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If you have a rifle, the easiest way to employ it is to firmly hold the fore end in your left hand, extend your left arm fully, with the rifle at a 90 degree angle to the arm and with the muzzle pointing skyward. Then with a simple twist of the left wrist, you can bring the butt of the rifle to your right shoulder and the trigger to your waiting right hand (much easier to do than explain).
You will find that the liner has no hole or hood for your head, like the rainproof shell does. I have seen people in the field cut holes in them, but that is a real waste, and in little time the hole will fray and the batting will pull out leaving you with a worthless rag.
The best way to wear the liner in cold wet weather is to hold it long ways with a corner in each hand and flip it over your head so that it lays on your back like a cape. Pull the corners in your hands down over your shoulders until they extend below your wrist in the front. Secure the liner around your waist with a belt or piece of line, and then put on the poncho as usual.
During cold weather, you will find the poncho and liner quite warm, and that it breaks the wind very effectively. Remember, a blanket worn poncho style kept many all Indian brave warm well before the use of down and synthetic insulation.
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You can also use the poncho and liner as an improvised sleeping bag. Lay the poncho flat on the ground and spread the liner out on top of it. Tie all of the liner's fasteners to the corresponding grommets in the poncho. Then fold the poncho in half with the liner inside and snap the snaps along the bottom and long edge of the poncho, and also tie the liners fasteners together. Don't forget to leave the top open so you can get inside. Do not attempt to tape or seal the open seams along the side of the poncho. The reason for this is that the poncho is waterproof and if adequate ventilation is not provided, you will wake up to a very wet sleeping bag due to condensation of body moisture. This makes a very comfortable sleeping bag and will keep you warm down to about 40 degrees F.
To pitch the tent, cut two poles about four feet long, and drive them about a foot into the ground about six and a half feel apart. Drive a stake about three feet in front of and in line with the front upright. Tie one end of a line 15 feet long or more to the stake, tie it to the first upright with a couple of half hitches, tie it to the second upright, and then tie the
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free end 10 another stake at least three feet behind the last upright. Throw the snapped-together ponchos over the frame and stake down the edges. Use your liners as blankets or sleeping bags and sleep in sheltered comfort.
You could also string the ridge line between two trees or other objects, and weight the sides down rather than use stakes if there were none available.
The poncho can be used as a tarp, equipment cover, solar still, sun shade, stretcher, and even for an equipment or personnel raft.
To use it as a raft for keeping equipment dry when crossing deep water, you should lay the poncho out flat, and stack cut brush and branches on one side of it. Then fold the poncho over the branches and snap all the snaps together with their corresponding snaps and lace a line through all the grommets. If you use care in distributing your load this type of raft will keep 10 to 35 pounds of gear well above the water.
As you can see, the poncho and liner are some of your most useful and valuable field equipment. Take care of it and it will take care of you. It’s small, lightweight, and fits easily into the trunk of a car or behind the seat of a truck .•
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