tips on hunting in bitter cold weather

[hill boy]

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.

[amicus]

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

[Jason Jelinek]

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.

[lpcjon2]

flex your muscles while on stand helps to keep them relaxed and ready.

[xtrema312]

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.

[blind one]

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

[Peachey]

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.

[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

[Whip]

You think it gets brutal in Arkansas?   :rolleyes:  
Come north wimpy boy, we'll show you brutal!        

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.

[Gator1]

Weather today in Minnesota: 22 degrees.
20MPH NW Wind    

Solution: "Trad Gang Surfing"...


       

[KentuckyTJ]

VODKA

[Jason Jelinek]

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).

[joevan125]

CROWN ROYAL

[hill boy]

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!  

[twoblade]

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

[Paul WA]

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

[joevan125]

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.  

[hill boy]

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.

[hvyhitter]

....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.

[amicus]

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