Backcountry Without Water

[Cschlimm]

Just reaching out to see if there's any tips or tricks to camping in the backcountry in areas without water. Few years back camped back in few miles with no water source, carried in roughly 3 gallons but makes for a heavy pack and only last a few days in the heat. Let me know if there's something I could be looking for.

 

[mlgc20]

What I typically do is carry enough in to get me for that day and the following morning. Then I usually make a run back to the truck mid-day with an empty pack and just load up on water. I've found I prefer making a water specific run, rather than trying to get it all at once.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

I really ration my water in situations like that and try to go easy so as not to sweat it out. I make sure my dog gets plenty of water. I don't get in situations where I'm out away from camp for more than a long day so packing enough generally is not an issue. Try your best to camp somewhere near a stream and have some sort water purification kit/tablets with you.

 

[Lionhound1975]

In areas with no decent water sources, I've used a game cart to haul in water and set up a base camp that I then do day hunts from. That way I can stay for several days. Obviously the terrain will determine whether a game cart is feasible or not.

 

[AKSandman]

Over in Azerbaijan they use these little dehydrated water pouches. Pretty lightweight and portable. Might be worth looking into.

 

[swavescatter]

Over in Azerbaijan they use these little dehydrated water pouches. Pretty lightweight and portable. Might be worth looking into.

Dehydrated water? They may be on to something...

 

[Beendare]

I’m


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[Stubborn_bowhunter]

Pack it in and stash it before.

 

[bozeman]

something a guy showed me, always carry a short 1" pvc pipe (maybe 1 ft or 1/5ft long) use it in a seep or off the side of a creek to make a 'flowing faucet'.........actually works like a champ and rather smart. that's IF you have water. For those areas where water is lacking, I use a water bladder in my pack and a 32 ounce bottle in a side pouch, bladder for drinking, bottle for food.....its a daily trek to/from truck.

 

[trophyhill]

If you hunt the Gila backcountry, plan on taking a heavy pack. Go a day or 2 early and make several trips if you want a lighter pack. Which I do when I’m lucky enough to draw it. 3 gallons isn’t nearly enough though

 

[trophyhill]

I’m scratching my head here… why would you hunt in an area with no water at all?


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You’ve been to the Gila. If you’ve hunted B, water can be quite a ways away. And those elk will feed and bed quite a ways from water and travel 5 miles if they have to for water from what I’ve seen

 

[MattB]

You’ve been to the Gila. If you’ve hunted B, water can be quite a ways away. And those elk will feed and bed quite a ways from water and travel 5 miles if they have to for water from what I’ve seen

And in some areas the only water is in stock tanks that you would think twice about drinking if your life depended on it. You can’t fully filter out the elk piss. The elk do just fine in it.

 

[trophyhill]

And in some areas the only water is in stock tanks that you would think twice about drinking if your life depended on it. You can’t fully filter out the elk piss. The elk do just fine in it.

Lol I won’t do it unless it’s dire! Ask JPD350 about that lmao. I know he wasn’t laughing as thirsty as he was. And he actually packed water in ahead of time, But a bear got some of it out of a tree

 

[Titan_Bow]

Another tip is when you are at your truck ready to go, to drink as much water as you absolutely can before you head out. It sounds common sense, but I’m surprised at how many people don’t do this.


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[Beendare]

You’ve been to the Gila. If you’ve hunted B, water can be quite a ways away. And those elk will feed and bed quite a ways from water and travel 5 miles if they have to for water from what I’ve seen

Delete

 

[trophyhill]

5miles to water?

Ive hunted the Gila…and my thought is if a guy is hunting 5 miles from a water source then he is in the wrong spot.

In the mtns, you can typically find a seep somewhere…and no surprise, there is usually animals using it.

In the southern states, you might have to filter and boil a nasty water source (still rare) . I’ve only had to do it once in a severe drought and of course it was the one trip I talked my wife into joining me, she hasnt come since.
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In most cases I agree with you. I only use the Gila because that’s the only place I’ve had to pack water into and I refuse to filter water out of a piss filled dirt tank. But that’s just me. If the rains come then the rocks will hold water and I will filter that for sure but out of the 5 times I’ve hunted B, I’ve had to pack water in 4 times where I hunt. And the only reason I hunt where I do there is because the elk are there during the rut.

 

[Htm84]

If you have rain in the forecast you can use a tarp or something to collect some. We got like 10 gallons or so over night here.

 

[mlgc20]

5miles to water?

Ive hunted the Gila…and my thought is if a guy is hunting 5 miles from a water source then he is in the wrong spot.

In the mtns, you can typically find a seep somewhere…and no surprise, there is usually animals using it.

In the southern states, you might have to filter and boil a nasty water source (still rare) . I’ve only had to do it once in a severe drought and of course it was the one trip I talked my wife into joining me, she hasnt come since.
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I agree about 5 miles to water. I have tons of water around where I'm hunting. But, all the water sources are on private land. It's pretty frustrating to be camped 1,000 yards from water, but have to walk several miles to fill up your canteen.

 

[Marble]

I’m scratching my head here… why would you hunt in an area with no water at all?


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Some of the high country mule deer will only water every few days and travel quite a ways to do so. So, no water is a little subjective. It's usually a combination of difficulty to locate and/or getting to it to even use.

Takes one of those bucks a few hours to travel to and get enough water for a few days.

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[BBob]

I’m scratching my head here… why would you hunt in an area with no water at all?


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Plenty of species that need little to no water. Think Coues deer, Audad for a couple. Elk know water is danger. They'll travel a really long ways at night to water and bail before first light back to their safe zone.