Like anything, it depends on the situation.  In the approximately 220 nights I've spent canoe camping in the BW and Quetico, I've shared a camp site with strangers exactly 4 times and brush crashed (camped where there was no campsite established) 1 time.  Only once was it not legal in the sense that more than 4 canoes/9 persons were in the same area at the same time.

In the karmic sense, I've offered to share a site 6 times, and only had 2 acceptances.  Wind, lack of available unoccupied nearby (within 2 miles) campsites, darkness, or threatening emergencies are all great reasons to share a site or camp in non-designated site.  If my criteria are met, I would gladly share a site in the BW because so often the sites are huge and we only have 1 or 2 tents, meaning another smallish group could easily fit.  Plus, it is closer to the BW's philosophy of concentrating disturbed areas to designated sites.

In the quet, it will take a little more for me to share a site since you can camp "anywhere".  I've pointed out campsites to travelers who were not as well prepared/familiar with the area, since maps rarely show all the established sites.  Finding your own site is part of the Quet's experience.  That being said, if you're freezing, wet, tired and can't go much further, not only will I roll out the welcome mat, I'll stoke up the fire and offer you some food.  The same has been done for me when I was in a tight spot.

MT,

That just proves the old adage:
" What go's around, comes around"
I wouldn't intrude on a taken site, unless the alternative was to risky for my comfort level
I also wouldn't deny ANYONE shelter if they were in the same circumstances.
I would object IF they're were other sites available but mine was their choice and I beat them too it

As a noob doing the big loop in quetico I had caught a 3 lb walleye that I had intended to shore lunch. A big family of Canadians paddled by and the Grandpa had a keen interest in the fish. Naturally I offered it to them and they gladly accepted. 3 hours later with a storm brewing I passed them and they insisted I share their site, which I did. They were a very nice family.

The moral of the story? If you intend to camp with others, bring some fish!

Be aware that they do fine people for camping in non designated sites. They would rather you double up on a site, but if there is more than 9 people at the site they will fine you. No place in the rules does it say if you are camping at a site, nobody else can camp there. It only says you must camp at a designated site and more than 9 people cannot be there.
It would be best to ask people first to get how they will feel about it, but IMO, anybody who expects solitude should be going elsewhere, or go DEEP into BWCA to find it. I wouldn't want to camp a a site where I wasn't wanted, but you might be surprised, many people would welcome someone, for a night anyway.
If you object to camping where there is already somebody there, well keep in mind beggers can't be choosy, it is your mistake so live with it.

"Am I correct in my assumption that in Quetico you can camp anywhere you want (or have to?)"


that is correct - at least for the present, unless they "fix" something that isn't broken in the current planning phase for Q

"People like me probably screw up their permit numbers by staying out there a long time, and traveling distances where I'm still legal, but in areas where they don't plan on me being... if that makes any sence."

I think it is those who do not travel much beyond the first lake or two which skew the permit numbers and crowd things up.  It also seems close in to the access points that it is busiest around the weekends when the most campers are coming and going on their trips. 
I agree that once you get a day or two into the BW you leave the crowds behind.

Am I correct in my assumption that in Quetico you can camp anywhere you want (or have to?)  On our recent trip into Q we got stuck one night on Rouge Lake, of all places.  I mean, talk about a back water, the Lake is little more than a pond between Jean and the marsh that leads into Sturgeon.  Not exactly the place where you'd expect to find people lining up for camp sites. It only had one site marked on my map and wouldn't you know it, when we got there (in itself an act of desperation) it was taken.  We found a rather stark slab of nearby rock and moss to pitch camp.  It was far from the nicest camp site we stayed at but I must say it was probably the most beautiful dawn I can remember with both the moon and sun in full view and the mist rising.

I remember even back in the late seventies and early eighties August was a terrible month to find decent campsites all the way to LLC. As I was coming out the Friday of Memorial weekend on Little Indian Souix it was the same way... Group after group of people coming in expecting to camp on the lakes closest in. I always plan to make it in quite a ways during those busiest times. You'd be surprized the people that don't go in any farther than those initial lakes... The BWCA is not a place to go in most cases to find the solitude you might expect in most places. But the early and late times of the year can be good. Seeing people doesn't bother me as much as what the impact we have on the land. I think the forest service does a pretty good job controlling that. I suppose they could reduce the number of permits they issue, but I think the outfitter business might suffer a bit from that... So I would hope they wouldn't come down to hard on people that "had to" bushwack a campsite like in your case. People like me probably screw up their permit numbers by staying out there a long time, and traveling distances where I'm still legal, but in areas where they don't plan on me being... if that makes any sence.

Quote:


This was about a month ago. Our entry was August 5th and our exit was August 9th.

It was my first time in the BW during summer season, and also my first time not solo. I don't plan on doing either again any time soon.



edit: just in case it sounds like I'm bitching, I'm not. We had a good time despite the unexpected crowds. I'll just be a little more careful with entry point and season selection for the next trip.

Akula,  What time of the year did you go?