Call me crazy but winter is for camping! No bugs, no humidity. It’s the best season for outdoors for a lot of other reasons too. For one, it’s small game season and nearing the end of rifle season so the woods are pretty much all yours if you like to hunt squirrel and rabbit.
There are still competitors in these woods though. I found evidence of bobcat and black bear right outside camp and all throughout where I hunted in the area. Squirrels that have to avoid predators like bobcats are wily and harder to find just crunching along through the leaves oblivious to you drawing a bead on them.
Doing my best to be quiet in the 4” deep dry leaves I used a ridgeline to move to an area behind where I knew squirrel were ranging around a large half-toppled hickory tree. Sure enough I found two and chose the one nearer and moving on the ground in front of me. I had him square in the hairs several times but I’m too new to this rifle to even get close (evidently) as I missed every shot of 6. The squirrel scolded and mocked me from the hickory in full view as I slunk away in shame to grab my .410.
Upon my return the squirrel and his buddy were nowhere to be seen but I could still hear them scolding me from far above. I explored the area a little more and saw a deep cut in the ridge under where we were camped. Deep in this cut turned out to be a nice rock overhang going a decent ways back into the rock. There was a small pool there where fresh bobcat and black bear tracks were clear in the mud.
I learned a few things and was reminded of a few others as I tried to cook and sleep outdoors in this cold. Some fuel types aren’t up to the task and I’m moving to a propane cooking platform using the larger tanks. The tanks are versatile and long-lasting and can handle the cold. Sleeping in the truck bed was comfortable if not the most comfortable sleep I’ve had so I’m also moving to a truck-based sleeping system using the EcoFlow battery and Ignik electric blanket and Stoic mattress. A Rumpl comforter and Rumpl pillow fill in the gaps and make for a perfect night’s sleep. I’ll still bring the 11’ hammock and underquilt but I’m done setting up a tent.