Originally 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?)
Topic: tips on hunting in bitter cold weather (Read 1915 times)
