Backcountry Caches

[Cedarsavage]

I'm looking for info on caching gear in the backcountry. I didn't see any subforums that addressed it...
I'm looking at packing in a lightweight woodstove and small tent a few miles in for november whitetails. Anybody know of threads on here discussing this? If not if you have any experience I'd like to hear about it. I was thinking some type of metal container, dropped before season with tent, folding stove, a little firewood, some mountain house etc. Google didn't turn anything up but I was thinking either pack in a drum or fab a metal container to keep bears (lots of black bears) out.

Maybe you western guys do this for mulies? It's almost unheard of in this part of the country.

 

[Capt Shann]

I'm interested in this myself. I use old military Hardigg containers for staging equipment on remote worksites. Always looking for a better way. Following

 

[Rich M]

Guys seem to stash some stuff during the summer - firewood under a deadfall, beer in a stream, etc.

Most folks who do that don't want other folks to find it. Figure out if a steel 20-30-55-gallon drum will hold what you need held. Bury it, then drop in a couple desiccants, seal it tight, and cover it over.

 

[DRP]

I use a 30 gallon plastic food grade barrel for my cache. It has a metal locking ring and it’s water tight. I dug a hole just deep enough the top couple inches stick out of the hole then covered it with bark to hide it. It’s been there 9 years and it’s still in great condition. Every couple years I pack in some water, jet boil fuel, mt house, ect and restock it. I also put a “DampRid” moisture collector canister in the barrel to help keep the condensation under control. It also works pretty well as a backcountry refrigerator,

 

[cnelk]

I cached a tent and a couple other items a few times. I put it in an old backpack and tied it up in a tree.

I know of some other guys that cache stuff in an 'action packer' type tote and then bury it.

 

[5MilesBack]

If you're packing it in for "November Whitetails", then you're not really "caching" it. You've only got three days left for November, so you'd be "using" it.

 

[cnelk]

If you're packing it in for "November Whitetails", then you're not really "caching" it. You've only got three days left for November, so you'd be "using" it.

I believe he's referring to hunting Michigan - since thats where he's from

 

[Wrongside]

We had to clean someone's cache up this year. 16k back in the mountains. A bear had torn it to shreds and scattered it. Freeze dried packages, a bunch of fuel cans, tools, tarps and other supplies. They had left the cache tied high in a tree. Hard to say if a bear climbed and tore it down, or if it just fell and then the bears got to it.

 

[justinspicher]

A small group of us did this last year for an elk hunt. We hiked in our goods and stashed it up in a tree. We put everything in a dry bag. Came back a week later and hunted. Worked out pretty well. The only suggestion I have, is to inventory what you took out so you don’t “accidentally” bring more than you need on your second trip.

 

[S.Clancy]

We have never done it.

FYI, if you are doing it on public land and you leave it for more than the 2 week maximum it can be confiscated by the public land agency. We had a full 10x20 shed full of caches we removed from FS land when I worked for them, up to and including a canoe.

 

[Cedarsavage]

If you're packing it in for "November Whitetails", then you're not really "caching" it. You've only got three days left for November, so you'd be "using" it.

I'm thinking next season. I was in there yesterday and not a track to be found.

 

[Cedarsavage]

I use a 30 gallon plastic food grade barrel for my cache. It has a metal locking ring and it’s water tight. I dug a hole just deep enough the top couple inches stick out of the hole then covered it with bark to hide it. It’s been there 9 years and it’s still in great condition. Every couple years I pack in some water, jet boil fuel, mt house, ect and restock it. I also put a “DampRid” moisture collector canister in the barrel to help keep the condensation under control. It also works pretty well as a backcountry refrigerator,

Where did you get the barrel? We get a ton of snow. Maybe above ground maybe better? But your setup sounds like it'd work. How did you get it back there; strap it to frame pack?

 

[Cedarsavage]

We have never done it.

FYI, if you are doing it on public land and you leave it for more than the 2 week maximum it can be confiscated by the public land agency. We had a full 10x20 shed full of caches we removed from FS land when I worked for them, up to and including a canoe.

Good point. I was thinking a week or so ahead of time if I find something I wanna hunt.

 

[Cedarsavage]

I cached a tent and a couple other items a few times. I put it in an old backpack and tied it up in a tree.

I know of some other guys that cache stuff in an 'action packer' type tote and then bury it.

That's a good idea. I have a dry bag with a broken strap I could probably use.

 

[Newtosavage]

Just make sure it's legal first fellas. On most public lands, this would not be a legal move.

That said, I found a pretty sweet "cache" spot on my last hunt - a hole in a massive rock that you could easily put a couple backpacks in.

 

[cnelk]

The key word here is 'cache' not 'stash'

If you put it where someone finds it, its not really a 'cache' is it?

 

[Mt Al]

I've only done it with water on a dry ridge on a few unlimited sheep hunts years ago. The first time we put a bunch of bottles in a nylon bag and tied it pretty high up in a tree. Came back to hunt and a bear (could see tracks/claw marks in the tree) had torn it down and scattered everything. Only a few bottles weren't bitten through. What a pain.

Next few years we adjusted: brought longer/lighter cord, tossed cord with a rock tied to the end over a pretty high branch quite far from the tree trunk, then tied the cord off on a very-tough-but-thinner branch also far enough out from the trunk so a bear wouldn't get to it. If you plan on hanging something, strongly recommend making it bear proof!

If you're planning on scouting or going in anyway before the season, caching/stashing sure makes things easier when you're back in.

 

[Poser]

When I cache food/gear, I just put it up on a 2 rope “PCT” style hang, extra high and well clear of trees. The “caches” that I’ve come across range from steel drums to just leaving stuff under trees and rocks: tools, wood stoves, wall tent frame etc that nobody could take without mules. The problem with these types of caches is that they end up becoming trash once the party stops showing up.

 

[ElDiablito]

We’ve used a 30 gallon plastic barrel strapped to a pine about 40 feet high. Works great. Definitely inventory it so you remember what’s actually in it. I photograph the contents.

 

[Jeremyc_1999]

I use a 30 gallon plastic food grade barrel for my cache. It has a metal locking ring and it’s water tight. I dug a hole just deep enough the top couple inches stick out of the hole then covered it with bark to hide it. It’s been there 9 years and it’s still in great condition. Every couple years I pack in some water, jet boil fuel, mt house, ect and restock it. I also put a “DampRid” moisture collector canister in the barrel to help keep the condensation under control. It also works pretty well as a backcountry refrigerator,

Is this in a bear area? I'm just wondering if it would be bear safe? Also, does water in a buried barrel freeze in the winter?