Trailhead Etiquette

[Matt5266]

Give me $100 and two bottles of whiskey as well as the coordinates to this trailhead. Ill stroll into Their camp the night before the opener with a few glasses and the bottles. Ill make sure they get a late start for ya.

 

[TopherDave]

I’d hunt it! Maybe you bump into them, maybe you don’t. Just remember 10% of hunters kill 90% of the animals; 90% of hunters kill 10% of the animals. Same with fish! You don’t know what percentage these guys fall into, but I know what bracket I do. I’d hunt it, especially if you’ve been out scouting like ya say. Only thing I really alter my plans around is the wind! Good luck!

 

[SonnyDay]

Hunt it for sure.

And maybe lay a turd inside the wall tent if they still aren't there opening morning.

 

[Smokey Bear]

Go hunt it. I agree with everyone else. You did your DD. Just get in earlier than you were first planning. Who knows, you might even have some help packing out! Good luck!

 

[Indian Summer]

I already replied to a similar comment with screenshots directly from the Forest Service’s website stating you can not camp at trail heads

That is not accurate. Not at all. Maybe region specific to whoever you asked. I worked very closely with the forest service for many years as a licensed outfitter in Montana. There are camps at every trailhead. Legally.

The only area I am aware of that regulated camping is in the Jackson hole area. You cannot camp anywhere that does not have a numbered site. But that’s because of the millions of tourist. I have camped at the same trailhead in Wyoming for 12 years. There are other camps right beside me. The forest service and Wyoming fish and game stop by once in a while just to see how we are doing.

 

[Dos Perros]

24 hours unattended camps would be even better

Get up at 4AM to go hunting. Kill a bull in the afternoon. Get the meat to the truck by 2AM. Drive to town, get meat on ice, check into motel at 4AM. Drop meat off at butcher at 10AM. Drive back to mountains to pack out gear and head, get back to camp at 4PM. 36 hours gone. You think this deserved a ticket?

 

[Treefrog18]

That is not accurate. Not at all. Maybe region specific to whoever you asked. I worked very closely with the forest service for many years as a licensed outfitter in Montana. There are camps at every trailhead. Legally.

The only area I am aware of that regulated camping is in the Jackson hole area. You cannot camp anywhere that does not have a numbered site. But that’s because of the millions of tourist. I have camped at the same trailhead in Wyoming for 12 years. There are other camps right beside me. The forest service and Wyoming fish and game stop by once in a while just to see how we are doing.

I didn’t ask anyone. Like I said, it is right on the forest service website.

 

[Jethro]

MVUM shows where dispersed camping is allowed and shows it’s allowed at many trailheads, at least where I’ve been. Any trailhead that didnt allow overnight camping had signs specifically posting that.

As for the op, hunt the basin if you think it can be productive even with others in the area. Chances are good the other guys set up the tent because it’s the closest access, not because they are trying to keep people out.

 

[Indian Summer]

I didn’t ask anyone. Like I said, it is right on the forest service website.

Yes you should avoid camping at all trailheads .

 

[High Climber]

My elk camp this year was at a trailhead. Busy elk zone it was the only camp we could find in the general area we wanted to be. We never hunted up that trail, but multiple other people did… hope they had a good hunt

 

[oldhornhunter]

I agree that 14 days is too long but I think 73 hours is too little. You then cant do more than a 3 day trip with out tearing down and relocating....

Yeah for sure 72 hrs is Stupid, but we are talking about the Government & we all know the Intelligence level there. I saw a FS guy this year put a sticker on a camper door, this dude's camper was in the same place for over a month. The camper was still there almost 2 weeks after the sticker was put on, Man can you imagine showing up for your weekend hunt & your camper is gone ??

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Going to be interesting next year !! According to the National Forest guy I spoke with they are changing the 14 day MAX to 72 hrs. He said they are going to enforce it with tickets starting at $150 & will also start towing vehicles to impound yards that are still there past 5 days

Where? I’ve not heard of any change nationally.

 

[oldhornhunter]

Where? I’ve not heard of any change nationally.

The entire state of Idaho is what the FS guy out of Weiser told me, supposed to go into effect 2026. I ran into him coming back from hunting, they were putting the sticker on a camper that had been setting in the same place for over a month. I had to stop because they were in the road, they asked me if it was my camper. During the convo I asked him what the purpose of the sticker was he proceeded to tell me about the people Abusing the 14 day rule & the new law for 26

 

[HairyScandinavian]

The entire state of Idaho is what the FS guy out of Weiser told me, supposed to go into effect 2026. I ran into him coming back from hunting, they were putting the sticker on a camper that had been setting in the same place for over a month. I had to stop because they were in the road, they asked me if it was my camper. During the convo I asked him what the purpose of the sticker was he proceeded to tell me about the people Abusing the 14 day rule & the new law for 26

Should have asked him what they do other than put stickers on them, if they don't come back and write tickets then it's useless.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

The entire state of Idaho is what the FS guy out of Weiser told me, supposed to go into effect 2026. I ran into him coming back from hunting, they were putting the sticker on a camper that had been setting in the same place for over a month. I had to stop because they were in the road, they asked me if it was my camper. During the convo I asked him what the purpose of the sticker was he proceeded to tell me about the people Abusing the 14 day rule & the new law for 26

Interesting. This sounds more like a state of ID thing than a federal thing since he mentioned it for ID exclusively. I certainly would be interested if it’s a federal change.

 

[Customweld]

Interesting. This sounds more like a state of ID thing than a federal thing since he mentioned it for ID exclusively. I certainly would be interested if it’s a federal change.

They aren't advertising it much if they are changing the code. This is the Payette NF.
PS. The yellow disclaimer at the top of the page is kinda funny.

Payette National Forest : Alert - Payette Occupancy and Use- 14 Day Stay Limit

The purpose of this order is to address competition for campsites and to protect public safety and natural resources.

www.fs.usda.gov

 

[wind gypsy]

Hunt it. This “spot saving” thing people are doing by setting their camps before season is BS. Guys are setting camps up to 2 weeks ahead of season in some places. Sorry guys but it’s public ground. There’s no “reservations” for a hunting area. Want it all to yourself ? Go hunt with an outfitter on a private ranch. Dont try to roadblock everyone else out of the drainage just by putting a bunch of crap in front of the trail.

Preach. Same for leaving a treestand up on public in whitetail country. Same for leaving a ground blind out for pronghorn. If someone is hunting I will respect their space. If they think leaving their possessions on public land saves their spot, they can get bent.

 

[Indian Summer]

72 hours will never happen at a trailhead in elk country. Anyone knows that not even close to realistic. It takes 48 hours just to set camp get the horses situated and cut firewood. I remember back in about 2000 when the Bitterroot Ranger district used to have outfitter meetings. They told us not to be alarmed because it hasn’t quite passed yet but in the future, we might have to bag up and pack out all of the horse manure from our horse, horses and mules. True story.

 

[IrkedCitizen]

It's a trailhead not a campground. I would park right next to them and walk right past them

 

[Phaseolus]

Those guys who set up the tent are only occupying a campsite, right or wrong. Walk around the tent and hunt it.