Because getting snowbound in the backcountry is about as fun as tag soup
Winter Wisdom from the Dank Bulls
After our latest adventure getting buried in what we swear was “just a light dusting,” the Dank Bulls crew has learned a thing or two about winter truck preparation. We’re not talking about fancy remote starters or heated seats that cost more than your rifle. We’re talking about the real, snow-and-ice essentials that might just save your late season hunt – and maybe your truck.
The Cold Weather Trinity
First up, let’s talk about the three most important items when Old Man Winter decides to crash your hunt. A quality 4-ton come-along, two solid 20-foot tow ropes, and a reliable cold-weather jump box. Why these specifically? Because when you’re 20 miles from the nearest plowed road, it’s 10 degrees outside, and that “packed snow” turned out to be a four-foot drift, these three items become worth their weight in gold.
The come-along is your personal winch without the $1,000 price tag. Look for a 4-ton model with a long handle – you’ll thank us when you’re using a tree as an anchor point to pull yourself out of a snowbank. We found a solid one at Amazon for under $55. Does it look pretty? Nope. Does it work when your hands are numb and you’re wondering why you didn’t take up ice fishing instead? You bet your elk tag it does.
For tow ropes, winter is even less forgiving than other seasons. Get two good 20-foot ropes rated for at least 30,000 pounds. Having two means you can double your reach when needed, and trust us, that buried front end might be further from solid ground than you think. Plus, ropes get stiff and brutal to handle in the cold, so having a backup means you’re not completely out of luck when one turns into a frozen pretzel.
Power in the Cold
That jump box needs special attention for winter hunting. Make it a lithium-based unit rated for at least 800 peak amps and rated for cold weather starting. After a week of sub-zero nights and running your hunting gear off the truck battery, you’ll be glad you spent the extra $20 for quality. Modern jump boxes come with USB ports for charging your phone or running your Meshtastic device, which, by the way, is a game-changer for winter hunting communication when everyone’s spread out looking for tracks.
The “Don’t Become a Popsicle” Kit
Now for the winter-specific gear. You need a real snow shovel – not one of those cute folding ones, but a proper snow shovel with a strong handle. A chainsaw or good hand saw for clearing fallen trees (which love to come down under snow weight), tire chains (actual chains, not those cable things), a tire plug kit, and a 12V air compressor. Add in some real recovery boards (the cheap plastic cutting boards get brittle in extreme cold), and you’re starting to look like someone who’s had to dig out before.
For winter emergency supplies, this gets serious. Pack a heavy-duty sleeping bag rated for below zero, extra warm clothes including spare gloves and socks (because wet gear in winter can turn deadly), a first aid kit, calorie-dense emergency food, a way to make fire, and at least two gallons of water in containers that won’t crack when frozen. Getting stuck in winter isn’t just inconvenient – it can be dangerous.
The Winter Budget Breakdown
Here’s the cold hard truth about costs. You can put together this entire winter setup for under $500 if you shop smart. That might sound like a lot for “just in case” gear, but it’s a lot cheaper than becoming another winter rescue statistic.
Total Winter Budget Breakdown: 4-ton come-along: $55 Two cold-rated tow ropes: $80 Cold-weather jump box: $90 Snow shovel: $35 Basic tool set: $50 Recovery boards: $40 Air compressor: $30 Tire chains: $70 Winter emergency supplies: $50
Real Talk from the Frozen Trail
Look, we know it’s tempting to skip some of this gear to save money for that new scope or fancy boots. But trust us – and our embarrassingly extensive collection of “that time we got stuck in a blizzard” stories – this is the kind of insurance you’ll be glad you have. Plus, being the person who can help other hunters get unstuck in winter weather is a great way to build some serious karma in the hunting community.
Remember, we’re not trying to win any style points here. We’re just trying to make sure you make it back to tell your hunting stories, even if those stories end up being about how you had to winch your truck out of a snowbank using nothing but a come-along and your extensive vocabulary of creative phrases that would make your mother blush.
Final Frozen Thoughts
At the end of the day, this winter setup isn’t about having the fanciest gear or the most expensive recovery equipment. It’s about having what you need when Mother Nature decides to remind you who’s boss. And hey, if you never need any of this gear, consider yourself blessed by the snow gods. But if you do need it, you’ll be glad you didn’t spend that money on another set of elk calls you probably don’t need.
Stay tuned for more cold-weather hunting tips from the Dank Bulls crew. We freeze our tails off so you don’t have to!
