Hot Tent for SE Alaska

[Huntinbouwbow]

I have a 3 week hunt near Ketchikan Alaska, I am torn between all of the hot tent option and stove options. I was not planning on taking one but iv also never hunted SE Alaska. i tend to hunt more in the interior and arctic. SO any pointer would be appreciated. I want to buy once cry once. I also want something that is built well. I have been leaning toward Seek outdoors and a winnerwell stove.

Thank you for any help

 

[Ecampbell25]

Seek outside red cliff will be a great option. I use one with the XL stove.

But depending on where you are trying to hunt southeast AK is super wet and you will have a heck of a time trying to build a fire.

You might also think about getting the floor for the red cliff. Just to keep the rain out.

When I have hunted SE AK I use an Arctic oven and try and buy Viking logs at the gas station to burn in my seek xl stove.

 

[Huntinbouwbow]

Arctic Ovens are great i think if you have a bigger group. I see them all the time for road hunters. We are limited on weight for the fly in. We will be hunting across Ketchikan.

Thanks for the input on the stove

 

[Mangata]

I have the Arctic Oven 10 that I have flown with on multiple occasions. It certainly is a heavier tent but it has lasted through some nasty Kodiak storms with no failures.
I also don’t try to burn wood in coastal Alaska camping situations. Clearly not optimal for moisture but I will run a small buddy heater for a limited time just to take the chill out mornings and evenings.

 

[Huntinbouwbow]

I have the Arctic Oven 10 that I have flown with on multiple occasions. It certainly is a heavier tent but it has lasted through some nasty Kodiak storms with no failures.
I also don’t try to burn wood in coastal Alaska camping situations. Clearly not optimal for moisture but I will run a small buddy heater for a limited time just to take the chill out mornings and evenings.

We have to hike pretty far, the Arctic oven is a tank of a tent.

 

[Mangata]

We have to hike pretty far, the Arctic oven is a tank of a tent.

Arctic Oven is definitely not a backpacking tent unless you are bringing a handful of Sherpas along…
Highly encourage a floor of some type to keep things as dry as possible

 

[chizelhead]

Curious. What is your hunt and when is it if you don't mind sharing? Season and location can make a difference.

Edit: I saw now you are flying/hiking. For a 3 week hunt, can you set up a base camp with a floored/wood heated tent where the plane drops you off and spike out from there? If you've never hunted SEAK and most of your hunting has been the interior, the rain/fog/dampness/darkness might get to you for that long. Also, you'll likely get wet and it will be hard to dry out without heat. I think at a base camp you could find wood to burn, but I think it would be difficult to find enough dry wood to use further out. Good Luck. It sounds like it will be a memorable hunt.

 

[Huntinbouwbow]

Curious. What is your hunt and when is it if you don't mind sharing? Season and location can make a difference.

Edit: I saw now you are flying/hiking. For a 3 week hunt, can you set up a base camp with a floored/wood heated tent where the plane drops you off and spike out from there? If you've never hunted SEAK and most of your hunting has been the interior, the rain/fog/dampness/darkness might get to you for that long. Also, you'll likely get wet and it will be hard to dry out without heat. I think at a base camp you could find wood to burn, but I think it would be difficult to find enough dry wood to use further out. Good Luck. It sounds like it will be a memorable hunt.

Thank you sir, I have never hunted SE AK. I have been there maybe 30 plus times for work but of course i had somewhere to go at the end of each day. I think that will be the game plan. to set it up where we fly in. we will be flying in to one of the lakes, and moving up high for the hunt. I was not planning on taking a hot tent but after talking to alot of folks. it seems better to have and not need than need and not have. Any tent/stove you recommend for down there?

thank you sir

 

[chizelhead]

I have a traditional no name wall tent with a home fabricated wood stove that I inherited. It's heavy but we've flown it in to use as a base camp in the Frank Church. We use a plastic tarp for the floor but have a cutout for the stove. We also tarp the roof to minimize spark/ember holes and help with water proofness. I've only used this set up down south in PNW, ID, and AZ. I would look at something more modern like the Artic Oven that is being recommended here or a tipi. My set up is made particularly heavy due to the poles. Switching to carbon fiber would save a lot of weight. You may want to see if there's a forest service cabin at the lake that you can rent. Those cabins are all over the SE. That would be ideal. I haven't checked in a while, so this may not be an option. Some of the lake cabins have been removed, but there can be wood to burn and a flat/dry spot with drainage to set up a base camp tent. You can check with the pilot and google earth. Things to consider leaving a base camp is bears. I hope this helps.

 

[Huntinbouwbow]

I have a traditional no name wall tent with a home fabricated wood stove that I inherited. It's heavy but we've flown it in to use as a base camp in the Frank Church. We use a plastic tarp for the floor but have a cutout for the stove. We also tarp the roof to minimize spark/ember holes and help with water proofness. I've only used this set up down south in PNW, ID, and AZ. I would look at something more modern like the Artic Oven that is being recommended here or a tipi. My set up is made particularly heavy due to the poles. Switching to carbon fiber would save a lot of weight. You may want to see if there's a forest service cabin at the lake that you can rent. Those cabins are all over the SE. That would be ideal. I haven't checked in a while, so this may not be an option. Some of the lake cabins have been removed, but there can be wood to burn and a flat/dry spot with drainage to set up a base camp tent. You can check with the pilot and google earth. Things to consider leaving a base camp is bears. I hope this helps.

Helps a lot, bears are on the island but low density. We will be there when silvers are running. not to say bears will not be a problem but from my experience, if fish are running they tend to leave us alone. Never had them come into camp, but i have ran into them moving throughout the land. I am honestly more worried about the weather. I have spent most of my life in sub zero temps, rain that eventually will fade to sun. but i have little exp. with areas that tend to rain for months on end with zero chance to dry out gear or start a fire. It will be fun, and iv never hunted elk so it will be cool to just see one honestly. we are stoked for the opportunity.

 

[chizelhead]

If you search rokslide, I think you will find a trip report or two. Maybe reach out to them. I look forward to the report. I'm guessing experiences on both islands will help with planning and what to expect. Good luck.