How do you roll?

[Manosteel]

I like to be within 1 km of running water but I like to look for a dip near a ridge that acts like a natural wind break when in the mountains, and like others i like to be within 500 yards of my morning glassing spot. When just deep in the backcountry - moose country ( rather than sheep) - I pick a nice spot in a an area with big pine trees, ground is usually drier, softer earth and you have natural overhead shade.

 

[Buster]

Consider the predominant wind, you don't want smoke issues if the wind picks up. Watch for water pooling areas, no matter how insignificant, you never know when it'll rain 2 inches over night. Scour your camp area in a radius of 50+ feet for ant hills. Just a couple things learned the hard way. Oh, and don't set up near ball busters.

 

[mtnclimber]

Sorry brother, I'm just trying to minimize the mistakes I'll be making to maximize the little time I get to spend doing what I want to do. I get that I'm the newbie who knows very little and you're the grizzled veteran who knows very much and this thread might be redundant to another or mundane to those who get to do this all the time, but I'm just trying learn. Thanks for the kick ass quilt review though.

I appreciate everyone's tricks, tips and tactics more than I can say. I'm trying to get out for a few test trips here in a month or two. Have to wait for it to warm up a little cause I'm bringing my son and want him to have a positive first impression of backpacking instead of a negative one. He's already digging tent camping so it shouldn't be too hard. Thanks again, I promise I'm not trying to be a PITA.

I agree. anyone can eventually figure something out themselves but I've learned a lot from others advice as well as my own mistakes which has made me a more successful hunter. In the hunting world, theres no dumb question in my mind. Especially on a forum like this where everyone is very helpful. When its the off-season i do a lot of "online scouting" and it has proved to be very useful. combining everyones info will help us all to become better hunters and enjoy the outdoors more fully if we apply what we learn.

 

[greyghostnw]

ridge tops... i dig the vast views and sunrise/sunsets you get from it. whenever i am not on a ridge top i look up and wish i was... its whatever floats your boat......................

 

[spdcrazy]

moving from the deserts of AZ to the marsh's of AK, now there is water everywhere. so instead of finding water, i find higher ground. and like the others, quick to glassing area's. and i like the running water to mask sounds and such when i'm heading out and up the canyon's in early am/pm

 

[rodney482]

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?118-Rokslide-Forum-Rules

First off "Rokslide itself" claims nothing! But lilbuff is right. Stay home, NEVER I mean NEVER venture into the big bad woods. There are wild animals in there!


Seriously, just go do it. It won't take long to figure out if it's for you or not.... And if you bought good gear the resale should be good....Stay away from dead stands of trees! Even if they don't hit you at night, you won't sleep the rest of the trip

 

[Highcountry_Hellrazor]

Typically I carry a 6L dromendary and a 4L one with a hydration hose. That way I can camp close to where I find the elk.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Rodney, Rokslide has never claimed how hard or easy backpack hunting is! That was my point.

 

[rodney482]

Rodney, Rokslide has never claimed how hard or easy backpack hunting is! That was my point.

I follow you

 

[dotman]

theres a bit of that. but also when i see a guy asking about the very basics of how to even choose a camp site it may be time to pump the breaks a bit and dial back the great big backpack hunt you have planned in your mind. if your unsure of your ability to choose where to sleep what are you going to do when you say, have a elk down 6 miles in? do you have a plan to get that animal out? are you capable? contrary to what most of the gear dealers on this site and rokslide itself would like you to believe this type of hunting isnt for every one and its not something you should jump right into lightly if your truly green. start small. go for an over niter, then go for a few more. see what you can take physically and mentally. all that new gear you got is great, and im the last guy to tell you not to buy great gear ( you should see the room im sitting in) but it doesnt mean shit if you get in over your head and dont know how to get your self out. my two cents

I agree with this, it surely is not for everyone and we can give suggestions left and right but when in the field he probably will not remember everything that is posted, nothing like just learning but some advice isn't a bad thing either.

 

[16Bore]

A single overnighter will answer a lot of questions about what works and what doesn't. Google fu only goes so far. Guarantee you'll be sorting crap out of your pack when you get home.....

 

[unm1136]

I took my daughter out last year in my new Megatarp...I had watched Aron's set up video a dozen or two times while waiting for the thing, then could not get it set up right! Great camp, near funning water, about a mile from good deer sign, and she never really knew how crappy a time I had. Since then I have practiced setting cam a couple of times from my pack, and then re-packing it. I have the kids try backpacking foods before I sentence the little picky eaters to a week of stuff they hate. I now go nowhere without 3 days of hot hands in assorted sizes. When the kids are miserable, no hunting gets done.

pat

 

[Coyote Commander]

Try not to camp where you'll blow every critter out of the drainage during the night.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

I hear littlebuff and I think he was hoping to inject a little reality into the conversation.
Browtine...I think a few scouting trips will answer ALL your questions about campsite choices.
And you'll probably have a few to choose from, each offering different things.
Hunt'nFish