To Bivy Or Not To Bivy Hunt!

[ElkNut1]

What constitutes the need to bivy hunt? I'm sure there's a variety of reasons but generally it's so hunters can get away from hunting pressure & that's a great idea! But in doing so a hunter can put himself in a tough situation when it comes to hauling ones gear around & the possibility of an elk if he's lucky enough. Where is the line drawn for you? If you hunt in all day mode then you can come back to a base camp, this means you're only packing what you need for all day, this generally means your pack with items is in the 15 lb range. With this in mind you can easily take out 1/3 of an animal if not half depending on your physical conditioning, distance & roughness/steepness of terrain.

I feel many bivy hunt because they feel this is what you have to do to take "any elk" this isn't so! Too, many do not realize that it's normal to hunt 5-10 miles a day on foot & back to rig or camp. Of course if you are after bigger bulls that have an opportunity to survive longer this is a great reason to consider a bivy style hunt especially when hunting areas where horses cannot get into very easily.

What I do find unusual is guys who bivy less than two miles & set up their spike camps & rarely get another mile or so from them, what's the purpose? Hopefully those that say they penetrate more than 5 miles have guys or horses awaiting them if they get their elk down because it would be very tough for a one man team to make multiple trips to get meat & camp back.

I certainly have nothing against bivy hunting elk & really want to do it this year to get back for some of the bigger guys, it's not just so I can get back & take any elk for the effort that has to be put out.

What's folks take on this style? Thanks.

ElkNut1

[Fridaythe13th]

Our group has a 1:40 walk be fore we start hunting, yes there is woods and elk, we have seen them, but for the most part it is a fast walk to our valley we like to hunt. If I were to do a Bivy hunt it would save me more than 3 hours of walking a day and I would hunt longer and have a better chance of getting a elk. Buuuuuut I would have to buy another tent, away to cook food, carry all my stuff that I don't have for miles, just to set it up and hunt a couple of day and walk back to check in and get more supplies. Not to mention we would be camping right next to were we hunt, maybe to close and all the elk would be in the next valley over and the walk would be the same.
My favorite part besides the elk hunt is the BSing and planning the next day hunt, while we eat a big fat steak by the camp fire with a group of good friends. That I can't do if I bivy hunt. It might happen some day, but the walk does me good.
Last year there were 2 tents in the spot were I would camp. There was nobody in them they the week we were there. Must have been saving there spot for a different weekend. After a long day hunt and knowing I had a 2 hour walk up the hill to camp, I just about stayed in one of those tent for the night. my luck somebody would have showing up that night and scared the crap out of both of us.

[rhendrix]

I bivy hunt for three reasons
1) time, I only get 10-12 days a year to hunt out west. I want to maximize my time in the field and not waste time or energy going back and forth to the truck.

2) it's the easiest way to get away from most foot traffic, 4-5 miles seems to be when people start to thin out for the places that I've hunted already. I want to capitalize on this, the less human foot traffic there is, all other things being equal, the more animals you should see.

3) it connects me more with the land, the animals, and brings me closer to God. Unplugging and being able to talk 1 on 1 with God without interruption is cleansing to me.

[Brendan]

I'm new at this, but I did a mix of bivvy and base camping last year.

Towards the beginning of my hunt - I started running into Elk within a half mile of base camp, and wasn't having issues with other hunters. Changed my plan immediately from planning to bivvy out and in that scenario - I day hunted, because there was no need to stay out. Towards the end of my hunt - I wanted to sit some wallows and water sources approximately 3 miles from camp through Timber, Ridges, Open Meadows and much thicker areas. To stay there until dark - bivvy hunting was the only way.

In my book - I want to be prepared to stay out if I need to, but if the Elk are within easy walking distance of base camp - having the extra amenities and food sure is nice with all the effort you're putting in.

[under H2O hunter]

I want to point out that there is a difference between spike camping and Bivy camping. The noticeable difference is that when you bivy camp you don't have a tent. You are sleeping in a sleeping bag inside a "Bivy" sack or sleeping back under the stars. This is to save weight and allow the hunter to be more mobile because they are not caring as much weight. But they are still hauling their gear everyday on their back. This does have it's short comings like Paul pointed out. When you get an elk down and you break it down. You will then be carrying your gear plus meat out at least on the first trip.

Spike camping you are hauling in a small remote camp to a specific location and then setting up. From there you are hunting daily with just the things you need for the day. No different then hunting out of a base camp. The advantages to spike camping is that you have a second location to lay your head at night, you are pretty much in elk country once you step out of your tent, You have protection from the elements more so then with a bivy set up. There are several other advantages but this is good for now. The short falls to spike camping are that when you do get an elk down you will end up with an extra trip out because you will more then likely have to come back in after getting your animal out to bring your spike camp out, Although you are remote you are still locked into a general area and not as mobile as you are with a bivy camp. You will also notice a sizable increase in weight over bivy hunting IMHO.

When considering either spike camping or bivy camping away from a base camp one needs to do some serious planning and preparation. As some people know, getting away from others will increase your opportunity to harvest an elk. The down side is that you better be in shape as well as smart enough to know your limits of how far. Cause it doesn't matter if you spike, bivy, skip, stroll, or hop back in deep to kill your elk if you can't get it out without spoilage or leaving some because you were in to deep.

[Rizzy]

I've done both and still day hunt some times, but I much prefer to have camp on my back as much as possible. For me, I'm more efficient, more adaptable, and more effective at covering needed ground by carrying camp on my back. It's total freedom! Camp is a ball and chain. It takes a lot of time and energy to hike back and forth everyday. By bivy hunting I don't have to give up my elevation each day and if I get an Elk down at last light there is no haste in getting it taken care of and getting back to camp. I'm a lazy hunter in this context, I get up at sun up, step out of my shelter and Bugle. Then the hunt is on. That's if I'm not already awakened by a Bugling Bull. I ounce bivied out on a ridge and this dam Bull bugled all night long about 400 yards below me. Hard to sleep that night. This was during the October rifle season and it was a slam dunk harvest the next day. Also I feel like I only have a certain number of mountain climbs in me before I die, so I don't want use them up so fast

Some of my spots are great for day hunting. I can hike up into the Elk that morning, hunt them, and by the end of the day I've blown them out of their bed so there is no sense in staying. I hike back to the truck and hunt a new area the next day. But I also do this on bivy hunts too, where I can hunt a different basin each day, but without the 1500+ climb up and down each day. Depends on the conditions and the time I have. If I only have 2 days to hunt then I want to harvest on the first day, otherwise I might not have enough time to get it all out. So I usually just day hunt on Saturday, if I harvest then I stay and pack it out on Sunday.

With good gear you can maintain comfort to a large degree. I would say a quality sleeping pad with a high R-value should be a priority. I sleep better on my bivy set-up than I do in any hotel. Also a good backpack that is comfortable with heavier loads for long periods of time is necessary. I killed an Elk 6 miles from the truck on a solo bivy hunt one time and it took a day and a half to get everything out. My high dollar backpack got real cheap by the end of that pack out. I got my money's worth and then some on that one

[ElkNut1]

Hey guys, great thoughts & advice there for those that are considering a bivy style hunt! Thanks!

ElkNut1

[under H2O hunter]

This podcast has lots of excellent first hand experience about when to use what style of camp. Be it a 4 season tent or bivy or even a tipi. The first half is on back packs and the last portion is on boots and footwear. I highly recommend listening to it. Aron Snyder has a lot of wilderness experience in lots of different places and his insight is worth the hour.
http://www.grittybowmen.com/gritty-podc ... xx-archery

[twinkieman]

A couple of us in our group do bivvy out on occasion. If I can hike to where I want to be at daylight, I prefer to head back to basecamp. We have areas we hunt that this really isn't possible though. We have some areas that require us to bivvy out in. We carry our gear all day, in our packs and we have it down to about 30 lbs. for three days out. Getting our elk out isn't a problem for us, I have mules. We bone out the meat, bag it, and get it to a cool place, then we bring in the mules , and the meat is magically transferred to basecamp, and not on my back. For us it does have its place, but we also have great locations to hunt that don't require it. For me, it's another weapon in my arsenal when needed.

[Heartwood]

For me, some pros to bivying out are that i can spend more time hiking at night to locate elk (when needed), sleep up high at the convergance of multiple drainages to listen to elk bugle at night and keep tabs on their location, sleep up high and glass in the morning from my bivy. Energy spent in bivy vs day hunt is probably about the same IMHO. I prefer a mix of both methods but do enjoy the bivy hunt each year. I tend to keep bivy hunts down to 3 days or less. If i dont find elk quickly in one spot, i keep moving until elk are found. Much of our unit is roadless and usually we are traveling uphill from most trailheads, many meat packouts are downhill and somtimes assisted by mules. Bivy hunts just seem like they cut down on the daily "commute".

[Freebird134]

I bivy style for one reason: I'd rather spend a week without seeing or hearing a 4-wheeler and not kill an elk, than kill anything while surrounded by people.

[mandrroofing]

I want to point out that there is a difference between spike camping and Bivy camping. The noticeable difference is that when you bivy camp you don't have a tent. You are sleeping in a sleeping bag inside a "Bivy" sack or sleeping back under the stars. This is to save weight and allow the hunter to be more mobile because they are not caring as much weight. But they are still hauling their gear everyday on their back. This does have it's short comings like Paul pointed out. When you get an elk down and you break it down. You will then be carrying your gear plus meat out at least on the first trip.

Spike camping you are hauling in a small remote camp to a specific location and then setting up. From there you are hunting daily with just the things you need for the day. No different then hunting out of a base camp. The advantages to spike camping is that you have a second location to lay your head at night, you are pretty much in elk country once you step out of your tent, You have protection from the elements more so then with a bivy set up. There are several other advantages but this is good for now. The short falls to spike camping are that when you do get an elk down you will end up with an extra trip out because you will more then likely have to come back in after getting your animal out to bring your spike camp out, Although you are remote you are still locked into a general area and not as mobile as you are with a bivy camp. You will also notice a sizable increase in weight over bivy hunting IMHO.

When considering either spike camping or bivy camping away from a base camp one needs to do some serious planning and preparation. As some people know, getting away from others will increase your opportunity to harvest an elk. The down side is that you better be in shape as well as smart enough to know your limits of how far. Cause it doesn't matter if you spike, bivy, skip, stroll, or hop back in deep to kill your elk if you can't get it out without spoilage or leaving some because you were in to deep.

In my opinion you can bivy hunt with a tent, in my view bivy hunting is basically hunting off your back and sleeping wherever you stop for the night whether thats a bivy sack or a tent. This year I will have a very lightweight tent and be hunting off my back, stopping only when it's too dark to see and setting up camp for the night and if im into elk i can leave my gear up and hunt from there or quickly pack up and move on in search of elk. I agree that a spike camp is a designated area to come back to every night when hunting,bivy sack is just a sack for bivy hunts and i prefer a super light 1 man tent.IMO...

[under H2O hunter]

I want to point out that there is a difference between spike camping and Bivy camping. The noticeable difference is that when you bivy camp you don't have a tent. You are sleeping in a sleeping bag inside a "Bivy" sack or sleeping back under the stars. This is to save weight and allow the hunter to be more mobile because they are not caring as much weight. But they are still hauling their gear everyday on their back. This does have it's short comings like Paul pointed out. When you get an elk down and you break it down. You will then be carrying your gear plus meat out at least on the first trip.

Spike camping you are hauling in a small remote camp to a specific location and then setting up. From there you are hunting daily with just the things you need for the day. No different then hunting out of a base camp. The advantages to spike camping is that you have a second location to lay your head at night, you are pretty much in elk country once you step out of your tent, You have protection from the elements more so then with a bivy set up. There are several other advantages but this is good for now. The short falls to spike camping are that when you do get an elk down you will end up with an extra trip out because you will more then likely have to come back in after getting your animal out to bring your spike camp out, Although you are remote you are still locked into a general area and not as mobile as you are with a bivy camp. You will also notice a sizable increase in weight over bivy hunting IMHO.

When considering either spike camping or bivy camping away from a base camp one needs to do some serious planning and preparation. As some people know, getting away from others will increase your opportunity to harvest an elk. The down side is that you better be in shape as well as smart enough to know your limits of how far. Cause it doesn't matter if you spike, bivy, skip, stroll, or hop back in deep to kill your elk if you can't get it out without spoilage or leaving some because you were in to deep.

In my opinion you can bivy hunt with a tent, in my view bivy hunting is basically hunting off your back and sleeping wherever you stop for the night whether thats a bivy sack or a tent. This year I will have a very lightweight tent and be hunting off my back, stopping only when it's too dark to see and setting up camp for the night and if im into elk i can leave my gear up and hunt from there or quickly pack up and move on in search of elk. I agree that a spike camp is a designated area to come back to every night when hunting,bivy sack is just a sack for bivy hunts and i prefer a super light 1 man tent.IMO...

It may be your opinion however you would be incorrect. Not to be a D bag but I'll post the definition for you here:
A bivouac sack (also known as a bivy, bivvy, or bivi) is an extremely small, lightweight, waterproof shelter, and an alternative to traditional tent systems. It is used by climbers, mountaineers, hikers, ultralight backpackers, soldiers and minimalist campers. Essentially, a bivy sack is a thin waterproof fabric shell that is designed to slip over a sleeping bag, providing an additional 5 to 10 °C of insulation and forming an effective barrier against wind chill and rain.[2] They can be made from lightweight silnylon to increase strength and water shedding. A drawback of a simple bivy sack is the humidity that condenses on the inner side leaving the occupant or the sleeping bag moist. This problem has been alleviated somewhat in recent years with the advent of waterproof/breathable fabrics, such as Gore-Tex, which allow some humidity to pass through the fabric while blocking most external water. Another solution is the use of an inner vapour barrier liner bag, for example a silnylon sack, to prevent body moisture from entering and condensing in the sleeping bag.

[Freebird134]

It may be your opinion however you would be incorrect. Not to be a D bag but I'll post the definition for you here:
A bivouac sack (also known as a bivy, bivvy, or bivi) is an extremely small, lightweight, waterproof shelter, and an alternative to traditional tent systems.

Bivy hunting is a term people use independently of their sleeping gear. You can bivy hunt from a tent, and just because you sleep in a bivouac sack doesn't mean you are bivy hunting.

[mandrroofing]

your not a D bag lol!Thanks for the correction.I guess to me,in regards to hunting(and what i believe elknut is referring too) its just hunting off your back and being mobile very quickly,moving with or untill you get into elk and in that case i can use a tent and be just as mobile as a sack.I was referring to more of the style of mobility and not actual Technical term.Thanks !

[ElkNut1]

Matt, yes you are correct, I was balling bivy style hunting all into one. Actually I still see no real world difference from either one since all you're adding technically is a 3-lb tent when comparing one to the other. Outside of that 3-lbs you still need the exact gear such as stove, sleeping pad (if desired) sleeping bag, water purifier, food, etc. Both are as mobile as they want to be. When breaking down an elk & taking a load out there is still only the 3-lb difference. To me that's not a deal breaker.

I do see what James is saying technically but it's still a fine line in the phrasing. I guess I'm just not very technical! I do appreciate James explanation because when push comes to shove he is correct. thanks!

ElkNut1

[Indian Summer]

I cannot count the number of threads I read, and PMs I get that say "we began our search 3 to 5 miles from the nearest road". I don't bother asking why because I've been there. Back when I started elk hunting we thought the exact same way. I didn't look at anything less than 3 miles from the truck. Now... some of my best spots are a mile or so from the truck. Yes, I know lots of places with good hunting that are further. I know a place that's good hunting where I camp 28 miles from where I park and hunt out to about 35 miles. I won't shoot anything other than a 6 point bull because it damn sure better be worth packing out of there. I've certainly come out of there elkless. Would I go back? Yes. Why? There's something about being in a place where you know not many people have or will ever set foot. It's an awesome experience. THAT to me is the main benefit of a bivy or spike camp. No vehicles rolling by. I love that as much as anyone else I truly do. But in reality it has zero to do with my odds of killing elk.

I understand that a daily commute to where you hunt from a base camp takes time and effort. But the minute you decide to pack a camp in you subtract at least 2 days from your hunt. In addition to that you can also start to decide which comforts you are going to sacrifice. I'd rather sleep like a hibernating bear in a base camp than on a less than level spot where I'm sliding toward the bottom of my sleeping bag all night. In the end I will be more rested if I hike to my base camp than if a tossed and turned all night in a makeshift camp. I guess I should be clear and mention that I do have a purpose for a spike camp, which to me is a base camp not next to the truck. But I know my areas ad my elk well enough that I would NEVER consider a bivy hunt where I wander around carrying anything other than what I need to hunt because I wasn't sure where I may or may not run into elk. If you are doing that then you are till in the learning stages and I sure hope your goal is to get things figured out to the point where you can find a place to call home each night. OR... maybe you consider that a grand experience. If so we'll have to agree to disagree on that.

In 2012 I hunted a new area in Wyoming. We packed in a camp and set up only a mile and a half from the truck to eliminate a daily elevation gain and also to get a jump on other hunters camped at the trailhead. Bottom line... it was a waste of time. We spent more time getting that camp in and out than I did hunting. I didn't realize how easily accessible the elk were. It took us a day to get camp in. Two days to get it out because of torrential downpours and really shaky trails. And I hunted for 1 hour to kill a bull. Looking back I also realize that we camped right on top of what is a great place to possibly kill a bull. I still hunt that spot. But now I pull in, throw up camp next to the truck. Then I get up in the morning knowing that I got to live like a king and it's only 45 minutes to an hour before I'm hunting. Who really wants or needs to camp closer than that to their elk anyway right?

In the same exact area I have two plan B spot in either direction of plan A. It takes about 2 hours to get to each. But it's good hunting on the way to them. So I don't really care if I get there before light. It's downhill on the way back so I am fine staying there until dark and then dropping back to base camp. I would never spike out to hunt those spots. I know already that there's nowhere I can camp that I wouldn't be disturbing my elk.

So to sum it up... I think it comes down to experience in an area. Look around. Me and Elknut and many others set base camps and kill elk from them every year. At the same time people are investing some serious blood sweat and time into back country camps and coming up empty. Bivying/spiking is NOT necessarily the answer to killing elk.

[jmez]

We spike camp when we hunt. I don't carry my gear with me all day. No way would I want to try and hunt hauling 50# of gear around all day. We set up spike camp because it saves a lot of time and steps. We used to set up a base camp right off the road but it got pretty old getting back into camp at 10:30 at night and then having to leave again at 4:30am. I'm not the type that hunts back toward camp in the afternoon so I can be back around dark. I hunt until it is too dark to see and then usually sit and listen for a while trying to hear elk in the dark before I ever even start heading back to camp. It is then usually a 3-4 mile walk. Same thing in the morning a long walk to get to the elk. Spike camp allows me at least 2 hours more sleep every night and way less walking. That get pretty important about day 10.

If we need to move a spike camp it is easily done. Can have it completely tore down and in a pack in about half an hour and be on the way to move if needed. You set up a big base camp and decide to go with plan B you waste an entire day tearing down, loading, unloading and resetting up a big base camp. I would rather spend more time sleeping that deadhead walking in the dark to get to where I hunt. Both places I hunt in CO and MT are horse or foot access only once you leave the trailhead, no way to get closer other than pack in.

[six]

3) it connects me more with the land, the animals, and brings me closer to God. Unplugging and being able to talk 1 on 1 with God without interruption is cleansing to me.

Amen brother

[Indian Summer]

Jmez that's a good plan. A pre-determined camp location in a spot that you've already proven to be worthwhile. But it has to be far enough from the road to be worth it. And there has to be enough people, or a horse, to get elk out in 1 trip. Otherwise everyone loses precious days as soon as the first hunter kills an elk.

That's one thing spikers and bivy hunters need to give serious consideration to. What's the plan once an elk hits the dirt?

I'll back pedal a little and say there is definitely a time and place for what I will call a back country base camp. But that requires the proper gear and a certain level of physical ability, and additional time. For those who have neither, or don't care to go that route, there are plenty of opportunities for a road side camp.

EDIT: I'll add that a vehicle side base camp keeps your options wide open too. Nothing is worse than investing time into a spike camp and then feeling like a prisoner back there. I lost 5 days last year doing that I an area that looked like it had it all. Prime habitat. 8 miles between camp and the road. Buddy killed a bull there previously... NO ELK!

[Huntrgathr]

To me, bivy hunting means hunting with your "camp" on your back - whether you use bivy sack, tent , tipi, tarp or just lay in the dirt - all of which I've done at one time or another. The basic strategy is to hunt every day with all of your gear on your back and camp wherever you end up that night. I have found spiking out ( packing in to a location and hunting multiple days from the same camp) to be more efficient if you get into elk and they stay relatively close to where you located them. Even though my bivy pack setup is under 24#, it takes it's toll after several days in steep country. I'd rather dump my camp OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN BEDDING AND FEEDING AREAS, and hunt with a 12# day pack so I can cover more ground, feel better about shooting with my pack on, etc. Hunting light and fast and deep doesn't cost you a ton of extra time. I can pack my bivy camp and 60-80# of meat no problem in the first load. Or, I can pack a big load of meat out to the rig and hike back into my spike camp for the night. Depends on the logistics of the pack out...

One important note, I see too many guys camped in the bottom of a prime drainage, or on a highly visible ridge top, and they bump the elk to a more secure location. It doesn't help to pack 3 miles in and then bump the elk another mile because you camped in their bedroom ...

Every spot is different. Like Indian Summer said, some of the best elk spots are close to the road and I love to car camp. Beer and steaks for dinner is a nice way to end the day. I've often found the best spots to be in between the " hunt from the truck" crowd and the horse packers who go in really deep...

Bottom line - being adaptable is the most important thing. Build your strategy around what the elk ( and hunters) are doing. When I set out to elk hunt, I load up to be ready for car camping, bivy hunting , spiking... whatever... And then let the elk tell me how to hunt. Too often guys commit to one strategy and then you hear stories like " we packed in 7 miles and never saw an elk in 9 days". Or, " there were 5 rigs at the trailhead and it was a foot race every morning"...

[Brendan]

I know a place that's good hunting where I camp 28 miles from where I park and hunt out to about 35 miles. I won't shoot anything other than a 6 point bull because it damn sure better be worth packing out of there. I've certainly come out of there elkless. Would I go back? Yes. Why? There's something about being in a place where you know not many people have or will ever set foot. It's an awesome experience.

If you ever want company for a hunt like that - I'll pick you up on my way through PA heading west...

[easeup]

I do not doubt IS one bit on that 28 mile thing.......for you guys that have not done something like that ......well, that is an incredible long distance to be out.
you see the guys to the side of my post and the longest I have taken them one way is ~15 miles and that took me the entire day in the mountains and I could not wait to get out of the saddle. If there is any kind of a problem out there that happens to you, it is a real big problem at 15 -20 miles to the truck.
And if you need to go back for more supplies in the trailer, you are looking at two days to get back to where you started some times even in good weather.

[Rizzy]

I'm curious, where in the lower 48 can you get 28 miles from a road?

[Indian Summer]

Wilderness areas of Montana and Idaho. Some of the outfitters in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness fly in! Paradise to Patsy Ann Falls is a little over 20. More like 25 to the head of White Cap Creek.

That far in most outfitters don't pack feed. Horses are hobbled and graze. But I took a guide in there a few days prior to the hunt just to pack hay. We rolled into the camp area at 2 in the morning. By the time we got out the horses were wore out and I mean bad. We had to walk one 2/3 of the way out. The guy who walked out was limping as bad as his horse. lol A horse goes about the same speed that we walk on flat ground which is around 3 mph. We're talking around 10 hours in the saddle. The fact is most people don't consider that fun and you pass up more elk than you hunt to get there.

[Freebird134]

I'm curious, where in the lower 48 can you get 28 miles from a road?

As the crow flies? Nowhere.

[Indian Summer]

As the raven flies... probably not. I know a place where you might be able to say that but you'd only be getting closer to a road on the other side. Although it is easier to take the long way and nobody in their right mind would come the short route.

That's one of the things that makes Alaska intriguing. Where I'll be in September you could go hundreds and hundreds of miles north or south and you'd NEVER cross a road. Pretty cool.

[Rizzy]

Gotcha on the Frank Church, I didn't know the Selway/Biterroot was that big too. That country is a great place to kill horse though
Sounds like the kind of hunt that is more about the experience and adventure than the harvest. The hunting must have been tough if this was post wolf. I have recently been into the Frank from the south and the Elk numbers where dismal, but that early rifle season is inviting. There are for sure easier and closer places for that caliber of Elk.