February 14, 2019
Though the time for deer camp is over for the season, I have learned a great technique for establishing deer camp while using my military surplus tent. I call it the art of Doubling Down.
Basically, the art of doubling down is simply that of finding a natural or manmade shelter, and pitching your tent inside of it.
There are several reasons to do this, but the most important aspect is that of keeping the wind and elements off of your tent, and inadvertently keeping the same off of you.
The wind and rain are the second most destructive elements to your military surplus tent, the worst destructive device being cowboy boots and rocks below your tent floor. Here are some excellent places to double down in:
1.Old abandoned sheds and barns. Chicken coops, furrowing houses, stables, etc... Military surplus tents can work in all of these. They also provide great warmth, shelter, and protection from predators if sealed up properly. As a matter of fact, one question that occurs is "why not just use that structure?" And the answer is that the tent also keeps the creepies out that are inhabiting that structure as well.
2.Caves and overhangs It will take some scouting to find such a structure in the natural, but if you can find one, not only do you have a doubled down shelter, you also have natural concealment..
3. Older. larger tents. Dark Eyed Juncos, (snowbirds), will build their nests on the ground underneath overhangs, and will line their nests with deer hair or feathers from other birds. Where and how they find this hair and these feathers is unknown to me, but I've seen it quite often, I've even found them lined with horsehair but it's most commonly deer. The reason for this is that it offers double insulation for their young. A second, older tent can do the same thing for you and will offer protection to your newer tent so that it can last much longer.