I think most hunters are like me in that they don't carry any provision for emergency shelter. Fire and a knife is all I've ever carried and have always come back alive, but believe me I've suffered for it a few times. -- This new trick which I think is pretty much a virgin idea out of my one mind, can make a big difference in comfort for most hunters and could very likely save ones life.
Just a 45 gallon yard and leaf garbage bag. To make it fit your pocket, lay it out on a table, fold it lengthwise till it's width is something that will fit you pocket, then carefully start rolling it tightly as possible from the bottom. A helper can keep the folds held down so they don't skew out as you roll. Secure the roll with a rubber band, and drop it in your hunting jacket pocket.
Next time a sudden storm comes in and you aren't dressed for it. or you are exausted but the weather is too rough for you to set down and rest a few minutes, or if you find yourself lost in the dark with no fire or stack of wood or shelter. Reach in your pocket, snap it open and slip it over your head. It will drape down well below the buttocks on me, and I'm 5ft 11 in and weigh 200 pounds. Instantly that much of your body is out of the wind rain and snow and you'll notice that you are breathing fairly warm air within seconds. If you are really cold and especially if you must make do for the night, set on something low, with a good pad of insulating material to keep your butt from chilling. If your bucking really cold weather, insulate under and over your feet too. Use evergreen boughs, leaves, grass or whatever to get these parts insulated and protected. The reason for setting on something low is so your knees will can be up inside the bag and protected from the elements also. But every bit as important as being able to protect most of your body from the elements is the fact that the tiny but fairly roomy bag will catch the heat that would normally be wasted from your body, and let it rise to your upper body. The bag is not an insulation. Just a fair heat trap and weather shield. But you'll be stunned at how effective it is if you try it.
If you're trying to shave up some tinder and kindling in a rain or snow storm, do it inside the bag, holding your pile in your lap till you have enough nice dry fuel to get a roaring blaze going quick.
If you are numb with cold, and espeically to the point that your thinking is foggy, the bag will get you back on track in a few minutes. If it's dark and you're dealing with a bit of fear. Strike up your trusty Bic lighter till it begins to get hot. The light and heat will cheer you a lot more than a weak campfire that the wind is blowing all the heat away from while you dance around and shiver!
If getting lost is really a concern or if you expect to spend the night out in your garbage bag hotel, carry a beeswax candle. They are available from novelty shops and most health food stores, and their real benefit is that they emit almost no smoke. You can hold it between your knees while making kindling, or in your hand while getting warmed up and keep it burning a lot longer than a butane lighter.
A few words of caution. (I've tested this out or I wouldn't be writing about it.) - Don't plan on laying down with the bag over your head and DON"T try to close it up at the bottom. You MUST have fresh air coming in constantly, and especially if you have a lighter or candle burning. Also, to be effective, your otherwise wasted body heat must rise up and be trapped in the bag, where you'll notice that breathing warm air will warm you as dramatically as panting cools a dog!
In cold weather butane lighters won't put out enough fire to do a good job of lighting a camp fire. To solve this problem, carry them in an inside shirt pocket where your coat insulates the warmest part of your body. Or to get a cold one warmed enough to send out a good blaze, clamp it under your arm against the bare skin, and put the hand you'll be using to light it under there too if your fingers are too numb to operate it.
I've been carrying butane lighters for about 30 years now, and have found that them to be the most dependale source of fire I have ever used. The adjustable flame ones tend to leak out in my pocket if they tangle with keys or other things. I guess that's the reason. Also, I've found Bic to put out the most spark of any currently available around here. If I don't have a flashlight, I often use just the spark to walk with when there is too little light to see where my feet are landing or see sticks coming at my eyes. When using them as a firefly, with just the sparks for light, I hold them pointed almost straight down with my arm swinging freely at my side, so I can't see the sparks, and so the sparks are closer to the ground. Experiment with it a bit and you'll know what I mean. I think I'd be safe saying I've walked at least 100 miles with only lighter sparks to see by. I strike it about every third step, and have always been able to see sticks before they slap me and holes and logs before I fall into or over them. (It will drive anyone nuts who is walking with you and trying to see with the same light.)
It would be a good idea for hunters to also carry an elctronic lighter in case of his spark lite on getting soaked. Electronic lighters can be pulled out of water after a week of soaking and light instantly. But you can't see with the spark they make.
Before you start to pull the bag over your head, always take a good look around. If you see lights from a cabin window or maybe a hotel off through the brush, you'll definately prefer either to the garbage sack! And you have my written guarantee on that!
While on this subject, I've been carrying the best and most dependable fire starter I've ever encountered for about 15 years. In my wallet at all times. Soak a kerosene lamp wick with melted beeswax, leaving just a little of one end almost dry. This end should be wetted with wax and wrung out between cotton cloth sqeezed hard till the wax on the wick begins to solidify. Then light it till it just begins to burn and snuff it out just as you see the wick material begin to turn brown. Beeswax is supple enough that it won't crack off when bent in a pocket or billfold, whereas parafine will make a fine lighter but must be protected from bending. These will put out a flame about 4 inches tall and an inch in diameter for about 15 minutes, which is hot and big enough to light up small damp twigs quite quickly. Split a small green twig lengthwise and wedge the wick into it when it gets short and you can burn the whole thing exactly under the spots in your pile of firewood which need some added heat. I won't be without one in my pocket at all times, as I live in the wilderness where I'm probably as likely to need fire because of a stalled auto as when hunting.
