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A Classifieds "wanted" ad for a wall tent got me to thinking about hunting camp sleeping methods/equipment, and a couple very similar incidents with novice hunters in my camp toward this concern.
Sleeping infallibly warm is absolutely essential to continue to hunt effectively and anything slightly less should be reserved for the "expedition-type" hunts (backpack, bush plane, etc.) where there are absolute limits on gear amounts by weight and space. In those instances, clothing serves a dual purpose by making up for any inadequacies of warmth your bed may have.
Speaking here of a vehicle or horse-camp where gear is not so limited. RV guys with furnaces may or may not remove themselves from this discussion.
(Take a fair-sized one of those into my antelope camp, and you should plan for the distinct possibility you have to come back in June to get it out.)
Twice now in the past 6 years, a couple guys relatively new to the hunting sport (and new to my camp) have
1) Arrived with a Buddy Heater for their sleep tent.
2) Ran it all night
3) When it ran out of gas during the night, they noted it in the morning, along with their having slept cold from then on out.
Both times, my reply was questions regarding their bed construction along with advice toward easy improvement (which they promptly ignored and I presume only made a resolution to not run out of gas again). Both times I also advised them,
"If you need external heat to stay absolutely warm in your camp bed, there is something wrong with your bed."
Both guys have since improved their beds greatly (even came to me for some help), and our consumption of Coleman cannisters dropped sharply. (I think they both ran out of gas at least once again, but chose not to talk about the experience.) One did connect his heater to a big tank not knowing he needed a filter with predictable results.
Don't get me wrong: I like the shelter to be warm when I roll out in the morning. If I can do that without rolling out, or if someone else does it, wonderful. But even at home, I sleep (better) with a window cracked open and little or no room heat.
My bed in camp is surrounded by whatever air is ambient, and I sleep warm!
Sleeping infallibly warm is absolutely essential to continue to hunt effectively and anything slightly less should be reserved for the "expedition-type" hunts (backpack, bush plane, etc.) where there are absolute limits on gear amounts by weight and space. In those instances, clothing serves a dual purpose by making up for any inadequacies of warmth your bed may have.
Speaking here of a vehicle or horse-camp where gear is not so limited. RV guys with furnaces may or may not remove themselves from this discussion.
(Take a fair-sized one of those into my antelope camp, and you should plan for the distinct possibility you have to come back in June to get it out.)
Twice now in the past 6 years, a couple guys relatively new to the hunting sport (and new to my camp) have
1) Arrived with a Buddy Heater for their sleep tent.
2) Ran it all night
3) When it ran out of gas during the night, they noted it in the morning, along with their having slept cold from then on out.
Both times, my reply was questions regarding their bed construction along with advice toward easy improvement (which they promptly ignored and I presume only made a resolution to not run out of gas again). Both times I also advised them,
"If you need external heat to stay absolutely warm in your camp bed, there is something wrong with your bed."
Both guys have since improved their beds greatly (even came to me for some help), and our consumption of Coleman cannisters dropped sharply. (I think they both ran out of gas at least once again, but chose not to talk about the experience.) One did connect his heater to a big tank not knowing he needed a filter with predictable results.
Don't get me wrong: I like the shelter to be warm when I roll out in the morning. If I can do that without rolling out, or if someone else does it, wonderful. But even at home, I sleep (better) with a window cracked open and little or no room heat.
My bed in camp is surrounded by whatever air is ambient, and I sleep warm!