elk_hunter
Active member
My brother and I were reminiscing about our 1st season rifle elk hunt last year in Colorado and it sparked a memory. There were 6 groups of us, coming from a few different states for an annual hunt. 3 groups had already arrived and we set up camp at the end of a dead-end road. We set up camp and waited for the other groups to arrive. There was about 2 feet of snow on the ground so we had a nice bonfire raging and a tarped shelter around the campfire. We were all catching up on family stuff when a truck pulling a travel trailer drives in. 3 guys from Indiana (license plate on the truck) get out and start walking through our camp, weaving in and out of our tents as if they're looking for something. So we said, "Hey! Can we help you?" They said no and kept wandering around. Then one guy goes back to his truck and starts backing his trailer up like he's going to put it in between 2 of our wall tents. We were like WTF is going on here? These guys think they're going to camp with us? So we head over and get in the way of the trailer to block them so they can't get settled in our camp. This was the gist of the conversation:
<us> Excuse me, what are you doing?
<them> We're setting up camp
<us> Not here you're not
<them> Yes we are; you've got a nice kitchen and fire going and we like this spot
<us> What makes you think you can set up your camp in the middle of ours?
<them> Because we pay taxes and own this land just like you
<us> This is Federal Land and you're entitled to use it, but right now it's occupied so you'll have to wait your turn
<them> We camped here 10 years ago for Black Powder so we're staying here again
<us> Sorry, but we have 3 more groups on their way and there's no room for you. Find another camp spot.
<them> We talked to the Ranger before we drove up here and he said we could camp anywhere
<us> Great; then head down the road and set up your camp on any of the many other fingers that don't already have camps
<them> We pay taxes and own this land and we're staying here
<us> Listen, the hell you're staying here. End of discussion.
<them> Yes we are; we're going down to get the Ranger and be back to camp here with him as an escort
<us> Okay; go get him and we'll discuss this when you all get back here
<them> *more yelling, screaming, swearing as they get back in their rig and drive out
They never came back (and the Ranger never showed up) but we saw them a couple days later down another dead-end like we suggested. So what's the deal...do random hunters hook up and camp together back in the midwest and that's why they expected to do it with us? Hell, I wouldn't walk through anyone else's camp unless I was lost or hurt, let alone poking around looking for a spot to throw a tent with strangers. Frankly, I was a bit scared; I wasn't sure if they were going to pull pistols or what. In my 20-some years of hunting, I've never been involved in this sort of thing, never heard of this and it really had my heart pumping. Would you have handled it differently? Thoughts?
<us> Excuse me, what are you doing?
<them> We're setting up camp
<us> Not here you're not
<them> Yes we are; you've got a nice kitchen and fire going and we like this spot
<us> What makes you think you can set up your camp in the middle of ours?
<them> Because we pay taxes and own this land just like you
<us> This is Federal Land and you're entitled to use it, but right now it's occupied so you'll have to wait your turn
<them> We camped here 10 years ago for Black Powder so we're staying here again
<us> Sorry, but we have 3 more groups on their way and there's no room for you. Find another camp spot.
<them> We talked to the Ranger before we drove up here and he said we could camp anywhere
<us> Great; then head down the road and set up your camp on any of the many other fingers that don't already have camps
<them> We pay taxes and own this land and we're staying here
<us> Listen, the hell you're staying here. End of discussion.
<them> Yes we are; we're going down to get the Ranger and be back to camp here with him as an escort
<us> Okay; go get him and we'll discuss this when you all get back here
<them> *more yelling, screaming, swearing as they get back in their rig and drive out
They never came back (and the Ranger never showed up) but we saw them a couple days later down another dead-end like we suggested. So what's the deal...do random hunters hook up and camp together back in the midwest and that's why they expected to do it with us? Hell, I wouldn't walk through anyone else's camp unless I was lost or hurt, let alone poking around looking for a spot to throw a tent with strangers. Frankly, I was a bit scared; I wasn't sure if they were going to pull pistols or what. In my 20-some years of hunting, I've never been involved in this sort of thing, never heard of this and it really had my heart pumping. Would you have handled it differently? Thoughts?