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How do you keep critters out when tarp camping?
- Thread starter anewrnn
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What Size critters?
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If you do the tarp thing where I am in summer, you can potentially be sharing you bedding with snakes & funnell web spiders 
Winter is different as snakes are hibernating & the funnel webs tend to stay in their burrows (it's not mating season in winter
)
I'm interested in what others do to ensure a good nights sleep by oneself in the warmer months
Kind regards
Mick
Winter is different as snakes are hibernating & the funnel webs tend to stay in their burrows (it's not mating season in winter
)I'm interested in what others do to ensure a good nights sleep by oneself in the warmer months
Kind regards
Mick
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- Mar 22, 2006
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I usually don;t worry about it...but we are blessesd here in aour distinct lack of severely venomous creatures.. and the ones that are are very shy.
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- Nov 19, 2008
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I have never had a problem. I guess after a day or two on the trail, the body odor keeps most critters at bay
bkduckworth
Basic Member
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- Mar 6, 2008
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Same here. Once I did end up sharing a bag of GORP with a small rodent (I think), but that was my fault for not hanging ALL of my food.
Brandon
I always use a Bivi even with a Tarp shelter. In the winter it provides an additional +5 degree increase in warmth and reduction in wind. It helps mitigate any soaking from potential rain blowing inside the shelter and me rolling close to the edge.
In the summer I still use it but roll back the top and just use the bug screen and generally a very light bag, or military poncho liner for a blanket.
I'm not overly concerned about most of the bugs but it does help alot with the mo skeet toes!!!!!
In the summer I still use it but roll back the top and just use the bug screen and generally a very light bag, or military poncho liner for a blanket.
I'm not overly concerned about most of the bugs but it does help alot with the mo skeet toes!!!!!
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- Mar 8, 2007
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If you want to go with a tarp, use a bivvy sack with a built in bug net. Down here in FL, I used that combo *once*. If you open your bivvy sack (in my case Jungle Bag), the bugs are in. You really can't sit up and do things once you are swarmed, and I'm not talking about a few skeeters, but a cloud 
Bugs come with the territory and you have to deal with them. My plan is not to feed them as much.
I'm saving my coin for a TarpTent Moment (28 oz.). You might want to check one out...
Chris
Bugs come with the territory and you have to deal with them. My plan is not to feed them as much.I'm saving my coin for a TarpTent Moment (28 oz.). You might want to check one out...
Chris
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2006
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- 7,035
My big, mean-ass dog keeps them away and/or warns me.
If you do the tarp thing where I am in summer, you can potentially be sharing you bedding with snakes & funnell web spiders
Note to self - for future trip to Australia, must bring hammock.
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- Sep 22, 2003
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- 13,182
You don't keep them out.
I've had my hand go outside of a tarp tent and been woke up by something running over it a couple times.
My buddy was sleeping in a tent with the flaps open and got bit right on the big toe by a copperhead once!
I think you more or less use common sense and bring a full tent if you are camping around swamps and bugs, or rock outcroppings where a lot of snakes might be.
Like somebody said a bivy might be a good idea too in such instances.
However from what I've seen you combine a bivy and a tarp and you pretty much have as much weight as a lightweight tent with even more condensation.
I've had my hand go outside of a tarp tent and been woke up by something running over it a couple times.
My buddy was sleeping in a tent with the flaps open and got bit right on the big toe by a copperhead once!
I think you more or less use common sense and bring a full tent if you are camping around swamps and bugs, or rock outcroppings where a lot of snakes might be.
Like somebody said a bivy might be a good idea too in such instances.
However from what I've seen you combine a bivy and a tarp and you pretty much have as much weight as a lightweight tent with even more condensation.
For bugs, I'm going to try this under the tarp for mild weather:
http://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/88
http://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/88
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- Mar 1, 2009
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- 1,142
The biggest thing I worry about in my area (Northern KY) is racoons. Many years ago I had a run in with what I believe was a rabid coon. Damn thing wouldn't leave and even bit my boot when I tried to kick it and I had to smack it in the head with an 3D maglight. I've heard coyotes howling in the area of my camp many times, but never had them come into my camp. Since the coon incident I usually carry a pepper spray canister that's sort of a mini bear canister.
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- Nov 5, 2009
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I tend to hang my packs of desirables from branches off the ground, this also keeps it dry under the canopy. This works well in boar country. We have plenty of raccoon and fox, but they haven't been brave enough to dismount my pack, so far.
In Alaska, when I was young, we would go on extended hikes in bear country. Here, scent reigns. Wrapping your foods well and tight was a ritual when camping. As well as being mindful of not leaving remnants or dumping excess. I live by the same rule today, although I tend to get lazy when I know the area is limited in species.
As for bugs when out in the open, there are a variety of scented species; Eucalyptus, CA.Bay Laurel, Sage species, etc. that I utilize for placing among the bedding material to act as natural repellants. For me here, CA. Bay Laurel is the big one.
I also will pile up some of the scented leaves and occasionally throw a bit in the fire to act as a smudge throughout the evening if bug presence is high.
I've used this technique to fend off red ants (try urinating while almost tap-dancing in the dark!) that surprised me one dry Spring in the Ventana Wilderness.
Smudging is one of the oldest methods for natural insect repellant in your camp shelter and bedding.
Keeping a tiny pouch filled with odiferous herbs or oils can provide varied uses: repellant, cooking, tea, as well as smoke mix.
An excellent natural repellant is Rose Geranium oil (mixed with some other oil for skin application otherwise can irritate the skin) for ticks.
I have also utilized clay wiped around my calves when I was being ravaged by sand fleas along the coast in Central America....
A while back, when I hiked the Highlands of Scotland, I was severely bitten all over by 'midges' or no-see-ums, as well as horseflies, they call 'clegs'.
Plenty of sheep and sheep scat in the Highlands means plenty of horseflies. The locals swore by Skin-so-Soft moisturizer, but it did nothing for me. Deet or equivalents did nothing as I was hiking on average 12 mi. a day, sweating. I did not want to keep rubbing myself with all those chemicals if they did nothing for me.
Literally hundreds of bites later and days into my long trek after listening to local suggestions (as I usually like to try what works for the locals, but in this case, they were adapted to the bites and had no reaction to them), I resorted to Tee Tree Oil which I almost always carry a little vial of for its multitude of uses when I travel. But I had to ration it as I only had so much. This proved useful, as there was almost no plant diversity (planted rows of Pine, except for the wonderful shrubs growing on mountain faces at high altitudes) there for me to utilize, meaning little animal diversity: the occasional bird, sheep and insects.
Horseflies were unconcerned as they have a unique way of feeding, but I noticed a reduction in the number of midge bites.
Apart from Guatemala/Belize (two words: scrotum bite!) it was among my most severe cases, mostly due to exposure time.
Insects can break you down, mentally and physically, and are enough reason to learn local sources of repellants as well...
The key to remember is: there is no single cure-all. A variety of methods will prove the most useful, bedding smudge, fire smudge and natural oils or coatings on skin combined will be of more use if the scenario is severe enough than just one lotion...
Another thing to consider, is camp situation. Are you high and dry, or low and wet? I always consider this as my first step in insect reduction, esp. with mosquitoes. Stagnant air or pools and water are to be watched. I see many campers setting up right next to water sources and complain about cold air and bugs.
In Alaska, when I was young, we would go on extended hikes in bear country. Here, scent reigns. Wrapping your foods well and tight was a ritual when camping. As well as being mindful of not leaving remnants or dumping excess. I live by the same rule today, although I tend to get lazy when I know the area is limited in species.
As for bugs when out in the open, there are a variety of scented species; Eucalyptus, CA.Bay Laurel, Sage species, etc. that I utilize for placing among the bedding material to act as natural repellants. For me here, CA. Bay Laurel is the big one.
I also will pile up some of the scented leaves and occasionally throw a bit in the fire to act as a smudge throughout the evening if bug presence is high.
I've used this technique to fend off red ants (try urinating while almost tap-dancing in the dark!) that surprised me one dry Spring in the Ventana Wilderness.
Smudging is one of the oldest methods for natural insect repellant in your camp shelter and bedding.
Keeping a tiny pouch filled with odiferous herbs or oils can provide varied uses: repellant, cooking, tea, as well as smoke mix.
An excellent natural repellant is Rose Geranium oil (mixed with some other oil for skin application otherwise can irritate the skin) for ticks.
I have also utilized clay wiped around my calves when I was being ravaged by sand fleas along the coast in Central America....
A while back, when I hiked the Highlands of Scotland, I was severely bitten all over by 'midges' or no-see-ums, as well as horseflies, they call 'clegs'.
Plenty of sheep and sheep scat in the Highlands means plenty of horseflies. The locals swore by Skin-so-Soft moisturizer, but it did nothing for me. Deet or equivalents did nothing as I was hiking on average 12 mi. a day, sweating. I did not want to keep rubbing myself with all those chemicals if they did nothing for me.
Literally hundreds of bites later and days into my long trek after listening to local suggestions (as I usually like to try what works for the locals, but in this case, they were adapted to the bites and had no reaction to them), I resorted to Tee Tree Oil which I almost always carry a little vial of for its multitude of uses when I travel. But I had to ration it as I only had so much. This proved useful, as there was almost no plant diversity (planted rows of Pine, except for the wonderful shrubs growing on mountain faces at high altitudes) there for me to utilize, meaning little animal diversity: the occasional bird, sheep and insects.
Horseflies were unconcerned as they have a unique way of feeding, but I noticed a reduction in the number of midge bites.
Apart from Guatemala/Belize (two words: scrotum bite!) it was among my most severe cases, mostly due to exposure time.
Insects can break you down, mentally and physically, and are enough reason to learn local sources of repellants as well...
The key to remember is: there is no single cure-all. A variety of methods will prove the most useful, bedding smudge, fire smudge and natural oils or coatings on skin combined will be of more use if the scenario is severe enough than just one lotion...
Another thing to consider, is camp situation. Are you high and dry, or low and wet? I always consider this as my first step in insect reduction, esp. with mosquitoes. Stagnant air or pools and water are to be watched. I see many campers setting up right next to water sources and complain about cold air and bugs.
Last edited:
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- Jan 12, 2007
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A tip I read that may or may not be desirable for you is to have a small cook fire somewhere along the trail late afternoon/evening. Cook your dinner then pack it up and hike a few more miles before finding a site to eat and camp at. Keep all your food sealed up and put away before going to bed. This is a good technique in bear country from what I hear because it's mainly the cooking scents they're attracted to. I believe it's what Ray Jardine calls stealth camping. He also recommends your camp site be off the beaten path at a fresh site because bears can smell cooked food days after the site's been vacated. I've never tried it personally but wanted to throw it out there.
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If you do the tarp thing where I am in summer, you can potentially be sharing you bedding with snakes & funnell web spiders
Winter is different as snakes are hibernating & the funnel webs tend to stay in their burrows (it's not mating season in winter
I'm interested in what others do to ensure a good nights sleep by oneself in the warmer months
Kind regards
Mick
G'day Mick!
I have been watching some Les Hiddins, your countryman, and I see he sleeps under a tarp, but also use a mozzie net. How well do those work? As in, in practice, do they work pretty well? Much issue with things getting in? I know they are meant for the mozzies, but other than very determined mice and such, it seems to me that they would do the job.
I have been considering this the last few day. I need a tent, and what I want it pretty expensive. But, I have been considering going with a tarp situation, with netting inside (I hate the creepies).
Anyway, best of it to you,
Marion