Spike Camps
 

I was thinking about taking a pack and hiking in several miles setting up or leaving enough to get by for five days maybe a week. And just heading out from there for my daily hunts. It seems like a great idea to get out past the road hunters. Only issue is if a guy gets one then I quess I will have to pay the price. Does anyone have any comments or tips on spike camps or anything else I might want to know about them. I will be hunting out in washington st. for Elk deer etc.

RE: Spike Camps
 

Well dude if your out in the thick gnarly black forest bring some Wonder bread and a Bic butane cause thats where your most likely gonna have your dinner.

RE: Spike Camps
 

advice, ya do it!!

one thing i like, i got one of them little straws that filters water, sorta feels like sucking a milkshake through a straw. anyway, one of those makes it pretty easy to find water. one of those little 20 ounce bottles with the filter is great too.

for food, i like mres. taste isnt always the best, but a lot of calories, ya dont have to pack as much food.

other than that, no real advice except the obvious. have a great hunt.

RE: Spike Camps
 

Thanks huntnmuleys that is a good idea.

RE: Spike Camps
 

Better be good at staying down wind.

Bring lots of food and chocolate covered doughnuts.

RE: Spike Camps
 

I was going to do that last year except taking a quad in instead of hiking(can't hike due to knee problem,not laziness!).That also would solve the problem of getting a deer out of the woods.Don't know if that is an option for you though,just a thought.Anyway whatever you do...have a great hunt!!

RE: Spike Camps
 

Yeah I like the quad idea but the public land where I hunt most trails do not allow quads except for the orv trails. My goal is to get away from the majority. Quad would be great though.

RE: Spike Camps
 

I hear ya !!! I also hunt public land and am suprized every year by how many lazy hunters there are.Guys driving arcoss fields in 4x4's with big block V8 growling....do they really expect to see anything!! Constant traffic on the back roads,windows down,heads hangin out......no wonder the rest of us (majority) have to endure the stereotypes non-hunters have about us.

RE: Spike Camps
 

Amen XTP that is nothing but the truth thanks for responding.

RE: Spike Camps
 

"Spike camping" is my preferred style of hunting (and I hunt WA also).

Much of what you need depends on the situation. Can you make a fairly easy run for more supplies? If not you will need a fairly stout amount of gear for 5+ days.

Early season water is the biggest factor. I always have a filter, but some areas just have little available, and others have plenty.

Storing gear is not as easy as it sounds, esp. if you will pack it in any length of time before you hunt. Rodents and bears can get into almost anything unless its damn near bullet proof.

What kind of weather do you need to prep for? Where I hunt cold is not usually a factor, but wet certainly is.
In really wet weather even a serious tent and storage is no fun at best and a soggy miserable mess at worst.

I figure I can handle almost any conditions on a bivouac for 1 or 2 nights. After that if things are miserable and wet and I'm suffering from lack of rest I start looking for more amenities, even if that means the seat or back of the truck.

You have to have some plan on getting meat out. I usually have help and/or a game cart.

It is a great way to hunt. Just pick a good area so you don't run into more hunters coming from some other access point than there were where you left from.

RE: Spike Camps
 

Thanks bullklr I have been sorting gear and gathering supplies/preparing today and well for a while. Now everyone that is not into bow hunting like me they all tell me you have 3 months still what are you doing? Any way bullklr I had yet to think about my supplies being scavenged by critters. Maybe I will have to tie my food up a tree out on a limb or something. Thanks I will mill that over. only 86 days 4hrs left. but who is counting.

RE: Spike Camps
 

I've hunted spike camps for years! For me it has been the most productive way to hunt elk. I usually take mre's and filter straws! and some other light weight cooking tools.. But most important for me is Grouse! I live off of Grouse when I am in the high country... That's how I pack so light. For me they are everywhere. Another trick is this. You know those loggin roads that are closed with a gate but go for miles... I get way back there on a mountain bike and a small trailer that I built. A great way to get way back there and quitely too!! Hope I made up your mind!:D

RE: Spike Camps
 

Muliefever,

Yep, exactly!

RE: Spike Camps
 

Muliefever I'm glad to hear you think this is a good idea. I have not done a spike camp for elk yet but it is encouraging to hear it has been productive for you. I picked up a bunch of light weight camp gear today. I too will be counting on a couple grouse here and there. Thanks for the possitive input.