Water question

[JimP]

That is exactly what I do when I am hunting in Colorado. I can be in my elk hunting grounds in half a hour.

People always ask me if I am going to camp out and I just ask them why should I?

But when I venture into other states it is a hole different situation.

 

[wy-tex]

Take some unscented baby wipes and save the water for drinking and cooking. 10 gallons will last us a week with 2 people and some left over.
Be mindful your water will freeze at night if left outside, at least the spigots on your water jugs will.

 

[JFox]

This may be a dumb question but I can't seem to find definitive answers online... camping is allowed on all BLM land, correct?

Also, if state managed land (WGFD land, notated in blue on the ARCGIS maps on wgfd website) butts up to BLM checkerboard land and it is within the same zone that you've drawn into, can one walk from BLM onto state land (providing of course that there are no extenuating laws prohibiting hunting on that particular chunk of state land) and continue to hunt there?
Thanks in advance!

 

[JFox]

Let's see a picture of bucket shower.

A great resource for that is veterans who've spent time in the middle East, most have had to go without running water and devised some really ingenious methods for figuring out how to stay relatively clean. I've used water bottles with a hole poked in the top. Sounds ridiculous but it worked!

 

[Bonecollector]

Take some unscented baby wipes and save the water for drinking and cooking. 10 gallons will last us a week with 2 people and some left over.
Be mindful your water will freeze at night if left outside, at least the spigots on your water jugs will.

I've never had a shower of an type while camp/hunting. Of course I'm never at a trailhead.
Baby wipes, mountain stream (if available), and good gear have taken me 9 days.

 

[wy-tex]

If the state land is accessible from other public lands it is fine to walk in and hunt it. You can not cross private without landowners permission to access public lands. BLM and state sections as well as G&F lands should be legal to use for access.

 

[ithunter]

Bureau of Land Management Camping Guidelines

The cliff notes:

Dispersed Camping in Undeveloped Areas
• Whether in a developed campground or at a dispersed site, you may usually camp in an
area for up to 14 days before having to move at least 25 miles from your original spot.
You may not return to that area for 28 consecutive days.
• Choose sites that are already established.
• Camp at least 200 feet away from water sources.
• Use existing fire rings or camp stoves.
• Check current fire conditions.
• Dispose of human waste properly (away from water and in a 6” or deeper hole).
We ask you to follow a policy of Treading Lightly! By picking up litter, avoiding travel that
could damage the land, observing signs and posted areas, leaving all gates as you found them,
and asking permission to enter private lands, you will enhance the public's opportunity to enjoy
these lands in the future. We hope you enjoy your camping experience on BLM lands.

https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/BLM Camping Guidelines.pdf

Check the cities and town you drive though for water fill stations...we have always looked them up on prior to leaving and havent ever had an issue finding a place to fill up.

 

[Daubs]

I deer hunt within driving range of town / hotel. So it's always a hot shower and a warm bed for me.

Did to a fly-in / drop caribou hunt in Alaska in 2005. They set us up with inflatable pontoon rafts. We landed on one lake...rafted down 60+ miles of river, and were picked up on another lake a week later.

Always had access to water from the river and lakes. I did wet-wipes for the first three days...and stunk so bad I opted for the camp shower on day four. No trees, so just heated pot of water over the fire...walked down river, stood naked (made sure buddies didn't follow me with cameras), used soap and wash cloth. It was glorious : )

Appreciate all the posts here. Someday I hope to hunt/camp Wyoming for Mule Deer.

 

[ithunter]

I am starting to develop a hygiene complex...with all this talk of daily showers at hunt camp. Now I will brush my teeth everyday and use a wet-nap at camp to get the dirt out from around my face and eyes but that is the extent. The shaved head does help, LOL

 

[JimP]

Sooner or later you just need to get clean.

I was on a month long elk hunt years ago and after 2 weeks of spit baths I couldn't even stand myself. I grabbed a bar of soap and stripped down. Ran to the nearby creek and jumped into a deep hole. I came out and lathered up and jumped back into the same deep hole, rinsed off and headed back to the tent to put my warm clothes back on. In all it took around a minute for that bath but I sure felt and smelt a lot better.

 

[Bonecollector]

Agreed Jim. That first shower after being out is sooo nice. I too try to use a stream if I can find one.
But I try to take care of myself daily so as to go the distance in deep hunting and not showering at the trailhead.
But after a week or so, it's so nice!

 

[Granby guy]

When me and my friend go elk hunting 3rd season we purify water 5 gallons at a time and it is used exclusively for drinking. In 8 days we always consume 25-30 gallons. Now if you add in the heat(sometimes) and wind(always) during antelope season that only leaves 20-25 gallons for showers/ dishwashing etc.