Deer Camp "Lodging" this year

[HB]

This year I want to upgrade my deer camp. Usually it's just me and a few friends camping on public land and cooking over a fire or propane stove.

As you might imagine this gets pretty brutal due to the weather. I usually sleep in my camper shell or tent, with 5 sleeping bags piled on me.

I've been looking into wall tents and various army surplus options but they can get pricey. I don't have anywhere to store a camper and refuse to pay to do so.

Seems that a wall tent would be the best option but they seem very expensive for what they are.

Any recommendations on cold weather camp set ups? Currently I'm eyeballing a 10 man arctic tent with stove jack. Looks like it will be pretty cozy but beats sitting in a backpacking tent playing solitaire.

Feel free to chime in and post pics of your camp to brag.


Thanks!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I don't have anywhere to store a camper and refuse to pay to do so.

Do your friends that you camp with have campers or do they do the same thing as you do?
If they're really good friends you may could go in partners with them on a small camper, if you don't mind sharing it with them.

It doesn't have to be anything special for deer camp. We have a small camper that sleeps 4 and we got it for $600.
The stove and A/C doesn't work, but that's fine. A camp stove is fine with us and a small electric heater does a fine job of keeping the small thing warm.

Just an idea. It doesn't have to be nice. We're only in it 4-5 hours a night. The rest is spent around the fire shooting the breeze.

 

[HB]

We are all broke college age so nobody has a camper currently. We call rough it. Not bad for a weekend but 5+ days is not possible for me.

Even my dad camps with us, frankly I'd rather have him in a warm wall tent with me than out sleeping in a backpacking tent.

I'm just looking for suggestions into tent/stove options. A camper would be ideal but just don't have the space for one currently and 50 bucks a month to store is not in my budget, not to mention title etc.


Thank for the quick reply

 

[jmr40]

We are all broke college age so nobody has a camper currently.

I remember those days well. I've done everything from staying in a motel to sleeping under the stars with no tent and just about everything in between over the years. I posted some photos of some of my camps in the past in this thread.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=785320

More observations than advice, but here goes.

You won't be a broke college kid forever. I'd start picking up some QUALITY gear a little at a time, it will last for a long time. I still have sleeping bags from 1983 and a canvas wall tent bought used from the 1970's. If you want to stay warm buy a good quality sleeping bag and pad.

I've slept in the back of a truck with a cap on it and find it the worst possible option.

A large canvas wall tent with a wood burning stove is the best way to go for longer trips in winter. But they are big, heavy and require at least 2 people to set up and break down. Great for extended stays, but a lot of work for just a night or 2. You also have to either bring or cut wood for a stove. Not much fun if you arrive in camp after dark and have to set up

A camper can be nice, but many places where I hunt involves 15-20 miles on rough forest service roads that can be rutted and muddy in winter. Snow is also a possibility. Pulling them into many areas is just not an option. But if you can get it close to a hunting area they are comfortable. I have a larger pop-up that I sometimes hunt out of depending on the area.


For you I'd at least look at and consider a decent quality nylon tent. I'd buy something in either a 6 or 8 person tent just for you and your dad. Let your friends pair up and do the same. You really need more room than they advertise. They are lightweight, much larger for the money and easy to set up. Most can be done in just a few minutes with only 1 person.

The green tent in the link I posted above is an 8 person Alaskan Wilderness tent from Cabelas. It was normally $550, but I caught the on sale for $500 a couple of years ago. I also had a coupon for free shipping and about $200 in CC dividends I used so I only have about $300 in it. It is a great tent for 2, maybe 3 in a pinch.

The smaller orange tent in the other photo is advertised as a 3 person backpacking tent. I use it when I go solo and I have plenty of room as long as I don't have to stand. I have 1 and 2 person tents when actually backpack hunting.

I use propane heat in the evening and after I wake to warm things up before getting dressed. I won't sleep with it on or for extended periods. Once I get into a good bag I stay warm enough down to about 0. But a good bag is the key.

 

[GAF]

Perhaps one of these?

http://www.usmilitarytents.com/

You, Your friends and Dad could all go in on one of these.

 

[HB]

A wall tent or army tent seem like the best option thus far. I haven't found pat nylon tents to hold heat and being able to stand up to get dressed has become more important to me.

One the arctic tents or that general purpose small one with stove would be ideal. Does anybody have experience with these? I found an arctic one locally for 400.


A canvas wall tent would be awesome but I've never seen one in missouri.


Thanks again

 

[GAF]

Bigger is better. You and your buddies with Cots and hunting stuff will take up more room than you might imagine .

 

[HB]

Well I ended up buying a surplus tent today for $100 bucks off craigslist. 16x16' with stove jack. Poles and stakes/ropes included. I wouldn't have bought it but it was set up in the guys yard. Everything was there and look decent but old.

Has some small holes but everything looks easily patchable. Figure another 100 bucks for a stove and I'm set. Doesn't rain much in November here so I think it'll be perfect for a test run for this type of tent.


Looks like it'll take 2 guys could set it up pretty quick after a few times.

Already pumped for this deer season.

HB

 

[brainwake]

Last year...I did one on the cheap..

Get one of those popup canopy type shelters...the kind you see tail gaiters use at football games. But be sure and purchase the walls.

Throw a tarp down for a floor...then use a 5 gal propane tank with a buddy heater.

Then get a couple of cots and sleeping bags.

warm...roomy...and cheap....don't have to worry about bugs in the fall/winter

 

[oneounceload]

Any recommendations on cold weather camp set ups?

Motel 6

Otherwise, you'll need good ground insulation and top cover - some of the cheapest and best are old moving company heavy quilted blankets - I got mine for free from the guys who moved me once - one over a cooler in the shade during warm weather helped keep ice for 5 days, another kept the chill from the sleeping bag, while the third over me kept me toasty!

 

[HB]

Here's a picture of the tent in process of being folded up. It is by far the biggest tent I've owned, should have plenty of room.

 

[redneck2]

Just make sure it's really dry before you store it. Mold and mildew is an issue with these

Gonna be heavy and ackward to transport and set up, but they are great once in place.

 

[HB]

Yeah it will only come out for a couple weeks a year, only rifle deer and first week of turkey season. I have room to store it and going to build a better box for it.

I'll see how it works in the next few weeks when I get it out for repairs and a dry run for rifle season.

 

[gbran]

Here's breackfast

[/IMG]

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Congrats. You could always buy a big tarp to put over it if rain is a possibility.

 

[tarosean]

with 5 sleeping bags piled on me.

Upgrade your sleeping bags...

They have em good till -35+ now a days!!!!

 

[jmorris]

I "rough it" a bit different than I used to.