Thread: Stashing gear in the bush

Hey, I need your ideas about storing/stashing gear in the bush.
I would like to leave a sleeping bag, hut clothing and a tent in the bush so I don't need to haul it in every trip.

What are your tricks to keeping the gear dry?

I hunt in a far far away bush and stay in a hut that takes a good 8 hour walk from the road side.

Make the effort the first time and take in a sealable plastic drum/bucket.

Where are you bro, I have a few 50 odd litre plastic containers with sealed screw on lids. Could even bury it and just have the lid above ground?

I don't really want to give them away but could spare one for you to try

Hide and GPS what ever you leave/bury. I had a good set up in the Ruahines and it all got stolen. Was hidden under a log for several years, and then vanished. I was left with minimal gear for a night and several hours from the road end.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Hide and GPS what ever you leave/bury. I had a good set up in the Ruahines and it all got stolen. Was hidden under a log for several years, and then vanished. I was left with minimal gear for a night and several hours from the road end.

Same in Te Urawera,I thought it well hidden.Arrived late one night,nada,takes the shine off your day.

Make sure its mouse proof!!

pretty obvious but make sure after you use your gear it is well aired out and dry before you store it and the seal is airtight as other wise it can all turn to shit with mould, rust and condensation

Don't put it where if a river floods it could get washed away

If anyone wants one up these ways, I get the odd one with a waterproof snap on lid. White plastic, approx 30l

Thirty years ago I'd leave my tent pitched with all gear in tent over summer, in my spot two hours off the road a wee ways out of queenstown. I never needed to worry about other hunters disrespecting my gear and the dope growers were too lazy back then to walk that far either. Oh how times have changed!!

Originally Posted by SiB

Thirty years ago I'd leave my tent pitched with all gear in tent over summer, in my spot two hours off the road a wee ways out of queenstown. I never needed to worry about other hunters disrespecting my gear and the dope growers were too lazy back then to walk that far either. Oh how times have changed!!

30 years ago there was only 3 people in the SI wasn't there?

The Deadman track has an erected tent and fly on it at the moment. No contents. Its a cheap one. Someone has been too lazy to pack it up and take it home - 1.5 hrs from the road end. Last time I walked past it was blown on its side against a tree. Next thing the wind will shred it and it will get blown all over the place.

@Blaser and I have had gear stashed in one spot for 20+ years in 20lt buckets. Don't think it's ever been found. What ever you use does need to breathe a bit or things start going mouldy.

Originally Posted by Shootm

@Blaser and I have had gear stashed in one spot for 20+ years in 20lt buckets. Don't think it's ever been found. What ever you use does need to breathe a bit or things start going mouldy.

Yeah bud rot is no good aye

Originally Posted by Tahr

Hide and GPS what ever you leave/bury. I had a good set up in the Ruahines and it all got stolen. Was hidden under a log for several years, and then vanished. I was left with minimal gear for a night and several hours from the road end.

That is the problem and the risk in this exercise. when they get stolen it is not just the money you lose but potentially life threatening if you cannot walk back out and have too little gear to survive the night.