I cut a hole in the tarp about a foot larger in diameter than the stove jack. I prefer to not use a tarp (quieter in the wind, easier to set up), but I have had some bad experiences going that route. Like the time it rained HARD, then cleared up and froze solid. And it was time to break camp. By myself. I didn't have the time to build a big fire in the stove and wait for the tent to thaw out, so i chipped as much ice off as I could, then did my best to roll up a 12x17 tent that had to have weighed 140 lbs! There are conditions where a tarp can save a ton of work!