Cooking in the blind

C

Chris sulkey

Member
Does anyone have suggestions/experience as to, what the best portable heat source would be for cooking a meal in the blind? I have a tdb 14' and would prefer to not burn a hole in the hull or anywhere else for that fact. There are the typical single burner camping stoves that most stores sell but they seem small and not likely to cook eggs, sausage, poatoes, etc... And in the end having the food all not be cold when it's time to eat. Also, Is there a portable pan that works better than the next, folds up, easy to clean, etc.... I pack snacks and coffee currently but a hot meal sounds so much better than a granola bar that semi frozen.
 
I have a fourteen foot boat that is my main rig. There is not a real lot of spare room available in this rig, especially with three people, dog and all of our gear on board. Here is what I have-

I have an olive green five gallon bucket with a lid. Inside, I have a Coleman back packing, white gas stove. (unfortunately, I don't believe they make my particular model anymore, but they still make a small, compact, single burner stove that would work just as well). It's light, small and compact and it folds easily into a very small package. I have a quality aluminum backpacking pan set. (quality is important, stay away from the cheap, stamped, thin metal pans). In it is small sauce pan, large sauce pan and a 9" fry pan. I also have a compact backpacker's set of small containers carrying an assortment of condiments-salt and pepper, sugar, vegetable oil and a few herbs and spices. I have a cooking utensil set consisting of a large spoon, ladle, and spatula. I have a knife and one of those roll-up cutting sheet, plastic mixing cup, butane lighter and a few misc. items I can't think of right now. I also have a zip-lock bag with napkins, a hand towel and an old brown towel that I use to cover the bucket top, where I place the little stove when cooking. It makes a nice slip-resistant, semi camo cover for the whole thing.

With all of that in the bucket, believe it or not, there is plenty of room for food and drink. I used it this past season and was able to make two meals, with drinks, for three people. On a particlar morning, we were able to make hot drinks several times. Oatmeal for breakfast and then grilled ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch.

When I am done hunting, I just bring the whole kit into the house to clean and wash, then re-stock for the next hunt.

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Have fun!

Jon
 
The MSR backpacking stoves are very well made, much like Jons Coleman stove,

For a real small stove/cooking pot set up look at the Jet Boil stoves, not cheap but very well made
 
Jon,

You mention you hunt 3 from your boat. From the picture your floor ribs look like my 14' boat. I'd love to see how you've modified you interior to make it huntable. I may remember seeing on another site that you decked your boat but I don't remember any interior shots. If you have any shots while out hunting I'd like to see those as well. I've been thinking of ways to modify mine for the purpose. Thanks.
 
Chris,

I use a single burner Coleman stove.
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It does not take up much room or if I'm just warming something up thats wrapped in foil I'll hang it on the Mr Buddy portable heater. Works great for pre-made sandwiches.
 
Damn John, you cook too? I never got out this year at all,going to be a stretch waiting for next year now.
How did you do overall this year?
From what I heard, not much till the last few weeks
 
George,

We did ok. Just had to work harder to get the birds.
I'm still gunning till the end of Goose season.

I went out this morning for a little while. Took 1 nice sized goose and was back early.

Let me know if you can get out one day. You still have some time.
 
The blind implys some space......
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Lunch:

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In a bigger boat, Cheech Kehoe and John Bourbon have that well figured out with a coleman grill...

Breakfast:
 
John, any geese up you way? Ice has pushed them into larger groups here [season is over]. Had a ball with the southbay, managed some birds, but was work. Will be calling you about foam when it gets warm, no garage. See George didn't get out, storm damage. Hope all is well George.
 
Space is the premium, with all the gear from a-z it's tough to decide one burner, two. Burner, grate vs griddle? Love the hot dog boiler! That's great! I make my own sausage and gets eggs from friends. Am looking to really put more of a personal touch or non-commercial way of being out in the blind by using what I have made or modified. Unfortunately a camp fire on the hull of the boat doesn't work. I will take all the different people's information and try to incorporate something that's fits for me. Thanks
 
For the most part, it ALL fits in the bucket. Food and all. Whenever I've used it, it has been cool enough temperature wise, that a cooler wasn't necessary. I just pack it all carefully. Stove, tank, pans, utensils, etc. go in the bottom. Pop, if we take some, goes in next, cerefully packed around the equipment. Then the meat stuff goes in, then bread, cookies, chips on top, etc. I generally use as many disposable paper products as possible to minimize clean-up. Depending on exactly how much I pack, those and the water I sometimes pack seperately.

Being that most of my equipment is of the "Bacpacking" variety, it all folds and packs fairly small. Each has it's own little protective storage bag too. I usually pack foodstuffs into seperate quart sized Zip-Lock bags, and then pack those into one gallon Zip-Lock bags. Keeps everything neat, clean and weatherproof.

I really enjoy cooking and eating while hunting. It not only breaks up times of boredom, (where I hunt, I usually have quite a bit of that), but the food is tasty, warm and enjoyable.

Jon
 
Chris
You could go on the cheap by precooking items and rapping them in foil. Then you could use a Sterno stove to warm them up.
 
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