WANTED: Your Top 5 Base Camp Tips or Hacks

[TX_Diver]

Premake all the food and skip raw stuff (my preference). Everything k take is heat/eat for a base camp. This is somewhere precooked bacon shines. I will occasionally make an exception for eggs.

This might be blaspheme… but if you’re bringing a generator you could being a microwave too and save even more dishes/cooking time. I want to hunt and sleep.
Not camp and cook and clean usually. (I have never brought a microwave to a tent camp, but I rented a trailer once that had a microwave and it was an incredible convenience)

I’d lean towards disposable plates/silverware. That size group send someone to town halfway through to take trash out and buy the things that were forgotten.

Weber cubes and royal oak tumbleweeds (for starting charcoal bbq) are a great way to start a fire too. M

 

[Run13]

Keep it simple - Hunt More!

View attachment 787117

Big fan of this idea

 

[YellowDog406]

Cordless drill or driver with an assortment of screws and extra bits.
A broom to sweep the tent out and brush the snow off the outhouse.
I pack all my clothes in rubbermaid totes. Keeps the dust, water, and mice out.
If youre hanging meat in camp, game bags to keep the flies dust out.
Pay attention to the weather weeks and days before you leave home. Its not uncommon to have fire bans during the second season so be prepared with propane heaters.
Two chainsaws in case one wont start.
Tire chains, make sure they fit before you leave home.
For lights in the tent we use LED lights out of a camper or modified LED lamps and a decent car battery. We can run a whole season without charging the battery, it might not he as bright on day 10 as day 1 but way better than gas lanterns or a generator.
Aluminum grain scoop, works well for shoveling lots of snow. This should stay in your truck as well, I keep a regular spade in my truck too.

 

[ozyclint]

Decoy base camp.
No joke.
Whatever happened to decoy basecamp dude?

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Decoy base camp.
No joke.
Whatever happened to decoy basecamp dude?

Word is once he posted about it the tactic was ineffective and he was discovered sleeping peacefully in his tent by the boogie man.

I've actually deployed decoy tents on the border so I'm not poking too much fun at him.

 

[Howdoyoulikemenow]

Door mat for wiping feet before walking into tent. Small throw rug to place next to cot to stand on while undressing/dressing, etc. Helps to keep shit off your socks and feet. I also keep a small folding camp stool I use as a tabletop next to my cot for placing book, reading glasses, water, etc.

 

[Indian Summer]

Unknown fact: Mice do more damage than bears!

 

[Laelkhunter]

We have a group of 6 or 7 guys from PA in the process of planning a Colorado 2nd or 3rd rifle season hunt, and I'm hoping to glean as much information from this forum as I can before we make the trip. We've already found a good deal on a 16x20 Davis Tent on Craigslist, complete with the rain fly/awning, wood stove and three cots. We're also planning on having a 10x20 enclosed canopy for cooking or gear storage. We have a good amount of camping and hunting experience, but this will be our first DIY base camp style hunt, and the first western hunt for many of us.

I'm looking for everyone's top tips on base camp living, whether it be food, sleep systems, wall tent essentials, etc. Basically looking for any suggestions to improve our efficiency and enhance our experience for a late fall hunt in Colorado. Thanks for the help and good luck this season!

How did it turn out?? How many really ended up going, and how many had to leave early for the "at home" emergency??

 

[bsheisey]

Cordless drill or driver with an assortment of screws and extra bits.
A broom to sweep the tent out and brush the snow off the outhouse.
I pack all my clothes in rubbermaid totes. Keeps the dust, water, and mice out.
If youre hanging meat in camp, game bags to keep the flies dust out.
Pay attention to the weather weeks and days before you leave home. Its not uncommon to have fire bans during the second season so be prepared with propane heaters.
Two chainsaws in case one wont start.
Tire chains, make sure they fit before you leave home.
For lights in the tent we use LED lights out of a camper or modified LED lamps and a decent car battery. We can run a whole season without charging the battery, it might not he as bright on day 10 as day 1 but way better than gas lanterns or a generator.
Aluminum grain scoop, works well for shoveling lots of snow. This should stay in your truck as well, I keep a regular spade in my truck too.

Thanks for the great advice! We will definitely be keeping an eye on the weather as we get closer to the hunt, as a heavy snowfall might keep us from camping where we hope.

Door mat for wiping feet before walking into tent. Small throw rug to place next to cot to stand on while undressing/dressing, etc. Helps to keep shit off your socks and feet. I also keep a small folding camp stool I use as a tabletop next to my cot for placing book, reading glasses, water, etc.

Good tips! I was thinking about using a tarp and a large roll of carpet to cover 1/2 to 2/3 of the wall tent floor. Would you suggest a handful of smaller rugs as an easier option?

How did it turn out?? How many really ended up going, and how many had to leave early for the "at home" emergency??

I'll let you know in November! I'm trying to start planning way in advance of the 2025 hunt.