How to Build Your Dream Hunting Cabin

With the spring hunting season right around the corner, hunters may be looking to design a cabin to stay in for their trips. Having a space to relax is vital after a long hunt. Building a hunting cabin is a great opportunity to create a space where you can rest, organize your gear, and prepare your game. Trailside Structures builds many kinds of prefab cabins that will make a great addition to your hunting trip. Our cabins are just one step in creating a versatile space, you also have to plan location, sleeping accommodations, weapon storage, and more. Here is everything you need to know about creating your dream hunting cabin. 

Choose a Location

The first step in building a hunting cabin is to pick a location to build it. You should choose a location that has access to the hunting grounds you’re using and should be accessible year-round. If you have your own land that you hunt on, you can build on that. The terrain that you build on will need to be suitable for holding the structure. If you build your cabin on unsuitable soil, the structure may shift and the foundation will be damaged. We’ve found that flat land is easier and less expensive to build on. The location must also be suitable for utilities to run through (unless you want to live off the grid). Meet with electricians and plumbers to determine where power lines and plumbing will be installed, which will impact where you can build your cabin. 

Decide What Size Cabin You Need

You will need to decide the size of the cabin depending on how many people you bring on your hunting trips. Solo hunting trips will need a different-sized cabin than if you are bringing friends and family. Your cabin will need basic accommodations, like a kitchen and bathroom, and depending on how many people are sleeping there, you’ll need a few beds. 

Sleeping Accommodations

For a solo trip, one bed will suffice. If you are bringing your family or friends, you’ll need more sleeping accommodations. Bunk beds are often great choices to conserve space and allow multiple people to sleep in one room. You can also utilize the living space in the cabin to have pull-out couches and air mattresses for extra guests. If you need even more space, convert the cabin’s loft into a place to sleep. Our furniture collections have beds, bunk beds, and couches for you to create comfortable sleeping arrangements for you and your guests. 

Trailside’s Cabins

Trailside Structures’ prefab cabins are perfect for hunting trips and are customizable to be any size you need.

Solo Trips

For solo hunting trips, our Dearborn Log Cabin provides a simple and versatile space for you to fit a small kitchen and living room, with a loft to create a place to sleep. 

Small-Group Trips

For small-group hunting trips, our Bridger Log Cabin has a large bedroom that can fit bunk beds, a living room for a pull-out couch or futon, and a loft for you to store your hunting gear. Our Tiny House Log Cabins are great for small families, with a bedroom for the parents and a larger living space for the kids to sleep in. 

Large Trips

For large hunting trips, our Yellowstone Log Cabin has a large bedroom, living space, and loft that will accommodate multiple people. Our Abrasokee Log Cabins have two bedrooms, making it great for bringing all your friends. The living space is also large enough for pull-out couches and air mattresses. 

Acquire Permits

To build on your land, you will need to obtain building and zoning permits. Before you start construction, you must understand the building codes and regulations you need to comply with and obtain all the permits you need. Determine the zoning laws you have to follow, as land is typically zoned for specific uses and you’ll need to verify if you can build on the land. Regulations for zoning and building permits vary by state, contact your local building department to determine the laws you must follow. 

Finish the Interior

Once you have built your chosen Trailside cabin, now is the time to finish the interior. You can finish the interior by having storage for your gear, maintaining temperature control, and decorating the cabin. 

Store Your Hunting Gear and Weapons

A key component of a hunting cabin is having a functional space to store all your hunting gear and weapons. You can use a rack or cabinet for your rifles, knives, and bows and arrows. A loft can be a great place to store your gear, and the stairs leading to the loft can have built-in drawers for extra storage. Utilize a front porch to clean your game, our Teton Log Cabins have a large front porch where you can relax after a long hunt and clean the game you caught. Our Glacier Log Cabins also have a front porch with an overhead loft to store your gear. An important thing to remember is if you are bringing children, any weapons need to be out of their reach and locked up. 

Decorate Your Cabin

Decorations for your hunting cabin should be appropriate for the environment you’re in, so a nature-themed style will work nicely. Incorporate wildlife art, taxidermy, leather, and trophies, like antlers, that you’ve acquired on your hunts into your decorations. Use Trailside’s rustic furniture inside your cabin, our Hickory Collection offers a rustic wilderness retreat aesthetic. This collection utilizes hickory wood to showcase the beauty of nature while being highly durable. You can fully furnish your bedroom, dining room, and living room with this collection. If you are on a budget, keep the decor simple to save money. Put more of your investment into the materials used in the structure instead of the decorations. 

Maintain Temperature

Summer

Controlling the temperature in your cabin will increase the comfortability of the space. In the warmer months, you may need an air conditioner to cool down the cabin. You can use fans instead of an air conditioner to save money. A trick to avoid the sun’s heat is to build your cabin facing north or northwest to keep it out of direct sunlight.

Winter

In the colder months, use a fireplace and blankets to add extra heat. At Trailside, our cabins come with electric heating options to ensure the cabin is comfortable in the winter. If you want the sun to naturally warm up the cabin, build it facing south. For both winter and summer, insulating the cabin will maintain the inside temperature. 

Build Your Hunting Cabin with Trailside Structures

Trailside Structures builds cabins with high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship to give you a space to relax and recuperate after a long hunt. We will work with you throughout the entire building process to ensure your cabin is customized to fit your needs. To begin creating your dream hunting cabin, view our cabin styles and request our price sheet to find the cabin that is right for you. Check out our galleries for cabins and indoor furniture to get an idea of what your cabin’s interior can look like. If you have any questions, contact us.