First Bivy Hunt

[Flatlander23]

Hey y’all I’m making the shift from a backpack in and base camp style hunt to a bivy hunt this September for archery elk. Current sleep system is a Marmot Tungsten 1p with an Alps Zenith 0degree on a light Klymit pad. Any adjustments y’all would recommend for weight without breaking the bank? Wanting to get my pack weight down around 50. Last year we spent a stormy day in the teepee so I’m not wanting to go with a bivy and risk being locked in a coffin getting soaked with condensation for 12 hours. I’ll be out for 7 or 8 days. TIA

 

[buffsmoker]

Have you thought about doing a couple 3-4 day rips instead of committing to 7-8 days all at once? That will save you a bunch of food weight. What's the R value of that pad? A good R value pad paired with a decent 20-30 degree bag/quilt should be plenty for Sept. I'd say you have overkill with that zero degree bag.

 

[wildwilderness]

Where are you hunting? How far in do you plan to go?

The tent is heavy for a 1p. Go floorless - for solo trips I go Kuiu Summit and have gone to below freezing and snow in Alaska sheep mts with it. That will save a couple pounds.

For cutting weight and saving $$ it doesn’t usually work. Buy once cry once but the weight gains are worth it especially when coming out heavy

 

[Flatlander23]

Have you thought about doing a couple 3-4 day rips instead of committing to 7-8 days all at once? That will save you a bunch of food weight. What's the R value of that pad? A good R value pad paired with a decent 20-30 degree bag/quilt should be plenty for Sept. I'd say you have overkill with that zero degree bag.

I could do that possibly but would risk losing a hunting day going in and out. Area I’m hunting is wilderness and you’re 6 miles and 3000’ of gain in before you hit any good huntable areas. The pad I plan to bring is uninsulated, like R1 or 0 I think. I took an r4 last year with a 20 degree synthetic bag and was plenty warm. Problem is that my 20 degree bag is synthetic so it’s a little heavier and takes up a ton of room. Thought I’d go with a warmer down bag and lighter pad for this one since I don’t really want to buy another bag. I agree the bag is overkill but for now I wanted something I could use early and late until I get a lighter down bag.

 

[Flatlander23]

Where are you hunting? How far in do you plan to go?

The tent is heavy for a 1p. Go floorless - for solo trips I go Kuiu Summit and have gone to below freezing and snow in Alaska sheep mts with it. That will save a couple pounds.

For cutting weight and saving $$ it doesn’t usually work. Buy once cry once but the weight gains are worth it especially when coming out heavy

Southern CO. You’re 6 miles and 3000’ in before you are in any huntable area. I’ll start there and be prepared to end up almost 12 in if that’s where the elk are and people aren’t.

I’ve looked at the kuiu floor less. Does that pitch with a trekking pole? I understand the lighter weight stuff is expensive. Just trying to piece together what I have with minimal purchases to save where I can.

Thinking about leaving my tripod at home but that’s a tough one because that country is really glassable and can be pretty highly pressured so glassing a lot of country can be more effective than chasing bugles around depending on the situation.

 

[Flatlander23]

Thanks for the thoughtful advice y’all. Considering all the options. This will be my first time going solo. Dads 62 and likes to have a set camp so most of my gear is set up for that. Hopefully can piece together a good bivy set up over the next couple years

 

[GunsAreFun]

That tent is 4lb. A nice tarp, like a Warbonnet Ground Tarp or Seek Outside DST is ~22 ounces with stakes and guyline. Add a 5 oz bug bivy from Borah and you saved 2# for about $250, which is actually a very good value for the backpacking world.

It’s going to be $250+ to switch to a good 0 degree while save 19-20 ounces.

Many people also bring too much stuff. Leaving stuff at the truck is the free. Maybe post your full pack weight. Most common things I see that are unnecessary are extra clothes, huge first aid kits, big knives, and too much food.

 

[Poser]

Thanks for the thoughtful advice y’all. Considering all the options. This will be my first time going solo. Dads 62 and likes to have a set camp so most of my gear is set up for that. Hopefully can piece together a good bivy set up over the next couple years

Have you fully considered the proposition of a solo packout that is 6 miles one way?
You're looking at 3 trips packing meat + another for camp. That's 50 miles and 4 full days worth of hiking. And you'll need to manage your meat in a way that keep predators from getting it. That's not an impossible feat, but its significantly more of a bite than your average hunters can chew. And, this estimate assumes you don't push further in.

 

[Flatlander23]

That tent is 4lb. A nice tarp, like a Warbonnet Ground Tarp or Seek Outside DST is ~22 ounces with stakes and guyline. Add a 5 oz bug bivy from Borah and you saved 2# for about $250, which is actually a very good value for the backpacking world.

It’s going to be $250+ to switch to a good 0 degree while save 19-20 ounces.

Many people also bring too much stuff. Leaving stuff at the truck is the free. Maybe post your full pack weight. Most common things I see that are unnecessary are extra clothes, huge first aid kits, big knives, and too much food.

Those are good suggestions. Thank you. I agree with limiting redundancies. Last year on the same hunt I was right around 60 lbs including my bow. Making some changes on food which will save some weight. Last year I took 2 hot meals a day and only really ate 1 so I hauled 6 or 7 peak refuels back out with me. Cutting to one hot per day and bringing more snacks this year since those are easier for me to eat and lighter. I have a list of a few other odds and ends from after the hunt last year that I took and never used.

 

[Flatlander23]

Have you fully considered the proposition of a solo packout that is 6 miles one way?
You're looking at 3 trips packing meat + another for camp. That's 50 miles and 4 full days worth of hiking. And you'll need to manage your meat in a way that keep predators from getting it. That's not an impossible feat, but it’s significantly more of a bite than your average hunters can chew. And, this estimate assumes you don't push further in.

I have. I understand it’s a large undertaking. The good news is almost the entire route out is either flat or downhill so for the heavy packing I’ll have gravity working with me. Other thing is that there’s an outfitter up in the area that goes in and out frequently with mules. They offered help on a pack out last year so I can pay them to help pack out if need be

 

[croben]

Your sleep system seems pretty heavy. I would replace that tent with a lighter one and use just the shell. That could save you roughly 2lbs+ depending on what you go with. If you’re worried about bugs, you can run a bivy in it. My Katabatic Piñon is less than 8oz. Your 0 degree bag is overkill. Get an insulated pad and a 30-40 degree quilt. You’ll save weight and probably be warmer. There’s plenty of really good used gear on the market to keep the cost down and save you some weight.

What else are you bringing? 50lbs is still fairly heavy for a September elk hunt depending on where you’re hunting at.

Edit: just saw that weight includes your bow so not too bad.

 

[Flatlander23]

Your sleep system seems pretty heavy. I would replace that tent with a lighter one and use just the shell. That could save you roughly 2lbs+ depending on what you go with. If you’re worried about bugs, you can run a bivy in it. My Katabatic Piñon is less than 8oz. Your 0 degree bag is overkill. Get an insulated pad and a 30-40 degree quilt. You’ll save weight and probably be warmer. There’s plenty of really good used gear on the market to keep the cost down and save you some weight.

What else are you bringing? 50lbs is still fairly heavy for a September elk hunt depending on where you’re hunting at.

Edit: just saw that weight includes your bow so not too bad.

Thanks @croben. Any recs for websites to find used gear?

 

[zpearo]

Thanks @croben. Any recs for websites to find used gear?

Reddit.com/r/ULgeartrade is a good place to buy gear, as are the classifieds here. In both cases, pay with PayPal goods and services and be wary of scammers. Depending on where you live, local Craigslist and Facebook marketplace can have good deals too.

 

[CMF]

Thinking about leaving my tripod at home but that’s a tough one because that country is really glassable and can be pretty highly pressured so glassing a lot of country can be more effective than chasing bugles around depending on the situation.

I'd leave the tripod if you're not trying count inches. Post up your list, getting to 50 skin out weight with 8 days of food seems pretty good, but if that's just pack weight, seems heavy.
Second the 30-40° down quilt to replace bag.
You could can get a dd xmid 2p(~$300) and be at the same weight as the marmot(assuming you already carrying trek poles). Or you could run the dd xmid fly only with a bivy and be around 2 lbs or 1.5 less than the marmot.
Here's my 8 day aug sheep list(rough draft). Still have some gear to purchase to make this. ~55lb total, ~41 pack weight, ~15 worn(clothes, bino, bow)
I've bought a couple down quilts here on rokslide classifieds that worked out well.

 

[Flatlander23]

I'd leave the tripod if you're not trying count inches. Post up your list, getting to 50 skin out weight with 8 days of food seems pretty good, but if that's just pack weight, seems heavy.
Second the 30-40° down quilt to replace bag.
You could can get a dd xmid 2p(~$300) and be at the same weight as the marmot(assuming you already carrying trek poles). Or you could run the dd xmid fly only with a bivy and be around 2 lbs or 1.5 less than the marmot.
Here's my 8 day aug sheep list(rough draft). Still have some gear to purchase to make this. ~55lb total, ~41 pack weight, ~15 worn(clothes, bino, bow)
I've bought a couple down quilts here on rokslide classifieds that worked out well.

This is really helpful. Thanks. That lighter pack website looks handy

 

[happybdayben]

Check out Yama Mountain Gears bivy and tarp. I’m between that and the slingfin

 

[camelcluch]

Have you tried just pitching the fly from your tent? If it works, you save weight and money.