Campfire when hunting backcountry?

hskrhntr

Member
Aug 8, 2014
108
0
Nebraska
Do you build a fire in your back country camp? I know Mike Eastman said in his book that he wouldn't build a fire when coyoting out. I've also heard that smoke can be used a cover scent.

My personal opinion is the lower the impact the better. And Ive never found a cover scent that works, playing the wind is the only way I go.

Looking forward to hearing from all of you who are much more experienced than me.

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go_deep

Veteran member
Nov 30, 2014
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Wyoming
I do, if I'm not to tired at the end of the day. Also its not a Friday night high school party fire either, very small.
 

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
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Gypsum, Co
A campfire can be quite nice when you are far away from the hassle of everyday life.

I have enjoyed a toddy quite often near a campfire when the only ones that I am sharing it with is a select few friends and the stars.

After watching how animals react to fires and smoke I don't worry too much about it but the fire is kept to the small size.
 

kidoggy

Veteran member
Apr 23, 2016
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idaho
depends how dry the country is.
if fire danger high . never !
if wet out ,maybe.
truth is , usually by the time I get back to camp, the only thing on my mind is sleep.
 

dirtclod Az.

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Jan 26, 2018
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Arizona
Always have one ready to go, just in case of emergency,or I harvest an animal.You never know when the weather is going to change for the worst.
 

RICMIC

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Feb 21, 2012
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Two Harbors, Minnesota
After posting the picture of tenderloins on the grill in the above post, I saw that the fire appears to be surrounded by dry grass. Actually, we had been tent-bound in a snow/fog weather pattern and it had only melted that day. The ground was actually slushy to walk on. I was a firefighter for 24 years, and a wildland firefighter for 10 years and I am well aware of the dangers involved. IMG_1807.jpg
 

ivorytip

Veteran member
Mar 24, 2012
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SE Idaho
Base camp always has a fire going when we are there, spike camp has one sometimes depending on how tired I am. IMO it doesnt make or break a hunt, just adds a little backcountry comfort. Ive watched deer and elk feed next to a spike camp fire. If they dont see (you) or smell (you) then your golden.
 

boiler

Active Member
Dec 26, 2015
302
130
Indiana
When I was in Kentucky elk hunting, we had a fire in camp all the time. One night we came back to camp and my dad said that he thought there was a bear in the creek behind camp nosing around. He said that right at dark, he started cooking supper and he started hearing splashing and cracking right behind the tent. He just kept cooking and didn't think much of it, but we cautiously walked behind the tent with flashlights and much to our surprise, there was a bull elk tangled in the saplings less than 30 yards behind our wall tent! Apparently the bull had gotten his antlers entangled in a long piece of coaxial TV cable, which became entangled with a dead tree, then wrapped around a cluster of standing trees. The bull was effectively tied to a tree 30 yards from where we had slept for a week, while I had been hunting far and wide with out so much as a bull sighting!!! Long story short, the DNR came the next morning while I was out hunting and shot the bull, took the antlers, which had been broken at the base from the twisting of the cable tighter and tighter, and told us we could have the meat. Although the bull was only 30 yards away initially, when they moved close to shoot it, it uprooted the trees it was tangled in, and ran straight up hill about 2-3 hundred yards, so we had to quarter and pack the bull back to camp! I ended up getting a dandy bull 2 days later, so we got to bring home 2 elk for the freezer! Definitely one of the strangest things that has ever happened to me while on a hunt!
 

Ikeepitcold

Administrator
Staff member
Feb 22, 2011
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Reno Nv
I have never had a fire in a coyote type situation. I’ve always felt it was a bad idea because the animals would smell the smoke and know something was different and keep them more alert.

Base camp away from hunting area we have had fires sometimes.
 

Gr8bawana

Veteran member
Aug 14, 2014
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Nevada
I would think the activity around a camp even in the back country where no humans have been for 7-8 months would alert game more than a fire. I'm sure they smell fires all the time from campers, hikers and wildfires.
 

dirtclod Az.

Veteran member
Jan 26, 2018
1,637
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Arizona
My father always kept us away from the campfire when hunting.Then we came to the realization there were campfires all over the mountains and the game were somewhat used to it during hunting season.
 

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
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Gypsum, Co
Where animals are conserned I have found that they are quite curious and want to find out where that smoke smell or some noises are coming from.

I have had mule deer walk into a grove of trees where I have been using a chainsaw. All I can figure out is that they want to see what that noise is. Also as other have mentioned the smell of smoke is a natural occurrence in the woods. Either from campers, hikers, someone that is trying to dry out their socks or forest fires. I along with others have figured out that one of the best places to hunt deer and elk is a area that has been burnt. I have seen elk and deer move into these type of area right after it quit burning and still smoldering, and the smell of smoke is very heavy.
 

dustin ray

Veteran member
Oct 23, 2011
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Alta Loma CA
Fires naturally accrue in the woods and the smell is not foreign to animals that live there i have had a small fires and only when its out of sight Im no expert but i have not noticed and change in there behavior now my SNORING might alarm anything within a mile
 

Mule3006Elk

Active Member
Jul 3, 2013
264
82
Nothing against a campfire. Have done a few. I'm not worried about spooking game although that's interesting topic in itself.
I don't like the smell it leaves on my clothing so I tend to avoid them.
 

Mule3006Elk

Active Member
Jul 3, 2013
264
82
Fires naturally accrue in the woods and the smell is not foreign to animals that live there i have had a small fires and only when its out of sight Im no expert but i have not noticed and change in there behavior now my SNORING might alarm anything within a mile
Alta Loma, CA. Nice area to grow up. Spent a few years there.