Southwest bivy vs tent

[Zackw]

I’ve hunted the SW a few times (AZ, NM), and am trying to decide if I want to stick with my current setup or go with a lightweight bivy for future hunts. I’m currently using a lightweight 2-person tent, which weighs a little over 2 lbs., but a bivy (borah, katabatic, etc) only weighs 6-8oz. I have no problem sleeping outside, but my concern is the creepy-crawly stuff like snakes and spiders. Not sure if the concern is warranted or not. Anyone have any insight?

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Depending where in NM or AZ it could work. In lots of places it doesn’t make much sense.

For me, I would not use a bivy. Don’t see that much upside to sleeping in a coffin-like structure.

While it is unlikely that a rattlesnake can bite through the bivy and your bag, why risk it. Not a good setup if and when a bear or mountain lion walks up to check you out in the middle of the night. Would be a blast to be in when a group of smugglers (human or drugs) walks through camp at night; unpleasant enough in a large group setting in full-sized tents. Have had enough elk take out tent lines to know that there’s a chance of getting stepped on when in a bivy. Lastly not a fan of the setup when a skunk comes and says hello.

A few ounces saved isn’t always worth it. It is especially true when it doesn’t make sense as you have to do a traditional camp anyways due to water limitations (I’m not planning a hunt around filtering water from feces-filled stock tanks) and/or high heat in many places (higher chance of meat and/or hide spoiling plus higher use of water).

 

[Stave]

I did a javelina/coues hunt in January. No concern about snakes or scorpions at night that time of year. Forecast was 0 chance of rain. So we opted to leave the tent behind. We had no problems.

However, bears are a real concern when sleeping in Arizona mountains. We saw plenty of bear sign (scat everywhere and a den high up a mountain at the top of a rockslide). After we killed two javelina and cooked them in camp we moved out of that country and into a whole new section. I've thought about rigging an electric bear fence. I would sleep easier and it could also be used to guard a carcass. I don't think a tent offers any protection whatsoever from a bear that can smell and hear you sleeping on the other side of 1mm nylon.

 

[Stave]

I agree with AZ hunter. Bivies make me claustrophobic. Roomy tent or nothing please

Experienced AZ hunters, what months of the year is a tent or cot necessary to keep the scorpions at bay?