Buying Land and Building a Hunting Camp Part III

The dream of owning one’s own hunting cabin is possible even for the non-handy with proper planning. My 16 x 20’ cabin was born with the help of a two-car garage set of blueprints and some DIY books. Gather your family and friends for a few weekends and you can frame it up yourself.

The Building Crew

The crew leader does the measuring and cutting, and the crew puts it all together. We salvaged our windows from a friend’s remodeling project, and  we used steel roofing for no-maintenance durability.  Use a safety arrest harness when roofing, it’s slippery walking on the pitch and you will fatigue easily.

Life in a Minnesota ruffed grouse hunting cabin

I love waking up to the neighborhood drumming grouse, and coffee  warming by the wood stove.  I awarded the landowner’s pardon to the grouse living  nearby.  After the day’s hunt in the neighboring state forests, it’s nice to come home to the cabin. A few sticks of wood on the fire, throw venison steaks on the grill, and light the gas lamps. Feed the dogs, wipe down the guns, and set the boots out to dry. Tomorrow get up and do it all again.

 

Joel Schnell is editor of ruffedgrouseminnesota.com