Hunting Camp

[scout34]

What is your idea of the perfect hunting camp?  What features are essential and what can I do to make one inviting for my wife?  If I get her involved and interested I can spend more... .

[379 Peterbilt]

camp....  my wife

Holiday inn....

Just kidding. Generaly speaking, women do not like roughing it. I would suggest a cot or at least a pad, a portable shower that heats the water, privacy curtain, some kind of comode that's close to a modern day toilet, comfly lawn/outdoors chairs, cell phone, boom box, all the special foods in the lowfat, carb counting junk - (bacon and burgers aint gonna cut it) You said hunting camping - that implies cold weather. They don't like that either, so perhaps a stove and wall tent, or at least tent that will not leak and get you all wet, along with a good quality sleeping bag that will keep her warm at night. Also, good quality jacket/pants, etc. If you're in bear country, offer to sleep closest to the door so as to protect her from all the scarey bruins at night.

Or, just save yourself the trouble and take yer buddies instead. Just kidding again.

Nice that ya wanna include the Mrs. Keep in mind that if her experience at hunting camp turns out to be a bit less cozy than what she expects, she will be less likey to go again. That could be good or bad, haha. Seriously, I think you have to do it right and to her liking. Number one rule is her comfort at all times, day and night. Good luck

[savageT]

Indoor plumbing for a good start!  Seriously, I went to a hunting camp a few years ago that will accomodate about 30 guys.  They have rooms set up with two dbl. bunk beds.  Also......two bathrooms w/ showers.  Goes a long way to keep the little lady comfy and sweet smelling!!!!

Jim

[scout34]

Yeah, the shower thing is important as is clean, dry, warm...I can't afford a big RV trailer, but I will be getting a gooseneck flatbed to haul my jeep on.  Perhaps I could build that into some kind of portable deer camp.  You're outside but 2 feet above the snakes and mud.  Maybe an old converted stock trailer for bruin  security.

[379 Peterbilt]

Oh, I didnt know you were talking camper. Well, take the wife along when ya shop for one. You, as a man, will never be able to pick out the proper hunting camper decor....You must know the proper carpeting colors coupled with the cabinet flavors, lighting, general layout, furniture features, etc..... :-D She will ensure that you get the right stuff, hahaa

[scout34]

I admit I've thought about trailers some, but I don't get excited by the big RVs.  

To me hunting means a more fundamental existance.  I'd love to have a cabin that we return to year after year but I'm military and can't really afford that yet, or even guarantee that I'll be close enough to use it.

No it's public land for me.  Why not have my hunting camp on a trailer and that way all the fun of deer camp and all it's traditions aren't tied to one place.  The more I chew over this idea the more I like it.

Time for some research.

[willysjeep134]

I have a twelve by sixteen foot cabin my great grandfather built back in 1925. It is covered in boards, then rolled roofing tar paper, no insulation or any of that. It has a wood stove, a steel enamel sink with a hand pump, and a few nails in the rafters to hang lanterns from. It also has a poured cement floor that was added later.

My dad had installed insulation and panneling back in the 80's, but it just got musty and turned into a gigantic squirrle nest. I gutted the building, back like it was when great grand dad built it. I have a single bunk bed right now, and I plan on building another. Eventually I want to be able to sleep four or five people. I also have a small couch and a table out there. It is simple, which is what I think is essential in a camp. Anything more and it becomes a cottage or vacation home. My parents have a vacation cottage out on the same property, but I like a real camp for deer season, it just seems right.

[Bear Rider]

scott34,

I saw a setup that somone made from a gooseneck several years ago. He had a cabover camper mounted on the trailer so that the cabover portion was over the gooseneck. He had a gasoline tank mounted on the gooseneck as well so that he could refill his ATVs via gravity.

The deck of the trailer that wasn't covered by the camper was used to haul his ATVs and whatever  other toys that he had, and then became a patio with chairs and a table. He could have gone farther and put up an awning very easily.

He had rails around the permiter of the flatbed, with a drop ramp at the rear, and a gateway with steps at the side.

All in all, it was a nice, well thought out unit.

[ironglow]

  If you are talking camper, take a look here at the newest move in such camping:
     
  For example:   <www.golittleguy.com/>  or:   <www.teardrops.net>

    Some buy new units..many build their own...I am finishing my second one. I gave the first one to my grandson & wife. Grandson just got back frtom Al Anbar prov. in Iraq..

  There is a very interesting forum for folks that build their own...with much plans, ideas and info is shared.

   see:         <www.mikenchell.com/>             click into forums..for lots of sharing & info

  I haul my campers with a basic 4 cyl, 5 speed Ranger that gets 28 mpg over the highway..with the camper attached, i still get 25 mpg over the road.
 
 usually a side tent is set up for a "necessary room".. They work well in the "outback"..
     
                   

[Daveinthebush]

There are some extremes.  For extended camps near the road I have  Ford 4X4 with a Coachman pop-up camper.  No shower or toilet. A 3 gallon Sun Shower can work outside in remote areas.

For the harder hunts only a bivy bag over the sleeping bag or a ripstop nylon tarp underneith and draged over the top when in the bag.  The extreme trips only require a 30 pound pack to do.  I can also set up a 1,2, or 4 man tent if the weight is not a problem.

[Siskiyou]

I setup a good tent camp, but if I want my wife to go I have to cheat.  I have to invite the grandkids, it works.  After the honey moon was over tent camping did not cut the grade.  But toss in a couple of kids and she was was with the program, from the Grand Canyon to the Mexican border. 

I am currently packing my deer camp.  For fun I will invite her to go along.  All I need to do is toss in another cot and a couple more sleeping bags.  For some reason camping in wind, rain, and snow is not her bag.   But I will ask her.  Grandkids are in school now so that method will not work.

[curdog]

my wife and i both enjoy camping and just hanging out in the woods, if it ever come down to one of us staying home to feed and one going to deer camp, i would have to stay home.lol this year we bought a 18 ft. cargo trailer,it is perfect. our bed and camping gear is always ready and it stays dry, plus the back folds down into a ramp to load both 4-wheelers. one truck and trailer does everything

[corbanzo]

Anywhere with dutch ovens, a few of them.  That always makes a good hunting camp.