Thread: Stashing gear in the bush

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

Can see the sense in a spare gas bottle, food and little things as @tikka has mentioned leaving some things behind, doesn't matter to much if someone steals it

After you've buried the stash again I always leave a few pieces of toilet paper around the disturbed soil......puts most people off digging I'd suspect

I used to leave gear in the Tararuas sealed in solid buckets with the push on lids, works great, as others said just hide it really well or bury it.

It's pretty much littering. Go to any likely spot in the Ni, have a wee look round and you'll find at least three buckets like you guys are suggesting... Most of them are buggered beyond use and are just making a mess... It's gross.
If you do go ahead with it make sure you tidy up afterwards please.

Originally Posted by Wildman

It's pretty much littering. Go to any likely spot in the Ni, have a wee look round and you'll find at least three buckets like you guys are suggesting... Most of them are buggered beyond use and are just making a mess... It's gross.
If you do go ahead with it make sure you tidy up afterwards please.

I was going to say something similar. Just carry your stuff in and out!

I'm going to pile up and burn the next pile of crap I find in the Ruahines...

I supposed a well hidden and tidy bucket isn't the end of the world.

How hard is it to hide a 20L bucket in a few thousand hectares of bush !

Cheers guys. I'll buy some buckets and a cheaper sleeping bag and some damp rid to protect my gear.
I'm hoping that I can get to the point that all I need to take is my food and hunting gear, so I can stalk my way in and have plenty of pack space for meat on my return.
I will be a tidy kiwi, no leaving US crap in the bush. It's pretty disgusting some of the mess left around Hawke's Bay huts in the Kawekas.
I took a trip into Back Ridge Biv late last year. Ended up carrying 2 grocery bags of beer cans out that were chucked into the surrounding bush.

You just jogged my memory. A mate and I buried stuff near Makino hut about 25 years ago. Had completely forgotten about it. Its in an orange pack liner buried in the roots of a rotten tree about 100 yards nor-east of the hut.

It seems I'm a bush litterer from way back.

Originally Posted by kiwiazonic

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.

Man has been there and done that, don't be a fool!

https://youtu.be/I2cPBl6scJk

https://youtu.be/kpGuv6DTAKk

I have a nice little set up in the bush. Bout 3 hours in. Haven't bothered to hide any stuff, got 3 20 l buckets with food and other stuff. All sitting in plain view under the shelter. If someone decides to steal it, I'll have to reevaluate how I do things. Until then I'll keep things as they are.
You never know, someone may stumble across my camp one night and it may help save their life having some gear to make a feed and get a fire going.

We unfortunately know of a situation where this was a case, and the stashed gear that was found (being a simple tarpaulin, some firewood and axe), and when the group was rescued the tarpaulin was folded back up and it and the axe was left where they were found plus most of the firewood was left (as using the axe new stuff had been gathered).

hide your gear well. then set up another drum with some dummy gear thats just worthy of stealing and taking home. if you like you can add to the brew a splash of measles and/or small pox, but be sure to insert a gps tracker so you can return the favour.

the other option is to bury a drum with just the lid exposed, have a name written on it, including a message along the lines of "not lost, please do not disturb" then install a spring loaded boxing glove in the drum. hopefully if it is opened they can walk back to their stolen car with a broken nose.
Ha.