Winter deer camp tips.

[Dave Bulla]

Just read all through Jeff Shanes thread about winter camping tents and got to thinking about some of the things I've learned while camping with some buddies the last couple of years which also made me realize that there are loads of folks here who have done a ton more camping than I have so I figured I'd try to pic your brains a bit.  I'm mainly talking about tent camps but having seen a couple pretty rustic plywood shacks in the north woods I'm aware that some of them are not much more than plywood tents infested with mice and lots of what works there will apply to tent camps too.

I'm looking for things like what kind of camp you prefer and tips on everything from food transport, prep. and storage to how to keep warm, dry, organized or whatever.

My friends and I pretty much always did the drive to where you are gonna camp routine so we could take a lot of extra stuff (and we did).

For instance, we packed along a big pot like for deep frying turkeys.  Before the trip we all would make a batch of stew, chili, gumbo or whatever and can it in quart mason jars or vacuum seal it.  In camp, we'd fire up a propane stove and half fill the pot with water then loosen the rings on the canning jars and set them in the water where it didn't quite reach the lids and let it all come to a boil.  Pull out the heated jars of stew and serve it.  The bonus was we then had hot dishwater all ready to go!

Another thing is to HAVE A SET OF "CAMP RULES" and enforce them.  Doesn't have to be much but if anybody has a pet peeve it's best to avoid trouble from the start.  Like if the tent belongs to you, maybe you don't want anything up against the sides or nobody smoking inside.  No puting your gear on somebody elses cot.  Clean up after yourself, keep the flaps closed in winter or open in summer.

Dig a latrine downwind of camp and USE it.  

A 4 to 6 inch log tied horizontaly a comfortable height above the latrine hole makes a much better seat than squatting by the edge.

Baby wipes have more uses than super glue in camp.

There is no such thing as too much rope or twine.

If you know a lineman, ask him if he can get you a bunch of the screw in steps that used to be installed on utility poles.  They are about 1/2" diameter steel with one end threaded and the other end bent over like a tent stake and they make GREAT tent stakes for rocky ground.  Beat them into the ground right through small to medium sized rocks and if they won't pull out you can just unscrew them.  You'll never bend one but they are pretty heavy compared to the plastic kind.

So, lets hear some tips from the experts.....

[Brian Krebs]

socks first: THEN shoes.

[Tim Fishell]

My dad and I teach winter survival training to boy scouts every February.  The number one thing to remember when camping in the winter is to bring LOTS of dry clean close and change offten exspcially before bed.  It also helps to have a high quality sleeping bag and line the inside with a fleece or wool blanket.  Try to stay away from cotton because it only absorbs mosture.  Also most people dont realize that you will stay warmer sleeping on the ground rather than in a cot.  The ground is a great insulator and will help you retain body heat in your sleeping bag.  Your number one enemy when camping in cold weather is mosture.  Do all you can to stay dry and you should stay comfy!!

[Tony Phillips]

When I was stationed in Alaska they taught us a acronym that was "COLD"

C--Keep it CLEAN
O--Don't OVERHEAT
L--Dress in LAYERS
D--Keep it DRY

[zilla]

If you bury your water in the snow it won't freeze...

[Dave Bulla]

Zilla, that's a new one to me.... You're not funnin' me are ya?

[DeerSpotter]

Snow insulates,

[Roy from Pa]

Don't eat the yellow snow and them hain't raisens that fell off a tree:)

[robtattoo]

Always keep a set of dry clothes in camp & KEEP THEM DRY. There's nothing worse than having to stay wet.
A sleeping bag liner is far warmer than pyjamas.
NEVER sleep directly on the ground, a good sleeping mat is invaluable if you can't take a cot.

[always89]

Add to the layers, keep those layers loose to catch air

When you do dig a latrine, keep it at least 20 ft from your watersource (stream or such)

[nanook712]

Good topic, been thinking about heading out one of these weekends, take my bow chase a few tree rats. Use to do quite a bit, at least a couple times ayear.
 If there's snow it might be easyier to sled your stuff in. Take the time to rig a wind break for sitting round the camp fire. Take a couple 12" x 18" chunks of closed cell foam to sit,kneel,put plates on, etc. One advantage of using one of those metal camping plates is you can rake a few coals from the fire to set it on, keeps your food warm.

[northener]

Make a menu and stick to it. Makes camp life easier.

EVERONE gets a turn at cooking AND dishes AND all the other camp chores.

Solar bags for showers work great, even if there is no sun, just heat water. I have taken showers in 30 degree temps, better then going without.

Yep, baby wipes are not just for babies anymore.


Personnels, don't forget them,   chap stick, antacid, prep H, Ibprofin, hand lotion,  baby powder.

cots work nice,  store your cloths and other things below, makes for a neater tent.


Communicate, where are you going to hunt for the day and when you plan on returning. Leave a note if your plans have changed!

[ChuckC]

where are you guys digging latrines in the winter ?  Maybe in Tennessee, but usually not in WI, MN or MI.

Keep things where they belong.  Waking up to ten inches of new snow and looking around camp for the axe or knife that was layed on the ground is not a good thing.
ChuckC

[Ken from AZ]

Stay Dry! Nothing feels better than dry/clean clothes AND BOOTS when you get back to camp! Keeping dry stuff back in camp makes for a good night, not to mention your hunting clothes won't smell like the camp fire, that nights dinner,or worse...

Being from Arizona I am a self proclaimed expert at staying warm (You need to be when 50 degrees is the next ice age!) and up in Northern AZ where I deer hunt snow and below 30 is the norm for December and January's deer season! Yes sir I'll take a cot over the ground any dang day!

Do you have a pickup? Take a few bails of hay with you to camp - spread under the tent it is INCREDIBLE insullation, and the game will be happy to eat it when you head back home! Not to mention it is real cheap! Try it and you WILL thank me, I promise!