Getting out on a hunting trip often means setting up for days, if not weeks, in the outdoors. For this reason, it’s important to invest in the proper accommodation that will not only have enough space for your group, gear and equipment but also stand up to any kind of weather you might face when out on the hunt.
Wall tents are an excellent choice for use on hunting trips. They’re durable, able to withstand a range of environments and weather conditions and, if cared for properly, will last you for many years to come.
What Are Wall Tents?
Wall tents are easily recognizable by their vertical four-wall structure. Wall tents are also known as safari tents or outfitter tents and are, arguably, one the best kinds of canvas tents for setting up for extended periods of time outside.
All wall tents from White Duck Outdoors are made of a heavy-duty 100% army duck cotton canvas material that drapes over an aluminum tent frame. This makes them sturdy and resistant to most weather conditions.
The proprietary DYNADUCK fabric is treated with a PFC-free, fire water repellent, mold & UV resistant finish, which keeps the canvas wall tent protected from heavy rainfall or snowy conditions. The UV resistant finish also helps maintain the integrity of the fabric if the tent is placed under direct sunlight.
The benefit of using cotton as the material of choice is that cotton has natural breathability, which makes the tent suitable for use in all seasons. If it’s cool outside, the canvas keeps you warm and in the summer months, it’s easy to stay cool inside the tent.
White Duck wall tents come in six different sizes to suit the single hunter as well as the hunting family. Those who prefer to travel light can get a tent as small as 8’x10’, while those who need more room can have tents up to 16’x24’, which is perfect for outfitter groups.
Wall Tents Are Particularly Suited For Hunting
Wall tents are made for outdoorsmen and the wild backcountry. They can withstand adverse conditions and will shelter you for many trips, but whether they are an ideal choice for your adventures comes down to exactly how you hunt.
While some may set up camp and drive in the day to a nearby location to hunt, others who are a bit more adventurous may prefer hiking to remote locations to hunt. Each of these situations will present different needs and require different equipment, and while one kind of a wall tent may be ideal for one hunter, it may not fit the needs of another.
For this reason, it’s essential to ensure that you do the proper research before settling on the outfitter tent that makes the most sense for you. In any case, a wall tent makes for an excellent choice for your hunting trip.
In addition to breaking down the benefits and downsides of wall tents for hunting below, we put together some tips for living in a wall tent, which could be especially useful if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in your tent.
The Pros Of Wall Tents For Hunting Trips
- Many hunting seasons occur in the fall and winter when the temperatures may be quite cool and you may even have to deal with icy and snowy conditions. Wall tents make an excellent choice for these occasions not only because they can withstand the weather, but because they can accommodate wood-burning stoves. All wall tents from White Duck, for example, come with a built-in stove jack, which makes setting up a stove inside that much easier!
- Wood-burning stoves provide warmth and comfort throughout the night, allowing for a good night’s rest so that you can be alert and feel great on your hunts. They also offer conveniences such as a hotplate to cook or boil water and a way to dry any wet clothes or equipment.
- Wall tents provide the space and shelter that many hunters find in a camping trailer but don’t present the same limitations as campers do. While towing a camper limits those who’d like to hunt out of the camp to roadside camping, wall tents can be carried to a more remote location so that you don’t have to sacrifice your time in nature for some creature comforts.
- The standard 5’ wall height of the wall tents means there’s plenty of space to not only set up furniture like camp cots or beds but also to stand up and move around so that you can feel comfortable spending time in the tent when you’re not out on the hunt.
- Camping in wall tents brings a feeling of nostalgia to many hunters. Those who may have camped in older tents from the last century as children or who perhaps watched their share of movies featuring hunters and travelers may feel that wall tents create a certain atmosphere that adds to the overall experience.
The Potential Downside Of Wall Tents For Hunting
- Wall tents require a decent amount of care and maintenance to be kept in their best condition. It’s important to keep them clean and clear of debris and allow them to dry out completely before storing so that the canvas material does not begin to grow mold and mildew.
- Wall tents can be a sizable investment, especially when opting for one of the larger sizes. The double-fill army duck cotton canvas fabric and heavy-duty aluminum frames contribute to the higher cost of wall tents. Often though, for hunting trips when you expect to set up camp for several consecutive days and require foolproof protection from any kind of weather, the wall tent is completely worth it.
- Wall tents are light enough to be carried comfortably along with any other equipment, but are also bulky from the canvas material and are not ideal for longer and more strenuous trips into remote areas. For this reason, they may require several people to assist in the carrying of the tent from one place to another.
Tips To Keep In Mind When Using A Wall Tent For Hunting
Once you’ve decided that a wall tent is the ideal choice for your next hunting trip, then implementing these simple tips and techniques will ensure that you have the best experience possible:
- Add a couple inches of dirt into your stove before adding any wood to keep the bottom of your stove from overheating and potentially catching surrounding items on fire.
- Investing in a fly sheet will protect your canvas fabric and help maintain the structural integrity of the roof. A fly sheet protects the tent from falling debris, snow or heavy rains.
- Keep your coolers against the walls on the inside of your wall tent in freezing conditions. This will keep your cooler chilled without actually freezing it.
- Throwing a tarp over the roof of your tent in snowy conditions can help snow slide off and will reduce the weight put on the tent.
- A canvas porch is an excellent way to extend your outdoor living space without purchasing a new tent. The porch can come with a window and stove jack as well, so it’s the perfect place to dry your gear, set up a cooking space or just hang out.
