It's that time of year again.The weather will be brutal from time to time and many of us still have tags to fill.This thread is for tips on hunting in genral in cold weather,hunting tactics,staying warm,surviving etc.
Practice shooting with your cold weather gear.
Don't get hot and sweaty going to your stand. Try and put the bulk of your clothe on while your in your stand, if you can.
Gilbert
Don't bend your knees too much while sitting.
Wear wool socks.
Disposable hand and foot warmers give you extra time.
Keep your hands in mittens/choppers with the warmer inside. Make sure you can slip your string hand out easily.
Learn to endure a certain amount of discomfort and know when to quit.
For me in December with temperatures around 10 deg F or less with winds in the 9-20 mph range I can sit for 2 hours at the most. I'm comfortable for the first 1-1.5 hours then its a test of will how much I want to be out there.
flex your muscles while on stand helps to keep them relaxed and ready.
amicus nailed my first two concerns.
Chemical hot packs for feet and hands. Now is the time to get them in many areas on sale after gun season has passed. I know they are not very trad, but I like warm fingers and toes.
I have found that an under armour hood really helps wick sweat away if I get a little warm walking in and really helps keep my neck and head warm without lot of bulk from a scarf or thick hood. I just use a warm cap with it.
Hunt good shelter areas. The critters will be looking for that so I do also.
My personal best thing to do to fight cold weather hunting is to shoot straight and hunt hard in warm weather. Then when it is snowing out and cold I can run the smoker all day like I am doing today making jerky, pepperoni sticks, and summer sausage. The first tracking snow of the year is here and will have me out and about tomorrow though I am sure. The deer need a day to leave some tracks.
Practice shooting in the cold. I got outside in the backyard and sit in the cold. When I'm good and chilled I will shoot at my target. Its amazing how hard it is to concentrate when your cold and shivering. The bow feels like it gained 10#'s of draw weight......Roy
Take an old pair of hunting socks and tie an overhand knot at the heel. Cut the toe part off and discard. When you get on stand pull the leg part up on your boots as far as you can. You can even put a hand warmer on top of your boot under the sock. It really does work, looks kind of goofy but cheap and light to carry too.
All of the above and:
1) Eat properly to provide heating energy
2) Best hat you can afford with as most coverage as you can shoot with
3)Vests are great for layering and do not bulk up arms
4) Use a bow hook. Allows you to keep hands in warm spot and arms close in to body
5) Carry in crazy insulated pac boots if needed because you cannot walk in them
6) Cut the wind with rain gear if necessary as it will steal warmth quickly
You think it gets brutal in Arkansas? :rolleyes:
Come north wimpy boy, we'll show you brutal! :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
One piece of gear I wouldn't be without when it gets cold is a neck gaitor or a scarf. Really helps to seal the warmth inside my clothing where it belongs.
Weather today in Minnesota: 22 degrees.
20MPH NW Wind :campfire:
Solution: "Trad Gang Surfing"...
:coffee: :biglaugh:
VODKA
Whip, it's all relative. If I had to start my bowhunting in 80-90 deg days and end in 20 deg days I'm sure I'd think it's brutal.
We start our season in 75 deg F days and can end in -20 deg F (but our bow season is around 4 months long).
CROWN ROYAL
Whip,
Us boys from arkansas are tuff.I hunt in my swim trunks just in case I have to swim the river. :cool: Our weather gets really cold in northern arkansas usually about January.If it doesnt get above freezin durnig the day and teens or below at night with a cold north wind It's cold in my book.So just give me your tip not lip Whip! :biglaugh:
Ground blinds and a sleeping or a heater body suit,
After my heart attack and a stack of meds its the only way i can handle it.
But i can stay out for a long while.
Hey a guys goota do what he has to.
Ron
It was 19 degrees Tuesday morning, had on a wool crusher, carhart heavy flannel shirt, a wool shirtjac, long john bottoms, carhart B07 loggers jeans, wool sox and my Danners.The only part of me that was cold was my ears and hands, cant shoot with gloves and cant cover my ears as I cant hear very well as it is...PR
I pack all my cold weather gear in my backpack, when i get to my stand i kick off my rubber boots and put feet warmers over my sock liner top and bottom. Then i put my smart wool socks over that and then put my heavy clothes on. I also use the BIG hand warmers and keep one in each coat pocket. I have hunted all over the states and in canada and rarely do i get so cold i cant stand it.
I also bought the Drury brothers heavy weight outfit and that outfit is great for bowhunting in cold weather. :thumbsup:
I hunt the river some in cold weather and last year begin carrying a change of clothes and more than one way to build a fire.snacks,flash light gps etc.You never know when a boat motor can go bad.
....eat,eat,eat...snack all day long, protiens and carbs. Drink plenty of water in the dry cold air. Gotta stoke the inner furnace for your body to make its own heat. Dehydration can contribute to the onset of hypothermia and once inner core temp starts dropping your pretty much going to be very miserable all day.
I hunted this Morning, It was 27 degrees. Wind was out of the north 10-15 mph. I was on my stand at 6:am and came down at 9:00am. I was cold when I came down. I was wearing a Smart wool 200 grams union suit, Smart wool 400 grams bottoms, Cotton camo paints,wool shirt, 2 wool vest and a wool hat. Filson wool socks with rubber boots. I was warm and cozy for the first hour. I saw a real nice buck but a little to far for me. I thought I did pretty good for a South Texas boy.
Gilbert
Wool, food, water, heat packs, a way to make fire. Don't forget the common sense!
A ground blind and a fat chick ...LOL
QuoteOriginally posted by Whip:
You think it gets brutal in Arkansas? :rolleyes:
Come north wimpy boy, we'll show you brutal! :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
One piece of gear I wouldn't be without when it gets cold is a neck gaitor or a scarf. Really helps to seal the warmth inside my clothing where it belongs.
Hmmmm Up north you say.......calling your felow lesser 48 state resident a whimpy boy are we!?!Lived in the upper peninsula of Michigan the first half of my life and Alaska the second....don't think I'd get that high on a horse if I was you! I'll be thinking how warm it was back when the sun was up for more than a hour and it was only -20 outside in a few weeks. I fully expect to see day time temps in the -35 to -40 range with 50 mile an Hour winds during my March caribou hunt. I'll be about 12 miles from the arctic ocean and 70 from the nearest year round road. By then the sun will have risen again and we should have a whole 4 hours with enough light to hunt. I'll be visiting a friend who lives and works there the sun set last week....he'll see it again in 3 months. It will be below -45 most of that time. I've already harvested game at temps below -20 this year.
TEQUILA!!!!
that will keep you burning on the inside
QuoteOriginally posted by LV2HUNT:
All of the above and:
1) Eat properly to provide heating energy
2) Best hat you can afford with as most coverage as you can shoot with
3)Vests are great for layering and do not bulk up arms
4) Use a bow hook. Allows you to keep hands in warm spot and arms close in to body
5) Carry in crazy insulated pac boots if needed because you cannot walk in them
6) Cut the wind with rain gear if necessary as it will steal warmth quickly
Not a bad list, you'd have a good start to staying alive and well on early spring arctic slope caribou hunt. Frankly at -45 comfy is a relative term. Here is a few things that come to mind;
1) Eat right! You bet on this one and the colder it gets the higher your fat intake needs to be. Most of the early expeditions to the summit of Everest sustained on butter and chocolate the days surrounding there summit attempts. Native Alaskans eat Muktuk(Whale blubber) or candle fish before bed in camp so the fat keeps them warm over night. I often have a cup of hot cocoa with about a 1/4 stick of butter in it when camping in sub zero weather.
2) Best hat nothing to add on this one really, you do loose 90% of your body heat through your scalp.
3)Vests are good but layering is more vital. Start with a wicking layer to keep sweat off the body, then insulating layers, long johns, wool pants and top, fleece and Windproof shell. Biggest mistakes is see are layers that fit to snug, if you cut off circulation even slightly you'll get cold. Not enough layers and failing to finish with a truly windproof shell.
4)When sitting keep your extremities as close to your body as possible, it really dose cut heat loss.
5)You can too walk in pack boots, good foot wear is very important.
6) Stay active! Why the heck do so many of you freeze perched in a tree! Whitetail and other game is easier to stalk with snow on the ground, moving helps keep you warm and stalking is fun.
7) If your relying on cotton to do any good in temps below 0 you deserve to be cold! Cotton is the worst woods fiber in cold weather you could possibly have. When even slightly damp it wicks away heat.
8)Always have some source of heat with you in cold weather. A candle in the tent can mean the difference between life and death.
9)Know the signs of hypothermia and your personal limits. I have had 4 hunting partners go hypodermic and they all said the same thing as they started to warm up "Wow I was allot worse off than I realised"
10) Know and follow basic hunting and outdoors safety rules! Some folks really do need to repeat hunters safety or maybe rent a kid so they can repeat boy scouts.
PS A scarf is a kinda nice accessory and can add a splash of color to an otherwise drab outfit.......(a parting shot for Wimp or was it Whip?)
QuoteOriginally posted by lpcjon2:
A ground blind and a fat chick ...LOL
man does that bring back memories. :eek:
I bought some used gray wolf wool and man is it worth every penny. I have never gotten cold in it. It was 18 degrees one morning and I had on sweat pants and top, insulated vest and my gray wolf bibs and jacket. I never zipped up the bibs and the jacket stayed open the whole time on stand. never got cold. also I keep my boots on the boot dryer the night before so they are warm and dry and get a good pair of wool socks.
I put some carpet on my treestand since that cold steel goes right thru the boot. I use the battery operated socks since toe warmers make my feet sweat. I have a cabela's wool sweater with windstopper that is really warm along with my KOM wool. I also use carol davis sportswear longjohns and they are super warm.
:biglaugh: :biglaugh: All you guys bragging about how you can stand the cold and not see the sun and stuff, My hats off to you. I'll have none of it ! I think I'll stay in Mississippi, but hey sometimes it doesn't get out of the 40's all day!! :)
The best tip to avoid the cold...... MOVE :biglaugh:
I don't want to live anywhere that the women can't wear shorts all the way into November !
Hogdancer, you got that right! It was 32 when I went out about 9:30 this morning, and I lasted about 2 hours with felt bootie pack boots, longjohns, pants and flannel shirt, insulated coverall, two pair of wool gloves, a neck gaiter, and a camo watch cap. Too much for walking, not enough for sitting for any longer.
Supposed to get into the 20's for the next three nights, and I'll be hunting during the middle of the day! After all, it's a bright moon right now.
In a couple of weeks I'll be going to MO for a muzzleloader hunt to collect some meat on my buddy's doe-rich property, and I plan to hunt from a blind or box stand if there's any wind. And there's always wind up there!
Not clothing related but.....avoiding alcohol the night before can be helpful. Alcohol can play havoc on the bodys ability to regulate temp. From an article
"The psychological aspect of using alcohol in cold weather is that people have a false sense of security and fail to protect themselves from exposure to extremely cold temperatures. The stories we hear of people surviving exposure to extremely cold temperatures when they have been drinking occur not because of the alcohol intake, but in spite of it."
I've seen what alc can do to people in cold weather (in the himalayas). Much easier to get AMS when drinking too. And if you've ever had acute mountain sickness you know that that is like.
Having said that....if you are gonna drink, try pepper jack. Its equal parts jack daniels and peppermint schnapps. A friend of mine made up the name.
32 !! WOW, now that's cold !!! and for all you northern boys, no I'm not joking :biglaugh:
Keep your kidneys warm. All your blood flows through your kidneys in just a couple minutes.
I made a little belt with pouches to hold those disposable handwarmers about twenty years ago. The handwarmers are kept in position directly over my kidneys. The belt has gotten larger to fit my new larger shape :D , but it still gets the job done. Less than complete comfort, but I can sit when others can`t.
Single digit temps will have you wondering what you are doing, but a bloodtrail in the snow will answer your question.
At my house, we started the season in t-shirt temps, and we will be there when everyone else is inside.
Bonebuster, I do the same thing with a vest I made. Keep your kidneys warm and I use KOM on occasion. Bunny boots are the best, Either silk or wool underwear.
The best thing I can tell everyone with experimenting every year is the body heater suit. I have two and have taken several deer when you just can not stand to be out there.
I was hunting (successfully) from a stand Friday in 18*, but after 2 hours my toe's were numb! The rest of me wasn't too bad except when it came time to pull my string, then I thought my shoulder and back joints were going to pop and spook the buck.
I was wearing 100% wool socks inside insulated LaCrosse pacs. If I'm moving around I have no problem, but sitting in a tree about killed me.
A friend of mine has some Bunny boots like Night Stalker suggested. He wears them all winter while trapping and looking for lion kills. Been thinking maybe I need to get me a pair if I plan on doing anymore hunting from a treestand.
It wasn't quite cold enough Friday to wear my black woolies beneath the KOM, but I don't think I would have been over dressed by any means.
What do you guys wear for keeping your feet warm?
What was on yer noggin.... ? Always heard if your feet get cold put on a hat. If they get real cold put on two hats ! If was in your shoes in 18 degrees I would have worn the following and been toasty for at least 4 hrs...
1) Ullfrotte' 400 gr top and bottom
2) Cabelas heavy wool socks, the $13 socks
3) Cabelas fleece vest or Ullfrotte 400 gram vest
4) Predator 385 gram windproof fleece top and bottom
5) Ragg wool fingerless gloves and chemical hand warmers in my coat pockets
6) Lacrosse Alpha Light 7MM neoprene boots
7) Military surplus polypro balclava and Predator 385 gram fleece beannie over that.
As soon as I can I will be adding some Gray Wolf Wool pants and pullover for my older age and if it is colder than 15 degrees. I only wear the above bottom half to the tree and nothing but the Ullfrotte' top when walking in and go slow to make SURE I do not sweat ANY. Once in the tree I sit till I feel cold before putting the top outer layers on. Eat a PB & J about 8AM for stoking the inner furnace. May try the heater body suit one of the days especially since it is now available in Predator Fall Gray scheme ! JMHO
nocams
QuoteOriginally posted by NoCams:
What was on yer noggin.... ? Always heard if your feet get cold put on a hat. If they get real cold put on two hats ! If was in your shoes in 18 degrees I would have worn the following and been toasty for at least 4 hrs...
1) Ullfrotte' 400 gr top and bottom
2) Cabelas heavy wool socks, the $13 socks
3) Cabelas fleece vest or Ullfrotte 400 gram vest
4) Predator 385 gram windproof fleece top and bottom
5) Ragg wool fingerless gloves and chemical hand warmers in my coat pockets
6) Lacrosse Alpha Light 7MM neoprene boots
7) Military surplus polypro balclava and Predator 385 gram fleece beannie over that.
As soon as I can I will be adding some Gray Wolf Wool pants and pullover for my older age and if it is colder than 15 degrees. I only wear the above bottom half to the tree and nothing but the Ullfrotte' top when walking in and go slow to make SURE I do not sweat ANY. Once in the tree I sit till I feel cold before putting the top outer layers on. Eat a PB & J about 8AM for stoking the inner furnace. May try the heater body suit one of the days especially since it is now available in Predator Fall Gray scheme ! JMHO
nocams
I was wearing a wool military Radar cap.
I think too many year of working in the woods have taken a toll on feet and knees, leading to poor circulation.
Tree Killeer----try a pair of pure silk socks under your wool socks. Helps more than a fella thinks. Sawed logs a good many years in eastern Oregon and Montana myself. Helps me.
Tree Killer if you will put those adhesive feet warmers on over you liner and then put you some smart wool socks over those your feet will stay warm. I have been doing this for years and i wear rubber boots and my feet never get cold. Give it a try and you can thank me later. :thumbsup:
Heh Treekiller, almost forgot, if it is that cold <20 degrees and windy too I sometimes wear my Avery brand Turtlehead on top. I hate to wear it unless I have too cause I cannot hear as well out of it as I do the other head gear mentioned above. I can hardly stand anything that resembles a hood, I feel like I have tunnel vision and cannot hear behind me. At least with the turtlehead it turns with me as I turn my head. With most hoods when you turn to the side you wind up looking into the side of your hood ! The Avery turtlehead is windproof and you can wear it in several different configurations depending on conditions. I would like to try one of Ron LaClair's Longhunter shirts and he also offers a wool cape / hood. I think his hood would allow you to hear good and it turns with your head as well. The wool construction would not make any noise as the two pieces rubbed against each other as you turn your head back and forth. The Avery Turtlehead does make some noise, not enough for a deer to hear I think, but sounds awful loud in your own ears when you are in it ! You have to stay still if you are trying to hear otherwise you get that scatchy background noise in your ears. You cannot look and listen at the same time.
nocams
Thanks for the tips on keeping the feet warm in a treestand guys, now I have about 50 weeks to prepare for it! :thumbsup:
Quote
1) Eat properly to provide heating energy
2) Best hat you can afford with as most coverage as you can shoot with
3)Vests are great for layering and do not bulk up arms
[/QB]
>>Adhesive feet warmers on the top and bottom of your toes<< Right on Joe Van! :thumbsup:
I just can't figure why no one uses the mountaineering type midlayers, either synthetic like Primaloft or Climashield or even down-fill. I'm not talking about bulky Michelin-man high loft parkas.
I use a Mont Bell UL Thermawrap jacket over my smartwool underwear and under a Browning windproof microfleece camo jacket down to the 20's. The Thermawrap is an amazing piece of cold weather gear. It's quiet, wind resistent, thin and easy to move in. It is not an outer layer. It packs down to smaller than a pop can. Any colder and I add a thin Climashield or down-fill vest. Absolutely no bulk, no noise and easy to climb into a treestand and draw a bow.
I compare treestand hunting to sleeping and the best sleeping bags are down or synthetic, not wool.
Keeping my bow ready while keeping my hands warm is still the occasional challenge.
Rick P.: 30-50 below zero??? No thanks.
Wool,and fleece. I made some "boot socks" out of some military surplus wool gaiters out of "Sportsmanguide" catalog. Just sew up one end. I wear uninsulated boots to my stand, then after settling in pull these wool socks over my boots. If its real cold put a handwarmer on top each foot in the sock. Problem with insulated boots is my feet sweat on the way to the stand, then you can't keep 'em warm.
Tried the 40 dollar artic shield boot cover. It diffently makes a difference as I left my toes get cold first, then tried them. Took awhile but toes gradually warmed up. Would think a heat pack from the start would be best. But it is another thing to pack--but I didn't have to wear heavy boots. The ones I bought are not for walking. The true test will be after Christmas.
Lost arra, I lose to much bow string clearance with the goose down etc. If I think about it I can pull off the shot, but not instinctively.
hawkeye: a down sweater or a Thermawrap worn under your camo would not affect your string clearance. They are very "low profile".
I do know what you mean about a down parka though. I tried it but didn't like the puffy sleeve. With the Thermawrap under my Browning microfleece I don't even use an arm guard.
I picked up the Arctic Shield glove system (tight glove plus an over-glove) for $12 on clearance at Bass Pro and have liked it. I've been thinking about those boot covers.
The boot covers work, but are too expensive, and bulky to carry. My homemade bootsocks are cheap,light, and just as good.
QuoteOriginally posted by NoCams:
I would like to try one of Ron LaClair's Longhunter shirts and he also offers a wool cape / hood. I think his hood would allow you to hear good and it turns with your head as well.
I love mine but the hood really doesn't turn with your head. It's a big, wide hood and you can kind of roll it back a bit if you like so your peripheral vision still works for you but don't expect it to turn with you (unless you're wearing a hat or something that sticks to it, I guess).
Here's a closeup of the hood with a fleece balaclava thing underneath - it's kind of a monk / ninja look, but it's nice and warm...
(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff187/GingivitisKahn/20091116_ac_03.jpg)
Thermacare heat wrap under wool this morning 29° w/10mph winds.
Lost Arra
In the intorest of full disclousure the March caribou hunt is normally a rifle hunt for me. Materials start to behave very strangely at temps below -45, coffee turns to snow when tossed in the air, you can stand a spoon upright in motor oil, poorly tempered steel snaps like rock candy........not sure 400 miles from the nearest hospital is the best place to test limb preformance in extreeme cold. I have had the bow out for short day hunts at those temps but nothing over about 4-6 hours.
It may have been mentioned already,I did not read all the posts,but sounds like a good idea to buy footwear 1 or 2 sizes larger to get all the extra in there.
Craig
If you have to do any amount of walking to your stand, oversized footwear can be real hard on the feet. Those boot covers are a better idea or just buy properly insulated boots for you conditions. Have 3" of fresh snow here right now and it's still coming down. Can't wait for the morning!
Wear light footwear to your stand and change into your coldweather socks and footwear. My feet sweat too much walking in. Since I started doing the above they stay alot warmer. Give it a try.
wool, wool, and more wool....
I also use the Heater Body suit. If you do much sitting they are great, you can wear light clothes out to your stand and when you have cooled down, you slip inside and you are toasty warm.
I don't know how I got along before I bought one. Mine has the windproof liner, so I even use it when it is not brutal cold but it's windy. They also come with insulated booty things that slip over your boots that keep the inside clean and they insulate your feet better.
http://www.heaterbodysuit.com/index.htm
I take pride in toughing it out, sitting for long hours on stand in very cold temps. that put most guys at home. I think mental toughness is a big key, dont keep thinkin your getting cold, and have things to look forward to, like your snadwich or snacks spaced out at intervals through the day. i have actually hunted in cold temps and stood all day dark to dark( yes stood, stand did'nt have a seat) eating a good breakfast is very important, high in fat and protiens, and the foods you take with you should be the same. take enough food to keep you happy, and make sure you drink.... to may times the cold makes you feel as if your not thirsty but you need to drink.
Also if you feel you need to go to outdoor bathroom, weather to pee or a #2 you should not hold it for to long. i have noticed when i need to go and hold it i get colder and i actually warm up after i go. dont laugh try it for yourself....
next to your skin you want no cotton or materials that are cold like underarmor cold gear or heat gear. its good for walkin but not sittin you want clothing thats soft and warm like a wool blend thats higher in wool than whatever else is in it, then polypropylene or like the polartec. the next layer shou be something fleece like so when your underware wicks moisture it easily gets drawn through the fleece. cause your body heat and the nature of fleece will dry off very fast. over that stuff i usually put heavy wool sweaters or a good material with loft to trap your heat. i also alway wear a good warm vest, it adds insulation without bulking up your arms. your outerware needs to break wind, cant stress that enough the cold goes through you or draws heat out your done! and usually bibs are warmer than pants... i keep away from jackets that have tight waist band cause they will ride up your back and not alow your under layers to lay properly and will bind or ride up. keep all your clothing loose fitting to trap dead air space and also to not feel so bound up wearing all the clothes.
keep your neck and head covered, all times. and no cotton here either its cold against the skin, wool, fleece or something similar and its better to have somekind of windbreak in it too. make sure its tucked down into your jacket. you loose most your head through your neck and heaad so its very important to keep them warm, covered! your hand shoud be kept warm same as your head. if you need to wear thin gloves use the chemical hand warmers and or have one of the muffs that the football players wear on the field.
pac boots are the best, with the wool liners or heavy thinsulate boots, that are a little large. you need to have room for good heavy wool boot socks and the chemical warmers if needed. if you use the chemical warmers i had better luck putting them on top of my toes instead of on bottom. and when you get to your stnd loosen up the laces on your boots to alow better circulation to the foot. also i use a over the boot cover that called ($20)ThermalFeet... they cover just the toes and are very light to carry as compared to the full boot covers, and you can also put the hand warmers in those as well. they have saved me and added hours of hunting time for me by useing them when my feet start to get cold.
alow ample time when walkin to your stand and take breaks to avoid getting sweaty. pack most of your clothes in a large back pack to keep you from sweating... i aslso find myself hunting from ground more to cause it alot warmer than in a stand, make a ground blind so you can keep your movements from being seen and help block the wind. i have also found it warmer to stand than to sit all day, or just use your chair when your legs get tired, make sure your chair dont cut off circulation to back of your legs as well.
This morning it was 25 degrees. I put on polypro sock liners, wool socks, thicker wool socks, pac boots, two layers of polypro underwear top & bottom, a jumpsuit, another insulated jumpsuit, two pair of wool gloves, a neck gaiter, a watch cap, a radar-style insulated hat, and a blaze orange vest.
Stalked my stand and got into it at 7:00, and a doe with twin yearlings came by at 7:10. Got meat, and didn't get cold at all! :)
QuoteOriginally posted by Don Stokes:
This morning it was 25 degrees. I put on polypro sock liners, wool socks, thicker wool socks, pac boots, two layers of polypro underwear top & bottom, a jumpsuit, another insulated jumpsuit, two pair of wool gloves, a neck gaiter, a watch cap, a radar-style insulated hat, and a blaze orange vest.
Stalked my stand and got into it at 7:00, and a doe with twin yearlings came by at 7:10. Got meat, and didn't get cold at all! :)
Good job.One question...with all that stuff on,how did you pull the string back? :scared:
Wear layers of loose clothing. Anything tight doesn't retain heat very well.
Anything down to about the teens I can handle just fine. Lately is been hovering around zero with wind which makes it nearly unbearable, at one point -17. This stinks. :help: All I can do is layer up on clothing and try to keep the hands warm.
Hate to sound like a wuss but when it's this cold I generally stay in. If I could afford it, I'd have second home down south and hunt hogs through the winter, always wanted to try hog hunting.
Problem child, I cheated! :)
QuoteOriginally posted by RedShaft:
I take pride in toughing it out, sitting for long hours on stand in very cold temps. that put most guys at home....
I understand that and was of the same thinking. Until one year I sat without moving in bitter cold for several hrs. When I finally stood up I knew right away I'd made a mistake. Except for my "core", the rest of my body had shut down. I almost fell down trying to stand/walk, my arms were like wooden sticks and I discovered I had frozen the big toe on my right foot.
Obviously my mind had also begun to shut down too as it never accured to me that there was a problem while I sat there. I just kept my initial aim in mind the whole time: " Its cold but you are not going in or moving unless a deer walks by."
After 20 years that toe is still so damaged it needs to be massaged even in the summer to keep any circulation going in it.
Don't do what I did. Check yourself aften by moving. You can still "tough it out". Just don't think you are making your body impervious to the cold by mentally being strong. You aren't.
Joshua
Thanks Jason,
I thought I was becomming a wimp. When the cold stuff really hits, 2 hours is about as long as I can stand it as well. I had one day already that forced me out of the treestand and back to my vehicle to warm up after only a few hours.
Some people think all you really need is a good sweatshirt! :-)
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd43/MnFn/Picture002.jpg)
1) Bibs - I have a pair of uninsulated gortex bibs from Cabelas that I really like a lot. I layer with several different weights of capilene or polartec, depending on the temp and how much I plan to walk.
2) Balaclava - I bought an UnderArmor Balaclava last year, and I have to say, that it's the best $25 I've spent on cold weather gear. It totally seals out wind and cold air from your neck, which like your head, is a major source of heat loss.
3) Slow, shallow squats followed by a butt squeze (no joke!). For me, a set of 10 - 15 squats really gets the blood flowing if I'm on stand. Once I feel the shivers coming on I do a set and usually feel much more comfortable afterwards.
Heck....if I could figure out how to stay warm when it's below 70 that would be an accomplishment for me :rolleyes:
When it gets cold, and I mean REAL cold up here in Maine (below zero with a wind chill), I stay home, wrap up in a blanket w/a steaming hot cup of Joe, sit by the fire and read. There will be warmer days ahead.