How far to spike camp? - How far to hike out?

[cnelk]

What determines when you set up a spike camp or hike in and out of an area each day?

Miles?

Terrain?

A big comfy cot?


I typically set up a base camp. and hunt from that.
I have set up spike camps and am thinking about doing it again.

What are your reasons for spike camping or hiking in/out?

[elkmtngear]

Base camp for me means a 2 mile walk every morning before we get into elk (usually)

We did this for years.

If I spike camp a couple miles in, I can range for miles in any direction and get into elk regularly.

I am thinking about setting up my shower tent at the trailhead this Year. Then we will pack 4 days worth of food/provisions into spike camp. After 4 days, we'll come out in the evening and shower, then go back in for another 4 days. This will give us the option to completely relocate to another area if the first four days is for some reason "elk free".

If we are into elk regularly, we'll just keep repeating the process.

[Bartfrncs]

I don't use a spike camp. I hunt on horseback so really have quite a radius that can be covered.

[WapitiTalk1]

I've done some spike camps in various years. They are a smart move for sure as one can hunt from daylight to pretty much dark w/o the long hike out to base camp. If my base camp is close to good elk spots (within a mile or two by foot or even up to 5 miles by truck), I normally don't bother with spike camps.. There is a WA wilderness area I hunt that we used to put a base camp within a few hundred yards of a trail head. We'd head up said trail at 0430 in the morning which would put us into the elk benches right at daylight.. It is a straight up the mountain hike even being all trail to the jump off point. We've put a spike tent "up there" a few times and it worked out great to stay there a few times during the two week hunt. Didn't stock it with much, just a few MREs. There is water nearby to filter so we didn't have to pack/stage water at the tent. I am gonna seriously consider some spike or bivy overnight stays in ID this year. Because of lack of water up high, I have my quasi base camp quite a ways down the quad road/trail from many of the spots I hunt. After a before daylight (up to 5 mile) quad ride to the farther spots, a ball buster hunt and eventual hike back up out of the hell holes, it might be nice to rack out close to that remote spot as opposed to rumbling back down the dusty road to base. Glad you brought this up cnelk.. it's got me thinking "game plans" again for this fall. Thanks.. RJ

[dotman]

I haven't had a base camp for a few years that wasn't a decent pack in. So does that mean I only spike camp? This year I'm game for whatever RJ plans since it's his area

[bnsafe]

we had both last year but to hunt the area we hunted you needed to spike camp up there. it was about 6 miles in so wouldnt have been feasible to walk it daily. then we went back to base camp but there was no hunting around there so we ended up wasting alot of time. this year im really hoping to find a place i can put out a base camp and hunt right from it, with my backpack stuff in the truck just in case i need to go in for a day or two. but i definately want a place i can just walk out of base camp and hunt, if possible.

[Da White Shoe]

To me, the best thing about spike camp is... I get a heck of a lot more sleep!

In Colorado, we use horses. Being at the main camp means getting up even earlier than normal to get them ready.
Most years, there's pockets of elk within fairly easy riding range of base camp, if you know where to look.
Usually, that's enough to keep us busy for the first week, but it can be a very exhausting week!
The 2nd week is the start of ML season. We usually save our spike camp for the Friday before it starts.
We have a place, 6 miles in, that has never failed to fill up with elk when the orange guys start stompin' in from the road!
Most years, we have bulls bugling in the dark right from the spike tent. No need to get up two hours before light.

So basically, if you can hunt from daylight to dark and be where the elk are... you don't need a spike camp.
Otherwise, you're handicapping yourself.

I'm going over to the Alaskan forum now... talking elk is killing me!

[WapitiTalk1]

To me, the best thing about spike camp is... I get a heck of a lot more sleep!

In Colorado, we use horses. Being at the main camp means getting up even earlier than normal to get them ready.
Most years, there's pockets of elk within fairly easy riding range of base camp, if you know where to look.
Usually, that's enough to keep us busy for the first week, but it can be a very exhausting week!
The 2nd week is the start of ML season. We usually save our spike camp for the Friday before it starts.
We have a place, 6 miles in, that has never failed to fill up with elk when the orange guys start stompin' in from the road!
Most years, we have bulls bugling in the dark right from the spike tent. No need to get up two hours before light.

So basically, if you can hunt from daylight to dark and be where the elk are... you don't need a spike camp.
Otherwise, you're handicapping yourself.

I'm going over to the Alaskan forum now... talking elk is killing me!

There aren't any elk, so to speak of, in Alaska Zane

[easeup]

What determines when you set up a spike camp or hike in and out of an area each day?
Miles?
Terrain?
What are your reasons for spike camping or hiking in/out?

never done a spike but once. I did it because it was so far from base camp to hike in every day. It didnt work out because after once night I realized there was a whole lot better food down at the big tent.

so for me the spike camp is out....I hike in, ride in or pack the big tent in to where I hunt.

[Da White Shoe]

double post

[Da White Shoe]

There aren't any elk, so to speak of, in Alaska Zane

Is there anyone from Europe around here that I can talk to?
At least he would call them "elk" instead of moose. Might keep me from crying!

I'll find out within a week or so if I get to hunt North American elk.... chances aren't good though!

[Jaquomo]

Until recently I never thought anything about hiking (an honest) in 3+ miles in the dark to get to the elk, hiking back out for lunch after the wind turned bad, then maybe doing a different evening hunt of 1 1/2 miles each way.

Now, at 59, I'm geared back up for spike camping again. Modernized my entire setup. After doing the 8-10 mile a day routine all last season it wore me down, and I'm in great shape for an "old guy". I work out in the mountains where I live, doing 4+ mile up-down speed hikes with a pack nearly every day. But last season made me realize I'll be a better hunter if I camp closer to the elk and sacrifice some comfort for additional energy.

I also figured out that I'll never be 30 again, no matter how hard I try.

So to your question, Brad, three miles is going to be my self-imposed limit on packing out an elk, and I'd like to spike camp somewhere within a mile of where I'm hunting. After this season in Unit 2 (Yeah baby! BLM roads, no other hunters! Glassing from the ATV!!!) I'll be dedicated to scouting some new spots that fit the bill.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Easy answer, number of elk. When we are hunting wilderness we only spike camp if the elk numbers are good. This saves us at 3 - 4 mile walk every morning and night. But we are willing to pull out if things dry up. I've found that mobility is the key to staying on elk the entire season. Even if that means hunting 1/2 from a main road.

Hunt the locations where the bulls sing sweet lullabies at night and chase cows all day.