As some of you may know from my previous posts, this is going to be my first year camping in a wall tent for elk season. Me amd my buddies will be hunting 3rd season around 10,000ft. How much fire wood do you guys use. The reason I ask is that I have probably a half a cord at the house but I don't think that will be enough. I have a 14X16 Davis wall tent with an outfitter wood burning stove. This will be our only source of heat. Any thoughts?
** How many days total will you be there?
** Will there be anyone tending camp during your absence?
One thing for sure, if the firewood you have at home is Eastern hardwood, then you will be way more happy with it than with the Western softwood selection. One cold season we averaged 26 stove length logs (4-5") per day; however, we let that section of the tent go cold at night as we had propane heat in the sleeping area.
Good luck,
EKM
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You didn't mention how long you'll be there or if you'll be cooking with some other form of heat (naptha stove, etc.) I'd say you might come up a bit short if the weather stays cooler or wetter than expected. Half a cord of maple/oak should give you 5 or 6 days at the best under poor conditions while pine would give you less.
Sorry for not providing enough info. We will not have anyone tending the tent while we are hunting, and we are planning on being there a week. There is always a lot of deadfall lying around. Would that be an option for supplementing the wood that we have, or should we get more? Thanks again for all the advice.
In any case, you want all the firewood you think you will need cut and put away before the start of the season. IMHO, once the season starts you will be too busy or too tired to want to fool around with a wood cutting detail.
Be mentally prepared to tend the fire every two hours if burning softwood. If you are damping it down, then be ABSOLUTELY sure to undamp it and wait a few seconds before opening the door or your tent will fill with smoke
EKM
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Never Go Undergunned, Always Check The Sight In, Perform At Showtime!
Good judgment comes from bad experience! Learn from the mistakes of others; you' ll never live long enough to make them all yourself!
If dead fall is plentyful in the area your going into then I would suggest showing up a day or two early cut some firewood plus this will help you get climatized to the elevation you will be hunting at. It usually takes hunters from lower elevations a couple of days to get used to the altitude. This would be a great excuse for leaving early and do some looking around. Would I bring wood from back east to burn when there's plenty where your going, I think I'd pass. Leave that room in the truck for extra clothing for that later season hunt.
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Thanks a lot guy's for all the input. Cherokee, there is a lot of deadfall in the area that we hunt. I spend a pretty good amount of time in the mountains as it is, but we are going to leave 2 days early to get our camp set up. I'm not real sure where the topic of east coast wood came in to the picture? I live in Colorado, why would I want eastern wood?
elknut1, I have around a half a cord at the house, so if this isn't enough I think we will be ok using the deadfall to supplement. Once again I want to thank everyone for their input, it has been very helpful.
You, mentioned you had firewood at home; you didn't say what "kind" it was. One can buy eastern hardwood firewood here in Colorado --- oak, etc. It is far superior to our native softwoods -- hotter, denser, longer lasting; hence, I was saying if you had it take it with you, ESPECIALLY since I knew you were from Colorado -- short haul.... superior fuel.... one less thing to screw around with. In any case, your call.... good luck.
EKM
__________________
Never Go Undergunned, Always Check The Sight In, Perform At Showtime!
Good judgment comes from bad experience! Learn from the mistakes of others; you' ll never live long enough to make them all yourself!
I have to agree with EKM I go to Co. every year we take a 14ft inclosed trailer and yes we bring wood from IL. it is just so much less work to bring it then to find any thing worth burnig in Co.
Oh yeah the smoke thing wish I would of heard that 8years ago . We dont burn much wood now just propane.
If you mix oak mapple or elm with the Co. pines it aint as bad.
EKM its just about hunt time make sure you get pics and give us your news.
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Fire Wood
