Spending a night in the bush, opinions please.

[aragor764]

Hey guys,
I would like to know what you guys think.
My hunting spot is about 1.5 hours away from home, i took 10 days off in November for WT and frankly its about 100$ per trip for me with the price of gas. So i am thinking of maybe spending one night out there, never done it before, here is what i have for hardware:
- 8 person ice fishing tent
- Big buddy heater with plenty of propane (i would get a CO sensor)
- Cot and medium heavy sleeping bag.
- Small camping grill
- pickup truck

I know the are fairly well and there are many spots for camping, this is up in 512 so it can get cold very quickly.
Let me know what you guys think, im about 50/50 right now. thanks!

[Moo Snukkle]

Giv’er
Been done on the ice lots
2 things: foamie or pad under your sleeping bag
Insulated tarp over tent if it isn’t insulated
#2 isn’t a deal breaker
I’d also put a tarp or 6 mil poly for a floor to keep condensation down
Remember proper venting
I like to run a 4’ piece of 4” sewer pipe under tent to beside heater so it has fresh air to burn

Good luck on the hunt

[huntinstuff]

Originally Posted by Moo Snukkle

Giv’er
Been done on the ice lots
2 things: foamie or pad under your sleeping bag
Insulated tarp over tent if it isn’t insulated
#2 isn’t a deal breaker
I’d also put a tarp or 6 mil poly for a floor to keep condensation down
Remember proper venting
I like to run a 4’ piece of 4” sewer pipe under tent to beside heater so it has fresh air to burn

Good luck on the hunt

Perfecto!

[Mavrick]

Ground and wind are the two you want to take care of. Do that and your good. I did this tons when I was younger in a lean to, and loved it. But age and comfort made me buy a 2 man canvas hot tent, the small wood stove is nice, still need a good ground cover though.

[58thecat]

I would make a go of it, water, rations etc and enjoy the hunt.


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[Trochu]

Don't see why not.
Don't know what kind of truck you have, but may consider just sleeping in the truck vs bringing a bunch of gear (tent, sleeping bag, cot, heater...) for one night.

[Bushmaster]

Go for it....and take lotsa pics!

[aragor764]

Originally Posted by Trochu

Don't see why not.
Don't know what kind of truck you have, but may consider just sleeping in the truck vs bringing a bunch of gear (tent, sleeping bag, cot, heater...) for one night.

thats not a bad idea, i have a half ton chevy...anyone done this before? Im 6,1, 230lbs will i fit comfortably in there?

[cowmanbob]

Originally Posted by aragor764

thats not a bad idea, i have a half ton chevy...anyone done this before? Im 6,1, 230lbs will i fit comfortably in there?

You’re asking a stranger if you’ll fit in your own truck?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by aragor764

thats not a bad idea, i have a half ton chevy...anyone done this before? Im 6,1, 230lbs will i fit comfortably in there?

Real simple,lay your carcass in the box with the tailgate up, you’ll figure it out real quick.
Good luck!


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[catnthehat]

Not a big deal really, I would not stay in the truck personally, a properly set up lean to is all that is needed with a small fire and a good sleeping bag.
I used to hunt and trap like this every fall when I was younger
Cat

[-JR-]

I had Ford service truck extented cab F350 had suicide rear doors . I removed the rear fold down seat and installed a foam mattress about 12 inch off the bottom . I think it was 3.5 ft wide and 6 ft long Under it i could store all my stuff . I slept in it once a week for 10 years . Best set up going ,if you get cold at night you just hit your remote start .
Whats nice about this is you can road hunt until it gets dark and park and watch a clear cut all night until morning .

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by aragor764

thats not a bad idea, i have a half ton chevy...anyone done this before? Im 6,1, 230lbs will i fit comfortably in there?

Throw insulated tarp over box, put good pad down or short height cot with good pad, buddy heater. Lots of room, cuts way down on gear.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Throw insulated tarp over box, put good pad down or short height cot with good pad, buddy heater. Lots of room, cuts way down on gear.

Lots of condensation doing that. Always lots of condensation in the fall/ winter but thats the worst. Did it once and havent had any incling to try it again. Just me.

Thought about making a frame I could stick in the box rail pockets and raise one end, could use the headache rack too but it would be PITA to get in and out.

[buckman]

[QUOTE=aragor764;4434117]Hey guys,
I would like to know what you guys think.
My hunting spot is about 1.5 hours away from home, i took 10 days off in November for WT and frankly its about 100$ per trip for me with the price of gas. So i am thinking of maybe spending one night out there, never done it before, here is what i have for hardware:
- 8 person ice fishing tent
- Big buddy heater with plenty of propane (i would get a CO sensor)
- Cot and medium heavy sleeping bag.
- Small camping grill
- pickup truck

I know the are fairly well and there are many spots for camping, this is up in 512 so it can get cold very quickly.
Let me know what you guys think, im about 50/50 right now. thanks![/QUO

You will be fine.Take a tarp and fashion a vestibule over your tent,build a big fire and sit under the tarp.Done this many times with a regular old woods canvas tent. Gets dark to early to be in the tent that long and a fire is better than a TV in the woods.

[cbc_anderson]

I know it seems obvious, but comfort is all about getting the basics right. As a kid we camped out in winter a lot. Coldest night of my life and best sleep of my life were during winter camps. Four rules I learned were: 1) Get off the cold ground (this is solved with a thick foam sleeping pad, or if you want to go old school, a bed of spruce or fir bows; 2) double bag it -- get a good down mummy sleeping bag and tuck it inside a much larger rectangular bag; 3) get out of the wind (this can be a tent, your vehicle, or it can also be a lean-to made of evergreen boughs, or even use snow as a wind barrier/insulation; 4) stay dry - be hyper-vigilant to not get your clothes wet by a fire in the snow and when you crawl into your sleeping bag always try to go to sleep feeling just a little cold -- if you feel toasty warm in your sleeping bag you will wake up sweating and then shiver all night long. I know this advice doesn't include any gear recommendations, but if you apply these principles to your setup, you will sleep like a baby. Have fun!

[dan1]

Rolling with a very similar system this week myself. It's been good for me so far. Good luck out there.

Originally Posted by aragor764

Hey guys,
I would like to know what you guys think.
My hunting spot is about 1.5 hours away from home, i took 10 days off in November for WT and frankly its about 100$ per trip for me with the price of gas. So i am thinking of maybe spending one night out there, never done it before, here is what i have for hardware:
- 8 person ice fishing tent
- Big buddy heater with plenty of propane (i would get a CO sensor)
- Cot and medium heavy sleeping bag.
- Small camping grill
- pickup truck

I know the are fairly well and there are many spots for camping, this is up in 512 so it can get cold very quickly.
Let me know what you guys think, im about 50/50 right now. thanks!

[-JR-]

Originally Posted by aragor764

Hey guys,
I would like to know what you guys think.
My hunting spot is about 1.5 hours away from home, i took 10 days off in November for WT and frankly its about 100$ per trip for me with the price of gas. So i am thinking of maybe spending one night out there, never done it before, here is what i have for hardware:
- 8 person ice fishing tent
- Big buddy heater with plenty of propane (i would get a CO sensor)
- Cot and medium heavy sleeping bag.
- Small camping grill
- pickup truck

I know the are fairly well and there are many spots for camping, this is up in 512 so it can get cold very quickly.
Let me know what you guys think, im about 50/50 right now. thanks!

So what did you do .....Motel ?

[270hunter]

Originally Posted by aragor764

Well, thanks to all for your suggestions. I did spend the night on Monday, and all went well, as it was suggested i used a cot with many layers on top of it to keep the cold from coming under, also used a tarp for the floor, managed to keep the Big buddy heater on low for the whole night without any issues, I used a pipe as an intake for the heater as suggested, made a big fire, had a great time. Didn't get a deer but it was well worth it, thanks again!

Originally Posted by -JR-

So what did you do .....Motel ?

Sounds like he had a great time.

[aragor764]

Alright lets revive this thread!
As stated last year i did end up spending a night in the bush in my Eskimo ice fishing tent. This year I am aiming for 3 nights, my setup was very good, but there is one thing i would change...I would like to get wood heat in there as opposed to propane heat, dry heat would be great. Anybody on here has done the wood stove conversion to their ice fishing tent?
I am trying to get a setup similar to this one below, looking for feedback and do's and don'ts, TIA!

[aragor764]

That was my setup last year btw.

[marky_mark]

I was going to do this with mine
Need get a stove jack sewn in

[Moo Snukkle]

I made my own rudimentary window jack.
Traced window pattern on a piece of scrap canvas. Had my wife sew the Velcro on I provided her.
** Important **
I made sure my sewing was completed first. Phase 2 was completed quietly in the garage.

I then “borrowed “ a stainless mixing bowl and high temp silicone strainer from the pantry ( where cookware goes to die) to make the ring. Piece of scrap


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[Moo Snukkle]

Scrap aluminum for a backer



I hang a welding blanket from the tent x poles and stove sits pretty tight to wall


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[Wapiti340]

I ice camp fishing in the winter with an insulated otter and sleep in the back of my truck with a canopy during hunting season. All the advice on here is great and you’ll figure out your own little tricks and comforts as you try it! I actually look forward to sleeping in the truck canopy after a day of hunting haha…

[nimrod]

[QUOTE=Moo Snukkle;4528927]Scrap aluminum for a backer



I hang a welding blanket from the tent x poles and stove sits pretty tight to wall

Now thats thinking out of the box, great idea, i might do this with my ice fishing hut

[aragor764]

Originally Posted by Moo Snukkle

Scrap aluminum for a backer



I hang a welding blanket from the tent x poles and stove sits pretty tight to wall


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That's exactly what i was thinking of doing, the silicone ring offers some support for the pipe, they sell em on amazon for like 35$. Did you have to brace the chimney at all on the outside? If yes what did you use?

[Moo Snukkle]

If you can buy a dedicated ring for $35, I’d buy a handful of them.
My research led me into the $150 range to get one in my hands at the time I wanted one
Was very happy with my Homer Simpson model


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[Moo Snukkle]

I’ve got a couple of these adjustable aluminum poles I use
Either stub one in the dirt and wire my stack to it, or as I do on the ice, I tape them in an X, and then wire my stack to them


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[Moo Snukkle]

Find one of these on Jiji
I picked one up for $25 just for the poles
Canvas had a lot of dry rot holes but I cut the floor out of it for scrap canvas and the rest works well when set up at deer camp as an outhouse
First in fires up the Buddy heater in the morning and the crew can do their business in comfort
Seriously considering hiring a little Filipino woman to help dress us in the mornings there as well.
Getting tougher every year to tie your boots with all your cold weather gear on.


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