Wood stove at deer camp, bring your own wood?

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geoffm24

Member
Sep 1, 2010
81
Western MA
This Nov I'm heading out to Western Pennsylvania with some buddies to do a little deer hunting. One of my buddies is from Western PA and has a hunting cabin for us to use. He mentioned that there is a wood burning stove in the cabin and we would need to buy some wood when we get out there. As we know, getting wood that is actually ready to burn is a tough thing to do. Right now I have no idea what kind of stove it is or how big a of pieces will fit etc. I'm betting that it is an old smoke dragon and not a new EPA stove. What would you do to make sure you aren't freezing your butt off in the woods with wet wood thats hard to light?

Would you bring your own wood?
If so how much would you bring for 1 week? (Space always seems to be at a premium in the truck with coolers, gear, rifles etc.)
Would you bring your saw to find some dead trees?
Would you bring your Fiskars Splitter?
Just go with the flow and hope the wood you buy there works out?

Thanks!
 
In my old smoke dragon, I always figured that one load thrown on (extended cab F150=6 foot bed) was worth 10 to 14 days of continuous burning. So, if you brought a quarter of a load and 5 or 6 others did the same, you'd be good for awhile.
 
To be on the safe side, you might want to get up with your friend and get some more details. That way, you can definitely be prepared. I would be willing to bet getting cold up in them there neck of the woods would not be fun.
 
As a fellow hunter - you can never be too warm after a long day in the cold, wet woods. Coming in and struggling to get a fire going would really bite! Plus, sounds like you are already going to be dealing with hot / cold temps. So - bring enough wood, then throw a bit more on for good measure. Take the stuff your buddies buy, bring it home and let it season until next year. My .02 cents anyway....
 
I would call the buddies and try to bring as much dry wood as you could travel truck there comfortably. Prolly a face cord would be enough for the week. Nothing is better than stepping into a warm deer camp after a cold wet afternoon doggin. Then a nice whiskey by the stove is pretty good also.
But what kinda a deer camp wouldn't have firewood ?
 
BrotherBart said:
The way the states are getting about wood infestation it is probably illegal to transport wood between your states anyway. Take a saw and the Fiskers.

Edit:

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/news/resource/res2007/07-0703-emeraldashborer.aspx
Click to expand...

Beat me to it BrotherBart, I was going to mention to check local laws about out of state wood. I would check not only your states hunting guide but the state you will be hunting in guide, may even be able to find it on the wildlife management web site for that state. This is one of them laws that nobody knows of but if you cross the wrong fish and wildlife officer you may find out the hard way. Here in Kentucky, our hunting and trapping guide list on the first page "movement of firewood outside quarantine area is illegal" Good luck with the hunt. Hope everyone stays safe and has a good time.

Steve
 
Be careful. The Allegheny National Forest has banned all firewood coming into the four counties it is located in. I would find out the county you are going to. You can only bring in kiln dried pre-packed firewood. Good luck. Where are you going?

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/


Info at the bottom of the page.

Best regards,

Rick
 
What part of my great state are you coming to?
 
hct4all said:
Be careful. The Allegheny National Forest has banned all firewood coming into the four counties it is located in. I would find out the county you are going to. You can only bring in kiln dried pre-packed firewood. Good luck. Where are you going?

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/


Info at the bottom of the page.

Best regards,

Rick
Click to expand...

That is exactly where we are going. We are going to be hunting in 2F. Not bringing in outside wood never crossed my mind! Looks like I'll be bringing the Husqvarna and Fiskars. Fighting the stove and cold nights is not a pleasant thought. A warm fire at hunting camp, a whiskey and a hearty meal are some of my fondest memories.
 
If your friend lives here in pa and it's his cabin can't he take care of wood so you aren't driving a truck load of wood from out of state? I know when I am at our cabin to go hunting I don't want to spend time making firewood when I could be making meat. I would just tell your buddy to buy wood, bring a couple packs of fatwood firestarters and hope for the best. If you guys are going to do this every year get a cord or two delivered and you won't have to worry about wood for a few years.
 
There is a link at the bottom of the page I posted that lists where you can buy wood. Have fun its a beautiful area. Could be 70 degrees or 20 that time of year. You never know. My camp is in Forest county. Where are you going to be?
 
krex1010 said:
If your friend lives here in pa and it's his cabin can't he take care of wood so you aren't driving a truck load of wood from out of state? I know when I am at our cabin to go hunting I don't want to spend time making firewood when I could be making meat. I would just tell your buddy to buy wood, bring a couple packs of fatwood firestarters and hope for the best. If you guys are going to do this every year get a cord or two delivered and you won't have to worry about wood for a few years.
Click to expand...

He lives in Mass now but his Mom is still out there and it is the family cabin we will be using. Getting a cord delivered is a great way to make sure I get invited back!
 
Buy it now and have it delivered to the cabin. You should be able to get a cord in the area for $150-$200. One cord should last a deer camp for quite a while, even if you plan to be there for two weeks. Bring some scrap 2x4's for kindling to get it started and let the fire rip. Wood that is not well seasoned can still provide sufficient heat for most deer camps.

DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN WOOD OR BUY IT IN PA AND TAKE IT BACK TO MASS. We do have the emerald ash borer now in many counties in PA. It is not likely you would be caught and fined, but it is not worth it anyway.

Oh. Just realized you said Nov, which means you will be out in a few weeks for archery, I would think. Won't be that cold that it should be too much of an issue. I was thinking you'd be out for rifle season after thanksgiving, which would be a good bit colder.
 
geoffm24 said:
And I can't wait to pick up some Yuegling!
Click to expand...

Guess they haven't made it up to New England yet? They got down to the Carolinas in the early 2000s-my best friend's brother (born and raised in New Jersey) was pretty sore about not being able to buy it when he first got down there in the early '90s. As for the warmth issue, pick up some Yuengling Black and Tan-good cold weather beer for a cold night-save the Lager for relaxing after splitting some wood for the stove or dragging in a big one!
 
As others have said . . . with the threat of invasive species I no longer advocate transporting wood long distances . . . and many states now prohibit this practice or strongly discourage the practice.
 
Mike PA said:
Buy it now and have it delivered to the cabin. You should be able to get a cord in the area for $150-$200. One cord should last a deer camp for quite a while, even if you plan to be there for two weeks. Bring some scrap 2x4's for kindling to get it started and let the fire rip. Wood that is not well seasoned can still provide sufficient heat for most deer camps.

DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN WOOD OR BUY IT IN PA AND TAKE IT BACK TO MASS. We do have the emerald ash borer now in many counties in PA. It is not likely you would be caught and fined, but it is not worth it anyway.

Oh. Just realized you said Nov, which means you will be out in a few weeks for archery, I would think. Won't be that cold that it should be too much of an issue. I was thinking you'd be out for rifle season after thanksgiving, which would be a good bit colder.
Click to expand...

We are heading down after Thanksgiving for rifle season.
 
geoffm24 said:
This Nov I'm heading out to Western Pennsylvania with some buddies to do a little deer hunting. One of my buddies is from Western PA and has a hunting cabin for us to use. He mentioned that there is a wood burning stove in the cabin and we would need to buy some wood when we get out there. As we know, getting wood that is actually ready to burn is a tough thing to do. Right now I have no idea what kind of stove it is or how big a of pieces will fit etc. I'm betting that it is an old smoke dragon and not a new EPA stove. What would you do to make sure you aren't freezing your butt off in the woods with wet wood thats hard to light?

Would you bring your own wood? What is Pennsylvania's law on bringing in wood from out of state?
If so how much would you bring for 1 week? (Space always seems to be at a premium in the truck with coolers, gear, rifles etc.)
Would you bring your saw to find some dead trees?
Would you bring your Fiskars Splitter?
Just go with the flow and hope the wood you buy there works out?

Thanks!
Click to expand...


zap
 
Geoffm24, here's wishing you good luck hunting.

For many, many moons we drive about 350 miles to hunting camp but our camps were always old army tents heated with wood. We never took wood; only one chain saw and an axe. Most of the time we cut small cherry trees and the only time I recall being cold was when some dodo would not put wood in the stove even though he was in camp. Dang, you come in from hunting and many times you are really cold so it is nice to have a nice warm place right then.

The cherry we cut was green and we had no problems so long as we kept a fire going good but let it go out and it was a bit of a task getting it started again.

Good luck. I hope it all works out well. That wood heat will be nice.
 
Packages of Bio-Bricks or equivalent don't take up as much space as cordwood and don't present the crossing state lines problem.
 
Just bring your saw and Axe, a wood run is alway's a good time!
 
If it was me I wouldnt transport wood because of restrictions and because I don't mind cutting wood while I am at camp. Assuming the camp includes some property in the woods, it shouldn't take long to find enough wood for the week plus leave some behind for next time. Cutting wood will be the warmest you'll get at deer camp. There should be enough reasonably dry wood around that you won't have trouble keeping a fire hot, and even fresh cut trees will burn.
 
Alot of the old hunting camps in pa are on state forest land and I believe you need a permit to cut wood on state forest and there are designated firewood cutting areas. If that is the case with your buddy's place you may have to buy your wood.
And a big old +1 on any yuengling product, stock up on it while you are in our state! Nectar of the gods in my book!
 
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