Myself and a fellow Tradganger decided to "take the plundge" and sub lease a 40 that is very promising! We know the gentleman that is leasing the 160 acres now( another fellow Tradganger, and a friend of mine as well). The only downside to it is the distance from home (1 hr 45 min). Me and my buddy talked with our wives, and got the ok, so needless to say we are very excited. How far would you travel to lease land. We are surrounded by nothing but hardwoods, ceder swamps, and ridgelines. This property is out in the middle of nowhere, and has a food plot and a small pond on it . Any tips on spending the night in relative comfort. We will be sleeping in the back of the van with a air mattress. In the cold months..How would we keep warm? Im a little wary with some of the heaters out there because of the carbon menoxide they give off.
Stories, tips....Welcomed :thumbsup:
Here in Texas some drive 6 to 8 hrs. to their lease and never leave the state.
5 hours here, I try to go every other weekend during the season. Sometimes it doesn't work out and I go every weekend.
I would drive that far for good hunting. Try to get you hands on a small wall tent with a wood / coal stove. I have a Montana Canvas 8x10 with a small wood stove and it is awesome. A couple of cots and small air mattresses on top and you in business. Good luck and keep us posted on how the hunting goes this fall... :campfire:
QuoteOriginally posted by daveycrockett:
Here in Texas some drive 6 to 8 hrs. to their lease and never leave the state.
I had a truck like that once... :D
IronCreek...Where do I get one of those tents?
I don't know where to tell you to look for a used one but a new one can be purchased from Montana Canvas in Belgrade Montana. Mine cost about $800 but that was 10 years ago now. Call them they also may have leads on used ones. I will do some looking and see if I can't find something for ya...
I drive 3.5 hrs to the lease. It is a good lease and good place to hunt. I love hunting there but it sure hurt the pocket book when gas was $4.00/gal.
Bisch
Wow, with the responses I recieved my 1hr 45 min doesnt seem that terrible anymore
I guess if I had t actually get in my car to go to my hunting I would but hope it doesn't come to that!
That's about the same distance I drive. The fortunate thing is that I have a place to stay overnight if I want.
I can relate to your dilema. I travel about 135 miles to hunt some land I own. I usually try to spend two days at least when I go.
The first year we just spent the day. The 2nd year I bought a cab-over camper. Too small, sold it. Third year built a room in the old barn, it worked ok but was too large and too hard to heat and keep clean. The last 4-5 years I bought an old 32 ft travel trailer. I put a propane heater(vented) and a wood stove for back-up in it. I leave the trailer parked there. It is easier to keep clean, and has nice big windows for watching animals. I think I paid about $350. for it.
I have mixed experiences with tents. If you get a good lined one they will work. I spent about two weeks in one north of Fairbanks one winter, and it was fine. I spent one night that seemed like two weeks in a poor one in northern Minnesota - not fun.
Gary
I hunt public land in Arkansas. The nearest place is 4 miles away and the fartherest that I have been is about 2 hours.
I tent camped for a lot of years but this is now my home away from home. I had a 32' camper and it was great but just wasn't conveniant to tow around and get into some of the places I wanted to go.
I really like my truck camper. Most convienent way to camp for me.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/pactac/100_1066_opt.jpg)
It is not unusual for me to drive a couple of hours to hunt so I don't think that is too bad. I don't do it too often because I can jump in the truck or on the ATV and be hunting in 5 or 10 minutes any direction I go.
I think a good wall tent is the most comfortable camp. Mine is a 14x16 and about the right size for 2-3 guys, a good stove and good cot and you are all set. I got mine from The Wall Tent Shop, it's kind of awkward the first couple of times you set it up but now I can do it by myself in about 45 minutes, with 2 guys that know what they are doing it only takes about 15 minutes start to finish.
In Texas we don't measure distance in miles but by how long it takes to get there. One hour and 45 minutes is close. My deer lease is only 2 hrs and 15 minutes away. What I find amazing is that your lease is only 40 acres. Wow. I'm on a 1200 acre lease and consider it to be VERY small. Different strokes for different folks :)
Brett
My cabin is 200 miles away which takes me 3 hours and 40 minutes to drive. Yes, it does have it's drawbacks but once there I would not want to be anywhere else. Just the aroma of the pines and aspen is enough to wash the trip away! not to mention the sounds and smell of a softwoods campfire!
Go for it!! I agree with the camper either pop-up or pick-up, Home away from home, and self contained! You can buy used for cheap and fix up yourself.
QuoteOriginally posted by Steertalker:
In Texas we don't measure distance in miles but by how long it takes to get there. One hour and 45 minutes is close. My deer lease is only 2 hrs and 15 minutes away. What I find amazing is that your lease is only 40 acres. Wow. I'm on a 1200 acre lease and consider it to be VERY small. Different strokes for different folks :)
Brett
Welcome to Wisconsin
:D
I wasin a lease in Florida that was 8hours one way. Every other weekend for a few years.
Another is 2 hours away andI regularly hunt south carolina 3 hours away.
It's all in how important is to you!
My hunting land in CT is 1 hour away and New Jersey is roughly 75 minutes from home. I also have one area closer to NYC thats 90 minutes from here. I've been fortunate to have great hunting and fishing close to home.
Since it's only 40 acres I'd shy away from a wall tent with a wood stove, but that's just me. You don't want to push the deer off onto adjacent lots with the smoke.
I'd go with a good 4 season tent and warm sleeping bag. The lack of good ventilation in the van could make your nights feel colder than they need to be. Sounds counterintuitive, doesn't it? :)
check out Cabelas under outfitters tents. I have a alaknak tent that I can set up in 20 minutes by myself. you can buy outfitter stoves for these tent and they are good for all seasons. I love mine
I go 2 hrs no big deal .those canvas tents you all were talking about .they are great. I saw one with a wood burning stove in it.It had some stainless wall plate built into the tentwall.It also had a little holding tank that would hold 2-3 gallon of water that hung on the side of the stove for coffee or soup or just a good warm face warsh in the morning.Isaw this tent at a shoot an got the info. but now I cant find it to save my butt.Ido remember the guy saying they start at about 800. an go to 1200. depending on the size.
My cabin where I do 90% of my hunting is a 6 hour drive from my house. It makes it hard to do just a weekend hunt; I've done it but it's a lot of driving.
11,000 miles by plane plus 5 hrs by car to my elk camp,with a couple of days in the middle for get prepared.Felix
I hunt on public land in Oklahoma about 2.5 hours from home(165 miles). Like to stay within three hours. Definitely recommend a good tent(at least 10x10) and big mans cot and pad. My heater of choice is the large two burner Big Buddy by Mr. Heater. Works great in my tent. If you stay in your truck, the smaller Big Buddy should be fine. By the way, these heaters are equipped with auto shut off devices but I would still use them in a well vented area. All of the above can be purchased at Cabela's or other outdoor shops.
Here in Alaska we fly 6 to 8 hours some times to get to wher we hunt (small personal plane)
Hey try a Honda 2000 generator w electric heat to keep warm and for lights. One of those will run about all night on low power, is quite and does'nt use much gas. Pretty handy all around, you can even charge the truck batery with it if you need to.
If you go for the wall tent or other large tent, try a Mr Buddy portable propane heater.
I use two in my cabin which is only 10x15 (150 sq. ft.)
They have a low oxygen sensor and are rated safe for indoor use. They also shut off if they are tipped or picked up.
I've used two of them in the cabin for two winters and have never had a safety issue with them. I think they would be just fine in a tent.
You can get them from basspro, cabelas, even wally world around here. (http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm28/sendero25/100_0656.jpg)
John
If pressed for time I can hunt for free only 200yd from my back door. Most of my after work hunts are 10min drive.
3hrs about 15-20 times a year
I've driven three days, fourteen hours per day, to access goats, camels, horses, donkeys, rabbits.
My hunting partner and I own 53+/- acres about 1.75 hours door to door. Didn't go up too much this past year (about 5 or 6 times) usually spend at least 2 days there each time up. We had a "cabin" put in place right after we bought the place (the cabin is one of those "sheds" they sell along side the road...but we had it built out into a cabin) and it works great! Placement was key but with us not being there too much the deer get use to us not being there and it never fails when we are there deer are always around the cabin. Easy to heat and great sleeping.
2 hrs to my camp in Mississippi. I do most of my hunting there.
13 hrs to our lease in Mizzou. Can't wait to go there!!!
It is 5 hours one way to either of two leases in Ga. We do it dang near every weekend from mid October to mid January. Try to make them 3 day weekends whenever possible. I love those Books on Tape! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I'll quit complaining about my 1 1/2 hour drive.
I just picked up a really nice 1987 Scamp 13 footer. Small and cozy but tight, off the ground, rodent free and lockable. Hard to find a good one for a decent price, and given the option I'd go for the 16 footer.
well mmmmmm let me see the most distance i have been hunting would have to be the usa yup thats right other wise it is a 1/2 hr drive to where i hunt. :biglaugh:
my dad brother and uncles and myself drive 3 hours to our 238 acres lease in southern ohio its awesome even though my brother and i are the only trad shooters we go down almolst every weekend during the fall and spring to hunt deer squirells mushrooms and stump shoot to me its worth it even though we hunt around a hundred acres up where we live but it still is nice
I don't know how cold it could get but what about a good sleeping bag and some hot hand packs and dress warm especially your feet and where a stocking cap and just sleep in the van. Don't those hot hands packs last like a long time. I am a tite wad. Make sure you guys sleep face to feet so the #$%^$#% does not accidentaly think you are his wife in his sleep and try to snuggle you. That happened to a buddy of mine.
I was not there.
I can hunt by walking out the back door, but for better hunting I drive 9 hours, MS to MO. Headed that way in a couple of weeks for turkeys and mushrooms. Mo Huntin, I hunt within a half-hour's drive from Nevada, north of Sheldon. We lease land and hunt Conservation land too.
256 miles each way to hog deer and turkey camp
Have driven 3000 miles to bear hunt 5000 to elk hunt and 4000 to caribou hunt
All the way to the place where they have critters I want to hunt!
I live in PA and have previously leased land in Illinois. (11hrs drive) I always hunt here close to home, but it is nice to get away to a change of scenery.Ed
Typically will drive 60-90 miles for whitetail deer, 800-1000 miles each way to hunt elk every year. Just over 1000 miles to hunt pigs. Bears, as far as required but most often will use airline for those trips.
Driving to get to good hunting is worth it. Even though I live in Illinois, the part of the state I live in has very little deer habitat and big bucks are actually scarce. 22 acres is the biggest piece of private land I have to hunt. So I typically travel to greener pastures when November comes around. I actually enjoy it. It's a nice getaway.
I can walk out my back door to hunt both small and big game within sight of my home, but I rarely do so. For whatever reason, I've always enjoyed hunting the backwoods far from my normal bed and away from other people. The closest place I hunt regular is near 2hours travel, but I usually hunt 3-5days at a time minimum. Some places I hunt out of a cabin, others I hunt out of a backpack and tent. Regardless, doing so in a block of days makes travel less of a burden. I have a relative who has a lease in a different state then where he resides. He does the same thing and hunts a week or so at a time.
later,
DB
anywhere past my front door...you can literally hunt passed my front door.
Jer Bear
Oh, it takes about 12 minutes to reach the state land near me, LOL!
I don't have the cash to lease land, but I would drive an hour or two if I had sweet piece of prime land to hunt and the deer have been somewhat managed, like the bucks have been allowed to grow or it hasn't been hunted in a few seasons.
I've heard horror stories of guys leasing land that had been slaughtered the year before, and didn't know it till halfway through the season after not seeing anything. Or the land owner comes out and cuts firewood a week before bow opener.
I won't go that far for a "maybe it's good place to hunt". Been there and done that. I'll save my gas money and hunt the state land near me, it's plenty fine for filling the freezer.
I would travel to "The Bow Zone" in Edmonton, Saskatchewan or Kansas and Iowa. But thats for a different kind of deer hunting.
Elk, caribou, moose, pronghorn, mountain goats or bear; I would wear out 1000's of miles of boot leather if that what it takes to get there. :bigsmyl:
Only time and money would limit my travel. I would go to the ends of earth for a good hunt. But I have a beer budget so I stay pretty close to home.
A good canvas tent with a wood stove does make a great camp as some others have suggested. 40 acres is a pretty small piece of property to be both camping and hunting on. Kind of depends on how things lay as to how effective that can be.
I carry both Montana Canvas and Panther Primitives tents on my website, along with a line of Cylinder Stoves. Not only a comfortable camp, but very cool as well! :cool:
I hunted with a guy years ago who had several "camps" spread throughout the Adirondack Mountains. One was on property that he owned(only a few acres,but there was state land within walking distance) Some were on "borrowed" land that he had permission to hunt on. One(his first)was a lease from International Paper Company. On the lease agreement it states that "building is permitted,but everything must be removed upon termination of the lease"
What he did was build "lean-to" type buildings set on cement blocks. They consisted of a 12' X 16' deck,with a 6' wall across the back and a 10' wall across the front,(and of coarse 2 side walls)and a corragated steel roof. It was sheathed with T1-11 plywood siding,and the front consisted of 2 4' X 8' double doors. Inside were 2 double bunk beds and a picnic table. Outside in front of the double doors,he built a HUGE high backed fireplace.
When we went to "camp" he opened the 2 padlocks closing the double doors and swung them back against the building and held them in place with a "hook&eye" fastener on each side. Then he pulled out the folding chairs and other camping essentials,and built a fire. At the end of the hunt,the fire was put out and everything placed back inside and the double doors closed and locked.
It sure was alot more comfortable than a tent.
:campfire: :archer: :archer:
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg218/doctari_album/markspixs08-090042.jpg)Here is my home away from home. Montana tent 12x17 with cylinder stove and rain fly. I made the front awning post from cedar. You can also see my best little friend his name is comet. I have used this in late November with 3-5 inches of snow and stayed quite warm and cozy. I will be setting this up in a another week for my turkey hunt near Baldwin, Mi. I plan on bringing my best freind comet with me. If I have to look for a wounded turkey he will help me find it. :thumbsup: :)
For years I kept fairly close to home,Adirondacks and local hunts. In 1990 I went out west on a gun hunt and it spoiled me.Lots of land with good numbers of game. I got to retire so last year so I went on a bear hunt to Canada, I just purchased at auction a deer hunt in Ill. {Pike co.}. In these ecconomic times it can be hard to spend the $, or get the time off, but if it can be done you should go for it. Life is short!!!
I drive 2 hours even though I live in one of the best deer counties in Ohio. Just can not get on to anything decent close to home.
I bought a 16 ft used camper for $700.00 and leave it down there. I like it because I do not have to set it up and it has a self contained toilet. All I have to do is unload and hunt. If I want to work on my camp in the off season I drag it home were I have more time and tools plus I can use it for other activties like archery shoots and if I change hunting grounds it goes with me. Not as romantic as a cabin but someday.
The first thing I did when I bought it was to buy a combo smoke/CO2 detector and stick over where I sleep. I use a Buddy heater that also has an internal CO2 sensor until I can repair the furnace in the camper.
Truth is I hunt a lot less since I started going down there than when I was hunting close to home. No running out for an evening set with that travel time. I have kids in little league so it is hard to get away, but when I am down there I am in deer.
(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc319/dcnewark/P1011394.jpg)