Taken guns and hunting is cheating. Do it in a cold month and survive without taken guns. I think that would give you a better idea of what it's really like. Also, no fire before midnight after you create some sort of shelter. We did cold schools in Alaska, yes it was cold. Actually it was too cold. No food could be taken in as well. Ate junk off the beach, everything was salty and chewy. If ya take guns, you may as well take tents, heaters, and groceries.
Take Kleenex, you'll have a whiner!!!

I hear you man. One difference might be the availability for assistance at cold school where we might not have that luxury in the backwoods. My preference would be to take a weapon, but not to use for anything more than personal protection. As far as food, I could simply go without for a day or two. I'd rather try to catch something or gather a bit of grub. If neither worked out, I'd be happy to cook up some food and enjoy the company. I see the trip as more of a learning experience with like minded folks than a proof of concept/right of passage type deal.

I came into the Air Force to become a SERE instructor. Long story short, I ended up in communications but I never lost my love for the outdoors or survival.

We had one class that found a wounded deer and took it out... Long story short, they had to do a lot of explaining to fish and game once they caught wind of it. Out of season and no tag. They let them slide but, every other class was warned, haha