Contributors to this thread:
How hard is it to find water on a diy elk hunt? Also which filter do you prefer?
Locating potable water is one of my scouting priorities.
I've had good luck with the Katadyn Hiker Pro. Got it based on Bowsiter recommendations.
Fill up whenever you can. Hiker Pro if its dirty water or use Aquamira drops to save time if its clear water.
Another vote for the hiker pro. Get the quick connections for your water bladder. Makes filling up quicker and lots easier.
LaBoeuf: You're lucky to be where water's so handy. I've seen the time I've drank out of a filthy hoofprint - and was glad to get it.
Rooster Cogburn: If ever I meet one of you Texas waddies who ain't drunk water from a hoofprint, I think I'll... I'll shake their hand or buy 'em a Daniel Webster cigar.
Sorry, just popped into my head.... what they said above. You'll be glad you had a filter using an elk (or bovine) hoofprint..... Hiker pro works pretty well.
Guessing a Danial Webster was a pretty good cigar....
Sawyer Mini! Probably one of the best filters out there. Filters down to 0.1 microns and is very versatile and packs small. Check it out on Youtube. You'll find all all sorts of information about it. And it only cost about $20 bucks or so.
I discovered this little spring about 100 yards from one of my spike camps last season. Guzzled out of the ground beneath a granite boulder, went right back into the ground a few yards further. The water was crystal clear and ice cold. Made a nice refreshment cooler besides a perfect water source.
Lmao! Now that's funny Lou!
I've been using a steri-pen with good success. It works best with clear running water and comes with a neat little water bottle with a filter device built into the lid. I have been thinking about trying out a katadyne just to compare the two.
Joe, I use the Steripen as well. Mine has an adaptor/prefilter that fits a Nalgene Bottle. I like having a full liter of potable water in 90 seconds.
Since it is an electronic device that has the possibility of failure (although I've been using it exclusively for 5 years)...I pack a small Sawyer Squeeze unit for a backup.
Best of Luck, Jeff (Bowsite Sponsor)
All depends on where you hunt. The point is often moot. There's a large % of elk country where you'll never be at a loss for water. But then, there's the opposite. You should already know which it is going in, even if you've never been there. I'm not just talking about streams/springs that can dry up vs creeks and lakes that don't. Many areas are so wet that you can rely on water being everywhere. I've hunted back country elk in 4 different states and water has always been a non-issue.
With the exception of Oregon, all the places I've hunted elk also held moose which also meant that there were willows. If this is the case, you're dealing with a wet area and you'll often find water in every crack it can run down. Know where you're headed. Even on a DIY hunt, I often call an outfitter in the area as they often times know the country better than the biologists and rangers. They're usually nice people who are willing to talk. Just be honest and let them know you'll be hunting DIY and you're curious about water. They'll often times be more than willing to help and it's a nice ice breaker to find out where they put their drop camps so you can avoid those areas. I've gotten excellent info from outfitters about things like water and traffic even though they knew I wasn't going to be a customer.
I've been using the same MSR water filter for 16 yrs, although I would not recommend buying one now as this is one of the areas where the gear has gotten much better. A friend has a Hiker Pro and when we're together, it's not even a question of whose water filter we're bringing.
Sawyer is a great filter that is tough to plug. A gravity setup works well. Just dont let it freeze.
i have a sawyer squeeze, pretty nice water filter, super small and super lightweight...not to mention they are pretty cheap compared to other water filters.
We use hiker pro or tablets.Oncewe went 1500' above a river and wanted to stay up top but needed water for us and George the llama.We found a dry creek and followed it down till we had water and then camped there.Well about daylight I here these elk coming down the hill headed for water.A few cows first then the bull.So I'm sitting in my sleeping bag with my bow at full draw and Dave giving me range.Hit the bull high and never found him but crazy morning.Sometimes when you find remote water you find animals also!
I was going to write a response about actually finding water, but Ike covered it pretty good in his post above.
I will add that you can check the snow levels and snowmelt runoff online prior to your hunt. If it is a good snow year with late snow pack you can be sure there will be water almost everywhere. This may not be applicable to some hunts, but for mountain hunts it is.
+ Franzen. In N. CO last year the late snowpack was enormous, and by elk season there was still water everywhere. This allowed the elk to distribute widely instead of concentrating in certain areas where they historically are during season.
Hiker pro, aquamira squeeze, or katadyn squeeze bottle. replace filters yearly.