Hunting with Base and spike camp.

[Mosby]

Winters don't routinely get as cold as they used to. That's a known fact in North America. My dad grew up in Chicago and Wisconsin and he can tell some stories.

The locals around our units during 1st rifle last fall said the weather we encountered was very unusual but that it did remind them of the "old days."

I miss the "old days". I also have a Kodiak 10x10 and a Buddy heater. Really hard to beat for a basecamp for a couple of guys. Highly recommend both.

 

[Newtosavage]

I miss the "old days". I also have a Kodiak 10x10 and a Buddy heater. Really hard to beat for a basecamp for a couple of guys. Highly recommend both.

That was one of those purchases I deliberated on for months. Even after I ordered it and set it up to season it in my back yard, I still wondered if it was worth it. Let me tell you - after the first two nights in elk camp I didn't wonder any longer. I fell in love with that tent and heater system.

Perfect for two guys with space for three. We set our cots in an "L" shape on one side and the back, and put a 3' table in the corner near the door. On that table we had my double burner Coleman stove and my North Star Coleman lantern and the 6 gallon water container. Under the table was the "kitchen" with all the food and supplies in a large plastic tub.

Another smart purchase was a 6'x8' rug I got from Wal-Mart for about $17. It went in the middle of the tent. I cannot tell you how nice it was to get out of the cot and put my feet down on that carpet every morning.

That setup was practially like a little apartment to come home to every evening. So darn nice.

 

[5MilesBack]

You want to be focused on the hunting and the experience not the endless logistics of multiple camps. Every amenity you tack on has a time cost in the form of chores.

I use a 14x16 wall tent solo. I can put it fully up in less than 20 minutes, and take it down in about 10. Add another 20 minutes to set up the cot, table, heater, cook stove, etc, and I'm ready to spend the entire season out there without any additional chores. I have one pack set up for spiking out that's ready to go come hunting season. It stays packed and ready until I want it. And that tent and camp setup takes under 10 minutes to set up.

IMO the longer you plan on staying out, the more comfortable your camp had better be. A month in a pup tent would be miserable. But I could live in my wall tent year round if I had to. There's nothing like coming back to base camp after spiking out for a few days.

 

[bmf0713]

Yeah. I find the biggest problem when i go camping is that i bring way too much stuff. I was gonna try and limit the basecamp to a select few items. Thinking just tent, cot, buddy heater and small coleman camp stove. I will be taking coolers, water jug and table anyway. Then just use our light weight sleeping gear instead of bringing my thick foam pad and heavy sleeping bag even though it is more comfy.

 

[cnelk]

The only risk of doing a base camp / spike camp thing, is you better be damn sure the spike camp area holds elk or you wasted a lot of precious time

 

[bmf0713]

We are planning on getting out there a couple days early so we can acclimate to the altitude and do some scouting. The plan would be to set up a spike camp only if we find elk or elk sign too far to try and hike in dark. Either way i would still like to spike camp at least 2 of the nights for the experience and to try out my gear to see what works and what doesnt. This is my first time elk hunting and I only know what ive read online. I havent even see an elk other than in a zoo. Haha. So im not setting my expectations too high but im gonna hunt my ass off and just seeing an elk will be a success.

 

[5MilesBack]

The only risk of doing a base camp / spike camp thing, is you better be damn sure the spike camp area holds elk or you wasted a lot of precious time

That's what elk hunting is.......hit an area for a day or two and if you're not finding any elk, you pack up and try another spot. But you gotta do that whether you're using a base or spike camp.......or both.

 

[Newtosavage]

We are planning on getting out there a couple days early so we can acclimate to the altitude and do some scouting. The plan would be to set up a spike camp only if we find elk or elk sign too far to try and hike in dark. Either way i would still like to spike camp at least 2 of the nights for the experience and to try out my gear to see what works and what doesnt. This is my first time elk hunting and I only know what ive read online. I havent even see an elk other than in a zoo. Haha. So im not setting my expectations too high but im gonna hunt my ass off and just seeing an elk will be a success.

That's how I got started and I had a ball. Hunted my arse off and learned a ton. Enjoy the experience. I think you have the right approach.

 

[Poser]

That's what elk hunting is.......hit an area for a day or two and if you're not finding any elk, you pack up and try another spot. But you gotta do that whether you're using a base or spike camp.......or both.

That’s what I was thinking. And, while you could certainly strike out and have to move, you could also get into elk and require a few days to kill one. If you have nothing more than a overnight spike camp, you could lose a day or 2 having to return to your base amp for a resupply. It should come as no surprise that, on a self described “backpack hunting forum”, Folks will suggest actually backpack hunting vs. roadside jalopy camping. There’s an aesthetic for getting out there and staying out there for days at a time. Go light enough and this is entirely manageable for 7-10 days at a time. You might have to jump ship and drive to another location 3 days in, or you may kill an elk after 9 days in the Backcountry or You may encounter elk 300 Yard’s from your vehicle on the first day. That’s Backcountry hunting: you are prepared for the widest array of scenarios. There’s pros and cons to every approach.

 

[LINK83]

I’m not expert but I see no reason for anything other than a base camp, unless that’s your preference. I have no trouble finding elk less than 2 miles from the truck. Many times 600 yards.

 

[Newtosavage]

I’m not expert but I see no reason for anything other than a base camp, unless that’s your preference. I have no trouble finding elk less than 2 miles from the truck. Many times 600 yards.

Shush about those 600 yard elk.

 

[bmf0713]

I hope we can find some 600 yard elk!

 

[cnelk]

Dont confuse spike camp hunting with bivy style hunting

 

[cnelk]

I’m not expert but I see no reason for anything other than a base camp, unless that’s your preference. I have no trouble finding elk less than 2 miles from the truck. Many times 600 yards.

^^^^ This is my bread and butter ^^^^

 

[5MilesBack]

Dont confuse spike camp hunting with bivy style hunting

Is there a confusion?

 

[cnelk]

Is there a confusion?

Yeah there is.

A typical spike camp doesnt move locations very often. Bivy camps do. At least when I do it.

 

[Poser]

^^^^ This is my bread and butter ^^^^

If we’re “seeing no reason” philosophizing, I could ditch every piece of camping gear I own and exclusively hunt elk within a 10 minute drive of my house, sleep in my California King Size memory foam mattress every night and probably kill an elk most years, definitely a mule deer. For that matter, I see no reason to go hunting at all: the grocery store is closer and more convenient and I don’t even have to camp out in the parking lot to score some meat.

What’s the real question here?
-the easiest camping methodology to kill an elk?
-or, the better methodology to experience elk hunting?

I interpreted the question to be of the later, more a question of practical aesthetics, but maybe I misinterpreted the nature of the question.

 

[cnelk]

Jesus

How boring would life be if everyone did it the same way and got the same enjoyment?

Yawn....

 

[Newtosavage]

What’s the real question here?
-the easiest camping methodology to kill an elk?
-or, the better methodology to experience elk hunting?

I interpreted the question to be of the later, more a question of practical aesthetics, but maybe I misinterpreted the nature of the question.

I didn't read any more into it than

Curious what everyone else does.

so, I told him what I do.

 

[5MilesBack]

How boring would life be if everyone did it the same way and got the same enjoyment?

Exactly. Bivying you carry your camp on your back while hunting and set up camp wherever you are at the end of the day. But if you set up a spike camp somewhere and hunt out of that camp and you're not into elk within a day or two, it's real easy to move that spike camp elsewhere and hunt the new location.........x2, or x3, or however often you need to move it to find elk.