Hunting Camp Tent Setups ?

bdb.hunting

bdb.hunting

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Looking for reviews and advice on hunting camp setups ?

Recently sold the canopy on my truck as it was just to tight even as one person. Now I am looking to get a Hot tent and cannot decide what option to go with.

I was hoping some of you fine folk would have reviews of the ones you used and use. Let me know what you use and what you like or dislike.

Ideally I want something big enough to go camping with the girlfriend as well as have space for a dog bed and wood stove. I figure this size should allow me to hunt with a buddy or solo very comfortably.

Cheers,
B
 
Lots of so called trekker tents around. All with mini stoves to heat them. Having spent considerable time in bush camps there is no substitute for a real canvas wall tent with a properly sized stove. Not light but it sounds like you may camp near your vehicle so the weight won't matter. I set up my 10 x12 Woods (5 foot sidewall) deluxe prospector by my self it takes about 45 minutes start to finish. Lots of usable space and will handle any weather. Just my thoughts.

Darryl
 
We used to stay 7-10 days in two canvass wall tents sewed together making it about 12X20 with a wood stove. Some years we had snow but slept like a rock. I agree, the canvass tents are the way to go if weight isn't an issue.
 
Have you taken a look at the Cabelas Ultimate Alaknak tents? They have a variety of sizes from 10x10 to 13x27. They go on sale for ~$200 off pretty frequently, which puts the 10x10 at $800.

My group has been considering picking up the 12x20 version, currently we are using a 12x20 garage from Canadian Tire that we added a stove jack to the back wall to. We've been up past Kamloops in November, -15c overnight without issues. The only complaint is condensation, being that its plastic tarp sides/roof its not something that breathes and you get a fair bit of moisture inside if you're closing it up at night without running the stove (We went on one trip where the temps were reasonably high so we didn't use the stove and there was enough moisture on the tarps that it started dripping after a few days. We now keep that in mind when deciding how often/when to use the stove, and how much airflow we have through the shelter.)

I've also used a 10x10 Easy-Up wrapped in tarps, I used a welding blanket from Princess Auto to make a stove jack for it, and it sets up in about 5 minutes.
 
We’ve been using a Snowtrekker tent for the last 12 years! The model is 9x11.5 short walls! Fourdog to stove and can sleep 3 comfortably(no cots) the entire package is less than 50lbs! Set up in minutes! Best wall tent ever!
 
Woods prospector tent here (14x16), with wood stove and a tarp over the tent. Initially had 4' walls, but now raised them to 6' (just wish we had an internal frame for it all!).
Tight quarters for 4, but we can manage not to drive each other nuts after 10 days in 0C weather. We sleep pretty good too with camping cots.

Makes people wanna go to their hunting blinds a lot more than stay in the tent lol.

2 years ago, with COVID, 2 guys couldn't make it and we ended up going with a half crew (2 people total). WOW, that was luxurious! So much room.

Edit: We bring the tent and all with the four wheeler. So weight is not an issue.
 
Having slept in different tents over the years when the weather turns foul or cold or you need some space to actually "live" in the tent ie sit comfortably, sleep on a cot with all your gear indoors and dry and a good stove there is nothing better than a canvas wall tent. I now run a 12x14 Deluxe Wall Tent (made in Canada) with a 5' extended porch and internal frame. Setup is 20-25 minutes including the guy wires after you've done it a few times. I am up north so it's not uncommon to hear about people having to put their frozen snowmobiles / atvs or whatever inside to thaw in order to start or work on them because they broke down / got stuck in slob ice. Yes they are that spacious and that warm with the right size stove even at -40C.

Biggest downfall is the weight: it's a bit of gear and you are not packing it without machines or a horse. Upfront cost is a consideration too.....

Its going to come down to when / what type of camping you do. If I go on an overnight fishing trip in mid summer I use a regular nylon 4 man tent. If I am going for two nights or more in colder seasons or if the weather may turn fowl (lots of rain and/or wind) the canvas tent is home. Nothing better than a hot tent for drying out your clothes even in summer. Being wet or uncomfortable any time of the year is not something I enjoy or tolerate any more when in camp.

A canvas tent can be a serious enough purchase financially (bigger tents dressed out with some options can cost you several thousand dollars) and logistically (getting it to/from your destination and having somewhere to dry it properly before storage etc) however it's a game changer on so many fronts and if looked after properly will look after you for all your camping days.
 
For truck camping I would go with a canvas wall tent with internal frame. I would look at Deluxe Wall tent or Capital Canvas, they are both here on Vancouver Island. Get the right size wood stove to go with it. I got a 12x14, it's the right size for two hunters with cots and a kitchen setup inside. I got a tarp that covers the whole works. I love this setup, it's warm and dry. I've never had trouble with condensation. It could be -30 outside but you could be sitting there with a t-shirt on that's how warm they are.
 
bdb.hunting said:
L...Recently sold the canopy on my truck as it was just to tight even as one person. Now I am looking to get a Hot tent and cannot decide what option to go with. ...
Ideally I want something big enough to go camping with the girlfriend as well as have space for a dog bed and wood stove. I figure this size should allow me to hunt with a buddy or solo very comfortably.
Click to expand...

If this purchase is straight up replacing the canopy on your truck, then a quality canvas tent is a no brainer. Worth every penny of the investment for a quality unit at the right spec for your needs, and you'll probably pass it on to your kids.

If you need it for backpacking then it's nylon all the way. If horse packing or OHV access, then there may be good arguments for both canvas and nylon depending on your needs.

As for the benefits and best applications, Boomer is right on the mark here. I had no idea just how comfortable tenting could be (regardless of any cold/wet weather) before investing in an internal frame canvas tent setup.


Boomer686 said:
...Its going to come down to when / what type of camping you do. If I go on an overnight fishing trip in mid summer I use a regular nylon 4 man tent. If I am going for two nights or more in colder seasons or if the weather may turn fowl (lots of rain and/or wind) the canvas tent is home. Nothing better than a hot tent for drying out your clothes even in summer. Being wet or uncomfortable any time of the year is not something I enjoy or tolerate any more when in camp.

A canvas tent can be a serious enough purchase financially (bigger tents dressed out with some options can cost you several thousand dollars) and logistically (getting it to/from your destination and having somewhere to dry it properly before storage etc) however it's a game changer on so many fronts and if looked after properly will look after you for all your camping days.
Click to expand...
 
I’d agree that Boomers got it covered.
Once you get a comfortable camp set up it’s temping to leave it up for the season. I won’t do this again without an electric fence like the bee keepers use. Had 2 tents ripped up bad, once in late October. Bears are arseholes.
 
Has anyone had success with the Bell style canvas tents ? Sibley Tents etc ?

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lpstealth said:
A couple people in this thread mentioned the "right" size stove for the tent. What exactly does that mean?
Click to expand...

A couple things come to mind:
(1) Can the stove keep the tent warm when used at the coldest temps?
(2) Is the stove big enough to fill with wood before bed & burn for hours so that you don't have to get out of bed every 1/2 hour...
 
Jay said:
A couple things come to mind:
(1) Can the stove keep the tent warm when used at the coldest temps?
(2) Is the stove big enough to fill with wood before bed & burn for hours so that you don't have to get out of bed every 1/2 hour...
Click to expand...

3) Particularly if you're using a smaller tent, is your stove huge and taking up too much space?
 
lpstealth said:
A couple people in this thread mentioned the "right" size stove for the tent. What exactly does that mean?
Click to expand...

I tolerate being cold a hell of a lot better than I tolerate being damp or wet. The biggest damn stove possible is a requirement for me moving forward. I’ll sacrifice space without question. Don’t care if I have to make a extra trip myself to get it in, and out. I was absolutely miserable last moose season. Everything was wet, and stayed at least damp, if not wet, the entire trip because someone thought their tiny stove was good enough for sleeping.
 
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