Thread: stashing gear in the bush

Does anyone have a decent way of stashing gear in the bush.
I have tried using buckets which have worked to some extent but they always seem to get some condensation.

Surely someone has an alternative way that keeps their gear in good nick and dry.
Obviously also has to be mouse, rat and possum proof
cheers

Carry it in, then out again, easy

I've never found anything better than the white 20 L plastic bucket with tight-fitting lid. Most farm shops sell them.

Any sealed container will develop condensation if it's exposed to the warming/cooling cycles of daily temperatures. Only way to prevent this is to bury the bucket, upright, with a couple of inches of soil depth over the lid.
A sheet of plastic over the lid helps keep things clean and I never had one leak, even after the site flooded. Really only worth the hassle for important gear like jetboil, gas canisters, freeze-dri sachets, batteries, tent fly etc.

On public land don't expect it to stay undiscovered

Carry in a newspaper,,, needs to be dry as, like crispy crinkle feel it's so dry- so carry in protected (plastic bag) from the damp bush atmosphere.

When you store goods in bucket take newspaper out of plastic bag leave in bucket with other goods...
when you come back you will notice newspaper has lost its crinkle/crisp feel because it has absorbed moisture from in bucket.

Newspaper has other uses to.

There's a white plastic bucket of mine buried about 100 yards from Makino hut in the Kawekas. Been there 25 odd years. Anyone is welcome to the contents if they can find it. Tinned food, instant noodles and stuff. And another stash on the Mangoira ridge in the Ruahines off the end of Bowling Rd, including a tent fly. It's by the last broadleaf tree before you hit the leatherwood, on the track we cut. Thats been there longer.

Stuff seems to keep ok in those big white paint buckets with clip on lids.

There's a whole camp of mine in the Kaikoura's that's buried under tons of rock and dirt after their quake

I have a few gear stashes left out there.
Good to leave gas and food as you go by on the way out.

BUT keep a record of what's there if you don't go back often.

Just last week I was hunting at an old stomping ground and I dumped my overnight gear where I thought my stash was.
Went back to pitch my tarp before the evening hunt and found I was at the wrong clump of trees and 50m out.
Got to the right spot and found all there was I'm that stash was a 5 year old 2L bottle of water !

Don't

Buckets. Polyurethane over the top. Beech logs holding it all down. Have had a chainsaw up there for years. Still goes hard ��

The 50 or so litre screw top poly drums are also good. Carry in on a frame or in our case drop in from a vehicle before the gates close for winter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The lighter–weight plastic 60-80 litre rubbish bins aren't great as the clip-on lids are not intended to form a good seal, and water seems in time to inevitably defy gravity and work its way up underneath. There is just such a bin filled with gear just off the side of the Raingauge Track from Kumeti Road where this has happened and the contents are now mouldy. I've been meaning to pull it out and see if I can find any contact details of the owner inside. What is the etiquette here? From my perspective it is now effectively rubbish that has been left in the bush. I'm inclined to take it out to the carpark.

I don't see the need to stash gear in the bush - just carry in what I need.

If it's public land don't expect it to remain untouched, do you want that risk? if you are relying on the gear to be there?

having been a field Ranger for years and flown out countless loads of rubbish especially Waioeka and Te Urewera I really wish hunters did not stash gear - to often it gets left - but if you must the blue plastic drums with a screw lid are as good as anything - then if someone has to clean up after you its easy - roll it into a net and its out - but dont - if you think you need to you are packing to much

If you are going to do this, make sure it is well concealed, and that you do carry everything out when your sick of your spot. If you are using a drum, make sure it is water tight, and store nothing wet. Nothing. Condensation cannot occur unless there is dampness in existing gear. And please, if you do decide to dig a hole the size of a 100 litre plastic drum, for heaven's sake, fill it in once you are finished with it. I nearly fell down a square hole like this walking through the bush. Not a pleasant experience.