Author Topic: Are there any Bivy hunters left? (Read 16765 times)

oldleclercrd · « **on:** March 31, 2011, 08:07:16 PM »

Its interesting to know how many people go back to camp each night and how many actually bring camp on their backs to minimize travel time to and from elk camp each day... Any thoughts?

PacificNWhunter · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2011, 08:27:38 PM »

I bivy hunt 75% of the time. Not for elk but for deer. Are you looking to get one? Try a search because there was just a thread on here about bivy bags. I think it takes a certain person to enjoy sleeping in one just my .

fair-chase · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2011, 08:45:16 PM »

I work out of a pack on about 50% of my hunts. I go topless in the lowlands but if I get up into the wilderness high country I need 4 walls. Down here in the lowlands I don't have a problem curling up on top of a hay bale or stack of boughs, but there's something about the wilderness that gives me insomnia if I don't have 4 walls. We all have our quirks I guess.

oldleclercrd · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2011, 08:50:29 PM »

I have a bivy sack from outdoor reseach and it seems to hold its own. I just think the bivouac style of hunting maximizes efficiency and in turn success (my opinion). Just wasn't sure how many people try it...

PacificNWhunter · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:01:41 PM »

I have the OR bivy too, paired with a tarp it's an awesome setup for me. The only time I have not liked it was when I was stuck in a rain storm for 14 hrs.

halflife65 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:06:42 PM »

Trying my new tarp setup this spring. Will let you know how it goes. I've been packing and repacking my gear to lighten it up for the last week. My wife is annoyed so I know I'm doing something right.

JackOfAllTrades · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:07:35 PM »

Quote

Are there any Bivy hunters left?

Yup!

-Steve

oldleclercrd · « **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:12:14 PM »

yeah getting stuck in a rain storm for that long sucks, but i agree a tarp is the key in most situations. Mre's or Freeze dried and stove??

halflife65 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:13:45 PM »

Freeze dried and MSR Pocket Rocket with small Ti pot and long-handled spoon. Not that I have anything against MREs.

3dvapor · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:16:06 PM »

im looking at buying that new mountaineering tent made by easton called the kilo i believe because it weighs in at two pounds. basically same weight as bivy.

oldleclercrd · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:20:29 PM »

Yeah i wont knock the Mre route because i havent tried it but i personally go with my stove. I like my stove but its about time to upgrade. Are those jetboils and good?

halflife65 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:26:32 PM »

Jetboils are good. A little heavy, though (at least in comparison to the Pocket Rocket). I have one and actually like carrying it around. Boils quick and has the insulated mug. Fill it up, use half of it for cooking and the other half for something to drink. Good deal.

The new ones might be lighter, not sure.

JBR · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:29:15 PM »

Packing camp on my back this year. No more back and forth to base camp. Elk and deer (archery both). Jetboils are great, but I go much lighter and smaller when carrying everything in my pack with my MSR Dragon Fly. No need for that extra size or bulk of the Jetboil if you're trying to bivy and go light, IMO.

Also switched to the Adventure Steri-Pen for my primary water purification this year. 4 oz! Tabs for backup.

Making lots of little changes. Trying to get rid of my usual redundency. Put everything on an excel sheet and weighed it all down to the oz. so no matter what I feel like adding or subtracting for a given ramble (fish, hunt, scout) I know what my pack is gonna weigh. This helps with the packing decisions, at least for me.

3dvapor · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:32:25 PM »

if you guys like researching bivy gear check out elk reapers reviews on gear on bowsite.com he did one on 5 or 6 top stoves at an altitude of around 10,000 feet he gives approximate boil times and such. i personally used a jetboil last year on a bivy hunt and it worked great but was surprised to find it came in almost last for boil times, i liked how well it packed up into container with fuel.

halflife65 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:33:15 PM »

Hmm. Thought about the SteriPen - I have a Katadyn Hiker Pro but I think that's an area where I can shed a bit of weight. Do you prefilter the water first to get the floaties out? I've drank from some ponds where I would've been a little hesitant had I not had the prefilter and the nice charcoal to get the cooties/funky taste out (even if wouldn't have hurt me to drink it.)

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