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I bought a 12x12 Alaknak this year and was trying to decide the best way to heat it. I know a small woodstove would be the ultimate, but has anybody used the Big Buddy propane heater made Mr Heater? I think for out of state hunts, where bringing your own firewood is usually against the law now, it would be more practical. Any thoughts?
-------------------- Schafer Silvertip 66#-"In memory", Green Mountain Longbow 60#, Hill Country Harvest Master TD 59#
"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible." - Doug Lawson. Posts: 1258 | From: Essex Junction, Vermont | Registered: Jan 2005
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What a shame, also would like to remind everyone to wear that safety harness. I work shows for Summit stands and hear the tragic stories all the time.
Posts: 222 | From: Indiana | Registered: Nov 2008
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I like the wood heat above the propane. One byproduct of propane burning is moisture. Wood is much dryer. We usually cut wood where we go or buy it locally.
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I've tent camped in the late season quite a few times in a tent. We used a coleman propane heater. Getting ouf of the sleeping bag is always the hard part. The heater kept the chill of. I'm in Missouri so you might have worse conditions. The worst weather I ever did it had -50 wind chill.
-------------------- PBS regular UBM life member Compton Posts: 1012 | From: Imperial, MO | Registered: Jul 2005
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I've used a Mr Heater in large tents when its not too cold, 20F+, just to take the chill off before turning in, and warming things up before I crawled out of the sack. Also, have used the store-bought burn logs or small pieces of them in a wood stove in tents when well above tree-line and wood isn't available, and that works well also. I prefer the wood stove.
-------------------- "Have I not commanded you ? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 Posts: 645 | From: Alaska | Registered: Dec 2007
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I am not a fan of propane heat as Wingnut noted, propane heat is very "wet".
Doesn't do a good job of drying wet clothes...wool immediately comes to mind.
It ok to use in the morning when you first get up but thats the best I can say for it.
If its raining and you have propane heat its a bit of a sauna in your tent.
Out "West" most all of us carry chainsaws, you never know when you will have to remove a fallen tree from the road. So gathering firewood is just part of the hunting experience.
Bob
-------------------- Beware of all enterprises that require a new suit.
Don't give up what you want most for what you want now. Posts: 481 | From: Bend, Oregon | Registered: Mar 2003
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In the Corps in cold weather I used a charcoal stick hand heater and threw it in the sleeping bag and that made the bag warm and comfi. We had to ruff-it without any heaters.With propane is there a ventilation issue with the fumes?
-------------------- Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don’t have that problem. —President Ronald Reagan Posts: 7953 | From: NJ to GA back to NJ =Lost ;) | Registered: Sep 2009
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Used to hunt the late (Dec) season in Idaho and at those temps, the propane would have just made the inside like an icecube. Go with wood. You can always buy some in most areas. If useing forest service roads a lot, the chainsaw advice is right on.
Posts: 747 | From: Wasilla, Alaska | Registered: Jan 2008
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I have started taking an old wool rug I can fold it under me and still have a flap left to pull over my sleeping bag. if its really cold I also throw on another wool blanket and wear an old down hood that used to snap on to some long lost coat. I use a small propane heater just to take the edge off the cold in the morning and evening. I wedge the heater in an old metal milk crate so it cannot tip over. If you have the room to haul it I would voted for a wood stove. I have seen them pretty cheap in Northern Tool catalog. The wool rug makes a huge difference in comfort.
Posts: 95 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Nov 2009
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Use a good sleeping bag and put your clothes in it or under it. Come morning I grab the clothes and put them on prior to exiting the bag. Done that in -0 temps in the high country for 2 months every year (work there). No need for heat. If you must have heat go with wood
Posts: 219 | From: maryland | Registered: Feb 2005
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I have used mr heater and was not impressed the inside of the tent had ice hanging down from the ceiling and it does not heat the air in the tent it only heats what it radiates off of.Wood is great but if you don't have it can be a pain to harvest.We recently bought a military diesel/unleaded/jet fuel heater.We used it with diesel and it worked slick warm and dry and if hooked up properly no fumes but you must have adequate ventilation.Nice dry heat.We are very reluctant to try unleaded Bill
-------------------- The days spent hunting cannot be deducted from the span of your life's time. Posts: 171 | From: Crescent City CA. | Registered: Jun 2009
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I have a Kifaru Tee Pee with wood stove, I bought it as a survival tool when elk hunting. I have a four man and it weighs less than 10 lbs with the stove. In 15 degree weather, it will raise the temp inside the teepee to 70 degrees. It will run you out of there. The only draw back is they are expensive but caught by a winter storm, it can save ya from freezing. oh I recommend the vapor barrier and the teepee will not sweat.
-------------------- Speed does not Kill, Silence Kills! Posts: 680 | From: Ashe County, NC | Registered: Dec 2004
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Yep you don't go anywhere in the mountains out west with out a chainsaw and an axe. I've cut my way out after many a snow storm. It's nice with wood though, heck warms at least twice if not three times.
Cutting, splitting and burning.
In Alaska we hunt out of John Havards Kafiru TeePee with a titanium wood stove he had built for it. Going to have to carry wood a ways but it will be worth it to have dry clothes everyday.
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Bill
