Cabelas Big Horn tent

[Gamehunter034]

Looking for some insight on pros and cons on the big horn tent. It would occupied by 2 maybe 3 hunters. My father has the 12x12 alaknak which I do like and have hunted out of but I'm considering getting one for myself. I might have the opportunity to pick up a big horn so I'm considering it however have never been in one and not sure on overall space. I have not decided on heating source yet as far as going with a stove or using mr buddy heater. I have a travel trailer but but would like the option of a tent depending on area and accessibility I decide to hunt. Thanks in advance!


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[vandeman17]

We had a bighorn and I liked it overall. We heated it with buddy heater which was nice but condensation was an issue sometimes. The one thing I didn't care for was the overall shape and how to efficiently use the shape. Between cots, tables etc it felt like the shape led to wasted space.

[trophyhunt]

We had a bighorn and I liked it overall. We heated it with buddy heater which was nice but condensation was an issue sometimes. The one thing I didn't care for was the overall shape and how to efficiently use the shape. Between cots, tables etc it felt like the shape led to wasted space.

I don’t care for the shape inside either, I think the Alaknak utilizes the space better. Wood stove is always the way to go!

[Gamehunter034]

We had a bighorn and I liked it overall. We heated it with buddy heater which was nice but condensation was an issue sometimes. The one thing I didn't care for was the overall shape and how to efficiently use the shape. Between cots, tables etc it felt like the shape led to wasted space.

Yeah i know the condensation can potentially be an issue but I think thats with most tents. Looking at pictures I figure without a stove and proper organization I could get 3 medium size cots in there if I needed to.


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[carlyoungs]

Just bought one a couple weeks ago. I like it better than the alaknak since it has no center poles. It is really easy to set up too. I have a wood stove that came with it. The only problem is the thing burns wood way too fast. It was super cold out and it didn't have a tarp over it. It is perfect for 2-3 people in it. A big buddy heater would probably keep it warm. I would get it

[vandeman17]

We had a bighorn and I liked it overall. We heated it with buddy heater which was nice but condensation was an issue sometimes. The one thing I didn't care for was the overall shape and how to efficiently use the shape. Between cots, tables etc it felt like the shape led to wasted space.

Yeah i know the condensation can potentially be an issue but I think thats with most tents. Looking at pictures I figure without a stove and proper organization I could get 3 medium size cots in there if I needed to.


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3 medium cots will be fine but any full or oversized cots and you have to practice your geometry skills to try and be efficient

[Gamehunter034]

We had a bighorn and I liked it overall. We heated it with buddy heater which was nice but condensation was an issue sometimes. The one thing I didn't care for was the overall shape and how to efficiently use the shape. Between cots, tables etc it felt like the shape led to wasted space.

I don’t care for the shape inside either, I think the Alaknak utilizes the space better. Wood stove is always the way to go!

I agree the woodstove is definitely nice to have natural warm heat, if I hunt early archery I don't think I would need the stove depending on elevation that is. If I get into late hunt and its just me or a buddy then I would go stove route. If it were me and 2 buddies to save space I feel like it would be easier to run propane and save on some space.


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[Gamehunter034]

We had a bighorn and I liked it overall. We heated it with buddy heater which was nice but condensation was an issue sometimes. The one thing I didn't care for was the overall shape and how to efficiently use the shape. Between cots, tables etc it felt like the shape led to wasted space.

Yeah i know the condensation can potentially be an issue but I think thats with most tents. Looking at pictures I figure without a stove and proper organization I could get 3 medium size cots in there if I needed to.


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3 medium cots will be fine but any full or oversized cots and you have to practice your geometry skills to try and be efficient

Lol great. I suck at math! I'll make someone sleep outside lol


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[Stein]

I love ours, it is a palace for one guy, very nice for 2 and cozy for three.  That assumes cold weather hunting conditions, earlier in the season is a different story if you don't need a stove and a ton of gear.

If you don't have cots yet, look at the bunk ones, they work great for when I take the family.

With three guys, I would want to have the vestibule to be able to hold coolers and gear out of the weather to free up space inside.

[syoungs]

I wanted a bigger tent, so went with the alaknak 12x20. but the big horn was a close 2nd, the quality of both is awesome, and I LOVE my alakanak. eventually I will buy another 12x12 alaknak to use as extra gear storage/bunk house, or for when im only going solo or with 1 other guy.

I don't think youll be disappointed with the big horn if the size works for you.

[Gamehunter034]

I love ours, it is a palace for one guy, very nice for 2 and cozy for three.  That assumes cold weather hunting conditions, earlier in the season is a different story if you don't need a stove and a ton of gear.

If you don't have cots yet, look at the bunk ones, they work great for when I take the family.

With three guys, I would want to have the vestibule to be able to hold coolers and gear out of the weather to free up space inside.

thank you for the info!

[Gamehunter034]

I wanted a bigger tent, so went with the alaknak 12x20. but the big horn was a close 2nd, the quality of both is awesome, and I LOVE my alakanak. eventually I will buy another 12x12 alaknak to use as extra gear storage/bunk house, or for when im only going solo or with 1 other guy.

I don't think youll be disappointed with the big horn if the size works for you.

12x12 is nice my father has one we've easily fit 3 guys in it and still had plenty of room. 12x20 must feel like a mansion lol. Thanks man

[blackveltbowhunter]

I picked up a bighorn and have been very happy overall. I agreee the shape is not the most efficient use of space. But for the size it was the easiest for me to setup solo, which was an important factor for me. I have used a full size outfitter cot with a rack, and bunk cots and a small table along with a stove. 2 of us had tons of room. And my family of 5 is comfy without the stove. I plan to get a vestibule and along with a pop up out front would leave plenty of room to cook and store gear.  I would encourage using a tarp if planning prolonged exposure to inclement weather.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Why chose these cables tents over wall tents?

[syoungs]

I chose the alaknak based on a few things. I don't have a large spot to dry a wet tent, and at times my schedule will unexpectedly pull me away for a day or 2. The alaknak is much more forgiving of being put away wet/damp. storageand transport was another reason. I looked at a 14x16 wall tent, and it was a much larger package to pack around and store.
Using it in the summer, I was told the alaknak wouldnt be so hot/stuffy, no first hand experience with that though

The biggest reason for me, I just liked the alaknak more then canvas.

[blackveltbowhunter]

   all else being equal I would choose a full wall tent. Thats my disclaimer, i have stayed in both in mulitple seasons and weather.  In junk weather a full canvas tent is the way to go. However,  I lived in my bighorn for 3 weeks straight in september and preferred the bigborn in every way. Having the added light, and features was really nice, and honestly better than a wall tent. It warmed quick in the am, and was more than sufficient for inclement weather and dried at least twice as fast. It setup quicker, take down quicker and i am honestly not spending much time in it. Later in the seasons with cold, snow/rain and longer days with more time spent inside i would certainly lean toward the full canvas. But if your time is short. Not wasting time setting up camp and take down are a breeze, and care is easier.  And its still manageable wet. A comparable canvas tent soaked is a handful to break down and load solo. And while a canvas tent is warmer, and more weather proof, i never felt undergunned at all. Durability is not as good either, but the cost in weight savings and dollars still make it a very good value IMO.

[go4itlab]

I have the Big Horn III, it is a good tent, really easy to set up and easy to dry out for storage after use, don't have to worry about mold/mildew or treating. 3 people in the early season is perfect, 4 would be tight. I would strongly suggest getting a vestibule as it a great spot to store your stuff and free up inside space. Late season 3 people is real tight with a wood stove but can be done. Never had an issue with condensate with wood stove or buddy heater. My only complaint is the lack of spots to secure sashing to allow for clothes to hang for drying or even hanging lights. For the wood stove as mentioned in an earlier post of quickly burning up wood, yes someone will have to feed the fire every couple hours if you're burning just wood.
A good solution that works well is:
A) Be the guy with the cot farthest away from the stove, have a real good sleeping bag, ambient and a couple shot of fireball whiskey=sleep like a baby
B) I buy a box/s of good quality long burning presto logs and right before I sack out I put a couple of those on top the wood coals and throttle the damper as low as I can. Have had good results.

[ChesapeakeMan]

If you're interested there is a Bighorn III in the Bargain Cave of the Tulalip Cabela's.  Price is $509.99 minus 20%.  It's used but may be worth it for a little over $400

[Gamehunter034]

I have the Big Horn III, it is a good tent, really easy to set up and easy to dry out for storage after use, don't have to worry about mold/mildew or treating. 3 people in the early season is perfect, 4 would be tight. I would strongly suggest getting a vestibule as it a great spot to store your stuff and free up inside space. Late season 3 people is real tight with a wood stove but can be done. Never had an issue with condensate with wood stove or buddy heater. My only complaint is the lack of spots to secure sashing to allow for clothes to hang for drying or even hanging lights. For the wood stove as mentioned in an earlier post of quickly burning up wood, yes someone will have to feed the fire every couple hours if you're burning just wood.
A good solution that works well is:
A) Be the guy with the cot farthest away from the stove, have a real good sleeping bag, ambient and a couple shot of fireball whiskey=sleep like a baby
B) I buy a box/s of good quality long burning presto logs and right before I sack out I put a couple of those on top the wood coals and throttle the damper as low as I can. Have had good results.

Thanks for the tips!


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[Gamehunter034]

If you're interested there is a Bighorn III in the Bargain Cave of the Tulalip Cabela's.  Price is $509.99 minus 20%.  It's used but may be worth it for a little over $400

Ironically my wife picked that up for me for Christmas! I'd been mulling it over for about a week now. I decided if it was still there after today I would buy it. She snuck down Friday evening and got it for me after listening to me blab for a few weeks on possibly getting that or a wall tent. I'm pretty excited now to get it set up and plan out my trips next yr! And it did came out to just over $400!


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[Gamehunter034]

  all else being equal I would choose a full wall tent. Thats my disclaimer, i have stayed in both in mulitple seasons and weather.  In junk weather a full canvas tent is the way to go. However,  I lived in my bighorn for 3 weeks straight in september and preferred the bigborn in every way. Having the added light, and features was really nice, and honestly better than a wall tent. It warmed quick in the am, and was more than sufficient for inclement weather and dried at least twice as fast. It setup quicker, take down quicker and i am honestly not spending much time in it. Later in the seasons with cold, snow/rain and longer days with more time spent inside i would certainly lean toward the full canvas. But if your time is short. Not wasting time setting up camp and take down are a breeze, and care is easier.  And its still manageable wet. A comparable canvas tent soaked is a handful to break down and load solo. And while a canvas tent is warmer, and more weather proof, i never felt undergunned at all. Durability is not as good either, but the cost in weight savings and dollars still make it a very good value IMO.

I do enjoy the warmth and sturdiness of the wall tent, however I also thoroughly enjoyed staying in my fathers alaknak it too was sturdy during inclement weather and rarely saw condensation, couple nights we had to open the door as the heat warmed us out. My wife ended up getting me the Big Horn for Christmas which is awesome. I think the ease of set up and take down will be perfect for me as I will likely only have 5-8 days of early season archery and maybe a handful of late archery if I can swing it and it will most likely be just myself or one other person so I would prefer quick easy setup/teardown. I love my travel trailer as it obviously has all the amenities but after spending 15-25 nights in it throughout camping season with the family I look for the change of pace and dislike towing my trailer over the passes especially in inclement weather during late season. I think I made a good choice and can't wait to put it to use!