The Invisible Kill: Camp Hazards No One Talks About
It was fourth-season mule deer for friends Darick, Bo, and Jesse in northwest Colorado. The camp was an enclosed trailer, and the quads were staged for the 5am push to fill their third tag. Standard procedure when not spiked out, it was a comfortable rhythm of a crew that’s done this a dozen times before.
Flush with confidence after filling two tags by Friday, they fired up the grill inside the trailer and talked through the next morning’s plan over a few beers. When they wrapped up, they turned off the BBQ valve but missed the tank valve. A one-time oversight that nearly killed two of them.
They went to sleep feeling fine. No headache. No nausea. Nothing that would indicate propane gas was silently filling the trailer from a loose coupler on the valve hose. The stock venting of the trailer was all they had. The next morning arrived with a plan to find a buck they saw a couple days earlier, after coffee. Their Jetboil not firing, Jesse stepped out and Bo stepped in. They briefly discussed the possibility of altitude and dismissed a funny smell as dirty clothes, deer blood, or garbage.
Then Darick thumbed his lighter.
The entire trailer instantly filled with purple flames. On fire and screaming, Bo dove from the trailer into a pile of rocks and oak brush. Guided by flames in the dark, Darick chased and jumped on Bo to extinguish themselves. Jesse sprinted over to put out the remaining flames, then took charge to clear the back seat and drive at the truck’s limit for an agonizing hour to the nearest ER. They were treated for second-degree burns to their faces and hands, the only skin exposed at the time.
Three days later, Bo and Darick were at the Anschutz Burn Center in Denver for debridement. Three weeks of home care—and the advice to stay out of the sun for six months—a tall order for journeymen linemen. Both are fully healed now, with minimal scarring. They’re already planning this season’s hunt—new Axis pants, CO and gas detectors in hand.
They shared this story with us because they wanted it to reach you for your camp. And we’re publishing it for the same reason.
The Killer You Can’t See, Smell, Hear, or Feel
You wouldn’t guess it, but these hunters were lucky they got off with burns. Carbon monoxide won’t give you that courtesy. It simply puts you to sleep and finishes the job while you’re dreaming about gripping a 190” buck or bruiser bear.
Propane is heavier than air. When it leaks, it pools at floor level. Exactly where you’re sleeping on a cot and ignition sources sit. Carbon monoxide is the opposite: odorless, colorless, and lighter—it rises and disperses evenly, meaning you breathe it in steady doses without a single warning sign.
The first symptom of CO poisoning is a dull headache—a lot like altitude fatigue. The second symptom is drowsiness—a lot like hunting fatigue. By the time confusion (third symptom) sets in, your decision-making is already compromised and “that’s hunting” is the deadly conclusion. Next, you’ll lose consciousness. No help on the way. The end.
A NOTE ON WHAT THEY WERE WEARING
Bo and Darick were both wearing merino base layers, heavy hoodies, and Axis hybrid pants. Bo’s hoodie and Darick’s pant vents burned through, but their merino held. The only burns they sustained were to exposed skin.
To be clear: merino is not classified as flame-resistant, and we’re not making that claim.
Synthetics have their place and we stand behind the performance they deliver, but if you’re running a heater, cooking over a flame, building a fire, or sleeping in any enclosed space with a combustion source, the higher ignition temperature of merino versus synthetic is worth considering when choosing what’s next to skin.
HAVE A JESSE. BE A JESSE
Fire, propane, and CO accidents have killed and injured thousands of hunters in the field. Knowing the failure points is the difference between a tag on your buck or a tag on your toe. Jesse didn’t freeze. Fast action clearing the truck, knowing the route to the nearest ER, and driving hard is the reason this story has a good ending.
Colorado mule deer hunters—Darick, Jesse, and Bo.
This Story Exists So Yours Doesn’t
These hunters did what most of us naturally do. They ran a trusted setup and followed a preplanned routine—but missed the smallest step they’d never miss again. One meal. One valve. One lighter strike. They shared this story because they wanted it to reach you before spring camp season starts. All they ask is you buy a gas detector, CO detector, check your connections, and close the damn tank valve. All it costs is five minutes and attention. Pay it.
CAMP SAFETY CHECKLIST
Before First Night:
- Soapy water leak-check on all propane connections.
- Combustible gas detector installed 12” from floor (propane sinks).
- CO detector installed at ceiling or ridge (CO rises).
- New batteries in all detectors, tested at camp.
- Low vent and high vent confirmed clear and open.
- Nearest hospital location and route programmed into GPS.
- Emergency action plan discussed with partners.
Every Night:
- LP tank valve closed.
- Verbal “Tank off” confirmation.
- Ventilation openings confirmed.
- Detectors tested and operational.
If Something Goes Wrong:
- Evacuate the space immediately.
- Do not re-enter to retrieve gear.
- For burns: cool with clean water, cover loosely, do not apply ointments.
- For CO symptoms: fresh air, keep still, seek medical attention (no exceptions).
- Drive, don’t wait for help to come to you.
