Elk Bivvy Hunt: Tarp or Tent

[Monte]

I am planning a solo bivvy hunt in Northwest Colorado (units 17, 16) during third week in September. I have read where some folks just use a tarp. Wondering if that is wise. A 8X12 plastic tarp from Wally World would certainly be light weight. But, temperatures and weather during that time might not be conducive to a tarp set up. Any experience or wisdom on this issue is much appreciated. I am trying to fit it all into or on my Badlands 2200 pack. Thanks.

[OZ in MT]

Pretty high country in those units, Monte. It will be fairly comfortable in the daytime, but chilling in the night wind with no tent walls. Moving around that country all day long requires solid rest at night. I think I'd look at something with walls. Additionally, I'd recommend one of the Coleman propane lanterns with some extra prope cartridges. In a small walled tent, it will generate enough heat to keep you warm on unusually cold evenings, and you'll see one or two up there in late September. Great country ... enjoy. :)

[Hornseeker]

Monte, check out some of the structures at www.owareusa.com They kick but. I built my own tarp about 4 or 5 years ago and have really enjoyed it.....However, when there is possibilities of serious snow or cold, I take my 2 man tent. It weighs about 6 times more than my tarp (1 pound) but is sure nice when it is nasty.

My tarp is made of silnylon, covers about 8X13 feet. I can pitch it high if the weather is great or pitch it on the ground if the weather is nasty. I've been in snow storms, but mostly some nasty, windy rainstorms. 2 of us stay snug as a bug in a rug in those conditions...like 40 degrees and heavy rain, but when it gets colder and there is blowing snow involved...I like to be sealed up in a real tent.

At Oware you may consider the alphamid...sorta the best of both worlds.

Good Luck

Ernie

[elkdreamer]

I am planning a solo bivvy hunt in Northwest Colorado (units 17, 16) during third week in September. I have read where some folks just use a tarp. Wondering if that is wise. A 8X12 plastic tarp from Wally World would certainly be light weight. But, temperatures and weather during that time might not be conducive to a tarp set up. Any experience or wisdom on this issue is much appreciated. I am trying to fit it all into or on my Badlands 2200 pack. Thanks.

are you being packed in ......or are you walking in monte...?????? are you planning to hunt out of a one camp bivvy setup ........returning each nite or every other nite......?????????? or are you planning on running with the herd.....???????? realizing that idaho isn't as high as colorado .......but.....i did a lot of it in idaho.....both with hunters and solo .....sometimes up to two weeks solo.......man what great memories...........anyway....keep in mind that some of the equipment i mention was state of the art when i bought it .....it is still top notch today.......but i'm sure there's new stuff out there that i haven't kept up with.........

if your working out of one bivouac then by all means have a tent.....there are some new single popups and i mean you just twist your hand and blow up the poles like an innertube......feather lite/mountain sturdy.......i use a gortex single person marmot about the size of a loaf of bread and about 3 lb.....i also have a lean-to set up to eat under and dress under because the tent had no vestibule..........a simple candle lantern [two candles will last two weeks] provides all the heat you need inside a single tent........a lite weight cooking stove that will work at altitude.....one pot with lid.......i ate off of the lid.....one coffee cup for the java and herradura.......all the other stuff ...water bottle.....one collapsable gallen container......sun shower......i have used for ever one of the crystal deoderant stones that you buy at healthfood stores.........blacktie dinners ......elk hunting in idaho.......it will keep you scent free for up to 48 hrs.......hunting wise when i sponge off i just rub it all over....good to go with just two sponge baths a week......more than i can say for just about any body else with me regardless what magic they brought......it really works [it's just basicaly a salt] without blocking up your pores or runing your clothes.......you can also ziplock some unscented babywipes .......ok ......you got the cleanliness coverd now.....but you still gotta hunt the wind.......

i use a 3/4 thermorest pad........i use a down sleeping bag.........don't know if they are still in business....it was by feathered friends out of seattle ....it was the puffin #1 model........it kept me more than comfortable down to 8+ and it packed to nothing.......you pack your bag last.....you don't roll it.....you simply stuff it in your pack back.....i mean you fill every crack .....hole .....whatever space is left over......with the bag..........ie .....no bed role on top of the pack......i've had days of rain.......my down bag never got wet....because i never let it get wet..........

now.....if i was going to travel and sleep where ever.....i always went with a cold camp.....no fire.......i went with the lean-to ......or .......a bivvy sack such as rei used to sell........i always put a space blanket under my thermorest pad for the bottom of my sleeping bag .......or i just didn't take a bag and i would pack insulated down under wear......top and bottoms...and just put that on at night...climb in the bivvy sack and see you before dawn.........if i had hunters out on bivvy.....i always used the lean-to instead of a tent.......you just had more quick options and less weight..........as i mentioned ......for light i always used a candle lantern or a minnie mag lite reversed to candle posistion.......now days i would simply go with a led headlite ......they are awsome......easy on the batteries .......last for ever....and look where you look...........food will and should be your biggest weight problem..........go for the most energy for the bang.......make sure you take a powdered electrolite.........a simple piece of chocolate and powdered milk mixed up will replace you faster than gatorade......gatorade comming in second........being a runner.....i have tested that extensively and it's true.......one glass of milk and a hand full of chocolate chunks will restore and keep the burn going faster than any thing else........if your in serious bear country [ones that know what a camp site is]....you better plan to high-line your food supply............

it will be one of the greatest times you will ever spend with your self........and most of it .......only you will get......it's just to hard to tell someone about how damn great it was if they have never done it......doesn't matter if you kill or not...............but there are some of us here that do know......so tell us about it when you get back.........b

[Monte]

Great advice. I am hoping to just hang with the elk. 2-3 days stints and then back to truck to replenish. Thanks for the great info.

[Atlantis]

Great advice Elkdreamer...I prefer a Bivy sack...I don't do down though...too many ways to get wet unexpectedly...also, wool, wool, wool...

[elkdreamer]

Great advice Elkdreamer...I prefer a Bivy sack...I don't do down though...too many ways to get wet unexpectedly...also, wool, wool, wool...

i'll go along with the wool atlantis......for sure.....cotten of any kind is not allowed in high country for a fall hunt......it will kill you.......i always had a synthetic fiber fishnet....top and bottom.....warm weather it allowed you to sweat without getting your middle layer wet.....and then once it got wet it sorta became a built in air conditionar......in cold weather it traps body heat like a storm window........middle layer.....i've switched to under armour stuff......loose fit for mild weather.....coldgear compression for cold weather.......it's wicking ability is unbeatable......they make some awesome stuff and you don't need much of it........light wool shirt.....pendleton type [sp?]......some fleece......and king of the mountain wool that last for ever........again.....except for the wool stuff......everything else is synthetic fiber.........won't absorb water.....but a word of warning......wool under wear is much safer if your prone to sloppy housekeeping in camp.......it won't catch fire like synthetic fiber does..which actually melts on you.......as the 8th darwth had the unfortunate experience of going through........you can't beat thurlo socks for lasting and comfort.........light wool cargo pants from filson......last untill you wear them out in the saddle.........

atlantis ......in all the years i've put in out there.....i never had my down bag get wet on me.......though i understand for sure what would happen if it did........i just made sure it didn't....always make sure you have some big garbage bags in your pack......[they make great emergency rain gear also] ....now everyother day or so......you need to spread the bag over some bushes in the sun and let nightime body moisture dry out........and there's a bunch of new synthetic stuffing in bags now that compresses almost as well as down........though lb for lb.....down is still the best heater going..........and heeyyyy make sure you have a tube of preperation h in your first aid kit........................prick a blister and rub that in and presto.......drys it right up......slap on some mole skin and your good for another day of ridge running...........i kept more hunters going with that tube.....without making 'm bend over............should see the faces when i come out with that to fix a blister...........b

[Yohon]

i kept more hunters going with that tube.....without making 'm bend over............should see the faces when i come out with that to fix a blister...........b

B....:lol: I think I just woke the kids up...thanks for the smile 1st thing this AM:highfive:

Great thread BTW...top shelf info for sure