Hunting Camp Tent Setups ?
- Thread starter bdb.hunting
- Start date
A nice big stove is big enough. I run the outfitter stove from deluxe wall tents: all bought at once along with accessories and tent itself. Last moose hunt at it was -20C air temp at night with some strong winds & heavy frost. Inside we were wearing shorts and a t-shirt: all gear nice and dry in the 12x14 tent. Woodstove needs replenishing at 3 or 4am depending on the firewood used.
Those small collapsible stoves are ok for a 6x8 shelter MAX in winter and you need to constantly keep them and burning hot if its real cold or you need to dry something. Anything bigger shelter wise or if an extended stay in cold temps then a heavier built steel (non compact/collapsible) stove is the only option.
Those small collapsible stoves are ok for a 6x8 shelter MAX in winter and you need to constantly keep them and burning hot if its real cold or you need to dry something. Anything bigger shelter wise or if an extended stay in cold temps then a heavier built steel (non compact/collapsible) stove is the only option.
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pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
I got a stove similar to Boomer686. It keeps my tent toasty in cold weather. I don't load up the stove to much before bed or I find it gets to hot. I let the wood stove burn out. I have a cold weather sleeping bag and light the fire when I get up. Takes five minutes to heat the tent up again. My stove has about a 5-6 hr burn time.
This is very important to note.
You must have the space somewhere once home, to lay the wall tent out to ensure it is completely
dry before rolling it up for storage or it will mold up and stain it for life.
Even better is setting it up indoors or hanging it from the ceiling, spread out. If left on the floor it will take longer to dry out and requires you constantly rotate / flip it as the canvas in contact with the concrete ( assuming you're using your garage etc) will remain wet. An oscillating fan speeds up drying time. Even when it feels dry I let it sit for a few more days before folding it up and storing it.
Where you store it is important too don't forget. You want to keep it dry Dry DRY! Storing it in a cold, damp spot will not help the situation and will work towards shortening the life of the tent.
^^ I hang my two wall tents from rafter hooks in my basement.
Both mine are 16'x14'x9.5 ridge, canvas roof, cloth walls.
Made the not drying mistake once when I brought one out and returned home.
Weather was warm, tent seemed fine, dry wise. Left it rolled up. Error!
Unrolled it a couple months later to fix a tear in the back wall window screen and had black mold stains here & there on the cloth walls.
In the summer it evolved into both tents getting a fix everything, even if it doesn't need fixing, big time effort.
Cleaning/waterproofing/sewing, I'm sure you know the drill
I had help, but my beer & BBQ tab got a bit out of control, good time was had by all.
I guess all I'm trying to say to someone considering wall tents, as awesome as they are, properly drying a wall tent must be done & you need the free space to do it for the big ones.
Moisture is an issue that cannot be ignored, but that really goes with any tent though doesn't it, slow drying heavy cloth/canvas wall tent or a synthetic type tent.
They will probably be damp to wringing wet every time you return home from your fall hunting trips.
Both mine are 16'x14'x9.5 ridge, canvas roof, cloth walls.
Made the not drying mistake once when I brought one out and returned home.
Weather was warm, tent seemed fine, dry wise. Left it rolled up. Error!
Unrolled it a couple months later to fix a tear in the back wall window screen and had black mold stains here & there on the cloth walls.
In the summer it evolved into both tents getting a fix everything, even if it doesn't need fixing, big time effort.
Cleaning/waterproofing/sewing, I'm sure you know the drill
I had help, but my beer & BBQ tab got a bit out of control, good time was had by all.
I guess all I'm trying to say to someone considering wall tents, as awesome as they are, properly drying a wall tent must be done & you need the free space to do it for the big ones.
Moisture is an issue that cannot be ignored, but that really goes with any tent though doesn't it, slow drying heavy cloth/canvas wall tent or a synthetic type tent.
They will probably be damp to wringing wet every time you return home from your fall hunting trips.
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
Hey Norton, there's something about sitting in a warm tent sipping on a hot rum after dinner. I love it.
I don't use the legs provided on those wood stoves, bit flimsy when the stove is loaded up & can sink into the ground.
I just put the stove on 4 bricks.
Putting a couple inches of sand in the bottom of the stove will help prolong its life from getting burned out.
I just put the stove on 4 bricks.
Putting a couple inches of sand in the bottom of the stove will help prolong its life from getting burned out.
Thanks for the tip on the legs! I do keep sand in when burning, but the legs sure are flimsy. I was expecting at some point I would have to figure out a plan B when they get too bad and bricks sound perfect
Also to the OP, I do have a Sibley Bell tent for family camping, and it's nice but I much prefer something without a floor and higher side walls, especially when hunting. My set up in my previous post can accommodate 3 hunters with stove.
Anyone using a portable ice fishing hut as a hunting camp tent? I'm thinking about it if I ever get a moose tag (LOL). I have a 10'x10' "Ice Cube" all black, and a Mr. Buddy heater. No floor, but thinking a few dollar store tarps might do. I've fished in this tent for hours on the ice so not sure why sleeping on a cot on land would be an issue. Cooking fire / Coleman stove outside - this ice fishing hut just for sleeping and hanging out in.
Probably need a tarp or something as a fly.... only ever used it below zero so never in the rain.
Thoughts? Maybe I should try it in my back yard first if I ever get drawn for a moose tag Only 20 more years to go!
Probably need a tarp or something as a fly.... only ever used it below zero so never in the rain.
Thoughts? Maybe I should try it in my back yard first if I ever get drawn for a moose tag
Only 20 more years to go!Anyone using a portable ice fishing hut as a hunting camp tent? I'm thinking about it if I ever get a moose tag (LOL). I have a 10'x10' "Ice Cube" all black, and a Mr. Buddy heater. No floor, but thinking a few dollar store tarps might do. I've fished in this tent for hours on the ice so not sure why sleeping on a cot on land would be an issue. Cooking fire / Coleman stove outside - this ice fishing hut just for sleeping and hanging out in. Probably need a tarp or something as a fly.... only ever used it below zero so never in the rain. Thoughts? Maybe I should try it in my back yard first if I ever get drawn for a moose tag
We've adapted the insulated woods / eskimo ones here for overnight winter use: install a stove jack in the window with velcro using firelcoth and silicone jack. Can't recommend them for summer though as they soak up the water. In heavy snow make sure to brush off the snow load on occasion as it's not designed to be up for prolonged periods of time.
Anyone using a portable ice fishing hut as a hunting camp tent? I'm thinking about it if I ever get a moose tag (LOL). I have a 10'x10' "Ice Cube" all black, and a Mr. Buddy heater. No floor, but thinking a few dollar store tarps might do. I've fished in this tent for hours on the ice so not sure why sleeping on a cot on land would be an issue. Cooking fire / Coleman stove outside - this ice fishing hut just for sleeping and hanging out in.
Probably need a tarp or something as a fly.... only ever used it below zero so never in the rain.
Thoughts? Maybe I should try it in my back yard first if I ever get drawn for a moose tag
I'm sure you could make it work. Can't imagine it would be any worse than a 10x10 Easy-up wrapped in tarps, and as long as the stove was going my buddy was wearing shorts in -15c.
Anyone using a portable ice fishing hut as a hunting camp tent? I'm thinking about it if I ever get a moose tag (LOL). I have a 10'x10' "Ice Cube" all black, and a Mr. Buddy heater. No floor, but thinking a few dollar store tarps might do. I've fished in this tent for hours on the ice so not sure why sleeping on a cot on land would be an issue. Cooking fire / Coleman stove outside - this ice fishing hut just for sleeping and hanging out in.
Probably need a tarp or something as a fly.... only ever used it below zero so never in the rain.
Thoughts? Maybe I should try it in my back yard first if I ever get drawn for a moose tag
My buddy modified his otter last year amd its nice. Not sure how rain proof it is.
I have done this several times in cold weather as well as overnighting on the ice multiple times.
I would say this is a much better option than Jerry rigging a shelter not intended for camping but I have never done that so who knows.
If you are using propane heater keep a c02 alarm handy you should do this anyways. The heat of multiple people will keep the tent pretty warm; but I have used smaller ones and cots.
I have never tried a wood stove in one but I imagine it could be done. I am a bit reticent to try using wood heat in a “plastic” shelter be it an ice fishing one or a Canadian tire hobo camp.
Never used one in a situation where it was warm enough to rain. I have set them up in old pullouts and whatnot next to my truck in late autumn up north. They are great in wind and snow and easy to set up as you know from ice fishing.
I like to solo hunt and rarely go with more than one other person; I used my 4 man Eskimo with a cot and buddy heater but I didn’t run it at night and just used my -15 bag
A 4 season tent is probably preferable without heat; but they aren’t much for hanging out in. Probably a better option for snuggling up with your honey than bull####ting with the fellas at hunting camp.
