Campfires when tent hunting?

[Double Naught Spy]

Campfires don't seem to drive away bears.

If you are having a campfire and the animal seem to disappear, chances are that it was something other than the fire that made them leave.

Keep in mind that Native Americans and folks in the Dark Ages of Europe certainly had plenty of camp fires and they had to hunt for food to survive.

Several of the Puebloan groups (Native Americans with which I am most familiar) engaged in purification rituals before commencing a hunt, the rituals involving passing through the smoke of a fire one or more times. No doubt those folks did their hunts smelling like the fire and they were successful.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Campfires don't seem to drive away bears.

Oh I know bears don't mind. Some years ago did a solo fly in/raft out hunt where I was dropped off on a river bar. Very first morning I shoot a moose literally yards from the tent, on my side of the river. Well the idiot moose didn't realize he was dead and waded across the river[about 30 yards] and plopped dead on the opposite bank, but still in my plain sight from the tent.

Well cutting up a moose by yourself is quite a job, so I did all I could and brought as much meat as possible to my side of the river that day, but there was still a lot left to go so, worried about bears hauling off the rest I built a bonfire on the moose side of the river. and I mean bonfire, with driftwood as thick as your leg.
I filled the valley with smoke but the first thing I see when I stick my head out of the tent at daybreak was a black bear hanging around the carcass. It was comical really, he had this nervous look on his face like someone who wanted to steal something but couldn't work up the nerve.

Soon as he saw me he ran. I got the rest of the usable meat that day. Next day all I left[head, lower legs, guts, bones] was gone, but from the size of the tracks poor blacky got bumped down the food chain. A brown took it, and the bonfire was still smoldering.

 

[788Ham]

DM,

Unless you've got a stove, don't build your fire inside the tent, won't burn down that way!

 

[wankerjake]

We walk out of camp to hunt all the time. We run fires at night and during the day if somebody stays in camp. We are pretty successful.

 

[LAK]

With all the hunters, campers, hikers and remote residents in AK lighting fires I doubt that game animals are spooked by a whiff of smoke.

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Je Suis Prest

 

[BushyGuy]

yes i have done this many times, the first coupld times my tent ended up with holes in it from the flying tinder.

try to keep the tent a lil farther away from the fire or you end up with a leaking tent when it rains!

 

[pat86323]

Better to smell like fire then human, play the wind and it really doesnt matter what you smell like.

 

[22-rimfire]

I have seen quite a few deer while sitting on a log or rock around a camp fire. If anything, I think it helps to cover human scent and is a natural odor for forest creatures. I build fires. I like camp fires. I'd rather not hunt if it is cold and I can't build a fire.

I feel the effect on animals with the odor associated with smoking in the woods very over rated. Yes, there is an odor. Sometimes I think it actually attracts deer.

 

[LAK]

Same thing with chain saws. When I lived in very rural europe for a time anytime I strolled out the front door with gun in hand the first crow to see me would alert every critter in the valley. Even happened at one o'clock in the morning once. On the otherhand, if I walked out with a chain saw they would not sound the same alarm. Anywhere I was cutting wood there was all kinds of activity morning or evening. Animals learn to associate such things with safety or danger.

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Je Suis Prest

 

[Wareagle5.0]

I love a camp fire. just aint the same without one. I like the smell and It dont bother animals. Im not a believer in all that scent lok crap either.
I chew tobacco in the woods and have buddies who smoke. I can kill a deer in a santa claus suit with a dog turd tied around my neck if I play the wind right.

 

[jbkebert]

A camp fire is a must. A fire adds a warm welcome to the hunters and make a great companion. There is nothing better than sitting around the fire and telling lies and just enjoying the company your with.

 

[ZeroJunk]

Here is a photo of a moose I took about 30 yards from a tent with a fire in the Scapegoat Widerness. I have another photo of a couple of deer within 30 feet. You can see the draw string for the tent door.




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[Chasing Crow]

I believe DM got it just about right.