Is a hot tent needed for second season rifle Colorado?

[zrodwyo]

Unnecessary but nice. I think the days of serious snow and cold weather in October are long gone.

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

If not backpacking in and wouldn't use it every year, can rent one from Beau at:

Tents - Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas

Llamas are often called the Beast of Burden. With Pack Llamas, Go Farther, Stay Longer, and Hunt Harder!

wildernessridgetrailllamas.com

 

[Crowmangler]

If not backpacking in and wouldn't use it every year, can rent one from Beau at:

Tents - Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas

Llamas are often called the Beast of Burden. With Pack Llamas, Go Farther, Stay Longer, and Hunt Harder!

wildernessridgetrailllamas.com

FYI I called about renting one earlier this year & they said they don't do that anymore

 

[cnelk]

Need vs Want.

I know what I’d do.
Choose wisely

 

[bridgerbenson]

Probably not needed but man is it nice. We went from packing everything way back in, grinding it out and “embracing the suck” in our younger years (and rarely ever killing anything.). Now just staying at the pickup in a wall tent with wood stove, grill, chargers, cots, starlink WiFi , sometimes a side x side to be more mobile and in 10x the elk action within a mile or two of a road.


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[trophyhill]

Unnecessary but nice. I think the days of serious snow and cold weather in October are long gone.

Until you forget your stove and zero degree bag

 

[commandoNate]

I've hunted 2nd rifle for the last 10 years or so because I really suck at shooting elk with my bow and I usually need to pick up the rifle to get my elk for the year. I would say that about 2 out of every 3 years we have snow and temps down to 0 or colder, then one of every 3 years it is warm and dry. I have a wall tent for base camp and am prepared to spike out into an area we have found that always produces for us when the weather is favorable enough to do so. We hunt a little north of where you'll be but it's safe to say that 2nd rifle you really should be prepared for the possibility of deep snow and extremely cold temps. And don't forget those tire chains!

 

[Jimss]

I usually leave my truck well before light and am back at my truck after dark so don't spend much time around a fancy camp. If you want to live vivaciously, renting a trailer is another option. There is a website here in Colo where people rent them. You would have a heater, stove, and beds!

I don't know how many seasons I've camped out in my camper shell. It cuts the wind and is actually pretty toasty. It's also a lot mobile than a tent. I generally camp where I end for the night.

 

[TxxAgg]

I’ve hunted CO second season with a foot of snow and lows in the single digits with a backpacking tent. As long as your pad and bag are good, you’ll be cold but should be good. Getting frozen boots on your feet in the morning is miserable, but get moving and you warm up quick.

Keep a stove with instant coffee in the vestibule and make it before you get out of your bag

You are spot on about the frozen boots.

We bought a Kodiak canvas the next year.

 

[Marble]

I've done 2nd session for over 20 years. It is not "needed". But i can say it is pretty dang nice.

Only one year have I used my hot tent. Actually a tipi. I plan on using it this year of weather cooperates.

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[JacobVA]

Any recommendations on stoves? Was thinking about a seek outdoor stove since they are so light. My buddy is thinking of just getting a hot tent off Amazon. Next year I’ll likely be getting a better tent to company the stove but I will cut down on the costs as much as I can

I like the idea of getting the quality stove first. Before next trip you could get a better lighter tipi. Most of those tipis with the stove jack on Amazon are pretty much the same just different sizes and different name slapped on. Around $150-200 but weigh about 5 lbs. Wouldn't blame you money wise for going with what you have this year and upgrading later.

 

[WashCycle]

I'll be running the tent and stove in second season, no shame even if it's not needed. I absolutely see it as a worthy trade-off for the weight and size. Doing a solo trip so I use it more as a morale booster but also if we have a cold snap like 2023, the stove will be almost a necessity...and hey, the wilderness is scary at night.

 

[Indian Summer]

You should always hope for the best, but definitely plan for the worse. I would never go rifle hunting without a way to keep everything warm and more importantly dry as a bone. You can’t hide in your sleeping bag forever.

 

[justinspicher]

This is first rifle here in SW Colorado a few years ago…..we were packed in around 15 miles, not being able to stay warm or dry off wet clothing would have really made it a miserable trip.

 

[Trrads]

Responding to kind of old posts here, but i'm hoping I'll get some responses.

Is a hot tent with the stove something that I can bring on a plane with my luggage? And how stable is the stove? It looks kind of flimsy......

 

[Kenai_dtracker]

100% have it in your luggage. My tent and stove set up is under 8lbs combined. My stove is the lite outdoors, which rolls up nice.

 

[Indian Summer]

I wouldn’t hunt the mountains during archery season without a stove. So yes. It’s more important those of that other stuff you spent 2k on.

 

[SonnyDay]

So much depends on the weather… but at 53 I find that a shelter (tipi) I can stand up or sit in is a serious benefit. And a stove to dry out gear as needed is worth the weight. I mostly backpack rifle hunt in 1st season Colorado, FWIW.

 

[Trrads]

Right now i'm trying to decide between 3 options:

1 - A jeep/truck with a roof tent which has a propane heater. My concerns with this option is, no real standing room in the tent although the vehicle will have an awning which is nice for cover, although that part obviously won't be heated. Also if we get crushed with a random snowstorm, not sure how well the roof tent holds up in that situation.
2 - Rent a canvas tent with stove and cots; probably the best overall option comfort wise, but lots of work to put up and not a lot of flexibility if we want to move to a different area.
3 - Get a hot tent and go that route; kind of somewhere between the first 2 in terms of comfort and flexibility/ease of setup.

FWIW there will be 2 hunters and we will be around 8500-9000 feet

 

[Trrads]

Also, for the truck/jeep option i'm not sure how robust the propane heater is going to be for keeping us warm in the tent. The heater is in the truck/jeep bed under the tent. Maybe fine for taking the edge off in mildly cold weather, but if it drops into the 10-20s at night not sure how well that works.