Tent Setup for Hunting Season

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

I do some tent camping and have a Coleman 8 person easy up cabin tent (9x13). Make sure you get the additional rain fly, been through some thunderstorms with no issues with water inside. Going on 5 years with this tent. Use a cot and propane heater for deer season.

Dave

 

[Olympus]

I do some tent camping and have a Coleman 8 person easy up cabin tent (9x13). Make sure you get the additional rain fly, been through some thunderstorms with no issues with water inside. Going on 5 years with this tent. Use a cot and propane heater for deer season.

Dave

I’d be putting the tent under the Harbor Freight canopy, so there shouldn’t be any water issues.

 

[Snobdds]

Buy once, cry once...and it's too expensive to be cheap.

In Wyoming, we use canvas wall tents with a wood stove inside. I have been through some bad blizzards and stay nice and warm on the inside. Heck, the past few years my dad and I have gone elk hunting, we bring a little tv and dvd player and watch movies at night. Yea, I know, but you never know when the weather will change and you need to just get out of the weather and warm up for a while.

We use two wall tents, one as the kitchen and one as the sleeping area. We bought internal frame brackets and made the EMP tubing sections. It's easy to set up and it will hold a snow load, if you have to deal with that. We will also take a tarp and run it over the top to keep the rain off and it lets the snow slide off better.

Now when I go snow camping I have a little wall tent with a stove in it. I usually go solo and it's just for one night. Winter camping is one of the most relaxing activities I have ever done. It's great to get stuck in a blizzard and listen to the wind while the little stove is humming along...this is my winter set up.

 

[Olympus]

I think some might be missing the point. I’m lookin for something relatively inexpensive that I can use for 3-4 years by myself. Something I can put up and take down by myself. After 3-4 years, I may be able to upgrade to something more permanent, but maybe not. If I spend $300-$500 and it lasts 5 years, I’d consider that money well spent. I’m only going to use it 10 days a year probably. My hunting camp consists of just me.

 

[jaxs]

In the order that has worked best for me.
An old Airstream that had a long term plumbing leak that ruined the floor. We gutted inside,reinstalled range,sink and fridge. Bought 2 futons with bunks. After 14 years,I still have it.
A fifth wheel that we used year round for 2 years until SWMBO wanted to trade up to a nicer one which wasn't allowed to be used at deer camp.
A 20' inclosed cargo trailer that did double duty during off season. Lack of windows for light and ventilation made it less than I preferred.
An old bumper pull trailer that was prone to leak and collect mold while sitting unused.
A couple of different tents that always seemed to have something trying to make nests in them while I was gone. Our weather usually range's from 50f to 80f with a couple of 20f weekends that make's tent a poor choice. One major difference in my use from what you have is that I never injoyed fishing or hunting alone so I need accomindations for 2 to 3 people.

 

[Olympus]

Guys...here’s what I’m looking for. Do I buy a $500-$600 tent or do I buy a $200-$300 tent?

Both tents would be set up under a waterproof canopy. Both tents would be used by myself for the next 3-4 years for sure. Maybe not at all after that or maybe continued after that depending on whether my son becomes interested in camping.

I can’t afford to build a permanent shelter. And I can’t afford a camper/cargo trailer to use. I can’t don’t have anywhere to store a trailer at my house. Don’t want to pay license and personal property tax on a camper/trailer. Don’t want the maintenance associated with a camper/trailer.

 

[NTG]

Any military surplus stores near you? Or you might look online..... if you could get a small, in decent shape wall tent that was military, you might find a heavy duty tent on the cheap..... Other than that, I'd probably buy whatever Walmart or Amazon had that I could return. I would either be satisfied with it on my first hunting trip or I'd take/send it back.

 

[Olympus]

Any military surplus stores near you? Or you might look online..... if you could get a small, in decent shape wall tent that was military, you might find a heavy duty tent on the cheap..... Other than that, I'd probably buy whatever Walmart or Amazon had that I could return. I would either be satisfied with it on my first hunting trip or I'd take/send it back.

I looked online at military surplus tents and they’re not any cheaper than a new wall tent. Some cases they’re more expensive. Problem is most military surplus wall tents are a lot bigger than I need and are not ideal for a one-man set up.

The small surplus tents are a lot better made than the Walmart type stuff, but they’re dome style and don’t have room to stand up. I really prefer to be able to stand up to put on my hunting clothes.

 

[TheMan419]

Guys...here’s what I’m looking for. Do I buy a $500-$600 tent or do I buy a $200-$300 tent?

Both tents would be set up under a waterproof canopy. Both tents would be used by myself for the next 3-4 years for sure. Maybe not at all after that or maybe continued after that depending on whether my son becomes interested in camping.

I can’t afford to build a permanent shelter. And I can’t afford a camper/cargo trailer to use. I can’t don’t have anywhere to store a trailer at my house. Don’t want to pay license and personal property tax on a camper/trailer. Don’t want the maintenance associated with a camper/trailer.

The idea of getting the cheaper one with the thought of returning it is good. That way you can use it one season and see if you think it will hold up to the use for your 5 year time frame. If you don't think it will the more expensive tent is a better deal if you have the cash to do it.

Then after 5 years come back and we will help you spend more money building whatever is next for your hunting camp!

 

[donaldj]

This subject intrigues me because, from a backpacking paradigm, the tent keep the elements off you while the sleeping bag is for warmth. In your case, it looks like you're expecting the tent to also provide a warm dwelling area.

My contribution is to buy some seam sealer for the tent, even though you are planning on having a canopy over it. The seam sealer seals the little holes created when sewing the seams. Moisture can/will get in through them, and if you have a storm, rain can fall other than straight down. My family had a Coleman 10 person tent, and we did this. Our camping friends had the exact same model. It rained one night and the differences in water penetration were noticeable.

Another thing I like about the canopy idea is that UV light will eventually weaken nylon. Since your setup will be up 24/7 for multiple days, the extra protection afforded may (over a long time) really help prolong your investment.