Asking for a friend.
If you were heading to a ranch guest house for a free 2-day scout + 5 day elk hunt, where it has a full kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, all towels, bed sheets, pillows,TP, dishes, silverware, internet, cable tv, washer/dryer, wood stove with firewood, etc, but you need to bring everything else like food, bottled water, whatever, cook for yourselves, with the Prime Directive being “don’t bother the owners”, what would you bring, and what would be your shopping list and menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
For breakfast something that cooks up quick, whatever it is. JMO but I don't like to spend much time in the kitchen in the morning before a hunt.
For lunch I'd take sandwich stuff, or something else I could pack and take with me. Including a thermos for coffee or whatever I'd need to brew some up. Don't want to have to come back to the lodge for lunch if you don't want to.
Dinner is where I'd splurge. During most rifle seasons it gets dark early so you have time to cook in the evening. Whatever you'r favorite foods are that you'd bring on a vacation to the beach or mountains. For me that'd be steaks, seafood, chicken, veggies, potatoes, pasta, etc.
Smokepole nailed it. Think easy & quick for breakfast and packable for lunch. We make our sandwiches on bagels as they survive better in a pack. I make chili and spaghetti sauce at home and take it cold. Hate to brag, but these are good enough that we want two meals of each. Stew works the same if you make it right. No Dinty Moore allowed. Get some prime ribeyes for one dinner. Sounds like a good time in the making. I’m getting hungry just typing this!
Also, be sure not to forget a nice gift for your hosts to show your appreciation. A basket with smoked meats, good jerky and fancy nuts might be a good place to start for that.
They covered it, take your slippers, gives your feet a boot break.
Don't be afraid to leave something your brought that would help with others staying at the cabin.
Also clean it up really nice before you leave, might determine of you get to use it again or not. Splitting some firewood to leave is also a good idea for the next folks or the owners.
Obviously you need to bring clothing and hunting stuff. I'm guessing that you have your own list for that kind of stuff.
Each person should bring their own snacks and drinks. Also each person should bring their own hygiene kit.
Here's a list that I call call CAR CAMP FOOD. I developed this list for food that's easy to cook over a camp stove in a car camping situation. In the situation that you mention you will have more than a camp stove. But they are easy-to-prepare items no matter what kind of stove or facilities you have.
Those items that are entitled dinner burritos and breakfast burritos, I prepare a bunch of burritos at home, wrap them in aluminum foil, and freeze them. You can put whatever you want in the burritos and cook them to your taste. They sure make for easy meals.
Most of this stuff I buy at a local supermarket or at Costco. The list contains only a few things that require refrigeration (like tomato, lettuce, milk & eggs, etc.) and they might be difficult to buy at home and transport. So you might want to make a quick stop at a market close to where you are staying.
CAR CAMP MENU CHECKLIST - easy to cook on a camp stove
Place an X next to your preference
BREAKFAST
Breakfast Burritos
Homemade Burritos
Salsa
Ritz Crackers
S.O.S. & Eggs
Slider Rolls
Country Time White Gravy Mix , dehydrated
Summer Sausage, chopped
Eggs
Egg Sandwich
Eggs
Hamburger Buns
Cheese, sliced
Canadian Bacon
Mayo, Mustard & Ketchup
Oatmeal & Jerky
Oatmeal, Quaker Fruit & Cream
Jerky (Beef or Turkey)
Breakfast Cereal & Milk
Cinnamon Life
Cheerios
Milk
Western Camp Eggs
Eggs, scrambled
Bacon or jerky, chopped
Bell Peppers, chopped
Onion, chopped
Montreal Steak Seasoning
French Toast & Bacon
Bread
Eggs
Milk
Turkey Bacon
Cinnamon
Other (specify - you cook)
LUNCH
Tuna or Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Tuna or Chicken, can
Boiled Eggs
Mayo
P B & J Sandwiches & Fruit
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Bread
Cantaloupe, Watermellon, Apples
Cold Cut Sandwich
Ham & Turkey, sliced
Cheese, colby-jack, sliced
Lettuce & Tomato
Bread
Grilled Cheese & Bacon Sandwich
Bread
Turkey Bacon
Cheese, sliced
Mayo & Mustard & Ketchup
Margarine
Cup-O-Noodles
Protein & Carbs
Tortillas
Peanut Butter
Honey
DINNER
Dinner Burritos
Homemade Burritos
Salsa
Ritz Crackers
Chili Dogs
Hot Dogs
Hot Dog Buns
Chili with Beef (no beans), can
Cheese, grated
Onion, chopped
Chicken Casserole
Lypton/Knorr Chicken Casserole, dehydrated
Chicken, can
Peas, can
Margarine
Chicken A La King & Toast
Chicken A La King, can
Chicken , Can
Bread
Italian Dinner
Pasta Noodles
Pasta Sauce chuncky, bottle
Onion, chopped
Ground Beef, cook at home
Mac & Cheese
Velveeta Shells & Cheese
Ham, small can
Margarine, café packs
Stew
Campbels Chunky Soup
Bread
Kosher Ensemble
Lentils (boil-in-bag)
Rice (boil-in-bag)
Roast Beef, can
Other (specify - you cook)
Thank you Smokepole, WMR, wytex ! All good advice. Pre-made frozen individual portions of chili, beef stew, spagetti with meatballs and sauce, can do for quick meals, and steaks for a special meal sound good! Hard bread would go well with them ... (note: bring butter). Now you made me think ... could take pre-pressed frozen 90% hamburger patties that could cook up quick. And condiments.
When you take a lunch, do you need to seal it up good to stop odors? Also what about open coffee in the field?
On the list I would take bottled water, just to avoid the chances of Montezuma's revenge ruining the experience.
I'm thinking should also take a few garbage bags and take the trash away when leaving. Oh yeah, maybe a small alarm clock to get up early ... no cell phone coverage there, what if Wi-Fi craps out, does cell phone clock/alarm still keep time?
OMG KC, you knocked it out of the ballpark! I was posting my previous reply when you posted your list. Very good menu list! Thanks!
Edited to ask: "S.O.S. & Eggs" ... Is S.O.S meant to be $h1t on a $hingle?
Advil, tylenol, immodium ( I have been lucky others have needed it) First aid kit.
Agree with quick and easy in the morning, sandwiches at lunch and splurge for evening. Have done steaks, prime rib, roasts, spaghetti,pork chops etc
When you take a lunch, do you need to seal it up good to stop odors? Also what about open coffee in the field?
Good question, elk have really good noses, so you really need to pay attention and stay downwind including the daily thermals in the mtns. Air will be moving down hill in the morning until the sun gets up high enough to warm the air (some time around 9:00 AM), and then the thermals reverse and the air will be moving uphill until the sun starts to set in the evening. So plan your movements accordingly and bring one of the little squeeze bottles with talc and use it often, the air is normally moving even when you don't think there's a breeze.
Having said that, I don't worry about odors from food or coffee, I just assume the elk are going to smell me before they smell a sandwich. Or, to put it another way, if you get upwind they're going to smell you whether you're eating and drinking coffee or not.
Not sure about all phones, but my alarm clock works without a connection.
Good luck!!
KC, you da' man when it comes to backcountry camping. My Alaska trip was easier and better due to some of your previous advice. Just the same, if we ever share a car camp, I'll volunteer now to plan and bring the dinner menu. No canned meals in my camp :-) Best wishes and thanks for sharing what you've learned.
Thank you Smokepole, WMR, wytex ! All good advice. Pre-made frozen individual portions of chili, beef stew, spagetti with meatballs and sauce, can do for quick meals, and steaks for a special meal sound good! Hard bread would go well with them ... (note: bring butter). Now you made me think ... could take pre-pressed frozen 90% hamburger patties that could cook up quick. And condiments.
When you take a lunch, do you need to seal it up good to stop odors? Also what about open coffee in the field?
On the list I would take bottled water, just to avoid the chances of Montezuma's revenge ruining the experience.
I'm thinking should also take a few garbage bags and take the trash away when leaving. Oh yeah, maybe a small alarm clock to get up early ... no cell phone coverage there, what if Wi-Fi craps out, does cell phone clock/alarm still keep time?
By all means take all the trash out with you. Your phone clock and camera will work fine with no cell coverage. Link it to a Garmin Inreach and you can text from anywhere on earth. Opinions vary, but I filter or boil any questionable water, or drink bottled water. Any elk that smells your lunch would have already smelled you, so don't worry about that. I always take a small clock and set two alarms if I'm getting up for something as important as a hunt. Usually I wake up before either one goes off.
forget cooking breakfast and making a sandwich for lunch just take a MRE with a heater in it every day, couple bottles of water everyday and just cook a supper meal ,that`s what i do its much simpler and not as much time wasted cooking and cleaning up. so take a case of MRE`S with heaters and 2 cases of water for your hunt. plus your supper meals
Why on earth would somebody staying in a lodge with a full kitchen eat MREs?
There isn't anything wrong woth having some comforts when elk hunting, but some of you all seem to go on a weekend getaway instead of an elk hunt.
I wouldn't touch MREs if I was in the OP's situation, but also woldn't be cooking gourmet meals. Good luck, with whatever route the OP goes.
I forgot to mention there is an empty full size freezer available in a shop at the ranch. In the eventuality that said friend actually bags an elk, what supplies would be useful to help cool the meat and avoid making a bloody mess in the freezer? (To minimize cleanup before departing)
I forgot to mention there is an empty full size freezer available in a shop at the ranch. In the eventuality that said friend actually bags an elk, what supplies would be useful to help cool the meat and avoid making a bloody mess in the freezer? (To minimize cleanup before departing)
I prefer to transport meat cooled rather than frozen before final cutting and packaging. If the temp is cool enough for hanging, that would be my choice. If not, he could cool it in a couple large coolers with ice packs. I prefer water jugs or 2 liter bottles full of ice, as they don't get the meat wet when they melt. He could use the freezer to freeze these and refreeze them if needed. If he's going to use a commercial processor, he should check with him before the season to see what his preference would be. He also might then make arrangements for drop off in case he gets back from the hunt at some time the processor is not typically open. If this is a hunting ranch, they've dealt with meat care many times before. Maybe there's a way to see what others have done.
I forgot to mention there is an empty full size freezer available in a shop at the ranch. In the eventuality that said friend actually bags an elk, what supplies would be useful to help cool the meat and avoid making a bloody mess in the freezer? (To minimize cleanup before departing)
I prefer to transport meat cooled rather than frozen before final cutting and packaging. If the temp is cool enough for hanging, that would be my choice. If not, he could cool it in a couple large coolers with ice packs. I prefer water jugs or 2 liter bottles full of ice, as they don't get the meat wet when they melt. He could use the freezer to freeze these and refreeze them if needed. If he's going to use a commercial processor, he should check with him before the season to see what his preference would be. He also might then make arrangements for drop off in case he gets back from the hunt at some time the processor is not typically open. If this is a hunting ranch, they've dealt with meat care many times before. Maybe there's a way to see what others have done.
What’s going on is a friend of mine has arranged a certain deal mutually beneficial with someone else that I know that has a guest house. I introduced them and want it to have a happy ending , and I’m in the middle ( and away we go with the jokes).
Paper plates, beer and whiskey. Mt. House biscuits and gravy or breakfast burritos and coffee in the AM. Cheese and donkey dick for hunting time. Cheese burgers, tacos and steaks and plenty of Idaho instant mashed potatoes for dinner. Only bring dinners that can be reliably prepared while buzzed/hammered.
And toilet paper, never trust free toilet paper.
mike r
I prefer to transport meat cooled rather than frozen before final cutting and packaging. If the temp is cool enough for hanging, that would be my choice. If not, he could cool it in a couple large coolers with ice packs. I prefer water jugs or 2 liter bottles full of ice, as they don't get the meat wet when they melt. He could use the freezer to freeze these and refreeze them if needed. If he's going to use a commercial processor, he should check with him before the season to see what his preference would be. He also might then make arrangements for drop off in case he gets back from the hunt at some time the processor is not typically open. If this is a hunting ranch, they've dealt with meat care many times before. Maybe there's a way to see what others have done.
Good information! Getting kind of tricky in terms of finishing up and cleaning up and handling meat. He doesn’t have large coolers, but given that he’s getting by cheap on the lodging he could go ahead and buy a couple.
Ton of good info!
Good first aid kit as sh*t happens. Also Make sure it has a burn ointment, my boy needed one last year and none of the 5 first aid kits in camp had it.
great advice above.
for breakfasts, we usually eat pre-cooked taquitos or oatmeal
lunches are sandwiches + apple
dinners we normally pre-cook, then freeze in gallon baggies. thaw them the day before, then reheat in a huge teflon stewpot.
agree with Wytex advice on trying to do something to help out while there, and splitting firewood is always welcomed.
If I was driving to this lodge my coolers would be full of frozen homecooked prepared foods that I could cook or heat up for dinner.casserols, stews,pastas like lasagna and baked ziti with meat. Steak for grilling with baked potatoes and steamer vegs.
Sandwiches for lunch
Breakfast I like bagels and cream cheese with smoked sausage. Something quick. If it isnt freezing cold like cold cereal and yogurt with boiled egg.
As for MRE’s; I gave up sleeping on the ground and eating that crap long ago. However, I still take a woobie along sometimes 😂
There isn't anything wrong woth having some comforts when elk hunting, but some of you all seem to go on a weekend getaway instead of an elk hunt.
I wouldn't touch MREs if I was in the OP's situation, but also woldn't be cooking gourmet meals. Good luck, with whatever route the OP goes.
There's a happy medium in there soewhere. Hunting out of a lodge with a full kitchen would be kind of a rare treat that I'd take full advantage of, at least for the evening meal. It gets dark early during rifle seasons so you have a few hours to kill before bedtime and it doesn't take any more time or effort to broil up a steak than it does to heat up a can of chicken noodle soup. Since he's hunting a ranch odds are he won't be exhausted at the end of the day from hiking 8 miles up and down mountains either so no need to just scarf down something quick and fall into bed.
As for MRE’s; I gave up sleeping on the ground and eating that crap long ago. However, I still take a woobie along sometimes 😂
Amen to that!
Ton of good info!
Good first aid kit as sh*t happens. Also Make sure it has a burn ointment, my boy needed one last year and none of the 5 first aid kits in camp had it.
Speaking of first aid, about a month ago there was discussion ( on 24hrcampfire or a different forum) about snake and insect bites and stings. Various people were very favorable about the “Sawyer Extractor “. If used soon after a byte or sting it can really make a big difference. I went ahead and bought one ‘cause the older I get, my reaction to wasp stings is getting worse. Just saying.
If you've had your 1st aid kit for a while, it's a good idea to go through and change out the stuff that's old. Antiseptics and burn cream have an expiration date and the adhesive on bandaids and tape don't stick after several years.
If you've had your 1st aid kit for a while, it's a good idea to go through and change out the stuff that's old. Antiseptics and burn cream have an expiration date and the adhesive on bandaids and tape don't stick after several years.
Do you know how long epi-pens stay good?
Looks like they expire after 18 months, but a quick google search indicates they are still effective for a few years after that..
Sardines…..
Eat sardines!
One whiff outta a freshly cracked can………
The big bull will be ready to bring the wood to tuna town!
Handy dandy baby butt wipes, a man can eat, drink, sleep whatever, but a clean tailend is king for walking a thousand miles looking for elk, good luck and shoot straight.
Personally the accommodations sound great but in my experience few like to cook after hunting 12+ hours for several days beyond maybe the first day. Keep things really simple & enjoy a padded rack instead of the hard ground. Food should never take away from field time IMO. My .02
If it was acceptable, maybe bring the wife so she can make a sammich?
If it was acceptable, maybe bring the wife so she can make a sammich?
Ooooh! That’s the kind of answer that will have a guy sleeping on the couch. Darn funny, but hazardous!
Ton of good info!
Good first aid kit as sh*t happens. Also Make sure it has a burn ointment, my boy needed one last year and none of the 5 first aid kits in camp had it.
Speaking of first aid, about a month ago there was discussion ( on 24hrcampfire or a different forum) about snake and insect bites and stings. Various people were very favorable about the “Sawyer Extractor “. If used soon after a byte or sting it can really make a big difference. I went ahead and bought one ‘cause the older I get, my reaction to wasp stings is getting worse. Just saying.
go to snakebite foundation.org and find out the truth.
hint: they are recommended by Dr. crappy hamper
mike r
I forgot to mention there is an empty full size freezer available in a shop at the ranch. In the eventuality that said friend actually bags an elk, what supplies would be useful to help cool the meat and avoid making a bloody mess in the freezer? (To minimize cleanup before departing)
Storage-type 20Gal ziplocks. Get the quarters CLEAN and free from all hair/bloodshot/etc, then drop them into the big ziplocks. The freezer won't ever see a drop of blood.
These:
Big ZiplockYou should be able to get both front quarters into 1 20Gal bag with the bones in. We typically use the smaller 10Gal size for 1 boned-out rear quarter/backstrap/tenderlion in each bag.
The big ziplocks don't have that nasty photo-degrading chemical that garbage bags do.
Most often we'll stack them in coolers or a freezer such that one can leave the tops open while cooling to eliminate condensation within the bag then seal them up before we head home.
Ton of good info!
Good first aid kit as sh*t happens. Also Make sure it has a burn ointment, my boy needed one last year and none of the 5 first aid kits in camp had it.
Speaking of first aid, about a month ago there was discussion ( on 24hrcampfire or a different forum) about snake and insect bites and stings. Various people were very favorable about the “Sawyer Extractor “. If used soon after a byte or sting it can really make a big difference. I went ahead and bought one ‘cause the older I get, my reaction to wasp stings is getting worse. Just saying.
go to snakebite foundation.org and find out the truth.
hint: they are recommended by Dr. crappy hamper
mike r
Thanks for the pointer! I went to that website and read their .pdf about venom extractors. They describe a controlled experiment and found "The bottom line: the Extractor removed 0.04% to 2.0% of the envenomation " . Basically useless, and dangerous because using it will likely delay effective treatment.
Maybe I can use it to extract ticks from a dog??? Or blackheads from a teenager?
How about a nice bottle of Hooch to leave for the owner?
How about a nice bottle of Hooch to leave for the owner?
That’s a tough one. How to thank/show-appreciation to a rancher or landowner for hunting-access/accommodations that quite frankly have a market value in the hundreds of dollars. And greatly increase your chances for future invites to come back.
A lot depends on how far away you live from him/her.
A MAJOR problem for ranchers nowadays is they can’t find anybody willing to work! No way no how. A lot of this work is sporadic, it is for a day or few, on occasion, but when needed, it is NEEDED.
If you live close enough (i.e. a couple hundred miles) for just a day trip and are willing to get there early enough (with some effort e.g. as if you’re hunting), one thing you could do is pitch in for a day of acequia (ditch) cleaning (in early spring, in the weeks before releasing water into the acequia), and/or show up early bright eyed and bushy tailed to “walk the water “ when they do release the water into the ditch, where you pace the leading edge of the mini-“flash flood” coming down the ditch and every few feet scoop a pitchfork load of water soaked twigs/branches/debris up on the bank ... in my acequia you do this for 4 miles!
Acequia has been there for 170 years so you can imagine the thick growth of cottonwoods and brush along it. Do this and you will find out how tough you are. Do this and it will be appreciated!
How about a nice bottle of Hooch to leave for the owner?
Better make sure he's not Mormon......
How about a nice bottle of Hooch to leave for the owner?
No problem!
Just give him the booze
when there are no other Mormons around...
John
Better make sure he's not Mormon......
Know lots of LDS folks capable of putting it away as long as the wife is not around.
Maybe pick up one of the digital crock pots and leave it after you use it.
They can be set to cook for a determined period of time and then go to warm to keep your meal hot till you eat it. Your meal can cook while you're out hunting and be hot and ready to eat when you get back.
Wives can hunt and pack out game, not just make sammies.
Crock pot for supper. Nice to come back to a cooked meal that is not particular how long it cooks. Plastic crock pot liner makes for a quick cleanup .
I would quarter and age the meat in ice chests and not use the freezer until the meat was wrapped in cling wrap and butcher paper or vacuum sealed (good things to bring). Too hard to clean up a bloody freezer. Bring all the cleaning supplies to leave and make sure the cabin is cleaner than when you got there. I am all for pre-cooking most meals. Bring lots of snacks as you will be burning some calories even on a ranch hunt. I always try to bring some healthy things like fruit, salad and yoghurt to counter the effect of lots of beers. Breakfast is usually pastries and granola bars unless coming back to camp mid day. Bring a thermos for coffee.Bring seasoning to cook up some elk tenderloin, I make my own spicier version of Montreal. Bring extra fire wood to leave and any specialty Smoking/BBQ wood you have, there is probably a BBQ pit and maybe a smoke house too. I always bring extra spices and non perishable condiments like worcestershire sauce mustard ketchup etc. I like to grill as most camps you will be sitting around a campfire anyway. Chicken is easy and a good change from red meat. Pre cooked BBQ pork roasts are good for pulled pork sandwiches that can work for lunch, dinner or breakfast burritos. Same for a BBQ brisket. I like to have beans or chili available around the clock.
I would quarter and age the meat in ice chests and not use the freezer until the meat was wrapped in cling wrap and butcher paper or vacuum sealed (good things to bring). Too hard to clean up a bloody freezer. Bring all the cleaning supplies to leave and make sure the cabin is cleaner than when you got there. I am all for pre-cooking most meals. Bring lots of snacks as you will be burning some calories even on a ranch hunt. I always try to bring some healthy things like fruit, salad and yoghurt to counter the effect of lots of beers. Breakfast is usually pastries and granola bars unless coming back to camp mid day. Bring a thermos for coffee.Bring seasoning to cook up some elk tenderloin, I make my own spicier version of Montreal. Bring extra fire wood to leave and any specialty Smoking/BBQ wood you have, there is probably a BBQ pit and maybe a smoke house too. I always bring extra spices and non perishable condiments like worcestershire sauce mustard ketchup etc. I like to grill as most camps you will be sitting around a campfire anyway. Chicken is easy and a good change from red meat. Pre cooked BBQ pork roasts are good for pulled pork sandwiches that can work for lunch, dinner or breakfast burritos. Same for a BBQ brisket. I like to have beans or chili available around the clock.
I think I just created a spot for you in our elk camp! All that sounds great!
If am cooking they get PB&J along with a nice bottle of water.