Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Surviving a cold wet night

All good ideas, but one important thing is missing that everyone who ventures off road should carry. I always carry my PLB, Personal Locator Beacon. I have never had to use it, but it is comforting to know that if something really serious happens, I can push a button and save my life.

Some interesting bits of info here. I think this is only the 2nd time I've been to backpack hunting, but some very informative suggestions here; some I will certainly apply to my backpack. I'm not a novice to the woods, prarie, desert or open sage hills, but its always good to learn a few new things. Thanks to all you guys. Tom

Not sure if it was mentioned as I have not read the whole thread but I carry the small hot shots on all sheep hunts and put one at the foot of my sleeping bag every night, works like a darn...

Get a BIC. Keep it warm and dry in a zip-lock in an interior pocket. Or one of those magnesium striker bars. Nothing else is reliable here in wet Alaska.

I cut that short- the Coglin waterproof matches are good but wimpy, and need to be heftier, and require the striking surface (also subject to dampness). The new "Strike Anywhere" matches are POS, unless you are using and storing them inside your house. Pretty worthless under field conditions. The old ones were great- wish I'd bought 50 boxes. I used to dip them in melted paraffin to make my own "waterproof" matches...

There's a real need/market here.....

+1

I carry (2) BIC lighters, very lite and dependable.

MtnHtr

I threw all my BIC lighters in the burn barrel - highest and best use, IMO.

I ONLY carry piezo now. Usually get them at a tobacco shop.

las - Trusty has some nice ones for 99c at the counter. I bought a handful!


When I'm cold, wet, tired and cold, I don't want to mess with a flint-actuated lighter.

Dumbest thing i have done in my life is to not carry good overnight survival gear in Alaska. Was a fly out fly-fishing guide. At least half the time the plane did not stay with us. In 2 seasons did not have an overnight but came close. Could have been rough for me and my clients. I am a NOLS grad and knew better. I had 5 space blankets, 2 flares, pistol, first aid stuff and some waterproof matches. I still highly regret this decision even though it turned out fine.

Why not both? I usually try to carry 3 methods of starting a fire; Bics, Zippo(spare fuel/wick/flints), sparky stick(s)(BSA model are cheap), and water resistant strike anywhere matches in an waterproof match safe. And some flammable tinder.

Regards, Jim

Me too! Starting a fie is too important to leave to one method. I remember reading "to build a fire" when I was a kid, and it left an impression. Well, that and USAF Arctic Survival School at minus 42 degrees. I ALWAYS carry at least three sources of fire when I leave the truck. Always.

redundancy in some things is wunnerful

agreed on multiple ways to start a fire

the life you save could be your own

Gents, I don't think there is any danger of this thread dieing any time soon (Thanks again for making it a sticky), and it is worth reading from the beginning, but at 13 pages...do you think it might be worth summarizing our thoughts so far?
I'll start:
Knowledge, wisdom, common sense, leave your ego in camp, know your limits and heed them, keep your wits about you.

Next?
Regards, Jim

Pack along some emergency items, they could save your life.

Avoid cotton clothing, even your skivies.

MtnHtr

Practice with the equipment you carry so it is natural when it is needed.
Try it before you trust it.

The fire you need to start to save a life might be your own. Plan accordingly.

and, simplify, simplify, simplify. And when you're done, simplify.

I'm NOT a hunter in the same class as most of you. I don't go to the places you go (yet), but I have spent a few "uncomfortably" cold nights. I understand the concept of keeping your load as light and small as possible, but if you found your self "stuck", in an area with available fuel wood, do/should we carry tools that would allow use to turn it into a fire? My instinct is to carry an axe, saw and knives (northern woodsman mind set) and I know this flies in the face of your light weight philosophy, but folks have said that they would choose their axe and knife over their gun if they had to choose. So do the tools you carry figure into making your cold wet nights survivable if not more comfy?

Great advice. I've never headed out without backyard and driveway test runs..

Good post!

Alligator, Yes the tool I carry for fire is the same I use for skinning and such. A good fixed blade knife will rendor wood to fire usable sizes. You can break wood down to 18 " leverage breaking it between two trees then baton theknife thru it to split it down to get to the dry inner wood. No ax or saw needed.
I do carry a pocket chainsaw in a can. It is the size of a skoal can but can be invaluable in shelter building.{NOT the cheap wire saws

I carry an axe in the boat and on the snowmachine, but I also often carry a chainsaw in both as well. always in the boat, on s.m. only if I'm pulling a sled behind it.

but hunting I don't carry an axe, if I'm hunting woods that have firewood available, I just don't see the need for it. I can break branches between two trees to split it to get to dry stuff if need be.

Plus if I've erred and am building a fire to survive the night, odds are I'm not building a traditional round shaped campfire.

I'm building two fires about 7 ft. in length using mostly whole limbs and trees. I'll build them close together then separate them, sleep on the warm ground between them for a few hours or however much sleep I can get.

not faulting guys that carry an axe, it just doesn't make weight for my needs on a true bp hunt. YMMV

I take a small daypack full of gear even if just going out to the tree stand or fly fishing. But an item like an axe which is great for sure is just too much. I have a small saw that can be tossed into any pack and it has cut a pile-o-wood for the stove so guess it would perform well in one of those I shouldn't be alive crazy adventures. Not that this would happen to me. Come to think of it that's what they all say.