Picking a camping spot

[NLaudy]

Out of curiosity, how do you guys go about picking out a camping spot on BLM? We are headed to Montana in a few weeks and are going to be truck camping and have been struggling to pick out a spot to camp on aerial. Having never been west hunting I don't really know what to expect so I was hoping to get input on what you look for in a camping spot. Or do you typically just know a rough area and decide on the spot when you arrive?

 

[AdamW]

Truck camping is easier IMO. If you know a general area you are going to hunt, you'll start seeing spots along the road where past camps have been. Some of them may not be very obvious on aerials, but you'll be able to spot them more clearly on the ground. That's been my experience at least.

 

[Savage99]

I’m preparing for a a trip and recall seeing said past camp sites along the road on NF and BLM. Some even with meat poles and old ropes.


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[COSA]

Also consider the prevailing wind (usually from the west). I try to find spots tucked in behind a ridge or bottom. Nice to have some trees for shade and hanging meat. Nice to have some sun on the camp when it’s cold as well. Also consider road conditions if it snows or rains for getting out


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[Fridaythe13th]

I have only had 1 poor trip out west and blamed it on our camp site it was in a wind tunnel and it happened to be super windy every day, we could not cook over a fire , difficult to sleep at night because the tent was all ways flapping in the wind. It was just tough to get out of bed in the morning when the wind blowing. But like Adamw said pick your hunting area and there well be camping areas along the road. Dont forget to look up for any trees that might fall on your camp.

 

[jmez]

#1 priority is a flat spot. May seem like common sense but can be hard to find out west. Dead trees are the next consideration. Don't put tent where one could fall on you. Look at the grass in the area and it will tell you what the prevailing wind direction is by the lean. Plan accordingly with a site.

Pretty hard to find a spot without driving around and looking. When we hunt a new area we actually try to take a short scouting trip to find a camping spot.

 

[5MilesBack]

Pretty hard to find a spot without driving around and looking. When we hunt a new area we actually try to take a short scouting trip to find a camping spot.

Yep, I don't scout for actual elk very much at all........but I do scouting trips to find my base camp sites all the time. I'm pretty particular in what I want and expect from a camp site. But sometimes like last year and the year before, I went in blind and set up "where I could", and later found the spots where I should have set up. Only once have I completely moved my entire wall tent setup after already setting up in a spot.

 

[NLaudy]

Great information everyone! I truly appreciate the advice!

 

[Glendon Mullins]

Thanks guys!!

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[sneaky]

Be mindful of how impassable roads get in MT when they get wet. Doesn't matter if you find the perfect camp spot if you can't get out of it til the roads dry out.

Great information everyone! I truly appreciate the advice!

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