Pine needle bed for survival in hunting?

My father never took me hunting so I don't know what works and what doesn't. I am trying to get my hunting survival kit down to manageble size. Everyone rolls their eyes when I mention I carry a tent and sleeping bag. I am told to carry a tarp and five heavy duty extra large garbage bags. Where I would hunt is all pine tree forest with a lot of pine needles on the forest floor. I am told to pack the garbage bags with pine needles, and sleep under them. Does this actually work, or will I die of hypothermia?

Pine needle bed for survival in hunting?
carry 'space blankets' but more importantly carry multiple effective ways to start a fire.





Carry waterproof matches, a lighter, and one of those magnesium sticks (or a road flare!). In addition, get a small container (like a film canister) and get some cotton balls, dip them in vassiline and put them in the container. They light really easy. A travel pack of kleenex is good for many things, TP and fire are two.





PRACTICE MAKING A FIRE IN THE WIND.





Next, get a whistle and a very small mirror for signaling, and a GPS unit, then go learn how to use it so you don't get lost.





add some food to the pack. Drink tainted water to your heart's content if you are lost. Stay hydrated. Worry about the illnesses you might catch later when you will be back in civilizaiton and have plenty of medical care. (although boiling it if possible would be good, and for that purpose a metal canteen is useful)





Yes, pine needles and or leaves make decent insulation. no need for the garbage bags, just make a big pile of them and crawl in and cover yourself as best you can. Shove them between your shirt and jacket to ehance insulation.





Don't go overboard on your suvival kit. Fire making = 1lb max, space blanket, whistle, mirror, = 0.5 lb max, food 2 lbs max.





Don't put all your fire sources or survival gear in one spot. Hang whistle around neck with matches. Stick one space blanket, lighter, and kleenex in jeans pocket. Put food, another space blanket, tinder, firestarter, mirror, in fanny pack or something.





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Reply:It may work but will not be all that comfortable. What you need is two blankets. Army surplus wool blankets are as good as it gets. To make a pine bough bed, cut fresh pine boughs and pile them up to form a bed. Lay one blanket on the pine boughs and use the other to cover with. When in transport, the blankets can be rolled together and tied across your shoulders with a length of rope. For an emergency shelter, carry a piece of Visqueen (polyethylene sheet such as a painter's drop cloth. It comes folded up into a neat bundle and will open out into a pretty big piece of plastic sheet. Carry some binding twine to use to make your plastic sheeting into a tent-like shelter. Just run some string from one tree to another and drape the plastic sheet over it to make a quick tent. Pull the sides out to give you room to make your pine bough bed inside the tent. Put rocks, logs or what ever you have to hold the edges of the sheet out. Do not sleep directly on the plastic nor cover with it because it is impermiable and will allow the moisture from your body to condense and make you wet and miserable. I don't like Space Blankets for this reason. I tried sleeping with one over my blankets one time and it made my blankets wet. Wool blankets will give you the best warmth for the weight even if they get wet in a rain.





If weight becomes an issue,as it usually does, you can get by with only one blanket but you will have to put some pine boughs on top of your blanket to help keep you warm if it is very cold out.
Reply:actuslly, don't pack them in the bags. Heap up the pine needles as thick as possible, 3" is not too much. Then burrow down into them and the loft (airspaces in between the needels) will act as insulation. The needles would just tear thru the trash bags. A better way is to build up at least a foot of pine needles. Then lay out a space blanket. Now lay ontoehr one on top if that. Then pile another 2" or so of pine needles on top of that and slide in between the two space blankets. If you have a tarp, rig a shelter, place pine needles in the back to sleep on, build a reflector in fron of the shelter, start a fire and stay snug and warm. There are lot's of options. I encourage you to get some books on survival and read them to see what does and does not work.
Reply:Well


You have been given very good suggestions. Just wondering? What type of weather do you encounter during your hunting season? Makes a difference. Rain vs snow and ice-sleet.





I’m going to suggest you put your kit together way before hunting season. Start doing some hiking and backpacking. With overnights planned in terrain that somewhat mirrors your hunting areas. Learn what works best for your locale. Especially during less than ideal weather.





I do a lot of hunting-also backpacking-camping in wilderness areas. Staying out for up to two weeks.





Don’t consider myself an expert on the subject. Experience has taught me to keep it simple.





A good yet inexpensive tarp will make a very good lean to shelter. Another on the ground to keep you dry. Orange-red is good. Easy for others to spot you should the need arise. They are lightweight.





Since your concerned about survival-again keep it simple. Concentrate on the basics


Shelter 1st. Water 2nd. Food 3d.





Your overnight trips will soon teach you what works best for you in your locale. Then equip accordingly.