Deer Season Camp Guide: Hot Tents, Tent Stoves and Ground Blinds

Opening day of rifle season is circled on calendars from Pennsylvania to Michigan to Texas. Mornings start well before sunrise, temperatures drop below freezing, and the difference between a miserable trip and a great one usually comes down to how warm and dry your camp is. Here is how hunters are setting up comfortable deer camps this year without hauling a camper into the woods.

Why hot tents are taking over deer camp

A hot tent is simply a tent with a built-in stove jack: a heat-resistant opening that lets you run a wood stove chimney safely through the wall. Instead of shivering in a sleeping bag, you come back from the stand to a warm, dry space where boots and gloves can actually dry overnight. Tipi designs use a single center pole, so they pitch fast, shed wind and snow well, and leave plenty of headroom in the middle.

If you hunt with a buddy or two

The VEVOR Tipi Hot Tent for 2 Persons is light enough to carry a short way from the truck and still has a stove jack for winter use.

If you run the family or group camp

The VEVOR Tipi Hot Tent for 4-6 Persons gives room for cots, gear and a stove in the middle, making it the gathering spot for coffee before dawn and stories after dark.

Pick the right tent stove

A compact camping stove turns that tent into a cabin. The VEVOR Camping Tent Wood Stove (Alloy Steel) includes a chimney pipe kit and a flat top for boiling water or warming food. If you camp often in wet weather, the VEVOR Stainless Steel Tent Wood Stove resists rust for many seasons.

Stay hidden and out of the wind in the field

Deer notice movement and silhouettes. A ground blind breaks up your outline and blocks cold wind so you can sit still longer. The VEVOR Portable Hunting Blind pops up in minutes, and the VEVOR See-Through Hunting Blind for 4-5 Persons is great for hunting with a youth hunter or a filming partner.

Little upgrades that make camp better

Bring a wool blanket for the floor, a couple of folding cots to keep you off the frozen ground, and a small kettle for the stove top. Hang a lantern from the center pole and a drying line near (not over) the stove for socks and gloves. These small touches make a 5 a.m. wake-up call a lot easier.

After a successful hunt

Getting game off the ground quickly helps keep the meat clean and cool. A VEVOR Tripod Game Hoist sets up anywhere at camp, even without a sturdy tree nearby.

Deer camp safety checklist

• Carbon monoxide detector. Always run a battery CO alarm inside any tent with a stove.
• Clearance and ventilation. Keep sleeping bags and gear away from the stove, and leave vents partly open.
• Spark arrestor. Use the chimney cap and never leave a burning stove unattended.
• Blaze orange. Follow your state's hunter orange rules at camp and in the field.
• Check local rules. Some public lands restrict wood stoves or campfires during dry spells.

Get your camp ready before opening day

Shipping takes about 10 days, so order now to have time to set up your tent and test the stove in the backyard before you head out.