I have seen several discussions about the use of light weight tarps and tarp tents for backpack hunting during mild weather. Although the current nylon rip-stop type tarps are not expensive, they are not cheap either.

Another material that I have used for tarps with the boy scouts long ago was poly sheeting. This material comes in multipe colors and weights and can be had for cheap. How does one attach a rope to this material you ask? Well, it is very simple, take a smooth rock about the size of a golf ball or a bit smaller, fold the tarp around it and wrap the rope arond the tarp and tie so the rock is in a pouch. Most small holes cam be repaired with a bit of duct tape.

Anothe material that was not avalible whey back when was Tyvec, the stuff they use to wrap houses in. I know that this stuff is quite strong and water proof. Tyvec is used as ground cloths by several tent companies, and I think is worth further investigation.

I used to keep a piece of poly in the bottom of my pack as part of my survival gear. It was handy whent you wanted to sit down and the ground was wet or snow covered. One could find many uses for a tarp sized piece while out.

Poly sheating does have some disadvantages, it is slick, try to use it as a ground cloth and you will soon find where the low spot is. It is not as strong as a good tarp, so if high winds are in the forcast....

Just some thoughts that others in a budget might find useful.

Good stuff. Have slept many a night snug and dry under a sheet of plastic rigged as you describe.

Another tarp material I've mentioned in some of these tarp threads is spinnaker cloth (for light sails) which is also called kite cloth, as it is light enough for kite making. It is an ultralight nylon ripstop, woven so tight that it sheds water. I made my tarp from it and prefer it over anything I've seen. It is available at Seattle Fabrics.

Spinnaker fabric is very light but its fairly pricey. Sil Nylon is still reasonably light weight and it can be had for a good price. I think that Thru-hiker.com has silnylon seconds for about $6 a yard. It comes in 60" widths so small emergency tarps can be made without a center seam. its not so good as a groundcloth as its very slippery.

I carry a rip-stop nylon poncho with 6-8 gromets for tying. I can use it as a ground cloth, poncho (coveriny me and pack, tent, carry water, tarp and for protecing the inside of the pack wne carrying meat.

You boys make me feel old. I was a Boy Scout "way back when" and there wasn't any such thing as poly sheeting. Spinnaker fabric? (we used to call it spinnaker cloth). Yeah, anything marine is expensive, anything "sailboat" is real expensive. I've got some plastic clamp sort of things that came in a package of stuff for rigging up tarps and poly sheeting various ways. Anybody have any experience with them?

A Megamid is probably the Cadillac of tents without floors.

At the other end of the spectrum is the tarp with gromets. They are heavy and flap loudly in the wind but they can be of some use with caring for meat.

I've seen 1/2 or 1/4 parachute used.

You can also buy plastic, self-punching grommets for the poly tarps.

am thinking for a guy that lives in CO you need to get over to the Kifaru store, to my way of thinking conical beats flat walls
9 ways to Sunday for wind shedding. YMMV

For stowing in the backpack for bivvy camping-hunting, I just pick up one of the inexpensive poly tarps such as these..

http://www.tarpsplus.com/poly-tarps-single-tarps-blue-tarps.html

a 10x12' one with grommets every 3' ( about 10.00 or less) and some cordage stowed in the pack give you about all the shelter you'll need and IF the critter gets damaged or torn, pitch it.

No need to go to an outdoor upscale supplier or a marine baot supplier for such items..:)
Home Depot, most paint stores etc all have them..IF you don't need it, it stays in the pack bottom..Jim

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