#284426 - 08/04/07 10:25 PM
Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
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Trapper55
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 260
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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Hey i have graduated from school a while ago and have been thinking about taking the winter off of work to go trapping. There is a great place for me to trap along a river that is in a valley along lots of bush, pines as well as some open area. I would be able to trap for many miles both ways along the river and any directions through the bush and clearings. I have been looking at some canvas wall tents that are 16x20 feet and have a wood heating/water heating/cooking stove. I was just wondering if anyone has tryed this or if anyone has some opinions or ideas. I have just been wondering if there would be any problems along the lines of predators such as bears, wolves, etc. comming around or trying to get in the tent from the smell of food and skinned animals drying on the stretchers.
Any tips or information would be greatly appreciated.
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#284464 - 08/04/07 11:03 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: Trapper55]
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Yancy
trapper
Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 835
Loc: Northern CA
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get a camp trailer, and enjoy the line. Yancy
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#284470 - 08/04/07 11:13 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: Yancy]
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Trapper55
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 260
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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That would probably be the best method. But this area is fairly remote and the only way in is by foot (like snowshoes) or a snowmobile.
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#284485 - 08/04/07 11:50 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: Trapper55]
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mtbadger
trapper
Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 948
Loc: Billings Montana
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If you do attempt this make sure you have plenty of firewood. That said even if you are using a fuel stove you can never have too much firewood. 10 years ago I moved into a house that had seven cords of wood already setting there. We had a wood stove in one end of the house and a fireplace in the other. I ended up cutting 5 cords and had to buy another 7 cords. Yes we used our firplace/woodstove very much and yes the winter of 96/97 was a good one here in Montana..
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Ordinary men can do extrodinary things....
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#284494 - 08/05/07 12:21 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: mtbadger]
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Trapper55
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 260
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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I see what you meen. It would use a lot of wood as it would have to be burning non stop for about 3 or 4 months or whatever amount of time i would stay out there.
Thank you for your input
It is greatly appreciated
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#284517 - 08/05/07 04:51 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: TrappinWI]
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Newt
trapper
Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 1179
Loc: Port Republic NJ/ ChocowinityN...
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I lived in one for a year.Made a wood floor vfor it. But this was in South Jersey,and North Carolina. not Canada
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#284531 - 08/05/07 06:33 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: mickeysdad]
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BUZZSAW
trapper
Registered: 01/06/07
Posts: 334
Loc: WI , north central
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another important consideration that i have found while camping in the back country. PICK YOUR LOCATION CAREFULLY! little things such as trees blowing off in a storm or 4" of water running through your tent floor can make for some exciting times and dangerous.otherwise a wall tent is great , i use a 16x20 for 5 guys. also don't take the firewood supply lightly , the storm from above was 60 degrees one day and about 15 degrees , 2 days later and after the heavy rainfall , dry wood was pretty darn important. depending how many bears are in the area and how the berries etc. do , you could have probs. there also . good luck ,sure sounds like fun!
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#284552 - 08/05/07 07:13 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: 2poor]
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BUZZSAW
trapper
Registered: 01/06/07
Posts: 334
Loc: WI , north central
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2poor , you haven't had any bear prob.s where your at? when we go to ontairio ,canada or nothern minn. there have been quite afew times the bears were filthy thick. i'm talking years with very few berries etc. , you couldn't leave camp for 15 minutes and the little buggers would be leaning up against your trk windows etc. looking for a twinkie. and any fish slime on the boat and the buggers where doing the hula hula dance in there trying to find the fish half the night. and we keep a pretty clean camp.
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#284557 - 08/05/07 07:24 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: BUZZSAW]
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k9.
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 3192
Loc: Brooklyn, Iowa 45 years old st...
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I was building fence in the Bighorns for the forest service one summer/fall. We had some pretty early snow and I spend about three weeks in snow conditions in a wall tent. Not all that bad, keep the roof cleaned off. You have to get up about 2AM each night and stoke the fire, even with a decent bedroll. If you are going to do some tent living spend the extra money on a very good bedroll/sleeping bag.
Was building fence with a pretty crazy cowboy who was from Belle Fouche SD. He WANTED bears to come into camp so he'd have bear stories to tell people. Tossed food around here and there and violated every bear/camping rule you can! I had my black lab with me and she just hated bears. We got woke up all the time by her barking at a bear that was coming into camp. My other tent mate was half indian and seemingly immune to the cold. We were camped by a nice little brook trout stream, and he'd go down every day and kick the thin ice off the water and take a bath. Makes my boys shrink into my chest to this day to think about it.
I had some fun with that cowboy and Indian. Would not trade those memories for anything.
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2008 One coon One skunk 
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#284564 - 08/05/07 07:46 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: k9.]
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k9.
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 3192
Loc: Brooklyn, Iowa 45 years old st...
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Here is our Soldier Creek fence camp in 1987. Great view when you got up every morning.
_________________________
2008 One coon One skunk
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#284584 - 08/05/07 08:08 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: k9.]
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k9.
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 3192
Loc: Brooklyn, Iowa 45 years old st...
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By the way thanks a lot trapper 55! Now you got me all wound up to get back to Wyoming! Doggone kids! 
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2008 One coon One skunk
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#284587 - 08/05/07 08:11 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: Trapper55]
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catter
trapper
Registered: 03/29/07
Posts: 50
Loc: NY
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I think the dogs are one of the most important things to bring along. I've got one that hates people and one that hates other animals. Never leave home without them.
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#284687 - 08/05/07 10:20 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: k9.]
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wyote
trapper
Registered: 01/17/07
Posts: 115
Loc: NW Wyoming
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Here is our Soldier Creek fence camp in 1987. Great view when you got up every morning.
I'm getting ready to head up to Soldier Creek area in a few weeks. I always spend the first few days of grouse season hunting Soldier Creek, Buck Mtn, Buck Creek Vees and on back into Battle Park.
Could have been I went by your camp a time or two. I spent 3 or 4 weeks up in that area the summer and fall of 87
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For every law thats passed, alittle freedom dies
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#284743 - 08/05/07 11:37 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: wyote]
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Trapper55
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 260
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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Hey thanks for all the tips and information
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#284744 - 08/05/07 11:39 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: Trapper55]
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k9.
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 3192
Loc: Brooklyn, Iowa 45 years old st...
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I am sure you have. If I remember right you have to go by there to get back to Battle Ground Park. Is Deer Haven still there?
_________________________
2008 One coon One skunk
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#284747 - 08/05/07 11:42 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: wyote]
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white17
"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
trapper
Registered: 03/17/07
Posts: 5070
Loc: McGrath, AK
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Some good advice here but I would second the idea of getting two smaller tents. 10x12 with a 4 foot side wall is just right for one or two people and easier to heat. Take a good, small chain saw and a swede saw with an extra blade. 30 inch is my favorite size. You shouldn't need to heat your tent when you're not in it and I don't even keep a fire at night when I'm in a tent. Just get the best sleeping bag you can buy.
I've spent whole winters in a wall tent and it's a nice way to live. The bears and wolves should be no problem at all.
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Mean As Nails
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#286087 - 08/06/07 12:57 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: white17]
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Trapper55
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 260
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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What would you do about a floor? Would a tarp or two as big as the floor be good enough?
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#286219 - 08/06/07 02:24 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: Trapper55]
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otterman
trapper
Registered: 12/24/06
Posts: 1504
Loc: SW Alaska
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I have also spent alot of AK winters or portions of in wall tents over the years. We used a good tarp on the floor and roof and instead of a cot or air mattress under you we always used spruce bows was comfy and beat having all that cold air come up under neath you to cool you down. Like White 17 and others said smaller is better even with 4 guys we only had a 12X14 the one year and it worked fine you just gotta think how it will work and keep clean as possible.
I also think you may want to consider differnt places to move camp to when the surrounding fur gets the surpluss cleaned up. You may want to do this next year and 3 or 4 months in one location will really put a dent in populations of certain types of critters unless you know what you have and take care of it. I bet white17 can shed a little more light on that and how it works for him.
Edited by otterman (08/06/07 02:26 PM)
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It is interesting how much a man will do to suceed and how much more he will doto make sure he has excuses for failure when sucess isa simple process
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#286297 - 08/06/07 03:27 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: otterman]
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parlecoup
trapper
Registered: 03/29/07
Posts: 345
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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Trapper 55 Where the heck are you planning on setting up? I would be surprized you had a visit of any kind except for a fish and wildlife officer.
Marten yes
Squirrel yes
Whisky Jacks Yes
Mice yes
And last snow fleas! Just joking. I don,t think you have a thing to worry about , First off bears are generally hibernating in the winter and if a wolf ever came within 25 ft of your tent , call me I,ll bring you some valium ! Are you really serious about wolf problems?
Get a tent for skinning , not too big and one to live in 12x14
or vice versa. Forget the preditors they are scared spittless of you . except for spring Beaver trapping , then MAYBE a curious bruin will check you out , But by that time you will smell so rank , you,ll be scared of yourself !LOL
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#286494 - 08/06/07 05:45 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: parlecoup]
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johnd
trapper
Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 74
Loc: west michigan
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this is my tent. all my winter pics are on prints, so this is all i have. it's 10x12 with a 10x10 awning. one or both sides of the awning can be dropped down in bad weather. the tent is about twenty pounds and only takes a ridge pole and two upright poles. the awning overlaps the tent a ways. i have a fiberglass vent flashing out the back door flap. but they will put it wherever you want it. no floor, i just throw a piece of canvas down to keep grass out of the sleeping bag, but it doesn't take to long for the woodstove to dry the ground out if you shovel the snow off first. i've camped at twelve degreese and sit in the tent in a t-shirt. this pic makes it look smaller than it is. i'm 6 foot tall and i can stand upright in the center and just have seats to the side. enough room for two and easy for one person to set up and take down.
it's an RK a-frame lodge but they make a lot of different tents. good quality and fair price. http://www.rklodges.com/Lodges/index.html
Edited by johnd (08/06/07 07:02 PM)
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#286643 - 08/06/07 07:26 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: Trapper55]
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bigbore442001
trapper
Registered: 05/16/07
Posts: 43
Loc: Massachusetts
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My advice is to get this book.
http://www.northwoodsways.com/media/books.html
I have the first edition of this book and it is wonderful. It covers many things about living in a traditional canvas tent during the winter.
Second. Make a promise to do this and not wait. You may find yourself married and with a family. Those responsibilities may not allow you to do something that few are able to do.
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#286655 - 08/06/07 07:34 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: bigbore442001]
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Trapper55
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 260
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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Thanks for all the info. And i would be staying on my uncles property he owns a large large area on both sides of a large river that feeds a big lake and it has lots of bush as well as clearing around. Its more less the a big valley.
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#286803 - 08/06/07 08:46 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: Trapper55]
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mask bandit
trapper
Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 169
Loc: Underwood,Indiana
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Back in '92 me and my best friend went deer hunting for four days and we used my brothers 22foot tipi,we put up a drying line to dry out wet hunting cloths and such,we put straw and leaves around the bottom.We kept a fire going day and night,could cook meals inside,went throught rain then it turned to freezing rain then snow for two days.If I was going to do that,this is what I would use if I was going to be gone for 3 or 4 months but that is me.Sorry you can't beat them you can get them in different sizes,they maybe big but when you learn how to put one up it's easy.
_________________________
Want to keep your freedom ? Hang all tyrants,start at your local goverment and work your way up.
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#286814 - 08/06/07 08:50 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: mask bandit]
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white17
"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
trapper
Registered: 03/17/07
Posts: 5070
Loc: McGrath, AK
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I'd hate to have to cut the wood to heat a tipi.
Also I have to second Otterman's suggestion of NOT sleeping on a cot. Boughs on the ground with a thermarest pad on top makes a much warmer bed than a cot.
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#286866 - 08/06/07 09:15 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: white17]
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Trapper55
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 260
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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I think that is what i waould do now. Use spruce boughs.
Would a sleeping bag or thick warm blankets be better? or both?
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#286905 - 08/06/07 09:40 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: 2poor]
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BuckNE
"Migrant Laborer"
trapper
Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 5208
Loc: Southeast Nebraska
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Get a self-inflating air mattress. Benefits of both an inflatable mattress, and a close cell foam pad.
Don't use a down sleeping bag. When they get wet, you might as well be sleeping in a sheet. Get a good bag with qualofill or something similar.
You can make your own camp furniture with a saw and some twine for lashing. Make sure you have something to pad your chair with.
Get yourself a good water filter and an extra cartridge. Mine is good for 1000 liters, is a 1 micron filter, and will filter our giardia.
Stan Hawbaker's book has a list of supplies for exactly what you plan to do. I suggest buying it, if for nothing other than the shopping lists.
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buckne60@yahoo.com
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#286956 - 08/06/07 10:09 PM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: BuckNE]
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white17
"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
trapper
Registered: 03/17/07
Posts: 5070
Loc: McGrath, AK
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I'd go with the sleeping bag, not blankets. Get the best you can afford or borrow the money to buy an even better one. I used down for about twenty years and never had a problem but Buck is right about getting them wet. It depends on your climate.
When I'm tenting I use snow for water. You may be able to do the same.
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Mean As Nails
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#287028 - 08/07/07 12:26 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: white17]
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Trapper55
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 260
Loc: Alberta, Canada
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For snow is just boiling good enough or should it be boiled and then distilled?
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#287138 - 08/07/07 08:39 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: Trapper55]
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white17
"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
trapper
Registered: 03/17/07
Posts: 5070
Loc: McGrath, AK
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No need to boil it at all, Just melt it and use it.
_________________________
Mean As Nails
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#287159 - 08/07/07 08:57 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: white17]
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mask bandit
trapper
Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 169
Loc: Underwood,Indiana
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You can put a wood stove in a tipi,I seen it done,I would use wool blankets,if wool gets wet it still keeps in body heat.
_________________________
Want to keep your freedom ? Hang all tyrants,start at your local goverment and work your way up.
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#287175 - 08/07/07 09:16 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: mask bandit]
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BuckNE
"Migrant Laborer"
trapper
Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 5208
Loc: Southeast Nebraska
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Here's another hint on winter camping. If you buy or make a liner for your bag, you can lower the temperature rating of your bag by 20 degrees. If your bag is big enough, you can make the liner from 2 wool blankets which, with a decent bag, will keep you toasty in the most extreme temperatures. If your bag isn't that big, such as a mummy bag, a flannel liner is great.
Carry plenty of matches in waterproof containers. 3 times as many as you think you will need, in several separate containers. Also carry several butane lighters. Just keep in mind that butane lighters will not light above 32 degrees F (0 deg C), so you have to warm them up first by putting them in an inside pocket. My first extreme weather trip alone, my matches all got wet, and I couldn't get the butane lighter lit because I didn't know about the 32 deg thing, and thought I was going to freeze to death in the mountains in a blizzard before I finally got a fire lit.
If it was me, and I had the funds, I'd invest in a gps unit. You get turned around out there somewhere and the snow is falling and everything looks the same cause you can't see 50 feet in front of you, it will help you get back to camp.
Do NOT forget a good first aid kit. You'll be alone. There is no Rite Aid pharmacy down the road. You are the doctor. You need bandaids, gauze rolls, gauze pads, tweezers, tape (duct tape is good), aspirins, decongestants, tylenol, visine for snow glare, antibiotic ear drops for ear infections, a good general purpose antibiotic, antibiotic cream, and a mild pain killer such as codeine. Ask your doctor for a prescription. Tell him you will be alone for a few months. At the first sign of infection or illness, go on the antibiotics and tylenol. Some day I'll tell you a story about almost dying from a viral infection that almost killed me by closing up my throat so I couldn't swallow water, with no help around and a 2 day walk out to a road. Maybe I should write a book about that ordeal.
I love being in the deep woods alone, but I know from experience what kind of trouble you can get into. The key is to plan ahead, and everything you do has to be done with the knowledge that you can't get help. You are on your own.
Edited by BuckNE (08/07/07 09:31 AM)
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buckne60@yahoo.com
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#287238 - 08/07/07 10:18 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: mask bandit]
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white17
"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
trapper
Registered: 03/17/07
Posts: 5070
Loc: McGrath, AK
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You can put a wood stove in a tipi,I seen it done,
Yes so have I and it doesn't work well at all in a tipi because the peak is so high. The heat is in the top of the tipi not down at body level. Might be ok in Indiana but probably not in Alberta.
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Mean As Nails
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#287252 - 08/07/07 10:37 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: white17]
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otterman
trapper
Registered: 12/24/06
Posts: 1504
Loc: SW Alaska
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I would not use an air materess if it gets very cold that air in the matteress will get cold and you are sleeping on cold air.
As far as a sleeping bag liner goes wool is one thing flannel is another. Last weeek after years of using good nylon bags with quallofill my wife and I spent the night in old flannel lined bags that had been in camp for a week when we crawled in them they were damp and it sucked took a half hour to get them warmed with our body heat to chase the damp out. Not something you want to do if you come in wet and cold and need to warm up you body so you can wake up in the morning
_________________________
It is interesting how much a man will do to suceed and how much more he will doto make sure he has excuses for failure when sucess isa simple process
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#287261 - 08/07/07 10:48 AM
Re: Winter Trapping From Wall Tent
[Re: otterman]
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BuckNE
"Migrant Laborer"
trapper
Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 5208
Loc: Southeast Nebraska
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Otterman, I'm not talking about a built-in flannel liner. I'm talking about a removable liner that you can put inside a quallofill bag. You can buy them, or make them yourself. They go in like a sock. Add to the warmth of the bag, and keep the bag clean. You can take out the liner to clean it.
The new self-inflating pads are basically a bed of closed cell foam, and then a layer of open cell foam that expands when a valve is opened. Throw it in the tent, unroll it, open the valve, and half an hour later you've got a nice cushion and separation from the ground. A regular air mattress gets to the same temperature as the air, and you'll freeze your butt off. Because of the foam design of the self-inflating pads, they don't get cold.
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buckne60@yahoo.com
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