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.

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.

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.

And tell someone you trust "Exactly" where it is.

My old man has had two 50L sealable plastic drums burned in the Ruahine for a decade or two now

One contains a his feather down sleeping bag, a couple of flys and a bivvy bag.

The other contains cooking gear, gas canisters and food (canned and dehydrated).

He told me the general vicinity of where they are but never told or showed me Exactly where they are.

I'm confident I'm looking within a few hundred meters square of the location.

Dad passed away 5 years ago and as yet I still haven't located his stashed gear.

I'm sure the gear will be in good condition when eventually found.

Cheers
Pete

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.

I buried a cooker, 5 or so litres of fuel, shit paper etc to save carrying that in the seven and a half km walk each time. Some MoFo found it and that was the end of that!

I found some other guy's stash once and, without even looking in the contents, left it well alone! What goes around doesn't come around, that's for sure!

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?

I've got two main camps that I leave two 50cal ammo tins so the rats don't get in, stashed in the bush with food, fuel, dog biscuits, dunny paper and spare AA battery's. Not heaps of gear but enough for extended unexpended trips and any supply's I have spare at end of trip stash them up in the tins for next time.