RE: DIY Elk Hunt - Shelter Options
bugs,
We have a group from Mississippi who hunt in our general area each year and they show up with a fleet of pop up trailers and the park them in a semi-circle with the open side of the semi circle (and their doors) up against the treeline just off of the graded forest service road. Most of them "wrap" their extended trailers with polypro tarps on all sides but the "door" side. They are a pretty "durable" bunch and always seem pretty happy, and they do some serious elk harvesting too.
Bear in mind that during the 2nd and 3rd rifle season you have the opportunity to pick up some serious snow (or not) and being too far back in on too sketchy of a two track can start looking real ugly when you finally decide the weather is getting too bad and now it's time to pack up and move on down in elevation. I dare say you didn't get that feeling in summer time during your visits,but you sure can getthat "oh crap" feelingin November.
If you are wanting to range "further back in" then consider just getting up earlier in the morning from your "on the road base camp" which sometimes means1AM if you want to leave on a good hot breakfast and get 4 or so miles back in and be positioned an hour before sunrise. Nothing says your base camp has to be right where you start walking into the hunt, a short hop in the pick up to the trail head is okay, just make sure everyone has a key --- be careful to obey the laws as to where you can or can't go with your pickup or ATV.
Arrive early, scout, and get your GPS set up so you can zip into and out of your hunting area in the dark going both directions. You'll have a great time.
Great thing about pop up trailers is you canbreak camp really quick, it may not smack of tradition like a wall tent but pop up campers aresufficient --- it is the camaradery (sp?) that counts.