Fire starting {hunting in the cold}???
- Thread starter msinc
- Start date
Good question, I have been out and about more than once. Seed your equipment with butane lighters is a good plan. Buy whatever blanket and shelter tools you feel you need on a outing. Saw and knife can do a lot If you need shelter. Don’t wait until dark to make a decision is important if you have enough skills to build a shelter and fire. If not then you need light, several led can get you along. Attitude is everything, be tough when it’s tough. Everything you need is at your disposal, just know how to use it. A pine limb bed is warm and cozy... stay dry if you can. Grab fire materials as you walk if you think you need them, dry grass helps, twist in a knot and save.
Last edited:
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
Yes. I have started fires behind large rock outcroppings to wait out bad snowy weather in the high country. Always carry lighters. Bit of paper and a couple pieces of charcoal soaked with lighter fluid in a zip lock bag work well for a starter if things are wet. But I will usually just use tree moss and small twigs to get a fire going.
Space blankets dont work very well. Tried using one in a snow storm when i was on top of a mountain and they dont do much for keeping you warm. A fire and is your best bet and good lightweight packable rain gear will keep you dry, break the wind, and hold a lot of body heat in when you need it. Always use a good layering system of clothing as well with extra wool socks, face mask, beanie cap, and a good down or fleece jacket in your pack.
Space blankets dont work very well. Tried using one in a snow storm when i was on top of a mountain and they dont do much for keeping you warm. A fire and is your best bet and good lightweight packable rain gear will keep you dry, break the wind, and hold a lot of body heat in when you need it. Always use a good layering system of clothing as well with extra wool socks, face mask, beanie cap, and a good down or fleece jacket in your pack.
Doug Beach
Silver $$ Contributor
Carry a road flare. It’s a giant, hot match. It can light wet wood, burns in the rain, works as a light, or a signal.
Too big? Cut it in half.
Too big? Cut it in half.
Big plastic garbage bag. Cut holes for head and arms. Instant rain gear, keeps out wind, weighs nothing, near zero storage space.
Same for 1 piece tyvek suit.
Same for 1 piece tyvek suit.
Excellent tips and info fellas!!! Thanks!! About a month ago I was too busy when everyone wanted to start a fire on our little pit. My 13 year old son decided "no problem"....two gallons of gas and several big wet logs later they still didn't have a fire. As soon as I had time he got a lesson in building and starting a fire. I showed him some different starters I had and he choose the magnesium block....we did one together and then he had to do one the next day on his own. If successful he won a survival knife. It was a fun lesson for both of us: 
I guess you really don't need to be in the backwoods to get into a survival situation...few years ago a friend went to his spot to bow hunt. Only he decided to change locations after telling his wife one place. Well after dark she got worried and called several of us. Only we were all looking on the wrong farm. When it was clear he wasn't there, which was several wasted hours later we went looking at his other hunting spot.
We finally found him about 1:00am. He fell backwards while almost in his treestand. He hit a cedar stump right in the middle of his back and lost the use of his legs instantly. He was hypothermic when we found him and almost died from that. Initially, it was believed he would be paralyzed permanently, but after about a year he regained some use of his legs. He cant walk right but he can get around...his hunting days are over though.
We finally found him about 1:00am. He fell backwards while almost in his treestand. He hit a cedar stump right in the middle of his back and lost the use of his legs instantly. He was hypothermic when we found him and almost died from that. Initially, it was believed he would be paralyzed permanently, but after about a year he regained some use of his legs. He cant walk right but he can get around...his hunting days are over though.
bluealtered
Silver $$ Contributor
I'm still old school for now and each and everyone of my coats/jackets has a starter pack in one of the pockets of it. It's simply slivers of pitch wood from a pitch stump or dry saw dust mixed with plain old wax into little cakes. i have both match's and bic lighters rolled together in a water proof bag, this will fit into a small pocket.
The quickest way i know to start a fire here is to simply get some deer candy , (moss) off of one of the pines here and it's instant fire, no huffing and puffing.
It has worked without fail for 50+ years now. When i was still overnight snowmobile riding/camping, I would always have at least three or more road flares in the sled for fire starter as well. I have found that very few things won't start fire if you use a flare. Putting one under the bark of a dead tree will keep you warm all night in deep snow and below zero temps. Be careful of course, make sure you have enough room around you to do so safely.
The quickest way i know to start a fire here is to simply get some deer candy , (moss) off of one of the pines here and it's instant fire, no huffing and puffing.
It has worked without fail for 50+ years now. When i was still overnight snowmobile riding/camping, I would always have at least three or more road flares in the sled for fire starter as well. I have found that very few things won't start fire if you use a flare. Putting one under the bark of a dead tree will keep you warm all night in deep snow and below zero temps. Be careful of course, make sure you have enough room around you to do so safely.
I turned over a canoe at -10F a long way from the road. A match safe saved my life. Most things you have with you will get you through, bandana, drag rope, shoe laces, knife etc. Your regular hunting gear can make tourniquets, pressure bandages or splints. A match safe is in every one of my different packs, BIC type lighters are handy but they don't work wet, keep it in a zip lock bag and don't try to use it with wet hands. Saw and axe while handy are heavy, if you have to spend the night find a downed dead tree to stay near, it can be the base for a shelter and you can break small branches and big ones placed across the fire will burn in two then you have two pieces to put on the fire.
I may be wrong but my take. The more you plan for something to go wrong, the more you will put yourself into a position to use it.
I may be wrong but my take. The more you plan for something to go wrong, the more you will put yourself into a position to use it.
Bic type lighters are useless when wet. By all means carry one with you, along with lifeboat matches and a ferrocerium firesteel type fire maker, as shown in another post, some are attached to a magnesium block.
It's important to educate yourself on what materials you need to gather to make a fire, and locate these materials in other than optimum conditions.
It's important to educate yourself on what materials you need to gather to make a fire, and locate these materials in other than optimum conditions.
Were you not somewhat afraid that all those close dead leaves and debris would also catch fire and cause a major issue ?
Just looks to me you should have cleared some debris from around the fire area, at least several feet around it.
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
Cotton balls saturated with petroleum jelly, stored in 35mm film container. A lighter and magnesium starter. 2 industrial large plastic bags. A couple trail bars and water. Always carry these when mountain hunting, besides my pack with rain gear,meat bags,elbow length plastic gloves,knives,charging battery for gps and phone,actual map of area,saw blade,half roll duct tape,para cord. Sleeping bag if it's nice weather and I plan to stay over night away from camp, I start preparing for over night early in afternoon. Usually sleep at or very near a good morning shooting position. As I get older I seem to need more stuff and less likely to sleep on the ground by choice.
every day i stop to make coffee no matter the weather. it is a great pick me up when way out. a fuel bar such as trioxane will do the job every time rain or snow.
cotton balls have let me down in alaska.
they are not hot enough when it has rained for a week. half a trioxane bar lit the fire.
i had to buy new ones when i got there because the tsa will confiscate your fuel bars if they find them.
cotton balls have let me down in alaska.
they are not hot enough when it has rained for a week. half a trioxane bar lit the fire.
i had to buy new ones when i got there because the tsa will confiscate your fuel bars if they find them.
Fire starter
I have always carried 3 types. lighter(s), water proof matches and ferrous rod. I have only ever used two. i have never needed to break out the ferrous rod.
cotton balls dipped in vasoline, stored in tinfoil.
When i am in remote Northern Ontario I bring road flares (like others have said) in -40 they burn and require little dexterity. (so i hear
)
I carry a space blanket but the more robust version, something like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075CMN835/?tag=accuratescom-20
Food and drink. Tea or hot chocolate and what ever food you like to carry. Water for me is never a concern but drinkable water is so i do carry a stainless steel water bottle (non-insulated) and cup so i am able to boil water. looking at drink straws but have not bought one.
i do carry an alcohol stove but that is a preference; simple. others really prefer a canister stove like a jetboil or MSR reactor stove
the one new item i carry even for comfortable weather is a hooded down jacket. stuffs small and is warm even in t shirt weather. It is amazing how a lost night is far more manageable when you are warm and not shivering while counting down the hours until day light.
Cheers
Trevor
I have always carried 3 types. lighter(s), water proof matches and ferrous rod. I have only ever used two. i have never needed to break out the ferrous rod.
cotton balls dipped in vasoline, stored in tinfoil.
When i am in remote Northern Ontario I bring road flares (like others have said) in -40 they burn and require little dexterity. (so i hear
)I carry a space blanket but the more robust version, something like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075CMN835/?tag=accuratescom-20
Food and drink. Tea or hot chocolate and what ever food you like to carry. Water for me is never a concern but drinkable water is so i do carry a stainless steel water bottle (non-insulated) and cup so i am able to boil water. looking at drink straws but have not bought one.
i do carry an alcohol stove but that is a preference; simple. others really prefer a canister stove like a jetboil or MSR reactor stove
the one new item i carry even for comfortable weather is a hooded down jacket. stuffs small and is warm even in t shirt weather. It is amazing how a lost night is far more manageable when you are warm and not shivering while counting down the hours until day light.
Cheers
Trevor
I always take a bow saw about 18" blade with me camping. You cannot believe how much wood you can cut up with it. 2-3" diameter dead wood easy. You will never gather enough fire wood with an axe or hatchet. Especially larger diameter wood that will burn for a long time. If there are birch trees around gather the dead bark as you walk around. A small can of lighter fluid helps.
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
I always have some kinda fire starter with me when I hunt.. And I always have one or two butane lighters in my pocket, all the time..
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.