As far as sleeping is concerned...I have heard and read conflicting info on this subject. I have heard that it is best to be as close to the ground as possible so wind won't get under you making you colder. But if you are on the ground then you have to deal with bugs and moisture. So which is better? On or off the ground.

Being wet will increase the odds of heat loss, and hypothermia. Ideally, you should sleep on a "bed" of leaves, grass, or anything else that is soft and has insulation properties. I wouldn't worry about bugs if it is cold out- the bugs won't be out past under 40 or so anyways. If it's warmer than 40, wind shouldn't be an issue either.

That being said, most bugs hate smoke and fire, so a bed of warm rocks warmed by a nearby fire will both warm you up and also repel insects.

I would suggest, on the ground with some warm blankets. Remember you don't have the problem of bugs if you use the repellents. And the problem of moisture and humidity can be overcome by the blanket.

What if the ground is already wet?

If the ground is already wet, chances are you are already wet. Make a fire, dry yourself out and some of the surrounding area if the fire is hot enough....
If done properly, you can make a human sized fire on the ground you plan to sleep on. This best done early before bedding down. That way the ground has time to cool enough to lay on without burning yourself. Always lay on something other than the ground. The ground will take all your body heat away. This can be deadly on a cold night.

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What I try to do is take some sticks and small limbs to make a low platform and cover it with leaves and pine boughs. This creates a small air space that keeps the cold and dampness of the ground away from your body. You can also heat up some small rocks with your fire and place them around your platform, which warms the airspace underneath.

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Never heat river rocks, or sandstone, though. They tend to explode when steam trapped inside of the rock reaches a critical point!

Out here, bugs aren't much of a concern (Montana). We have creepy critters, but they don't really do much damage. I could understand the need to be a bit off the ground down in Texas though.

Aren't bugs and critters "afraid" of fire, or smoke? If so, a nice fire would keep you warm, and drive off the things that go bump in the night.

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