1 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: As a guide and hunter, I've spent thousands of days 2 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: in the field. This show is about translating my hard 3 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: won experiences into tips and tactics they'll get you closer 4 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: to your ultimate goal success in the field. I'm Remy Warren. 5 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: This is cutting the Distance. This podcast is presented by Yetti, 6 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: Built for the Wild. It's late season, the snow is 7 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: hit now. While most of the elk and deer may 8 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: have seemed to have moved to lower country, there's always 9 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 1: a few holdouts that stay deep while backpacking into winter 10 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: like conditions really doesn't sound that appealing to most hunters. 11 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: That's the exact reason it's worth considering. When everyone else 12 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,319 Speaker 1: leaves the back country, that's when I like to head in. 13 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: But honestly, winter camping is a whole new beast in itself, 14 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: and there are special siderations to make that hunt safe 15 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: and successful. I want to go over a few late 16 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: season camping, back country travel tips and gear options, but 17 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: first I want to tell you of a story of 18 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: a late season backpack hunt that we decided to film. Honestly, 19 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: the conditions were too harsh and probably had no business 20 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: trying to do this, but that's exactly why I wanted 21 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: to give it a try. So I thought, let's do 22 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 1: a backcountry backpack hunt into an area, a roadless area, 23 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: and film it. Well, it's twenty below, there's knee deep snow. 24 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: What could go wrong? I was gonna do an in 25 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: and out where I hiked up through one spot, carried 26 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,559 Speaker 1: my camp the whole way, and do like a whole 27 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: thirteen mile trip through this back country area and then 28 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: end in another zone. However, I didn't understand what kind 29 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: of camera equipment was coming on this trip, and at 30 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: this point the snow was bad. You probably could have 31 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: taken horses, but I didn't have horses to take. It 32 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:12,359 Speaker 1: was me, it was backpacking, and then two guys with cameras. 33 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: So we decided the thirteen mile trip is not going 34 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: to work with the crew that we have right here. 35 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: What we'll do is we'll do a little five mile 36 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: in five mile back still a long ways, but we're 37 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: gonna shave off some carrying a lot of stuff, will 38 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: set up a camp, and we'll go for it. Now. 39 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: The reason I like hunting this spot late season is 40 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: the snow on the other side of the mountain on 41 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,839 Speaker 1: the way up there is deep. Most of the elk 42 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: have moved down, but at the top there's wind blown ridges, 43 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: and the wind is so gnarly up there all the 44 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: time that it actually keeps the ridges open, so there's 45 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: grass available for the elk, And then they'll go into 46 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: a few patches of trees up there to bed, but 47 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: they still have feed even late season. Then when they 48 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 1: got to bail out, they can pretty much push their 49 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: way through neck deep snow down to the valley. Later on. 50 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: At that time, you're nobody's bothering them. So we get 51 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: up there. Actually had my brother helped drag in a 52 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 1: sled with some of their camera equipment and stuff, and 53 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: then we all backpacked in. I had all my gear, 54 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: plus a lot of other people's gear. We trudged up 55 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: the trail. We couldn't even get to the trailhead in 56 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: the truck because the snow is so deep, so we 57 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: ended up having to hike a little bit further than planned. 58 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,239 Speaker 1: Get up over the top of the mountain. Now it's 59 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: time to set up camp. Well, it's about forty mile 60 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: an hour to fifty mile an hour gusts of wind, 61 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: and it's well below zero. Find a patch of trees there, 62 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: get a fire, going get camp set up. Grounds frozen. 63 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: There's definitely no water. The jet boils won't work it's 64 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: so cold. The propane and the little jet boil tanks 65 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: won't work. So we're just now using my one pot 66 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: to boil water for everybody. Melting snow. Got the tent 67 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: set up, got a little shelter built, good to go. 68 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: Now it's time to hunt. First day, kind of go 69 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: out looking for elk. Pretty slow day, hard to glass, 70 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: pretty cold, gotta bundle up. Once you stop, you start 71 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: to freeze, so you like to walk. As you're walking, 72 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 1: you're oversweating, so it's fairly tough conditions. This goes on 73 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: for a few days. We have a little bit of 74 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: an encounter with some milk in one of the openings. 75 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: So then it comes down to honestly, I don't even 76 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: remember what day it was, but I'm glassing and I 77 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: spot a giant bowl, like the bowl of my dreams. 78 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: This is a great bull, Like all right, sweet, there's 79 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: a big bull over your boys. Let's go get it. 80 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: We work our way around there behind this ridge. I'm walking, 81 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: and I walk at a pretty fast pace. I'm kind 82 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: of hard to keep up with, especially when there's snow, 83 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: and I'm cold. I just trudge. I'm like, I'll break trail. 84 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: Come on, guys. So I'm busting trail going through. I 85 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: know that once I get around, because I've hunt it 86 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: up here a lot, like, once I get over this 87 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: one ridge, I should have a shot at this big bull. Well, 88 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: there's a couple of other bulls with him. There's a 89 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: nice six point point and another smaller bull. Now we 90 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: got across this big opening, but we're out of side 91 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: of the elk. I'm maybe a few hundred yards in 92 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: front of the guys that are filming, and here comes 93 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 1: some antler tips over the ridge that I'm trying to 94 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: get to. This is not gonna work. I lay down 95 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: in the snow, signal get down. I can see they're filming. 96 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: I'm like, okay, cool. One of the guys ended up 97 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: before this point got fairly close to me, and there's 98 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:30,239 Speaker 1: someone with a longer lens back behind filming, and I'm like, okay, 99 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: it's not the big bull. I'll wait for the bigger bull. 100 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: But I also know that we aren't gonna have a 101 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: whole lot more chance. After this. We'd hunted hard. It 102 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: was getting tough. It was now or never, like the 103 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 1: big bull had to come over now because it wasn't 104 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: gonna happen again. Well, that bull starts walking across the 105 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 1: opening and he's in the wide open. We're laying down, 106 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: but he's kind of looking at us like something is 107 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: not right. I'm waiting. I'm waiting. Come on, big bull, 108 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: come over, Come over. The big bull doesn't show up. 109 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 1: That six point he was a nice six point, turns 110 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: around and starts to go, Mike, Oh, this is it. 111 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: This is my chance. I either shoot this nice six point, 112 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: which I would be happy with, or I wait for 113 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: the bigger bull. Now, the bigger bull was a seven 114 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: by seven. He had some cool kickbacks. So the ball 115 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: is walking, he stops, gives me a shot, boom, shoot 116 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:29,600 Speaker 1: him runs over the ridge, falls over dead, just out 117 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: of side of where we could see. I mean, I 118 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: shot him at the last moment while I had a 119 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 1: good backdrop before he went over into the never never. 120 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: Then after that happened, one thing you didn't see on 121 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 1: the film because I don't know that we got it, 122 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: and it just didn't make sense in a five minute film. 123 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: You can't tell the whole story of everything that happens. 124 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: So that's what I'm telling the whole story here. The 125 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: big bull ran out from the other side of the 126 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: ridge after I shot that bowl, stood there broadside for 127 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 1: about four minutes, staring back at me. I was like, 128 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 1: hang it, big seven by seven. Of course, after I shot, 129 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: the smaller bull desized to stand there. However, one thing 130 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: about me is when I pulled the trigger or release 131 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: the arrow, that's the animal I wanted to take at 132 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: that time. And I was just as excited to take 133 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: that six by six, And it was just cool to 134 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: see that that bowl was still there. Who knows what 135 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: would have happened if I didn't shoot, but it's just 136 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: kind of a funny story of it looks like you 137 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: get this one bowl and then you get it, and 138 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: then the big bull just runs out and stands there broadside. 139 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: I don't know if that's ever happened to you, but 140 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: it's happened to me this time and a couple of 141 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: times with some meal there as well. Still as excited 142 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: to get that other bowl, but it was just funny. 143 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: I had to laugh that that big bull just stood 144 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: there after I shot the other one. Late season backcountry 145 00:07:53,480 --> 00:08:00,080 Speaker 1: hunts and winter weather backpacking and camping is not impossible, okay, 146 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: but it's pretty difficult without the right preparation and knowledge. 147 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: So that cold weather is just harsh. The conditions do 148 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: make it more dangerous, and I've got a few little 149 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: tricks that just keep you more comfortable. Because the more 150 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: comfortable you are in really harsh, crappy conditions, the harder 151 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: you can hunt, and the harder you can hunt, the 152 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: more likely you are to be successful. A lot of 153 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: that comfort comes from preparation, the right knowledge, and the 154 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: right gear. So we're gonna talk about that. The prep 155 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: the knowledge, the gear. The first and most important piece 156 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: of equipment is going to be your shelter. Your shelter 157 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: is what keeps you alive at night. Now, if you 158 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: think about any back country experience, it's kind of primal 159 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: because you're going deep, you're going into that, you need 160 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: the things of survival. You bring those all with you. 161 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: What do you need to live? Oxygen, well, that's already there. Water, shelter, 162 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 1: and shelter. I believe on a backcountry hunt is one 163 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 1: of the most important things in not only your comfort, 164 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 1: but your survival as well. I have camped places where 165 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: it is with the wind chill well below zero but 166 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 1: with the right sleeping bag, with the right four season tent, 167 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: with the right a little bit and know how you 168 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 1: can do it and it's not that bad. So let's 169 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: start with the kind of shelter. I like a four 170 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: season backpacking tent. There's a couple options. The one that 171 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:32,319 Speaker 1: I use a lot is a stone glacier the sky 172 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: two person. It's got a lot of room. I'll take 173 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: that if I'm by myself. It's light, but it's also 174 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: super durable. It's got a double vestibule, so there's a 175 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: little bit of room for gear. Another great option would 176 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: be a teepeat style tent. This isn't packing in with 177 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: horses like you aren't gonna bring a wall tent. You 178 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: need something light that you can carry. But those teepee 179 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: tents with a packable stove. Man, if you got that, 180 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: that's that's the best. So you've got your options. If 181 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: you've got one of those, and this is something you're 182 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 1: gonna do and the areas can do so for it's 183 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: not too windy, get the stove option. But a four 184 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: season tent, I believe that's just more my style. I 185 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: don't want to have to deal with the stove and 186 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: the other things. Because of the four season tents just 187 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: more durable in the elements, and I trust it and 188 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: I've used it a lot, so that's what I go with. 189 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: But there are a few options now four season camping. 190 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:22,199 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna run through a list of like some 191 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: tips that I just always consider because if you haven't 192 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:26,959 Speaker 1: done it before, these are things you just got to 193 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: think about. So the first one pitching your tent. This 194 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 1: may sound obvious, but pitch it with the door away 195 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 1: from the wind, because what's going to happen is that 196 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 1: wind will create drifts. And you do not want that 197 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 1: drift to be up against your door because then every 198 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: time you open your vest, you will that snow is 199 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 1: gonna fall in. It's gonna blow in. So I generally 200 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: pitch my tent where that wind doesn't drift or create 201 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: the drifts up against my tent. Another thing to think 202 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: about with your tent is I will take snow and 203 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 1: I will bury the edge of the fly with snow. 204 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 1: That way, wind can't blow snow up inside the tent. 205 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: So I'll clear out an area with like a snow 206 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: shovel or my foot. Then I'll set up the tent 207 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: and then I'll pack snow onto the edges around the fly, 208 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: which tends to keep in my own heat as well 209 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: as keeps out wind and other snow. Another cool thing 210 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: if you're in a lot of snow, it's actually pretty 211 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 1: easy to build a snow cave. But most of the 212 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 1: time when you can do that, it's probably too much 213 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: snow for the ridges and other things to be open 214 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: for the elk to live in. So you kind of 215 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: gotta balance where you're at and the time of year. 216 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: I just like kind of bury my tent a little 217 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: bit with a little bit of snow as a protective 218 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: wall over the vestibule. Now, a lot of cold comes 219 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 1: from the ground, so you're obviously going to have like 220 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: a sleeping pad, which you would have pretty much any 221 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: time of year, because a lot of the cold that 222 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: will get you when you're sleeping is from the ground up. 223 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 1: So what I do, if I can pack a little 224 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:55,959 Speaker 1: shovel or cleared out with my foot, I try to 225 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: get rid of all the snow underneath my tent if possible. 226 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: Then I also an extra thing I like to bring 227 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: is a tarp or like a ground pad for the 228 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: tent to lay underneath for residual snow. Then I put 229 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: my sleeping pad on top of that. One of the 230 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: little tricks that I've picked up over the years for 231 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 1: late season camping is I'll cut down pine boughs and 232 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: then I'll put those over the snow with my tarp 233 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: over that, and then the tent on top of that. 234 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 1: It adds cushion, and it adds insulation in between the 235 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: tent and the snow on the bottom, which keeps it 236 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: warmer and it keeps less cold from coming up through 237 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: the floor of the tent. It's an awesome tip to 238 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 1: remember if you're doing any late season camping. Another problem 239 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: that's specific to really cold winter camping is you're probably 240 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: gonna encounter winds, yet the ground might be frozen to 241 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 1: stake your tent to. So how do you solve that problem. 242 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: I've got a couple of solutions that I use. One 243 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: is a winter dead man. So what I do is 244 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 1: instead of trying to hit the peg into the dirt 245 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: or maybe you can't get to the dirt it's just snow, 246 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: I actually take the peg or I cut branches, which 247 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: works pretty good, like maybe inch and a half branches 248 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: maybe sixt eight inches long. Works fine, So you put 249 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,199 Speaker 1: it sideways to your tent line. You can either run 250 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 1: para cord or whatever, and you run it perpendicular to 251 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: your tent line, so you run it around the center 252 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:20,319 Speaker 1: of the tent peg or the center of the stick. 253 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: Then you either use rocks to place on top of 254 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: that stick, so I'll bury it, pack it with snow, 255 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:27,839 Speaker 1: and then you can use rocks or whatever as an 256 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 1: extra way to secure it on top of that perpendicular steak. 257 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: So the stake is not actually going into the ground, 258 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,719 Speaker 1: but it's having weight or even just the weight of 259 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: the snow up against it. You can pack it down, 260 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,079 Speaker 1: snow around it pretty hard, and then tighten it once 261 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: it's secure. Another great option like if it's snowy out, 262 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 1: melt some water, dig a hole in the snow, do 263 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 1: that with your tent peg, and then pour the water 264 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: over the tent peg and allow it to freeze. A 265 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: lot of times that water will seep down to the 266 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 1: ground and then it refreezes at night and it's just 267 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: like a frozen alid mass that holds your tent down. 268 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: It seems like a lot of extra work, and that's 269 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 1: exactly the reason that it's a good time to go 270 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 1: in because most people don't want to deal with it's 271 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: extra work. I also don't suggest this for everyone, but 272 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 1: if you've advanced to a level where you go and 273 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: what's that next challenge? Late season winter camping is that 274 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: and I've learned to love it. This time of year, 275 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: special considerations need to go into your sleeping bag. You're 276 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: gonna want an extremely warm, zero degree sub zero sleeping bag. Now. 277 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: One of the things to think about is a lot 278 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: of people. If I get cold, I'll just sleep in 279 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 1: my clothes, but most down sleeping bags use your body 280 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 1: heat and reflect it back to you. I've actually found 281 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 1: that wearing my clothes in my sleeping bag causes me 282 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: to actually feel cooler. The trouble is, you don't want 283 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: to be putting on frozen clothes in the morning. So 284 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: I'll do one of two things. I'll either sleep on 285 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: top of them in my bag, or put them underneath 286 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: my bag between my mat and sleep on that. Now, 287 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: if my clothes are wet, I will sleep with them 288 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 1: in my bag because my body heat draws the moisture 289 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: out of my clothes to the outside of my bag. Now, 290 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: if you're like me, you probably only have one sleeping 291 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: bag for a multitude of seasons. One thing that I've 292 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: found is there's these um soul bivy like s o 293 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: L survive outdoors longer. They make this. It's like a 294 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: survival blanket baby, but it's more durable. It's more of 295 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: a permanent one. It's got reflective inner layer, and it's 296 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 1: still breathable. That's awesome because it really helps trap the 297 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: body heat and reflect it back in. It's not great 298 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: for drawing moisture out, but it is good because it 299 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: keeps your breath moisture off of your bag. Because as 300 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: you're breathing at night late season, what happens is your 301 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: breath creates steam, and that steam can cause ice on 302 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: the outside or inside a tent in your gear. So 303 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: even though it's cold out, one thing you want to 304 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: remember is always pop a little bit of event open. 305 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: That way your heat and your body heat can escape 306 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: the tent and not create condensation in there that's gonna 307 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 1: freeze and freeze on top of your gear and be 308 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: a pain later. One of the most important things hunting 309 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: this time year is the ability to create a fire 310 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: fact sten efficient. You're gonna want to make sure you 311 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: have fire starter, and you're gonna want to make sure 312 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: you're good at building a fire. Now that might sound simple, 313 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: but I'm surprised how many people go out and are 314 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: not equipped or don't have the knowledge of how to 315 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: build fires and bad conditions when things are wet. Practice 316 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: before you go out in a safe place, obviously, but 317 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: practice in places when you're maybe just day hunting. Build 318 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: a fire in that snowy environment. Figure out the type 319 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: of things that burn. If you're in pine forests, anything 320 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: where it's got dry needles that just lights up like 321 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: kerosene pitch. Start your fire small. Just get good at 322 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 1: finding the right materials. A good fire and a fast 323 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: fire is all about material So know that. Practice that 324 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: before you go out into the back country, and know 325 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: that if something happens, you can always build a fire. 326 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: If you get trapped out away from your shelter, you 327 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: can build a fire and you'll survive through the night. 328 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: It's also important to know how to build a fire 329 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: because real late season, I've had so much trouble with 330 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 1: fuel cansters that all the time, I just get my 331 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: water by boiling snow in a pot in the fire. 332 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: I bring a metal cup with me this time, of 333 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,680 Speaker 1: year as well. It's just another little trick that I've 334 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,640 Speaker 1: learned over the years because when I stop and i'm glassing, 335 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: I always build fires late season when I'm elk hunting. 336 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:16,920 Speaker 1: You won't find me very far from a fire. If 337 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:18,919 Speaker 1: I'm just sitting and glassing. It's the only way to 338 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,640 Speaker 1: do it. You gotta stay comfortable, you gotta stay warm. 339 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: That metal cup is great to just scoop snow. Set 340 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 1: there while you're glassing. Get some hot water going and 341 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:30,239 Speaker 1: increase your core temperature from inside. Warm water is a 342 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: great way to do that. Another trick with the warm 343 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: water is at night, I'll boil water. I'll poured in analogene, 344 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,400 Speaker 1: will close it tight, and I'll keep that bottle inside 345 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,119 Speaker 1: my sleeping bag with me. It's a little bit of 346 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,919 Speaker 1: a heater. It works great. You can also boil up 347 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: some water in the morning, stuff it in your boots, 348 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,239 Speaker 1: that hot bottle. It helps a little bit, you know, 349 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: getting those boots warmed up because they will freeze. Another 350 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: thing I use and bring is handwarmers. Keep them with 351 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: me and then I'll use some every night, open them up, 352 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: putting in my boots about midmorning when I wake up 353 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: to help defrost my boots for that day's hunt. When 354 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: we're talking about water, most people other times a year 355 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:12,360 Speaker 1: will bring either analogene bottle or a water bladder. This 356 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: is not the time of year to go into the 357 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 1: back country with a water bladder or just analogy and bottle, 358 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 1: because what happens is the water will freeze in there 359 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: almost instantly. I actually prefer to carry the extra weight 360 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: of like a yety thermis type bottle because I can 361 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 1: boil my water. I can put it in there, and 362 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,640 Speaker 1: I know throughout the day it insulates it and keeps 363 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: my water warm. It also prevents it from freezing, so 364 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 1: I'm not wasting time burning and boiling water. And then 365 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: every time I go to sleep or a few hours later, 366 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 1: I go to take a sip of water and it's 367 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 1: it's frozen solid. That's a pain. So that extra weight 368 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 1: of that bottle makes a big difference. Now, when you 369 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: go late season, you just have to carry more gear, 370 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: Your pack is heavier. It's all part of it. There's 371 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: a few ways that you can get your gear in 372 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: easier with a little less strain, especially if you aren't 373 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: going too far. One of those as is like a 374 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: plastic sled. I either use like a concrete plastic sled, 375 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: a duck hunting plastic sled, or just like a high 376 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: side plastic toboggan. It's easy to drag, you can put 377 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: extra gear in it for your base camp. It's also 378 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 1: awesome because when you get an animal back to base camp, 379 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,239 Speaker 1: it's an easier way to pack it out. There's been 380 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,679 Speaker 1: a few hunts just getting over a pass or something 381 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: into the back country. I'll want snowshoes, but then I 382 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 1: might on the other side not need them. It's a 383 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 1: great way to save your energy for those big hikes 384 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: in the back country, not busting through snow all the time. 385 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: Just little tips for winter travel like that that make 386 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 1: a huge difference. Now, this kind of hunt, I understand 387 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: is not for everyone, but it's something that I want 388 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 1: to get you thinking about. And if you're thinking about 389 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: it now, maybe the season's over, but it's a great 390 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: time to go out and just to go take a 391 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: winter camping trip. Maybe you're into skiing, maybe you're just 392 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: want to go for a little snowshoe. Don't get too far, 393 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: just give it some practice, because that kind of skill 394 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 1: and knowledge and just messing with it before a hunt 395 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: is going to be invaluable when you decide to go 396 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 1: into the back country late season four hunt. You're gonna 397 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: pick up a few little things here and there. Yeah, 398 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: that's necessary to bring that extra way to worth it. 399 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: That's not and it's a really great way to get 400 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:15,920 Speaker 1: some skills before you actually go out there and now 401 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: have to deal with a big elk packing it out, 402 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: or get too far and get in over your head. 403 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: I just like to give you those kind of tips 404 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,880 Speaker 1: that get you thinking thinking of new ways to hunt, 405 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 1: maybe something you didn't think about before. I didn't think 406 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: you were capable of it, But once you hear someone 407 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 1: do it and you give it a try, you're gonna 408 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:35,919 Speaker 1: really realize how capable you are in those back country settings. 409 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 1: And then, really, I would say adverse conditions backpack hunting 410 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:44,160 Speaker 1: and winter weather can provide some challenges, that's for sure. 411 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: There's nothing easy about it. But due to the difficulty, 412 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 1: you just might find yourself alone with plenty of mature 413 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: bulls around. Taking the extra precautions and just a few 414 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 1: of those specialized pieces of year I talked about can 415 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 1: make that experience way more enjoy bowl. Nothing is really 416 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,959 Speaker 1: pleasant about it, but late season, backpacking can open up 417 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: new areas to where big bulls are hanging out that 418 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: the average hunter is avoiding. The experience itself is just 419 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:14,719 Speaker 1: honestly unique, and with a few outdoor skills, it's an 420 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 1: effective way to chase backcountry bulls. Next week, I think 421 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: that we'll do a little Christmas special because this is 422 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: that time of year we're getting there. You can bust 423 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: out your game meat defrost it. Here's your homework for 424 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 1: next week. Next week, I want you to take a 425 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,159 Speaker 1: good piece of game meat out and give it a 426 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: good slow defrost on say Tuesday night Wednesday, Okay, And 427 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:41,199 Speaker 1: then what we're gonna do. I'm gonna tell you a 428 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:44,159 Speaker 1: fun story. I'm going to talk to you about some 429 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:46,639 Speaker 1: cool stuff, and I'll give you maybe like a little 430 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: cooking advice or just some ways to think about preparing 431 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: that wild game. Then next Thursday night you can cook 432 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 1: it up and you can share it with some friends, 433 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: tell some hunting stories, and have a great dinner. Because 434 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 1: that's the whole reason we're even going out there in 435 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:04,959 Speaker 1: the first place. So until then, keep eating your carnivores.