Part Of The Hunt Involves Finding Perfect Site National Forests Curb How Long Hunters Can Occupy Campsites

Huddled around the kitchen table, Forest Service and county road maps spread about and anchored down at the corners by steaming coffee mugs, hunters draw up their game plans for the upcoming deer and elk seasons.

Near the top of any plan is selecting the proper camping location, the base of operations from which food, shelter and camaraderie are shared and remembered long after the hunt.

In the Blue Mountains of the Umatilla National Forest, as many as 5,000 elk hunters may roam the 450,000-acre forest in search of the ideal campsite for big-game hunting, said Rich Martin, recreation supervisor for the Pomeroy Ranger District.

The length of time hunters can spend in camps varies between national forests. Also, enforcement of the limit can vary, depending on the forest’s priorities.

Here are the camping limits for some of the region’s forests.

The Gifford Pinchot National Forest allows camping for 28 consecutive days in a dispersed camping site. Previously the limit was 21 days. After the 28th day, the visitor must move at least 5 miles, for a combined period of not to exceed 45 days in a calendar year.

In the Blue Mountains, the Umatilla National Forest has set a 14-day limit on camping at designated sites - those with picnic tables and toilets - or dispersed sites - those outside of developed recreation areas.

Panhandle National Forests have a 14-day limit on camping anywhere on the forest.

The Colville National Forest has a 14-day limit on camping anywhere in the forest.

Wenatchee National Forest campers are limited to 14 days in developed campsites, with no limits on dispersed camping.

The Okanogan National Forest limits campers to 14 days in developed campgrounds and 30 days in dispersed sites.

Generally, most hunting camps set up outside the boundaries of the 177,000-acre Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness Area in the Blue Mountains last about one week, Martin said.

However, enforcement has been erratic in the wilderness because getting into the backcountry takes more effort, for rangers and campers alike. Gear generally must be packed in on stock. Camps often remain up for two or three weeks.

Forest officials contacted in Pomeroy and the supervisor’s office in Pendleton had different views on how the camping restrictions might be enforced. But the official limit is 14 days, said Earl Ralser, Umatilla spokesman in Pendleton.

Caching gear at established elk hunting camps in the Blue Mountain wilderness once was a tradition. But since the practice was banned in 1979, forest officials have led a steady campaign to rid the mountains of stoves and gear stashes that commonly were wrapped in unsightly plastic heaps.

“We’ve been removing caches we find in the wilderness,” said Ralser. “If there’s any indication of who the equipment belongs to, we ask them to pay for the removal or forfeit the equipment.”

Monte Heath, spokesman for the Wenatchee National Forest, said caching of gear for more than two days in the forest’s wilderness areas is prohibited. Panhandle National Forests spokesman Charlie Miller said no caching is allowed in North Idaho forests.

Colville National Forest officials said caching during the hunting season might be tolerated in some areas, but gear likely would be taken for abandoned and removed if left after the seasons.

, DataTimes