WANTED: Your Top 5 Base Camp Tips or Hacks

[trophyhill]

Crazy how eastern guys can always get massive groups of dudes to commit to an adventure 27 1/2 hours away and I live in smack dab in the west and my buddies are lame lol

Poop seat off Amazon.. the best thing

I heard that. My first couple elk hunts here in NM, I thought for sure my deer hunting wannabe elk hunter buddies would want to go and be part of the experience. Well they never have and I embraced the solo hunts from the start. Since then, there's just something about doing it all myself from field to table that trips my trigger that I never really expected when I first started.

 

[Blacktail247]

Take everything needed for great sleep. Ear plugs, melatonin, thick pad, comfy cot, big sleeping bag. Decent sleep is great on a long hunt. With that many ppl set up a good shitter everyone will use. Premade meals are great also. Vacuum seal and freeze them. Then simmer the bags in a pot of water to heat up. Have a plan to deal with the amount of trash that many ppl will make over the course of a hunt. Bring mouse traps.

 

[Franchi]

Has anyone talked about rodent management? That's something that is easily overlooked.

We had an issue with this last year. Had mice nesting in the engines so we left the hoods open in the trucks during the night and that seemed to solve that issue. On one trailer we set out lights under the trailer and that stopped them from coming in. On other trips we have setout sticky pads for unwanted guest. Mice will chew through anything when they are hungry.

 

[Franchi]

Coffee gets brewed before going to bed and put into a thermos. First morning cup is immediately ready. Another pot can be made in the morning, if needed, while getting ready.

Great idea don't mind if I use it!

 

[bsheisey]

Late to the party here, but best tip I got is turn that party of "6 or 7 guys" into two! Family or not. Sounds great, but eventually it won't be. Find one that hunts like you, thinks like you, and has your back. So much easier to make a trip like this a success, and prevent any drama.

I definitely understand the potential for conflict with a group our size. We've already held a meeting to discuss expectations and what the trip will look like. We are also planning on splitting up and hunting in pairs, so as long as you're spending most of the day with someone compatible you should be good to go.

Cover tents with plastic. Make snow removal easier. Also keep tent from leaking

The used wall tent we got off of Craigslist came with a full length fly, so hopefully that does the trick!

Take everything needed for great sleep. Ear plugs, melatonin, thick pad, comfy cot, big sleeping bag. Decent sleep is great on a long hunt. With that many ppl set up a good shitter everyone will use. Premade meals are great also. Vacuum seal and freeze them. Then simmer the bags in a pot of water to heat up. Have a plan to deal with the amount of trash that many ppl will make over the course of a hunt. Bring mouse traps.

What does a good outhouse consist of, and how do you set it up to handle a week's worth of elk camp? Pre-made meals heated up in boiling water has been a common recommendation and sounds like a great plan for easy meals. Do people usually use disposable plates and silverware, or use and wash standard dining utensils? My group is leaning towards regular plates and utensils, but I'm a little concerned about the amount of water it will take to keep things clean.

 

[bz_711]

Keep it simple - Hunt More!

 

[Customweld]

Keep it simple - Hunt More!

View attachment 787117

Can't argue with that!

 

[CMF]

Pre-made meals heated up in boiling water has been a common recommendation and sounds like a great plan for easy meals. Do people usually use disposable plates and silverware, or use and wash standard dining utensils? My group is leaning towards regular plates and utensils, but I'm a little concerned about the amount of water it will take to keep things clean.

We do alot of premade meals too and sometimes prepared like seasoned pork chops already cut and ready to grill.
We use our backpacking long-handled sporks, but keep some disposable on hand too.
If you do premade like chilli or chicken and dumpling and put them in individual bags, you can eat right out the bag and just toss. Or use paper and burn.
The premade keeps the pot clean too, reducing washing
Bring a full size shovel, even if you don't do an outhouse style it makes way quicker work. I always have one in my truck anyway.

 

[Conrad101st]

1. Electric chainsaw is awesome. QUIET.

2. Nighttime Advil.

3. No Alcohol Heineken. I drink beer but this has no alcohol and taste just as good. Trust me when I say stick to this for the first few days if you are coming from sea level to 11,000 feet.

4. I use a single burner propane stove to boil water in a large coffee pot. Fill a 46 ounce yeti cooler. Throw it in your truck or ATV for later. Have instant hot water for two mountain house meals and a cup of instant coffee.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

This trip we just got back from, wife used a tall double wall vacuum water bottle and would boil water every morning and fill it up. Sure was nice at lunchtime in the cold popping that thing open and dumping our hydration packets in and sipping on hot water.

 

[Still Hunter]

Some ideas... a lot depends on where you camp and availability to water resources.

1. Usually dig a trench around the perimeter of the large tent to divert rain water.
2. Add some limbs or rocks around the bottom the large tent to add weight in the event of a good storm and tie down to them. Some incredible winds in the mountains snapping BIG trees.
3. We generally have a large common tent for cooking, food, hanging out and gear. Separate sleeping tents away from the cook tent to help avoid Bear issues and keep food smells away from the sleeping tents.
4. Primarily do the of the pre-cooked vacuum packed frozen meals to heat in hot water. Dump on a paper plate . Reduces cooking odors and massive time saver. Sleep is precious.
5. Clothes line and Pins
6. Make a toilet seat on top of four sides easily assembled with screws. Dig a deep hole set heavy contractor bag down in the whole and spread the top out and place the seat on top. Hang Toilet paper/wipes in a zip lock bag. After the hunt disassemble the toilet and haul off the heavy contractor bag.
7. Don't set up around any "widow makers", check for dead trees around your site.
8. Propane Torch is great for starting stoves, fires, & tons of other uses.
9. I generally put a tarp over my sleeping tent if making a base camp. Added protection from the elements and I can divert the rain water the direction I want. "Wet" is not fun.
10. We put a floor in the common tent with either tarps or some roll out roofing fabric we have. Bring a broom and keep it clean.
11. Take two plastic tubs to use for dishes and for sponge baths
12. Take two 5 gallon buckets with lids to grab creek water to use to boil water for the meals and then to use for washing utensils and bathing with the plastic tubs. It's been boiled.
13. Propane lantern in the common tent for lighting.
14. Our common tent has round metal poles and we have steel wire hangers that hang over the poles with hooks bent up to hang gear on, pots/pans, utensils
15, If you hang your gear /clothes you will minimize mice issues. Keep as much off the floor as possible.
16, Take a grommet kit and good duct tape.
17. Over 10K you can have certainly snow in September. Be prepared for snow.
18. Have plenty of cordage and ropes.
19. Colorado has low humidity and you will be glad to have eye moisturizer drops and chap stick (unscented).
20. Everyone has a designated area for their stuff, helps to minimizes lost items or misplaced items.
21. If rifle hunting no loaded rifles in camp. Open Bolts on all rifles in camp. Can't go off with a open bolt. Always do the "pinky test"

Have fun and enjoy the mountains. Killing an elk is just a bonus!

 

[shootnrun]

Never had enough tables. With that many dudes and gear, a place to set YOUR stuff is super nice. Hunting gear and clothes go in labeled totes. Get totes that will be able to slide under a table for hunting gear and under your Cot for hunting clothes.

13x13 popup outside the tent makes a good cook shack and doesn't clog up the door too badly. If your tent doesn't have a nice add on shack already. Make sure you guy it out. When the wind kicks up they'll fly a mile if you dont.

Large battery box for charging electronics. If it's big enough it'll last your while trip. If it isn't, run a tank through a suitcase Gen to charge it while you're gone hunting so you and others don't have to listen to it run all night.

Prep meals. Everyone in our group is assigned an equal amount of prepped dinners. Zip locked or sealed and ready to be heated when you get back to camp.

Buckets. In sept we do 2-3 weeks. A bucket we can scoop water from a creek to use eco friendly soap to wash dishes and clothes and save drinking water.

I think everyone else has great adds. Hangers or line to dry clothes and boots is a big one.

 

[Tweeder]

I heard that. My first couple elk hunts here in NM, I thought for sure my deer hunting wannabe elk hunter buddies would want to go and be part of the experience. Well they never have and I embraced the solo hunts from the start. Since then, there's just something about doing it all myself from field to table that trips my trigger that I never really expected when I first started.

I hear ya, I do everything solo myself cuz that’s just how I roll I guess. But it sure would be nice sometimes to have a big group of guys for packing elk like some of these frikin videos you see. It’s a whole different ball game shooting an elk 4 miles away solo vs having a pack of brutes to call upon. I just got back from NM by the way, rough country but a beautiful place.

 

[Tarkio]

Good headlamps and spare batteries
Battery powered air pump
Battery jump pack
Some reflective tap to hang so it’s easy to find in the dark
Lots of spare cord/rope
Good recovery rope for outfit and chains.

 

[mtblackdog]

A good shitter and a bag of lime. A case of wetwipes.

 

[DawnPatrol]

Kill an elk on the fist day; I’ve found it makes the elk camp experience much more relaxed and enjoyable

 

[huntabsarokee]

As a member of a group of 4 doing this for about 14 years now and also coming from PA I think I learned a little about group trips. Make sure you have a group leader who can make lists to make sure everything is brought that is NEEDED and not duplicates. An example every guy in the party doesn't need to bring enough coolers to bring a bull home. You don't need 3 cooking stoves or 5 lanterns. Plus too much gear makes unpacking and repacking a half day chore.

Ok some things I like. We use a pop up hunting blind for a toilet with a commode and bags. Someone is in charge of bringing all the TP and wipes and we keep a dedicated lantern in it.

For 2nd or 3rd season pack a milk crate for truck recovery. Shovel, tire chains if you have, tow strap, come along, and at the very least traction boards.

Dinners try and pre make group meals. Lunches on your own and same with breakfast although we usually do 2 maybe 3 group breakfast on down days or bad weather.

Even though you probably will have 2 trucks have 1 person in charge of all purchases for the Group including gas and tolls. We keep a tablet and add it all up and split evenly at the end of the trip.

We take a small 2000 generator to charge items like phones and moved mostly to electric lanterns and spot lights for camp.

I agree with others staying mobile is best but when the group is that big and talking that amount of gear/tents its tough on late season hunts.

Good luck.

 

[WRO]

Oven from camp chef and Costco premade meals..

Makes dinner a breeze, turn on the oven, toss in lasagna. Chorin and an hour later you have dinner.

 

[bsheisey]

As a member of a group of 4 doing this for about 14 years now and also coming from PA I think I learned a little about group trips. Make sure you have a group leader who can make lists to make sure everything is brought that is NEEDED and not duplicates. An example every guy in the party doesn't need to bring enough coolers to bring a bull home. You don't need 3 cooking stoves or 5 lanterns. Plus too much gear makes unpacking and repacking a half day chore.

Ok some things I like. We use a pop up hunting blind for a toilet with a commode and bags. Someone is in charge of bringing all the TP and wipes and we keep a dedicated lantern in it.

For 2nd or 3rd season pack a milk crate for truck recovery. Shovel, tire chains if you have, tow strap, come along, and at the very least traction boards.

Dinners try and pre make group meals. Lunches on your own and same with breakfast although we usually do 2 maybe 3 group breakfast on down days or bad weather.

Even though you probably will have 2 trucks have 1 person in charge of all purchases for the Group including gas and tolls. We keep a tablet and add it all up and split evenly at the end of the trip.

We take a small 2000 generator to charge items like phones and moved mostly to electric lanterns and spot lights for camp.

I agree with others staying mobile is best but when the group is that big and talking that amount of gear/tents its tough on late season hunts.

Good luck.

A lot of great tips here, thanks! Coming from PA, how do you normally handle the trip out? Do you drive straight through? Stay in a hotel on the way? Do you arrive the evening before opening day or do you try to get there with some extra time to get acclimated?

I'm a big list/spreadsheet guy, and will probably be doing a lot of the planning and e-scouting for the group even though this is my first western hunt. Would you be willing to share the packing list you use that I could reference as a starting point?

Staying mobile would definitely be ideal, but I don't see us packing up the wall tent and 7 guys worth of gear to move base camp. There are enough areas nearby the place we think we'll be camping that we could drive an hour or so to branch out a bit and check out different spots with different terrain and elevation. There will be a lot of lessons to be learned, but I'm definitely looking forward to the adventure.

 

[huntabsarokee]

Out of all of our trips we only stopped once over night the rest we drove straight through. I have buddies from PA that do both.

We do arrive early a day or two early if it’s a shorter hunt so like a NM hunt where the season is 10 days or in the beginning we did some 7 day drop camps. This year in Wyoming we drove right to camp but it was only like 8500 feet. I just take it easy the first 2 days. I find if you can sleep at around 8000 feet it’s not bad.

Ride out always sucks by the time you get to Nebraska. 3 guys work well in a truck since someone can always lay down in the back seat.

We joked this year we were going to make everyone weigh their gear next year because it seemed like we still over packed some. My dad probably didn’t hike more than 2 miles this year and had 3 pairs of boots, sneakers for the ride, and shower shoes. Pack what you need not what you want.

On the ride out we don’t eat big meals or stop long. We pack lunch meat and make sandwhiches along the way. I usually am in charge of the drink cooler for the truck and have snacks in there so minimizes time at gas stops.