Camping and Scouting: How to Combine Both for the Ultimate Weekend Outdoors

By Dallas Pruitt

For many of us, besides home, there’s no better place to be than the mountains. There’s just something about God’s country that resets the mind, body, and soul. And when you combine a quick getaway to the mountains with the relaxation of camping and some solid scouting, you’ve hit the sweet spot.

Life’s busy. Time is limited. So when you can unplug, reconnect to the best parts of life, and prep for the season, all in one weekend, that’s a win.

If you love everything the mountains have to offer and you’re looking to make the most of a limited entry tag (with limited time to spare), here’s how to blend camping and scouting into a weekend that fuels both your soul and your preparation for the season ahead.

1. Manage Your Expectations. Set Yourself Up for Success

Before you load up and hit the road, take a moment to clarify what you really want out of the trip. On the scouting side, maybe you want to find a new water source, familiarize yourself with the terrain, or sharpen your glassing and navigation skills. When it comes to camping, maybe you want to reconnect with your kids or simply disconnect from the noise of work and daily life so you can recharge your batteries.

Chances are, it’s a mix of all those things, and with the right prep and mindset, you can do it all.

Here’s the thing: when you approach a quick weekend trip with intention, you’re more likely to walk away with what you came for. Your morning hikes, campfire conversations, and even moments driving from glassing point to glassing point all take on more meaning. It’s more than a getaway. It’s a chance to blend two things you love: time in the outdoors and intentional preparation for the hunt ahead. It’s like peanut butter and jelly; they go together and bring out the best in each other.

2. Pack for the Occasion(s)

Your gear should serve both comfort and utility. Bring the basics, food, layers, and safety equipment, but also pack with the upcoming season in mind.

Here’s a short checklist:

• Optics: Binos and a spotting scope. Double and triple check. There’s nothing worse than traveling mile after mile and forgetting your optics.
• Navigation: Ensure your OnX or preferred map app is downloaded and updated.
• Snacks + Supplements: No camp or scouting trip is complete without great fuel and some caffeine. Especially if you’re toting around kids.

Tips: Pack like you’re hunting. Use the gear you’ll rely on in season. Break in those boots. Test your pack and layering systems. Before it counts, this is the time to figure out what works and what doesn’t.

3. Time Your Scouting Windows

Early mornings and late evenings are gold for glassing and spotting movement. Use those windows to observe feeding behavior, travel corridors, and patterns. Midday? That’s your time to explore bedding areas, analyze terrain features, or, depending on your preference, head back to camp for rest, lunch, and reset.

If the weekend leans heavier on the camping side, embrace it. Play games, share stories, and soak in the slower rhythm. The beauty of a weekend like this is that you’re not in a rush. You can move at your own pace, stay present, and still cover meaningful ground.

On trips like this, remember: slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.

4. Use Camp for Fun & Learning

Camp isn’t just a place to rest, it’s your mobile classroom.

Around the fire, review maps, swap insights, and reflect on what you’ve seen. If you’re solo, jot it all down. Capture things while they’re fresh:

• Animal movement patterns
• Areas still to explore
• Pressure points or signs of other hunters
• Potential stand or glassing spots

Some of the best realizations come with a cup of Hot Ignite by the fire or staring up at a sky full of stars. Lean into those moments; they’re as valuable as any trail you walk.

Tip: If you’re leaning heavy on the camping side, make sure to pack horseshoes (a long time family favorite), cornhole, or some other type of yard game to pass the time.

5. Most Importantly, Let the Whole Experience Fill Your Cup

At the end of the day, these weekends aren’t just about finding that next giant or testing your gear; they’re about being fully present. Connecting with the people you’re with, or reconnecting with God and yourself. Letting the crisp air, the campfire crackle, and the mountain silence do their work.

These are the moments we remember. And often, they’re the ones that remind us why we do it all in the first place.

So yes, scout smart (and hard, if you’d like). Camp well. But more than anything, enjoy it all. This life we have is a blessing. Let the mountains reset your focus, restore energy, and refill your cup.

Conclusion

Camping and scouting each serve their own purpose. But when you blend the two with intention, they become something more: a whole experience that sharpens your skills, deepens your connection, prepares your body, mind, and soul, and reenergizes your batteries.

Some of my best memories, and honestly, my best lessons as an outdoorsman, haven’t come on opening morning. They’ve come from quiet weekends like this. Weekends filled with glassing and gratitude, tracks and trail snacks, reflection and reconnection.

So next time you feel the itch to reset, which we all need regularly, don’t overthink it.

Camp and scout. These things aren’t mutually exclusive. Do both and enjoy!