Base Camp Etiquette?

[Jarhead]

So you hike in several miles, and several days, before the opener to set your base camp in your preferred location. The goal is to set camp and sit tight until the season opens, due to the fact that decent camp locations are few and far between in your area. When you get there you find an empty tent, no supplies, no sleeping bag, no signs of life. I'm really not sure what the etiquette is here - if the tent was occupied the answer is obvious. But since it's not, and there's nothing there but an empty tent, how do you know when the owner of the tent is planning on showing up to hunt? For all you know they might not be coming back until a later date. Does dropping off a tent "claim" a spot for someone for however long it happens to sit there?

 

[Shrek]

Is it a nicer tent than yours ??? jk

 

[Jager]

Is it a nicer tent than yours ??? jk

Ha ha, had exactly the same thought.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

I'm not sure what the correct answer is, other than I will not touch another man's belongings.
And I REALLY mean that. I think we've all had to deal w/ this at some point in our hunting career.
If I'm attached to the area, I'll camp nearby. If not, I move on beyond them.
The law is pretty clear in the fact that you best not tamper w/ thier gear.
Regardless of regulations, you/me/we are NOT LEO's, and only LEO's can remove unattended
camp gear.
Tough deal I know.
Hunt'nFish

 

[dotman]

I would just pick another spot, nothing says that spot can't be 20 yards away, it is just a camp so shouldn't be an issue unless they hunt in camp.

 

[Shrek]

If camps are that scarce I would camp there and see how it shook out. If they show up and there is a bad vibe then it's you that needs to move but if they don't show or they are cool then you win.

 

[mtmiller]

How do you know there was no sleeping bag?

 

[Jager]

...might belong to a Swedish backpackette

 

[Shrek]

Now there is a possible happy ending

 

[squeekieslayer]

I think its pretty obvious that someone plans to come back.... most can't take off days before the hunt just to get in and squat on a place. I for one would be furious if I I got back to my tent and had some dude camped just yards away. Is it legal? Yes. But it is kind of a jerk move in my opinion. I am not saying that you need to hunt somewhere else, but give the tent their space. He beat you to it, it happens.

Joe

 

[Jtelarkin08]

I think its pretty obvious that someone plans to come back.... most can't take off days before the hunt just to get in and squat on a place. I for one would be furious if I I got back to my tent and had some dude camped just yards away. Is it legal? Yes. But it is kind of a jerk move in my opinion. I am not saying that you need to hunt somewhere else, but give the tent their space. He beat you to it, it happens.

Joe

So your saying I am set my tent up when I leave for the season this year and leave it up till next your unoccupied and everyone should leave me my space? Ha that's the dumbest thing I've heard in a while

 

[Shrek]

So , if you not going to be there in time to get this prime campsite because you choose to work at a job that gives you little time off and flexibility you have the right to leave a tent up and "reserver" the spot ? I mean , you are obviously more important than anyone else and everybody else should work around you right? Just because I made the choices and commitment to be there early that counts for chit right ? Leaving a tent as a reservation is a d$ ck move imo. It leaves someone else in an ethical bind . Lack of time off is a personal choice and no excuse for being a jerk.

 

[Shrek]

Heck , since I'm coming back and this is such a great spot in the public forest why not build a log cabin with a locked door . Might want to put a fence around it. This is YOUR spot ...

 

[realunlucky]

I think its pretty obvious that someone plans to come back.... most can't take off days before the hunt just to get in and squat on a place. I for one would be furious if I I got back to my tent and had some dude camped just yards away. Is it legal? Yes. But it is kind of a jerk move in my opinion. I am not saying that you need to hunt somewhere else, but give the tent their space. He beat you to it, it happens.

Joe

I think this attitude is why people leave their crap out all season. I also believe in leaving others stuff alone but you can't squat a spot there are rules set out by the forest service on how long you can camp in one spot. Mostly I try to avoid camping close by if I can, if not hope they don't show up while your gone after all your in THEIR spot

 

[scrubs]

I would find another place to camp. I "usually" have several spots picked out during scouting.

I have "heard" that on Forest Service land it is considered abandoned after 24 or 48 hours.I would imagine if the rule exists it would also apply to the Wilderness areas as well. I have never looked it up because I do what I stated above.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

Seriously shrek I work a job that doesn't give me much time off so its my choice to do something like that so that I can't take extra days off? I have 2 weeks a year in vacation time 1 week for archery and 1 week for rifle, yes I could take a Friday off an hunt til Thursday then either work for a day or take a sick day but I'm also on call every other week, I set up my archery camp the week before I go up if possible, and I have left my tent up through the entire season usin it on weekends I can, but I also leave gear in it sleeping bag some clothes stuff like that so if someone does by chance look in it hey at least know its being used, do I care if others hunt there not really its public land would I be pissed if someone camped 20 yards away prolly not unless hey are doin chit I don't like, bu it's all public land. And I don't reall think its my fault I work a job that I can't have extra days off, not really we can't all own our own business or have a desk job that lets us take off whenever. In my opinion ur choice to hunt there shouldn't change set up ur tent away from theirs and hunt, if thy show up confront them tell them u didn't know when they would be here an if its ok if you share the area or even hunt together, if they blowout pack ur tent and move farther away, heck might even make a friendship out of it

 

[realunlucky]

I hunt a spot that two guys set their tent up early before the opener on the only water source for about five miles. Feels weird to have to enter their camp to get water.I have ran into them a couple of time without any drama though. We usually hunt different weeks so that makes less of an issue I think

 

[Shrek]

BigAntlerGetter , your job choice is 100 % your choice. I used to have a much higher paying job but I couldn't get much time off in hunting season because I was a the bottom of the seniority list. I didn't hunt more than a couple of weekends a year. I now own my own tractor and work on my terms now. I make 40% less money but I hunted about 72 days last year and I'm taking a month off in a block this year and will hunt three to four days a week locally when I get back. I made hard choices to be able to do this . I have no real sympathy for those who chain themselves to a job then whine about not being able to do the things they love. If you love your job thats great. But expecting others to accommodate your choices without consent is wrong. If you are in the habit of leaving a tent up before season so you can reserve a spot then you are an arse.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

My job choice is my choice yes, I have been at my job for 3 years and have risen high in the company that is another reason I cannot take off as much without me in my shop I put everyone else in a bind. You think I'm an arse that's fine with me, you don't really know me so that's ok there buddy, now also my area I hunt isn't a sought after area, is there big animals heck ya, but due to the fact of the country layout no one hunts it. I hunt it an no one else likes to so they stay away anyways. But in honesty over the yet issue if there ain't no belongings in it hunt it. In regards to the tent have you scouted the area before? And how how long ago was the tent set? If there's not much water around the. That's prolly why the camps there but personally I try not to camp right at water jus in case others are around. Good luck on the hunting everyone I'm headed to camp this afternoon to chase some bulls good luck to everyone else

 

[dotman]

I think its pretty obvious that someone plans to come back.... most can't take off days before the hunt just to get in and squat on a place. I for one would be furious if I I got back to my tent and had some dude camped just yards away. Is it legal? Yes. But it is kind of a jerk move in my opinion. I am not saying that you need to hunt somewhere else, but give the tent their space. He beat you to it, it happens.

Joe

I hate to say it but I think this is a poor way of thinking, would you rather them put camo up 1500 yards away? They will still hunt the same general area so might as well limit human scent and noise.

I never have understood why so many are so defensive of a camping spot. Heck if you share a camo area you probably can develop a plan to not step on each others toes but if your rude I can guarantee you have a higher chance of the other hunters ruining a hunt unknowingly.