Count every item
Confirm rods, coolers, personal bags, food, motors and shared equipment before the aircraft departs.
Plan Your Hunt · Cabin Guide
CABIN
GUIDE.
Arrival, camp setup and daily routines for your cabin moose hunt.
At camp
CABIN TIPS.
Your first hour
LAND.
SEPARATE.
CONFIRM.
A departing party may be boarding the aircraft that brought you in. Keep incoming and outgoing gear in separate piles, identify your bags before the plane leaves and locate the camp Garmin inReach immediately.
Clearly mark every item with coloured tape and your party name. Remove exposed fishing hooks before aircraft loading so pilots and ground crew are not injured. If low water requires hip or chest waders for your location, Wesley's will tell your group before departure.
Locate communication
Find the inReach, verify charge and review check-ins, non-urgent messaging and SOS use.
Learn the systems
Read the outpost binder for the generator and boat motors at this camp. Review fuel, water, stove, chainsaw and the camp-specific instructions before using equipment.
Set up clean
Secure food and trash immediately. Do not leave fish remains or food waste near camp.
Cabin systems
SETTLE IN.
KEEP IT RUNNING.
Use the cabin kitchen, refrigerator, water system, shower and composting toilet as instructed at your location. Boats and outboard motors are supplied with the cabin package.
Food & wildlife
Store food and trash securely. Clean fish away from sleeping areas and dispose of remains as directed—never beside camp. The only serious bear problem Wesley's has experienced followed fish remains left in the tent area.
Cabin power & water
Run the generator outdoors at least 6 m (20 ft) from buildings, with exhaust directed away from openings. Never run it inside or refuel it while hot. Use the binder’s suggested generator routine as a starting point to keep the refrigerator and freezer cold, adjusting to actual temperatures (refrigerator 4°C/40°F or colder; freezer −18°C/0°F or colder). While it runs, charge the water-pump batteries as instructed. Cloudy fall weather, freezing temperatures and damaged shoreline lines can interrupt running water. See the generator routine →
Composting toilet
Use only the provided toilet paper and bulking material exactly as the camp instructions direct. Keep excess liquid, wipes, sanitary products, trash and chemicals out. Close the lid, keep the vent unobstructed and report problems—do not improvise repairs.
Remote-bush rule
SLOW IS SMOOTH.
Injuries, burns, cuts and falls are more serious when the nearest road and hospital are a flight away. Wear appropriate protection, work with a partner and stop when tired, rushed or unsure.
Never leave a fire, stove or anything cooking unattended. Check Ontario’s current forest-fire and Restricted Fire Zone information before lighting an outdoor fire.
Satellite communication
KEEP THE
INREACH READY.
Before leaving Pickle Lake, save the Hunter’s Pocket Book to every group member’s phone and test that it opens offline. At camp, keep the Garmin inReach charged, accessible and under a clear view of the sky when sending or checking messages.
For routine questions or equipment trouble, message wesleysoutposts@gmail.com through the inReach. Leave the device on until the message sends, then check for a reply. “Sent” does not mean Wesley’s has acknowledged it; wait for confirmation when your plan depends on an answer.
For serious or life-threatening danger, activate SOS, describe the situation and follow the response team’s instructions. Give your location or GPS coordinates and the number of people needing help. Do not wait for a routine message reply before using SOS.
Water at your cabin camp
BOIL BEFORE
DRINKING.
The cabin has running water for the sink and shower, drawn from the surrounding water system. Do not assume that water is ready to drink untreated. You can also collect water from the lake or river for drinking after boiling it.
For drinking, preparing food or beverages, brushing teeth, making ice and washing food, bring clear water to a full rolling boil and keep it boiling for at least one minute. Health Canada’s guidance is one minute; Wesley’s customary camp practice has been ten minutes. Let the water cool in a clean, covered container.
Boiling addresses germs. If the water has a visible algal bloom, fuel sheen, unusual smell or suspected chemical contamination, choose a different source and contact Wesley’s. Boiling does not make chemical contamination safe.
ONE BUTTON
FOR LIFE SAFETY.
For a life-threatening emergency, activate the Garmin inReach SOS and follow the response team's instructions. Then contact Wesley's through the provided emergency number or inReach when possible. For a non-life-threatening problem, message Wesley's first so a safe aircraft and care plan can be coordinated.
Guests are responsible for medical evacuation and other extra flight costs. Travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation is strongly recommended. There is no cellular service at camp; satellite text, the inReach or a guest-supplied Starlink Mini are the realistic options.
Before the floatplane pickup
LEAVE A
FRESH START.
Finish the cleanup before the aircraft arrives, so the next group can walk into an orderly camp.
- Bag all trash and take it out on the floatplane. Take leftover food and personal supplies home. Follow current fire restrictions; never burn trash without permission from Wesley’s.
- Wash, dry and put away all dishes; wipe counters and other surfaces you used; sweep the floor just before leaving.
- Turn off the generator as directed by the camp instructions, and return boats, motors, chainsaw, generator, grill, chairs and other equipment to their designated places.
- Pull boats fully clear of the water and tie them securely. Tilt up motors, pull the drain plugs and leave each plug in the back of its boat as the binder directs. Leave the inReach charged in its designated place for the arriving group.
- Close all cabin doors and windows, but leave the front door unlocked for the next group and staff.
- Never leave a fire or stove unattended. If a fire is permitted, keep water nearby and fully extinguish it before departure. Follow current fire restrictions.