Leaving a camper on BLM land...

[74cj5]

How many of you dare leave your camper-trailers out on public land during the hunts? Towing my trailer up and down the canyon every weekend will really take its toll on my truck. I would like to leave the trailer on top (Sky-Line Drive area between Fairview and Manti).

I know there is a camping day limit, but my main concern is other people. With posts about stolen trail cameras and such, the thought of my new trailer out there all alone does give me some heartburn.

Any experiences, good or bad, would be greatly appreciated.

 

[trevriv]

I left a camper on my own land (5 acres near altamont)once and somebody broke in, stole the good stuff and trashed the rest. I would not leave your camper up there. IMO

 

[slowyota]

14 Days is the max and because I hunt in the exact same area you're talking about. Don't do it.
I know that the drive up to the top will kill your truck (killed 2 of ours so far) but if your only going for weekend excursions I say tent it. That's what we do. If we go for more than 2 days, we'll take the 5th wheel, but the law is the law and I may be in the minority here, but I get PISSED when I see the same campers in the same spots, year after year after year only because they've been left there since the end of June.

BTW - Did you hunt up there this past weekend?

 

[74cj5]

slowyota,

Thanks for your response! I was up there last weekend, but I never take the archery opener very seriously. I'm shocked every year at the number of hunters that show up opening day, and then never come back! I'll start more seriously this weekend, and have the hills almost to myself.

How'd you do? Good luck out there!

 

[slowyota]

We did pretty good. Posted some pic's of my bro's buck in the archery section. We're getting good at setting up on the escape routes. I agree opening day is a joke. But we just wake up before anyone else, get set up and just wait for the other hunters to just push the deer to us. Makes it so we don't have to walk much.

But we still have two more tags to fill and won't be up there this weekend but will be the weekends after. Good luck to you, there's still some bruisers running around.

 

[Wapiti]

This is a sore topic for me. I see more and more people leaving there trailers until the next weekend and even longer. I was down on the Beaver unit for the opener and there are probably 20 trailers up on top left until next weekend or longer. I understand why they do it but for someone else trying to find a place to camp during the week it is next to impossible. All the good spots are filled with unmanned trailers. This in my opinion should not be allowed. I see the same thing ever year in another area that I hunt.

So, if anyones in the market or a nice used trailer go to Big Flat above Beaver its like a use trailer lot up there.

 

[swbuckmaster]

the meth heads are starting to hit trailers and hunters camps when the hunters are out hunting. Not worth the risk if you ask me

Archery is a year round commitment!!

 

[AntlerArtist]

Be aware that there is a 72 hour occupy rule enforce on the National Forest. If you do not stay in your camp over night in that time frame, the ticket is $75.00. Do not plan on pulling it up there an leaving the 16 day camp limit. Yes , they are patrolling and yes they are ticketing. F.Y.I. -They seem to try and take the fun out of everything anymore , don't they?
_Ron

 

[74cj5]

Ron,

Thank you, I was not aware of the 72 hour occupancy rule/ticket.

Doesn't sound like I am going to be leaving my trailer, far too much to worry about:
-Thieves
-Vandals
-Marijuana farmers
-DNR anti-camping and anti-dirt road cops

When did the mountains become such a sketchy place? It's really sad.

 

[cheeseheadinOHIO]

When you leave, take a wheel off and take it with you. Then leave nothing you wouldn't want taken. Then the last option, so they don't break your door, leave it unlocked. I'll be camping this year and am worried about people coming by and stealing all my stuff too. I'm going to lock up the expensive stuff but things like my -20 sleeping bag, heaters, cots etc... I'm going to chain the cargo trailer to a tree and take a wheel off. I'll have a tongue lock on it and lock the door of course. There's dishonest people everywhere, unfortunately.

 

[prohunter]

I mine in an out of the way spot for a month. I got 2 tickets for $175.00 each. 1 was for the over 14 day limit and the other was for unoccuppied for longer than 24 hours. My water pipe also broke because of the cold.

 

[CAforkedhorn]

>This is a sore topic for
>me. I see more
>and more people leaving there
>trailers until the next weekend
>and even longer. I
>was down on the Beaver
>unit for the opener and
>there are probably 20 trailers
>up on top left until
>next weekend or longer.
>I understand why they do
>it but for someone else
>trying to find a place
>to camp during the week
>it is next to impossible.
> All the good spots
>are filled with unmanned trailers.
> This in my opinion
>should not be allowed. I
>see the same thing ever
>year in another area that
>I hunt.
>
>So, if anyones in the market
>or a nice used trailer
>go to Big Flat above
>Beaver its like a use
>trailer lot up there.


I too was on the Beaver for the opener, Betenson Flat is where I camped, and I could not believe the number of unoccupied trailers. There was 3 trailers in one spot directly across from us unoccupied for the 9 days I was there. People couldn't find spots so they just made there own. I never saw any type of enforcement whatsoever. There needs to be an abandoned property rule where the FS hauls it off to auction or something.

Piper, how's your period?

Zigga, don't forget the knee pads!

Hdude, Lil' Jimmy wants his share!

 

[muzzhunter]

I may be in the minority here, but I hate seeing unoccupied trailers out in camp areas. Like was said previously I get up there and all the good places are taken by some jerk who isn't even there. As for the fish cops trying to ruin all your fun. I am glad they do it it just ensures that more people can enjoy the resources. It is after all public land so why should a guy be able to go set his camper up and leave it up there all summer to have that spot be his own little property? That's just my opinion.