Choosing the Right Shelter for Your Backcountry Elk Hunt - A Guide's Perspective

[@RonnieStanley-tc6vi]

I like the Kifaru 4 man teepee. I keep some cord tied to the loops midway up the walls. Then, you can pull the walls out and it keeps the condesation off of you and gear even when you sleep near the wall. Ive used mine for 15 years. I haven't put as many miles on them as some. But, there are many and it has held up well.

[@CampfireKodiak]

Interesting philosophy. I've always used a 2 person tent for sleeping only and a larger tent or tarp for my cook shack. This is because I'm always in bear country and I don't want my sleeping area to have any scent to attract bear. I've also done a lot of tarp shelters with a good bivy or just slept under a spruce tree with a small tarp thrown over a branch. A lot of hunters here use those teepee hot tents for everything and just put a bear fence around it. There are lots of solutions that work. Whenever you do a fly out on Kodiak you need to think about high winds. That's where people get in trouble and it happens a lot. Tent failure is common.

[@craigrobertson6082]

Great advice from a man that give's Jeremiah Johnson a run for his money as a backcountry legend.

[@CliffGray]

Bwhaha!

[@joshsmith3650]

Oh man! All this talk about how another man pitches his tent has me in the mood! Haha

[@CliffGray]

Bwhaha

[@joshsmith3650]

@@CliffGray no homo, I love how you nerd out on every aspect of the hunting scene. I’m always saying something retarded but makes me laugh even more when you respond lol.

[@journeyman7189]

Great breakdown of the why's and why nots of each shelter Cliff. I went to hot tenting a couple years ago for deer hunting and I'll never go back to cold camping. Nate

[@CliffGray]

thanks Nate!

[@arthurquintana1345]

This is why i am subscribed to this channel. Great information

[@IntenseAngler]

Great vid brother 👍 Man, the new tipi tents sure are tough to beat (when you can't have your trusty ol' wall tent of course). Lightweight, packable, and a good selection to choose from nowadays. That Argali is definitely a winner though for sure! 👍

[@CliffGray]

thanks man!

[@IntenseAngler]

@@CliffGray 💯 👍

[@McGrambo2]

Have to agree with you on the one man backpacking setup. I have an Elous from Seek and it’s awesome.

[@garenartoun9003]

Thank you sir i just ordered Argali setup plus half ground sheet after watching your great review and advise (i was struggling to choose between Argali 4p seek outside cimarron and peax)

[@chuckparson6712]

Cliff your videos are so full of information, thank you for sharing your wisdom with us dummies 😂👍👍

[@robertthompson3589]

Great video with alot of useful information! Keep up the great work!

[@Eric-hx6gc]

Great video, man. Having only experience with typical backpacking tents, this clarified a lot.

[@CliffGray]

awesome man! great to hear it was helpful

[@greasemonkey4god]

I use the absaroka for my son and I. I have a 2ft piece of pvc that I put on the end of my trekking pole. I have a vid on my page that shows it- I did have a problem under heavy winds with a crappy trekking pole. We don’t have the insert yet.

[@CliffGray]

Great tip. I’ll check it out

[@Lzyrslf1]

The argali is amazing for elk hunting,with their stove it’s a game changer.

[@CliffGray]

Yes, it’s a great setup

[@wcndguy5302]

Good video! I have done a lot of tarp camping and like to use them. For hunting I have a mld duomid (2 person rectangle pyramid tarp). I find that thing much easier to set up as a glassing shelter than my tarps. The entire front of it opens up. You can pitch it with a stick. It has a small footprint so you can set it up anywhere. It is surprisingly sturdy in harsh weather. Plenty sturdy for here in the Canadian Rockies.

[@CliffGray]

Thanks! I haven’t tried one, but will.

[@fishduckdog]

Great video on shelters! Thanks for sharing! I’m kind. ℹ bring plenty of extra earplugs to I pass out to tent occupants and the neighbors. They have nicknamed me Harley.

[@CliffGray]

Bwhaha!

[@MiddleOutdoorsman]

Interesting video as always. I have a lot of different shelter setups. Most are for solo hunts. I've a two man hot tent tepee, ultra light hammock/tarp setup, 1 man dome tent with an inner winter liner, and a car camping setup. Personally, I think the best thing to do about shelters in general, is not be set on any one of them. Granted acquiring a bunch of shelters takes time and money. So which shelter do I use? It comes down to pacing, terrain, and weather. Pacing is important. I'm not hiking to my glassing point every morning or whenever I feel the need. I'm sleeping at it, or as close to it as I can get. It's convenient, it's efficient, and less wear and tear on yourself. So my glassing point, it could be on top of a flat ridge. Said ridge could have a trail that goes to it. In which case I'm car camping out of my 4x4. If it's flat, but no road, I'll backpack in and tent camp it. Then, sometimes, i'm not glassing on top of a ridge, but on the side of it. Then I'll backpack in and hammock camp it if I've got some trees. Terrain knowledge helps greatly. Weather can be an overriding factor sometimes. I don't like hammock camping once October hits. That's a summer scouting/ archery thing when it's freaking hot. So I'll opt for a tent of one sort or another come October onward. Anyway, long story short, I like to sleep where I glass. I don't care how I do it. Also turned 50 this year. In m mind, pacing became a lot more important. I just remembered, I made like a 40 minute video on this I think, though I don't remember what I said in it: 🙄 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWKaYaSZjdWkY6sfeature=shared

[@CliffGray]

For sure… in the end everyone that hunts much ends up with a quiver of tipis, tents, etc… end up using what fits best 👍

[@HuntingPoker]

I got an inflatable RBM outdoors wall tent. Just air it up and Tie it down. I also invested into the 5 man Eskimo insulated tent with a little more space. Can stand up in both. I got two new wood stoves a Winnerwell and then I got a 8lb Polmoly Traveller stove. This Whitetail season in Montana is going to be fun. If I dont want to deal with wood I got Planar 4kw diesil heater. Uses less than a gallon of fuel for 11 hours. Dry heat too.

[@AlexanderHonsVonEber]

Those RBM tents looks amazing! I’ve seen some reviews that show how durable they are, I’d like to know how long they last you. Sounds like a sweet set up! Who makes this Eskimo shelter you’re talking about ? Is it also RBM? I looked up that planar portable 4D Heater and wow that looks cool as hell too. You got good taste man! Haha… good luck this year.

[@Eiflerisch]

I always enjoy your vids! Thx man, and greetings from Germany

[@StarD435]

Love it how he called all his viewers dorks.. @11:51 😂

[@MikeJones-vb1me]

Man that half floor Argali is slick!

[@CliffGray]

yeah man, its a great setup

[@prez803]

I'm curious if you ever ran into this issue. A few years ago, I bought a Seek Outside 8-person tipi and their wood stove for a 3rd rifle Colorado elk hunt. It did withstand some crazy wind, but even with the liner, it dripped condensation on us. Then it got down to -10 degrees with high winds, and it was so cold outside that the stove pipe couldn't get hot enough for the smoke to escape. So when we needed it the most, the stove stopped working, and we had water dripping on us in the middle of the night. This was with 3 guys in an 8-person tent, one of whom was a firefighter and the other an engineer, so it wasn't for a lack of brain power and experience. Seek Outside did take it back and give me a refund, but if I were to get a similar setup again, I'd only use it when it's above 0 outside.

[@CliffGray]

I have not had that extreme of a condensation issue. Having said that, by 3rd season 95% of the time I’m hunting out if a wall tent with a larger stove

[@chasetopsecret2018]

We use an 8 man tipi its great from mountains of Colorado do the BWCA in Minnesota. Earplugs are a must in those wind is loud

[@CliffGray]

For sure!

[@jamesshields1969]

Great vid Cliff

[@michaelruiz2872]

Awesome, I was just looking at different types of tents today....but as a novice I could really see myself making the wrong choice. Thanks.

[@CliffGray]

Good to know this will be helpful to ya man! 👍

[@HuntingPoker]

One Tigris makes some cool polycoton tents and some similiar to what he showed. Affordable too.

[@jameshurd4815]

I agree 100%

[@RT-gv6us]

Question: In the Argaili setup the stove looked to be close enough to the nest that I would fear the heat would melt the mesh of the nest. How do you prevent that? Great video. I have a Seek Outside in a similar size, but have never used it with the nest and dont want to melt it.

[@CliffGray]

I haven’t had an issue. Having said that I do set the stove slightly away from center. Slightly angled pipe. I am careful with the door on the insert.

[@striderwolf687]

The tarp!

[@chrisbuckley8148]

Great info as always. Dude! I think a you and Aaron Snyder podcast would be the hunting equivalent to Tucker/ Rogan. Make it happen.👍

[@CliffGray]

For sure man! I’ll get him on at some point

[@Bigtrain1]

They would be a thousand times better, tucker a little spoiled rich boy.

[@KC-7mm]

After my last trip to the high country I couldn’t stand running a shitty tent anymore I bought the argali rincon 2 man it fits everything I need and want. We get a lot of nasty weather here and having a stove gives me the ability to handle some bad weather in areas that have some big bucks.

[@CoachMANdler]

Are there any bivvy set ups that you are a fan of in case you wanna go light and be more mobile?

[@CliffGray]

Tarp in decent weather. Outside of that I prefer small backpack tents.

[@perryknetter8577]

Thank you great information God's Blessings

[@omf2007]

Nice video. Yes indeed, tarp shelters are for "things have gone left" moments and the "bush craft" people on y- tube that camp in their back yard.

[@CliffGray]

Bwhaha something to that. I do use them a bit. Handy for certain situations

[@josephgriffin6552]

They're great for military operations.

[@McCracken216]

How often is finding suitable firewood an issue? Think Montana/Wyoming type climate.

[@CliffGray]

Not too bad. It’s typically most effective to be breaking dry sticks in the thumb diameter range

[@weekendwarrior2959]

Do you have any experience with any of the other 4 man tipis like the seek outside cimarron or the peax solitude?

[@mitchg9285]

Hello, Colorado guy here. Great video. Learning everything I can from you. This is all good content. Do you do a liner in the 2p tipi? Have a cimmaron and not sure if that matters to you in backcountry. Thank you Mr Gray

[@CliffGray]

Are you referring to the argali tent? I don’t use a liner, just the screen nest/insert. On the kifaru I don’t use a liner either. They help with condensation but I don’t like the extra setup and weight. Just be careful to not hit the walls before you “burn off” the condensation with the stove or the sun

[@mitchg9285]

@@CliffGray yes exactly that. Thanks. Was debating if I should plan to bring the condensation liner or not this year.

[@mikemcgee6810]

Just landed my first archery draw for unit 44. I’m stoked! Any tips would be appreciated 🤣. What’s your thoughts on hammocks?

[@CliffGray]

Good deal man, congrats! No experience with hammocks but I’m gunna try one soon.

[@mikemcgee6810]

@@CliffGrayDo you know of anyone that I can hire to help me retrieve my elk?

[@MrMako238]

Great video! Would you run a tent stove in Idaho middle to end of September?

[@CliffGray]

I probably would. Might depend a little on elevation, how far I was hiking before setting camp. The primary benefit is being able to dry things out

[@weekendwarrior2959]

Thanks for sharing your intel, Cliff. What stove did you have in the argali; was that still the kifaru medium?

[@CliffGray]

It is the argali titanium stove. It’s very similar to the kifaru stove but slightly easier to setup

[@gbaughman3348]

As I get older the wall tent with a stove is the way to go. If you want other options look into history and do some research early explorers used all kinds of tents/shelters especially the long hunter type people. I could go on and on about that subject.

[@McDanielRanch]

Man canvas bell tent is hard to beat quick to set up, warm, and easy to pack on mule.

[@jesseekeren2291]

Cliff what do you think about the small 1 man tipis that are stove compatible like the seek silex?

[@CliffGray]

Never tried one!

[@fishingwithspiv3081]

For the 1-2 person teepee… how exactly are you carrying that stove around in a backpack situation? Does it pack down pretty well, or what am I missing?

[@CliffGray]

They pack down really small. About the size of an old high school text book. Maybe a bit thicker. Really light material

[@brandonericson8323]

I won an 8 man last year but haven’t used it yet. Do you ever use the liner to avoid condensation or is that really only an issue if you’re not running a stove?

[@CliffGray]

With stove running typically no issue but in cold weather it will make condensed ice rain a bit. In general it is a downside of a single wall shelter… try not to tough it before the stove or sun burns it off

[@HuntingPoker]

I got a Russian Diesil heater, dry heat and runs all night dont have to feed it wood!! Not for backpacking, but you dont have to deal with wood. Like having central heat. I got the Planar 4kw. 1400 bucks but oh so sweet. It does weigh 30lbs. It blows hot heat. You need to use a lithium battery too.

[@Duckhunterbow]

How do you keep the battery charged?

[@BadKarma.-]

You say you can make the argali work with 2 people? Both in the halfsert or 1 on the ground? Couldn't gauge the size well. Aslo probably doesn’t help Im watching at 2am haha

[@jonathanwoods7643]

The disdain for the tarp was pure comedy.

[@trophyhilll]

Tarps don’t suck on an elk hunt! Invariably it’s gonna rain! At least in September! It only takes seconds to pitch and I’ve stayed dry every year while waiting for the storm to pass! I agree I’m not using it to sleep in unless it’s an emergency! I would also agree if you don’t get a good pitch, it will suck!

[@CliffGray]

I’m with ya 👍 they for sure have their place

[@McCracken216]

Teepee and stove for a solo backpack hunter? Yes or no?

[@McCracken216]

Nevermind, watched the rest of the video. That Argali looks awesome and my wallet should be scared. I have a nice Hille Niak already so why did I have to watch this video? Thanks a lot Cliff.

[@CliffGray]

Bwhaha!

[@Rolzhey]

Why are the tents "sized" for like 2-3x more people than you really can fit

[@CliffGray]

No idea… kinda like sleeping bag temp ratings. I suppose at that temperature you won’t die and in a tent that size the people could technically fit in the tent 🤦‍♂️

[@Rolzhey]

@@CliffGray the real reason is for advertising but I feel like someone might have a lawsuit for the sleeping bag thing, ya know

[@jad2484]

Backcounty solo...who the hell is packing that wood stove?