Camp locations

[Shepardg]

Maybe a dumb question. But being new to the western hunting and this being my first mule deer hunt. I’m curious on where to camp. Should I be looking high on the Mountain for camp or should I look low. I’m mostly worried about scent from our camp and fire blowing into the areas we may be hunting. Most places we plan to hunt and glass are more then .25 miles away but from one camp location I have scouted out low in the valley I can glass up into some good looking country. The other spot I have picked for camp is the same area I could be glassing from the low land. What’s everyone’s opinion and what have you found to work best?

 

[downthepipe]

Are you going to be at your vehicle, or hiking away from your vehicle and spiking out using a tent?

To hunt, Are you only hiking… no vehicles?

I think most people would say you should try to find a balance between convenience, distance to where you want to be at first light, out of the weather, potentially near water, and then deciding about the impact of other hunters.

The thing I always find is no matter what you end up doing, or expect from other hunter behavior, nothing ever goes exactly as you would have planned it or wanted it. So you just have to make adjustments and go with the flow.

 

[Shepardg]

We will be backpack hunting away from the truck. Plan to go as light as we can so we have the ability to move camp easy and go with the flow like you said.

 

[Coveyleader]

Stay high or you will know the meaning of cold!

 

[Fireflyfishing]

My first priority is finding a spot that is flat. This is important in Western MT where everything is incredibly steep and there is limited dispersed camping.

 

[cnelk]

I prefer to hunt 'up' and hike back 'down' to camp.
Especially if successful

 

[dirtytough]

I’ve camped high and low. Camping next to your target is a possibility if you don’t preseason scout.

It is extremely nice to be able to glass from camp. I camp more than .25 miles from where I saw deer or expect to see deer though.

If you are hunting by a trail system I would try to camp where all the hikers camp if it’s close enough.

 

[Shepardg]

My first priority is finding a spot that is flat. This is important in Western MT where everything is incredibly steep and there is limited dispersed camping.

The area I’ll be hunting is the same way and that is what’s limiting camp locations.

 

[Weldor]

Stay high or you will know the meaning of cold!

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Weldor]

Also, I find animals are used to camp scent and noise if it is a area used year around by others. I. E. campers hikers etc. JMHO. They get habitualized to humans with all the noise and smells we make.

 

[peterk123]

Don't forget you don't want to be far from a water source if you are in the there for a few days. Having to climb down a thousand feet and then back after a long day sucks. Sometimes you don't have a choice though. For me water trumps everything.

 

[Shepardg]

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Will this hold true the first week of September? The only flattish ground is down in the bottom near water at 8200ft. Or just of the ridge top at 10200. The worry about being up high is I think I’ll be right in some great mule deer habitat. also limited water.

 

[Shepardg]

Will this hold true the first week of September? The only flattish ground is down in the bottom near water at 8200ft. Or just of the ridge top at 10200. The worry about being up high is I think I’ll be right in some great mule deer habitat. also limited water.

I understand it could and will be very weather dependent. but I’ll be in eastern Idaho. So generally speaking. What would your opinion be on this?

 

[Coveyleader]

Drainages in the mountain west will be cold in July and August. Depending on the layout you can have a steady 2-3 mph COLD thermal coming right down a drainage and it will freeze you out, even in summer. Can you camp there? Sure, water is normally easier to get, but just be aware that there could be a huge temp difference and it gets colder if the drainage does have any water in it.


Also, not always, but you can normally see more when you’re up high.

 

[Brock A]

I would take Dirtytough's advice. He taught me alot back in the day and it still holds true. In 2012, I had a found a really good buck in the head of a drainage, in a picture perfect basin. opening day he or his buddies are no where to be found. After some glassing I found a floorless shelter pitched smack dab in his bedroom...Never saw him again.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

it is impossible to effectively glass up on the same face you're standing on, no matter what the topo map might lead you to believe.

 

[Marble]

The OP asked a glassing question. You can always see more when you are looking down on something.

If you plan on hunting the tops of the ridges, maybe going into adjacent drainage and remaining on top of the ridge would give you some more choices as far as moving around as needed.

It's usually windy on the ridge tops, colder in the valley bottom, the water is at the bottom usually, animals are on top, you can glass more from above, flat spaces are hard to find except the very top and bottom, thermals go down at night, there lots of variables. Each hunt is different. You'll have to weigh options and choose..

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