak on August 28, 2020, 12:04:40 PM
Post by: Igor on August 28, 2020, 12:09:02 PM
My plan is to be camping solo, its at the end of an old logging road that is mostly dense tress on 3 sides and pretty much the only camping noise I will be making would be a jetboil and maybe some slight "sawing of logs" at night.
For what it's worth, they will smell you way before they see you or hear you..................
Post by: jrebel on August 28, 2020, 12:09:57 PM
My plan is to be camping solo, its at the end of an old logging road that is mostly dense tress on 3 sides and pretty much the only camping noise I will be making would be a jetboil and maybe some slight "sawing of logs" at night.
Your smell will be the problem. Don't be lazy....camp further away. Just my two cents.
Post by: ThurstonCokid on August 28, 2020, 12:11:00 PM
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Post by: Stein on August 28, 2020, 12:13:14 PM
Post by: jrebel on August 28, 2020, 12:19:00 PM
If on a road I’d camp on it, if off a road I’d give them at least a half mile. Just my thoughts. Noise and smell can really blow them out of an area..
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Out of curiosity....what does the road have to do with it? To close is to close.
Back in the 80's we use to hunt and kill elk in a meadow (in the nile unit) that was literally within site of a road. We had tons of fun and success until a camp moved in and put up a wall tent right in the middle of it. From that point on it turned into a caping paradise and the elk never returned. You cannot camp where you expect to kill animals. Sure there are some guys on here that will have the experience of walking out of their tent to get lucky and kill an elk....that is luck, period!!
Post by: Jingles on August 28, 2020, 12:28:28 PM
Post by: ThurstonCokid on August 28, 2020, 01:52:08 PM
Due to the fact that In most areas regardless East or Westside a road, driveable or not is going to attract traffic. So you can blow them off the roads or let others do so.If on a road I’d camp on it, if off a road I’d give them at least a half mile. Just my thoughts. Noise and smell can really blow them out of an area..
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Out of curiosity....what does the road have to do with it? To close is to close.
Back in the 80's we use to hunt and kill elk in a meadow (in the nile unit) that was literally within site of a road. We had tons of fun and success until a camp moved in and put up a wall tent right in the middle of it. From that point on it turned into a caping paradise and the elk never returned. You cannot camp where you expect to kill animals. Sure there are some guys on here that will have the experience of walking out of their tent to get lucky and kill an elk....that is luck, period!!
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Post by: Hamsteak on August 28, 2020, 03:23:16 PM
If on a road I’d camp on it, if off a road I’d give them at least a half mile. Just my thoughts. Noise and smell can really blow them out of an area..
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Out of curiosity....what does the road have to do with it? To close is to close.
Back in the 80's we use to hunt and kill elk in a meadow (in the nile unit) that was literally within site of a road. We had tons of fun and success until a camp moved in and put up a wall tent right in the middle of it. From that point on it turned into a caping paradise and the elk never returned. You cannot camp where you expect to kill animals. Sure there are some guys on here that will have the experience of walking out of their tent to get lucky and kill an elk....that is luck, period!!
For what it's worth I would never camp in an open meadow where I am seeing game. That is a for sure good way to spook game from that habitat.
Thanks everyone for the responses I appreciate it!
Post by: birddogdad on August 28, 2020, 03:36:45 PM
Post by: Tribal Elder on September 02, 2020, 11:56:38 AM
Post by: ghosthunter on September 02, 2020, 12:50:48 PM
Most years I run a big to large camp. mostly tents, but and RV now and than. Elk would pass our camp with in 100 yards or less on a regular basis. We use to camp around the corner form a spring. And they were there all the time during the day. We killed 3-4 500 yards or less from camp just going and coming.
But we have some rules. No constant generator use. Charge mid day and shut it off.
No sighting in your gun in camp. Do it before you come.
Quiet after 10 pm.
Prefer no dogs.
This year muzzy season is just my grandson and I. So no big camp. We are going nomad so you might come across us. Any where along 410. We got two tent cots and a tarp. Jet stoves. And our plan is to hunt move hunt move. If we get on animals we are sleeping with them .
Post by: ghosthunter on September 02, 2020, 12:55:09 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on September 02, 2020, 01:02:10 PM
You are never going to get agreement on how close. Because there is always going to be someone who says you are in their bedroom. Go hunt ,enjoy, be safe. :tup:
Side note
We have a deer hunting spot where we have killed a dozen bucks 50 yards off the road. They would drop in to the dark timber and bed down watching the tops of hunters trucks go by. I got out of my truck one day and almost stepped on a bedded 2 point.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 02, 2020, 01:02:38 PM
However, I have been in an archery elk camp with two other hunters, each with our own tent, and had a bull screaming between all three tents at night 3 nights in a row. And anytime I've stayed in a camp instead of heading out, it seems I see game from camp.
It certainly seemed in my 17 years checking hunters that the old/fat/lame guy who stays in camp all day is at least as successful as the other hunters.
Post by: jstone on September 02, 2020, 01:27:43 PM
Post by: Taco280AI on September 02, 2020, 01:28:28 PM
Post by: buckfvr on September 02, 2020, 01:42:03 PM
Post by: cbond3318 on September 02, 2020, 02:20:12 PM
Not an elk hunting story, but it fits here.
Many years ago we had a mule deer hunting area which took us around 1 1/2 hours of hiking in the dark, straight uphill, to be there at first light. Well, one year on opening morning we came out of the trees just at first light, and there on the ground were two sleeping bags with pillows and other camping gear. This was right in the area where we would usually see deer every year. My son was pi$$ed, and we had to dissuade him because he was ready to "drop a deuce on their pillow". Never did run into those hunters........probably fortunately so.
Never saw any deer, either.
Please baby Jesus, let no one defecate on my pillow when they realize I beat them in.
Post by: Bushcraft on September 02, 2020, 04:06:08 PM
Not an elk hunting story, but it fits here.
Many years ago we had a mule deer hunting area which took us around 1 1/2 hours of hiking in the dark, straight uphill, to be there at first light. Well, one year on opening morning we came out of the trees just at first light, and there on the ground were two sleeping bags with pillows and other camping gear. This was right in the area where we would usually see deer every year. My son was pi$$ed, and we had to dissuade him because he was ready to "drop a deuce on their pillow". Never did run into those hunters........probably fortunately so.
Never saw any deer, either.
Please baby Jesus, let no one defecate on my pillow when they realize I beat them in.
:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: mburrows on September 02, 2020, 04:13:25 PM