How Close Do you Camp near Creek

[Kessler10]

When backpack hunting how close does everyone camp to a creek/water source? Obviously you need to be close to a water source but can you be to close? fore example camping right on top/next to the creek, or find a spot 100 yards away Pros/Cons?
Was just something I never really thought about until now. Heading out this weekend to scout and pick my Sept camp site. A coupe months ago I was out and camped right next to a creek, was running pretty good and kept me up most of the night was one con. But could refill my water filter with a 5 second walk. Pro.

[saddlesore]

NF,BLM, and Wilderness you have to camp at least 100 ft away from any stream,lake etc.

[BRazz]

I don't like to be so close that it prevents me from hearing bugles at night. Also, if it's a flatter spot down low I find it gets much colder and wetter - making the a.m. wake-up much more miserable... done that once too many.

But otherwise I don't think you can be too close (aside from the 100 ft reg that saddlesore mentioned). It sucks having to hike 20 minutes for water.

[Lefty]

When hunting in Washinton a group set up on the only water around A spring seeped out of the ground then soaked right back in. The only water sourse for well over a mile.
That was too close and forced the deer to go elsewhere for water. It should have been a hunting location not a camp
A flowing creek I try to find a spot with shade and flat for the tent Last year that may have saved me from some sort of head-ache interaction with others
While camping I like the sound of a creek. but like stated above I dont want water coving the nights sounds during hunts
October and November I like the sun.

And the whole cow thing ,... I try to camp in areas without cows

[Swede]

I camp 10-20 yards from a stream. There is no regulation saying how far away we need to be in the Pacific Northwest, that I know of.

[Gypsumreaper]

Yep Colorado has the 100ft rule, as well as your bathrooms need to be buried under 8-12" of soil when filled in. And they say if you dig down and hit water ur to close to the creek. You can get a ticket for camping to close, yet a lot of the camp sites along the road heading up to one of my hunting areas are on the creek. So just depends what the warden had to say I guess. But for ur benefit as well as animals and others I'd say at least 100ft. That's my preference to at least then if a rain comes and stuff I don't have to worry as much about flooding or as said above a lower spot than the water source can make for bad mornings


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[the weasel]

sometimes less than 100yds. and sometimes 20ft. Depends on the area I'm in and if I got a "good" camp spot or not.