Rookie Question

[Where's Bruce?]

If you were bow hunting in BC or AK for 11-14 days (spike camp) where you are flown into a remote location 1/2 mile from your spike camp to hunt moose, would you pack a solar shower so you could wash regularly without freezing your ass off? Scent control is one issue (which I tend to go overboard with) but in addition to that, I'm thinking it might be an enjoyable piece of snivel gear. On the other hand, if the sun isn't out then it's just useless. For you very experienced NW backcountry packers...is this a stupid idea?

 

[Manosteel]

I have never used one in a hunting situtation but have used them camping before. They are very handy and actually do a good job at giving you the feeling of a warm shower. The one I used was a colmen and if I recall it was fairly light but then a gain I wasn't packing it up and down a mountain.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Well I will only be hauling it (empty) to and from the float plane (one mile round trip) and since the water in the surrounding area is very cold, thought I should consider it.

 

[chas]

Why not just heat water and wash and dry.

 

[Mad Mountain Mike]

For personal hygiene it's what ever floats your boat, you're the guy carrying it. As far as scent goes if the wind changes you're beat, shower or not. Imho

 

[TEmbry]

On backcountry hunts personal hygiene is for you to be able to stomach the smell of yourself crawling into a sleeping bag, not to fool a critters nose (because you can't and won't). I'd consider it on a fly in drop off hunt but I've never messed with one to date. I just use those wet wipe mini towels for wiping down and a poor mans shower. I dip my head down into the water to rinse it off.

Would make a nice luxury for a trip where you aren't doing a pack in... But not necessary either

 

[Ray]

Depending on the type of plane your baggage allowance may only be 50 pounds and a rifle. You will be drying out wet wipes to be rehydrated in the field to save ounces. If you are in a float plane or larger than a super cub you will be allowed more gear.

Those black solar bags may warm up enough on a cloudy day due to infrared physics that it might feel OK out of the wind. We washed up in a stream that was just down slope from a ice cored rock glacier. Even though it was 80 degrees that day the water was far from warm. The other issue is that the ambient temp and latent heat transfer may not allow for the solar bag to get above 45 to 50 degrees.

The one issue with field washing is that if one guy does it everyone should. After washing up you will notice the smell of your companions and it can be overwhelming.

 

[Stid2677]

During that time of year, you are lucky to ever see the sun as that is a rainy time of year, in Alaska anyway. I use smoke bathes and hunt the wind, even if you bathed you would still have smelly clothing. Do some reading on smoke bathes, the smoke kills bacteria and also serves as a cover scent. The few times I have did a bird bath, I just used my jetboil to heat a couple cups of water.

Steve

 

[Vance in AK]

During that time of year, you are lucking to ever see the sun as that is a rainy time of year, in Alaska anyway. I use smoke bathes and hunt the wind, even if you bathed you would still have smelly clothing. Do some reading on smoke bathes, the smoke kills bacteria and also serves as a cover scent. The few times I have did a bird bath, I just used my jetboil to heat a couple cups of water.

Steve

x2

One thing I do like is a wasrm washcloth on the face in the mornings. Again the jetboil since I'm making oatmeal anyway.

 

[littlebuf]

I've never understood the obsession with taking showers in the woods. Clean or dirty an animal can smell you the same if you don't have the wind. I've gone weeks before and killed animals at the end of the trip all the same. A few dehydrated baby wipes do the trick

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Weight isn't an issue, am allowed 100lbs and my pack and bow are coming in at just under 70. Since i switched to merino base layers, the skank is not nearly as bad as it was with my Sitka core gear but i get your drift. A small canvas tent gets pretty confining when the air inside is green.

I suppose I could use the solar shower in conjunction with my Jetboil to heat it up more if necessary...I really like showering as i have oily skin and man do I get rank. Bigfoot would shake his head.

 

[hflier]

One or two packs of Purell Military Wipes are easier and work great.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-pack-Pure...925?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f241965f5

 

[Vance in AK]

Weight isn't an issue, am allowed 100lbs and my pack and bow are coming in at just under 70. Since i switched to merino base layers, the skank is not nearly as bad as it was with my Sitka core gear but i get your drift. A small canvas tent gets pretty confining when the air inside is green.

I suppose I could use the solar shower in conjunction with my Jetboil to heat it up more if necessary...I really like showering as i have oily skin and man do I get rank. Bigfoot would shake his head.

If weight isn't an issue & it makes you comfortable then have fun!

 

[CentennialELK]

The Purells are a good idea, ordered some. I am allergic to elk and deer hair so after I clean and skin them it gets to be a real bad deal... I usuall use hospital wipes and then benadryl, visene, and hydrocotisone and still suck until I can get a shower.

 

[unm1136]

I've never understood the obsession with taking showed in the woods. Clean or dirty an animal can smell you the same if you don't have the wind. I've gone weeks before and killed animals at the end of the trip all the same. A few dehydrated baby wipes do the trick

I am not a seasoned back country guy, but I have trained with working dogs before. I have learned about scent cones and how the dog follows the cone to its prey. I got a graphic lesson in what it means to be hunting the wind last year while in a turkey blind. A group of six does came to the mudhole to drink. I was in a natural blind formed by tied bushes. The wind was from my seven o'clock, and I was curious as to where the deer would pick me up. I was watching the lead doe (not the one in front, the one one that stopped and circled back to push the other does to the mudhole) and given the strength of the wind drew an imaginary line where she would enter my scent cone. I lasered her at 12 yards. When she was within two or so feet of the imaginary line I drew she stopped, and stared into the wind, busting me, and bounding off. I had bathed the morning before.

When I went deer hunting this year my hunting partner's physical limitations had us sitting water, to ambush. Building on my experience turkey hunting I set us up so the road and our campsite was to our right 90 degrees, and sat with the wind coming from 7:00-9:00. I figured the stronger the wind, the narrower the cone, and the weaker the wind the wider the cone. I figured that putting our heavily scented area to one side, we were effectively cutting off animals coming from that direction. That left behind us, to our left, and the watering hole in front of us. I figured we had 3/4s the circle essentially scent free, and the remaining quadrant would have required the animals walking through an area where I saw no sign. I was not able to put our theory to the test: There was a full moon and evidence that the animals were watering after legal shooting light.

Everyone says to hunt the wind, and to me that means selecting positions that reduce the likelihood of being discovered. Yes, your best bet on a stalk is to have the wind in your face, but for how we were hunting, using the wind the way we did kept the sun out of our eyes towards sundown, and kept our scent out of the watering hole all day.

pat

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Wonder how much it is to air drop a jacuzzi in? LOL