Have you ever had to spend the night?
- Thread starter Fullabull
- Start date
buglelk
Administrator
- Nov 30, 2012
- 388
Fullabull,
Yes. A few years back, we were down to our last 2 days of hunting. My buddy, Burdette, dropped me off at daylight at the mouth of a big canyon with a plan to meet me back there at dark. I hiked in around 6 miles and finally, in the early afternoon, got my first response. I proceeded to mess up the set up on that bull, aswell as another just minutes later. I was bummed, and hung my head to hike back to the truck, certain I was going to go without filling my tag.
About halfway back to the trailhead, I bumped some elk and sprinted up the trail to see the bull standing broadside 35 yards away. I drew and shot and watched the bull run to the bottom of the draw and out of sight. Fortunately, I managed to get Burdette on the radio and told him to bring the packframes and some food/water!
I didn't follow the bloodtrail at all, and Burdette finally arrived around 11PM. We took up the bloodtrail and found the bull had crossed the creek and left no blood trail on the other side. After an hour of looking around in the dark, completely exhausted, we decided to sleep there and resume the trail in the morning.
It was the longest, cold, uncomfortable night of my life. We built a small fire and curled around it, added small pieces of wood through the night. The cold, hard ground was not fun to lay on, and with only a shirt and vest for insulation, I didn't get much sleep. Burdette, on the other hand, had a space blanket in his pack from 1988 and snored through the night...
As soon as it was light enough to see, I was up running up and down the hill to warm up and we found the bull piled up 100 yards later. The pack out on that bull was just about as good of a story as the previous night, but we made it out to the truck a little before dark that night, with a punched elk tag!
Yes. A few years back, we were down to our last 2 days of hunting. My buddy, Burdette, dropped me off at daylight at the mouth of a big canyon with a plan to meet me back there at dark. I hiked in around 6 miles and finally, in the early afternoon, got my first response. I proceeded to mess up the set up on that bull, aswell as another just minutes later. I was bummed, and hung my head to hike back to the truck, certain I was going to go without filling my tag.
About halfway back to the trailhead, I bumped some elk and sprinted up the trail to see the bull standing broadside 35 yards away. I drew and shot and watched the bull run to the bottom of the draw and out of sight. Fortunately, I managed to get Burdette on the radio and told him to bring the packframes and some food/water!
I didn't follow the bloodtrail at all, and Burdette finally arrived around 11PM. We took up the bloodtrail and found the bull had crossed the creek and left no blood trail on the other side. After an hour of looking around in the dark, completely exhausted, we decided to sleep there and resume the trail in the morning.
It was the longest, cold, uncomfortable night of my life. We built a small fire and curled around it, added small pieces of wood through the night. The cold, hard ground was not fun to lay on, and with only a shirt and vest for insulation, I didn't get much sleep. Burdette, on the other hand, had a space blanket in his pack from 1988 and snored through the night...
As soon as it was light enough to see, I was up running up and down the hill to warm up and we found the bull piled up 100 yards later. The pack out on that bull was just about as good of a story as the previous night, but we made it out to the truck a little before dark that night, with a punched elk tag!
nclonghunter
New member
- Dec 28, 2012
- 681
Great story Corey, how did that change what gear you carry on a day trip or did it?
This last year my buddy shot a bull at about 6 in the afternoon. We hadn't planned on staying another night and we were going to hike out that night. We waited for about an hour or so cause my buddy thought he hit the bull a little far back. We tracked the bull for awhile and finally it was dark enough that we couldn't see anymore blood or good sign so we hiked back to were our packs were at and stayed the night. I slept great because I hadn't made the bad shot haha. But my buddy slept like crap worrying about his elk. The next morning we picked up the trail and had to follow it across a sagebrush opening. We walked into the trees and the elk was laying there about 30 yards in the trees. He was still alive but very sick. My buddy shot him again and he stood up and ran about 100 yards and expired. After the bull ran the second time I thought we were in for a VERY long day, but we were out by dark that night.
Got caught in a boomer of a thunderstorm and decided to wait it out. Found a nice tree with low heavy branches, made a pine needle bed and pulled out a space blanket and stocking cap and slept just fine. I gotta second the space blanket, they pack small and make a huge difference. Plus they make a great ground cloth if you need one while working on your elk!
BrentLaBere
New member
- Jan 7, 2013
- 358
Never had to while hunting, but fishing I have. Lake Sakakawea back in the Little Missouri arm a storm came up on us with little warning (also wasn't really paying attention) and ended up spending the night in a bay with no access to anything and very little supplies in the boat. Normally I wouldn't even flinch about a situation like this but with 30 mph winds, lightning and hail approaching it made for a brutal night.
nclonghunter
New member
- Dec 28, 2012
- 681
I need to include a space blanket in my day pack...great info
HuntinKyhl
New member
- Dec 28, 2012
- 79
There is a space "bag" made that is much better than the blanket. The bag is just like a mummy bag and covers your entire body.nclonghunter said:
I would recommend the bag over the blanket. Only a few dollars more.
nclonghunter
New member
- Dec 28, 2012
- 681
Who makes the space bag, is it SOL?
Bullhunter
New member
- Jan 2, 2013
- 903
I have come close a couple times but i have managed to make it out.
HuntinKyhl
New member
- Dec 28, 2012
- 79
nclonghunter said:
If you search for "emergency sleeping bag" on Amazon there are lots to choose from.
right - I said space blanket - but all mine are bags. My son used one on a weekend summer outing because he didn't want to pack a tent and the weather was nice. Said it was awesome. Plus he woke up with a deer sniffing him. Says that is the way to go for summertime hikes.
I have several types, there are some that are really thin and others that seem to be thicker. I think we had coleman brand...or something we bought at the local bimart for a couple bucks.
I have several types, there are some that are really thin and others that seem to be thicker. I think we had coleman brand...or something we bought at the local bimart for a couple bucks.
