Little brother and I are going to upgrade elk camp for bow hunting this season. We want to add a wall tent and a shower. We are considering a tent from Davis Tent in Colorado. What options do you like in your tent (floor, windows, doors, stove, etc.). What shower do you use. Post your pics of elk camp to help. Also interested in camp kitchen too.

I bought a two room shower tent from Kmart for $36 on sale. It is nicer than the $140 Cabelas model.

For a shower. I used a 3 gallon garden sprayer. Removed the wand. Fitted it with a sink sprayer that is usually used on a kitchen sink to rinse off things. You might have to increase the hose size on the sprayer.

I heat about a gallon and a half of water to boiling, pour into the sprayer and then add the same amount of cold water. Pump it up and you are set to go. You will need to pump up again before done, but you can take a hell of a shower on three gallons of water. Most of the time I have water left.

Total cost: Less than $25 compared to $100 plus for commercial ones that heat and pump the water and need propane and batteries.

Only thing, unless you store it inside, you need to drain and flush all water out after the season so it doesn't freeze and crack the head.

I have a 12x14x5 wall tent (Montana Canvas) that's perfect for 2 guys -- 3 in a pinch. I wouldn't buy a sewed-in floor. I use a canvas truck tarp to cover the ground.

I have a screened window -- rarely open it.

I have a 12" Sod Cloth that I would recommend.

I have a Camp-Mor frame that I highly recommend. I can pitch the tent by myself.

I have a tin "Wrangler" stove that works great -- wouldn't be without it!

A 16x20 plastic tarp covers a 12X14 tent roof perfectly; leaving eaves to store wood and boxes under.

I use 6' steel fence posts (4) cut in half to make 8 tent stakes. It doesn't move in a high wind..

Hawk Pilot:

Make sure you include Beckel Canvas in you market research.

http://beckelcanvas.com/about.php

KC

A buddy just bought a 14 x 16 tent last week from Davis tent and really likes it so far. It replaces his old 14 x 16 that a mouse chewed through in his storage area.
We bought our tents from Walltentshop.com in Idaho and we've been very happy with them. We bought one of the cheaper Wilderness tents- not the Montana modes he offers. We have a 14 x 16 main tent and a 10 x 12 cook tent. We've slept from 2 - 5 people in the main tent and we usually set up a nice folding 3 x 6 table in the main tent to eat at ($39 at BiMart)Even bought a set of metal folding chairs for around the table so we can be comfortable while eating, playing cards, or just BS'ing in the evening.
We use a roll of carpet for the floor in the tent. Nothing like getting up in the night and having a warm floor to put your feet on. You can buy a large enough carpet remnant almost anywhere pretty cheap.

This is the stove we bought and it works fine with out tent- http://www.outfitterwarehouse.com/hunter-stove.html
Pretty inexpensive but it does the job and is easy to set up and keep stoked. Puts out plenty of heat.

The cook tent keeps all of our cooking supplies, food, water, and utensils out of our main tent and organized in one spot. Keeps the main tent more organized and cleaner and keeps the cooking smells and moisture out of the main tent.

If you are bow hunting in Oregon, you will be pretty early in the season so it can get pretty hot. Best to have as many windows as you can so you can get air circulation in the tent to cool it off during the day. Also, get the screen door at the main entrance so you can flip back the canvas door and let air in the tent and keep the bugs out.

Definitely get a fly to protect the tent from UV decaying the canvas. If possible, get the fly from the tent outfit so the cut out for the tent stove hole matches the tent hole and it will fit the tent.

Definitely spring for the frame angles and build a frame. Best decision I've ever made. Makes setting up the tent and taking it down a piece of cake and makes the tent much more stable in a high wind and heavy snow.

Get the fly or tent with the awning option if you like to sit outside the tent. It will keep the rain and sun off you while you sit outside and relax and you can store things under the awning like dry firewood, etc...

For out cook tent, we bought the best Cabela's camp kitchen they had along with a couple of the hanging canvas storage and it has worked great. Of course, we are set up to cook for up to 7-8 guys so your set up may not need to be as elaborate.

Haven't gotten a camp shower yet, but Saddlesore's idea is a great one and we may have to try that this year.

If I can find some pics of our camp set up I'll post them.

Where in Oregon are you?

Bob

You might also look toward Alaska Tent & Tarp (907-562-2293). They carry all sizes of rain resistant, mildew resistant and UV resistant canvas wall tents. The quality is superior. I've left mine standing in the back country 365 days a year, for up to three (3) years, before needing to replace a tent. Excellent product. However, they're more expensive than the "discount store" wall tents.

Doors on both ends of tent work much better than windows.

Hawk Pilot, in our camp we have settled on the use of Stearns Sun Shower bags. The first bag was the 5 gallon size, but there was always someone hogging the water and one or two guys ended up with no water at shower time. The heck with that, so I bought the 2.5 gallon size for myself and actually can get two showers from that size.

I like the flexibility for heating water on a rock in the sun, truck hood or heat water. The bag has an easy on/off value to conserve water.

We use a small plastic tarp for a shower stall and attach it or wrap it around anything that is handy. For three or four years we used a small piece of canvas to stand on to avoid dirty feet, however a bud nailed some small cedar boards together and we stand on that now. Just another little bit of convenience at the base camp.

I use the same bag at my hunting and fishing camp in Wisconsin and when using my pop-up camper.

My hunting partner and I both bought the Davis Tents 12 x 14
We put two of them together with a "vestibule" between them when we need to and use one tent when we have a smaller group. we use tarps for floors and do all our cooking in a separate Kitchen tent. we use one of the cheapo outdoor temporary garages when we drive to camp. The window is a great option, both tents have wood stoves, I would consider a rear door if I did it again but it is fine without it.
the vestibule is great for storing fire wood and packs, rifles etc. other options would be pole bags for the frame when we need them.
Davis tent is a great choice as you can run a rope or cable for a ridge through the tent if you are on a horse pack hunt.
Davis makes a great tent, customer service was excellent. I would not go anywhere else.

I'll assume you can drive to your camp site, advice is different if you're packing in.

A 12 X 14 tent should be roomy for 2 hunters, but adequate for 3. Room for cots, wood stove for heat, propane stove for cooking, table and chairs for eating/social time. Ordering the frame angles and cutting your own frame pieces from EMT (conduit)is a good way to go.

Doors/screens both ends would be ideal for warmer weather. At least a window on the back end. Davis makes a "Colorado door" that is basically just a flap on the door that lets you leave it unzipped if you're in and out a lot and not get draft or lose too much heat. Nice in cold weather.

A cheap tarp makes a good floor. Cut out around wood stove area, or just leave the front six foot of the floor dirt. Throw rug by your cot is nice. No way would I want a sewn in floor.

We use a white poly tarp as a fly, overhang the eaves a little, 6-8 foot out front for an awning, cut out a hole for the chimney. Protects your tent from UV (which is the death of canvas), sparks from the wood stove, and snow slides off easier.

Davis "Ridge" stove or the smaller one would be good choice. Bigger=more wood=longer burn time between stokings. We cook some on the wood stove, but a propane stove is nice for the instant on and off. Tried the hot water tanks that attach to the stove, but now leave them home and just use teakettle or stock pot for water heating.

2-3 folding tables for dining, meal prep and just storing/ piling stuff. I like a folding "directors" camp chair for sittin' time. 5 shelf plastic shelving unit for storing kitchen supplies. Totes with lockable lids keep mice out of food. Mousetraps deter repeat visitors.

Use propane lanterns in the morning for light. Small fairly quiet Honda generator runs in the evening for a while to recharge radio batteries, cell phones and run electric lights in the tent and outside.

Saddlesore has the best advice for a shower I've seen. I've taken many a bath with just a bucket, washcloth and towel. Warm water makes it almost a luxury!

Have 2 tents from Davis tent and find them to be great to deal with and a good source of advice. They're elk hunters themselves, so they know what you need to make a better camp.

Here is my kitchen.



Here is the rest of the tent. When it a party of two we put 2 cots in the back along the side walls.

Davis has their "Scratch & Dent" sale going on right now and are adding more this week. +1 on internal frame and you'll the get the best prices on all your corners here. No floor just a tarp and carpet.

nice TJAY. looks ready for inspection!

Till the first azzhat with muddy boots walks in, and pisses off the cleaning lady.....

I was going to say something similar. My camps never looked even half that clean. Even on the first day.

The problem with those solar bags you sit in the sun or heat on a rock is when you get 4-5 days of cloudy with some rain. You just quartered an elk, smell to high heavens and you need a shower. You think "Aww yea, I'll just grab that bag that has been sitting out there all day and shower." It's so cold that your weenie draws back in and you have to shove your thumb up your butt to a scare it out.

I must confess though, in later seasons I sponge bath beside the hot woodstove. In addition the sprayer was not my invention. Fred Moyer who use to run a North Idaho Saddle Mule website put me on to it. He's in DC now during a tour the govt.

You might see him post on some forums under the name Machais.

I forgot to mention about my garden sprayer shower. You need to give it few good shakes to mix the hot and cold water.

thank god for thumbs.....

I do enjoy a comfortable camp now days. The floor is covered with that really thin outdoor carpet. Snow and water go though to the ground and it dries very quickly. Even do the diesel heater and hot water heater,

TJAY
Can you tell us about your heater?
Make
Model
How do you like it?
The size of your tent you use it in.

Thanks

This is why you should never hunt alone.

I hate using my own thumb for that.

Here's another company that you should include in your comparison shopping.

http://www.mcssl.com/store/567d40aa77c8409fbc938789039098

KC

Them crazy Chinamens......They know what it takes to scam, err I mean, build a tent for American elk hunters.....

The solar showers work great if you heat up the water on a stove first. If you don't want to build your own shower. You can use a tarp to build a "shower room" if you want.

We use a small wall tent, a propane stove and a pallet for the shower tent. We have a 5gal bucket with the spray nozzle from a kitchen sink attached to it. Hoist it over head and let gravity do it's thing.

I have a Davis 14x16, there biggest stove and one of their heavy vinyl floors that is separate. love the setup. The vinyl sweeps up easy. I also use a cheap blue tarp for a fly and it works great.

About the only thing i would change is I would not buy another Davis stove. Their are better options on the market, but what I am eventually going to do is build my own with the features I want.

I'll bet they give Pakistanis a run for their money.

The heater is a Trekker model by Pioneer.
www.pioneerspaceheaters.com
I use it in a 12x15 tent. I use it mostly in northern Mn. in November. It workers very well and keeps the tent about 25 degrees warmer than the outside temp. At night with two coleman lanterns going the temp goes up another 10 to 15 degrees. It is not for packing in as we go through 35 to 40 gallons of diesel in our 20 or so days at camp. The echo fan on the heater is also very important to even the temp. though out the tent.

And speaking of wall tents made in Pakistan, don't buy from Western Wall Tents. Ask me how I know.

All Davis tents.

That's a "hunting" camp?

I remember (this was many moons ago) when we used to run a bit low on hot water on board the USS INDEPENDENCE. The brass would institute shower restrictions, that actually work very well, and I use them to this day even though I have plenty of water.

Get in shower, turn water on, and soak down for 3 minutes. Turn off water. Soap body completely. Turn on Water and rinse down for 5 minutes. Turn off water. Get out of shower.

22WRF, my water saving procedure is similar to yours but a shorter version.

Heat water in a aluminum two quart tea kettle. Pour into solar bag, soak hair with water, stop, apply shampoo. Spray body for 30 seconds, stop. Soap up. Rinse body starting at top of head for about 30 seconds or until solar bag is empty.

that will work.

I'd sure hate to have to keep looking at my watch while taking a shower or still have soap on and run out of water.

I have a sure-fire way of avoiding all those problems with water temp, running out of water, etc.

I just don't take a shower.

Ha, no watch needed... I can walk and chew gum at the same time and learned to count seconds and shower at the same time.

Of course the bag has a visual aid being clear on one side.

I've been on 3 different elk hunts and too many week long deer hunts to count. I have never camped where I've had the luxury of a shower of any kind. I usually wear merino wool (to help control odor) and, if I can't get the stink off with warmed water in a wash tub or field wipes�I just had to stink. Guess I've been deprived.

I have hunted with a few guys like that(stunk).They don't hunt with me anymore. No excuse for at least heating up a some water and using a basin to sponge bath as you advised.

I took a couple of Beavers with the .17. One was 68# and one was 73#. There was no getting that castor smell off the whole trip. I didn't really care. Probably a good coverup smell of what I actually smelled like.!!! Did have a guy shoot a little 6x6 and took him and 2 guy's 3 days to get him back to camp. First thing he did was get his clothes off and get into the creek. 9500 feet in late Oct and had ice on it every morning. He did not seem to care. He never went back up to where he shot that elk. Probably took a week before he found his slinky!!!

be glad he didn't ask to use YOUR thumb....

Ha, jokes on yew elmer, that taint mah thumb!!

Might have taken the whole fist!!!!!

Actually Beavers have a very attractive smell that is very attractive to a considerable number of other animals, and to man.

That is not good at elk camp!!!!

I have found my own personal hygiene to be exponential in my attitude and enjoyment in camp/hunting. A way to take showers is very helpful in keeping a positive attitude, resting well at night , and being able to get up early. I have been with "Smelly Men" hunting and it really sucks.

There are plenty of ways to maintain hygiene without a full-on shower.

I would say, I've been hunting with men who insist on having a shower and similar creature comforts and that sucks more than anything. Because the best hunting is not usually near the trailhead. Jeez, it's not like you're crawling in the sleeping bag with him.

I built a shower out of a 12v weed sprayer motor and a aluminum turkey fryer pot. I can heat with the wood stove, a propane cooker, or a 120 volt bucket heater (Kind of like a branding iron with a metal guard). The motor hangs in the back of the horse trailer where I have a shower head (a small lawn sprinkler head with turn off valve mounted to roof) when you hit the of valve the weed sprayer motor stops. When done with shower, I simply walk into the heated insulated Tack Room in the front of trailer. One thing I found.....do not tie the mules on the same side of trailer as the wood stove chimney if it is not breezy them mules can get a lot of smoke in the face. Be sure to drain system in cold weather to prevent freezing.

Baby wipes go a LONG way...

Yup. Those and a small bar of soap and washcloth. And Arm & Hammer unscented stick deodorant, keeps the stink at bay for a few days. But to each his own. Showers are nice and I wouldn't turn one down after a few days, but they aren't at the top of my list even when camped next to the truck in a wall tent.

Now, a well-organized kitchen though.........

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness"

We took sponge baths out of our helmets and a new Lieutenant came in to our unit and refused to do it. He galled his crotch so bad he could hardly walk and was eventually removed from command.

We are of the same mind! Where I generally elk hunt, the camp spot is just a 15min drive from a campground. $1.50 in quarters will get you a long, hot shower. Better than anything I could rig up.

One word of caution if using the baby wipe method of showering.... I yelled toward where I thought my cousin was that I was gonna take a "shower" and to stay the heck out of the tent for a few minutes. Unbeknownst to me, he was in the opposite direction and didnt hear me. The best way to describe the resulting screaming is to just say, "what has been seen, cannot be unseen!".

Hey, they're your wipes, and you can lather and rub as fast as you want.....

Nah, you've got it backwards Huntsman, that's why all those guys like their showers..........

Dang, I left an opening! Nicely played Huntsman. It was actually my hairy ass that he accidently saw. Says he still has nightmares about it.

Wow this thread took a wrong turn, funny though

Long Wait till Seasons start!!! You guy's are quite humorous!!!!! Plus we learned about tents and bathing. A 2fer!!

Now that we have the shower issue put behind us, how many of you guys chit in the heated comfort of yer tent?





Getcha one of them tall plastic buckets that baseball coaches use, and one of those bucket toilet seats. Put a few inches of crick water in, do your business, wipe yer heinie, toss the paper in the woodstove, swirl the contents around and dump in a hole out in the brush away from camp. Shovel the hole back in when breaking camp.......

and burn the bucket.......

I'm thinking my hunting buddy would probably shoot me on the spot if I chit in our tent.

Here is the bathroom shower tent.



About 20 yards from cook tent.

LOL, I guess nobody [bleep] in the woods any more. Don, remind me never to set up downwind of your tent if you'll be burnin' turd wipes.

I got one of those bucket and crapper seats. I used it a couple of times when no trees were around, etc. I put it in the horse trailer. It's a life saver in a big parking lot with no facilities.
I use special plastic bag liners though that I throw in the garbage when done. ( sealed of course)

This is similar to what we use except our "Montana porta-potty" has additional creature comforts. Aluminum lawn chair webbed seat is removed and a piece of hardboard with hole is fitted on, bucket underneath. The webbed back aids in support as well as the chair arms.

ahhhhhh.....true comfort.


And your buddy don't shoot you on the spot?

Why would he do that? He needs to wait his turn.

Evidently, you don't hunt with biggs300.....

Duh!

We built a portable crapper a couple of years ago. I schitt in the bushes...that thing was GROSS after about 3 days.

Instead of creek water for doing #2 in a bucket try wood shavings you know the kind you use to mop up excrement in a horse trailer. Wood shavings do not splash!

but they fill up the hole so fast.....I hate digging.

and the 'splash' makes clean-up a breeze......

A crescent moon on the door is for the ladies. A radiant sun symbol is for the men.

I have used a 16X20 tent from Western Wall Tents for the past four years and have had no problems. Price is outstanding.
For a shower we used a shower tent from Cabela's along with a battery powered pump and five gallon bucket. Heat the water on your stove or campfire first. Then every few nights go to a town and use a good shower. Baby wipes are also a must.

Last time there was a camp that size, the south was rebelling ;-)

Like lots of room and a big cook tent. Store coolers and other gear. I have an even larger one ,but I am having trouble keeping it warm with the 12' 6" ridge height and 7 ' walls. May have to design one myself as I have a few ideas. I did have a guy sleep walk and start to piss in the corner of the tent until a 4 pound boot found it's mark!!
He Spent the morning cleaning his mess up. Threatened to ratchet strap him in his bag. If he wasn't a great friend he would of be packing up his gear.

The flag's all wrong.......

I was messing around with the camera, so it came out crazy. But the South was there if you look hard enough. This is our 76 year old cook.

Hey huntsman22, didn't mean to be critical of camp showers I've just never hunted out of an elk camp at a trailhead or one that was carried in on motorized vehicles. I'd would have loved to have the availability of a shower on my back-country hunts, but they have just not been available. I certainly know that hygiene is important, but I just have just not ever had the availability of a shower in the drop camps or on the backpack hunts that I have been on.

Surprisingly, large non-scented field wipes and non-scented deodorant, along with merino underwear work well. In my last drop camp we did have a wash basin available and it was a really nice addition. We stay relatively clean, just not with a shower.

The OP mentioned wall tent and shower specifically so I figured he didn't mean back pack or even packing camp back in. However, I could pack my system in sans shower tent pretty easy on a mule along with other stuff.

I'm sure Don took no offense

Saddlesore, sorry, I probably should have re-read the OP's post before responding. I've hunted out of a wall tent on two occasions, just never had a shower.

That's great if you're the first one ta splash........

Huntsman, you probably go more outdoors then most, since you are out on the ranch.....I have a bumper dumper that hooks into the receiver of your truck. plus I made another set up where I can attach it to a tree. The guy's complain because I set it to my height and for them their feet swing..... Nothing a piece of wood wouldn't cure......