Entries Tagged 'Winter' ↓

Cold Weather Deer Hunting Tips

If you’re serious about hunting, you’re going to end up out in the woods before dawn more often that most people care to think about! And you’ll be out there scouting for deer in weather that would send most of us running into our dens with fuzzy slippers and hot cocoa, wishing for a roaring fire. You need to keep certain things in mind when hunting in cold weather, and you’ll want to be sure you have the right hunting equipment and hunting clothes to make it a more enjoyable experience, and to keep yourself safe from the elements.

Wear wool.

Wool hunting clothing provides excellent insulation against the cold. You won’t want to wear it against your skin, of course, but make one of your layers wool. And you should have at least 2 or 3 layers of clothing on, including long underwear. You won’t want to trek out into the woods wearing the clothing of 4 men, and getting your innermost layer wet with sweat—that defeats the purpose of trying to stay warm. But do take the heaviest layers of your hunting clothes with you. Then once you’re in the deer stand, you can put them on and stay warm. (Make sure your outermost layer is orange and reflective or whatever type of hunting clothing is required in your area.)

Cover your head.

Most of our body heat leaves us though the soles of our feet and the tops of our heads. Just wear a regular cap while you’re exerting yourself getting there and getting set up, then wear a thermal cap. If it’s really cold, you might want a thermal face mask to protect your nose and keep your skin from getting chapped. Be sure your ears are covered, and make sure you’ve got a decent seal around the neck opening of your hunting clothes (as well as at the wrists and ankles) to keep the cold air out as much as possible.

If it’s a wise choice in your particular area, get waterproof hunting gear like waterproof gloves and outerwear. And don’t scrimp on hunting boots. You might want to carry these, too, until you get in place rather than risk getting the insides wet where they will keep your feet cold, and you miserable. Rubber soled and rubber-outer-wear boots do an excellent job of keeping your feet dry. Be sure they’re insulated or the cold will seep right through your hunting boots and drive you to leave before you’ve spotted that trophy deer. Invest in the small heat producing packs that can go in mittens and boots as needed. These can make all the difference between an enjoyable day of winter-time hunting, and coming home stiff and frozen and wondering why you went hunting in the first place.

Finally, be sure your family or friends know where you’ll be, and carry a cell phone or other means of communication. While this is a good rule to follow all the time, it’s especially important when hunting in the winter.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-08 19:29:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • huntingdeerEight Tips for Deer Hunting Success When it comes to hunting deer, it is vitally important for you to pay attention to the smallest details. Here are a few unique tips that many hunters miss when it comes to bagging their dream trophy out in the woods. 1 - Use a Painted Stand - Paint both......
  • hoghuntHog Hunts If you're considering going on hog hunts, you're in for an exciting adventure. While this type of hunting is less well known in many areas where most people hunt for things like deer and ducks, hog hunts are becoming increasingly popular. Because hogs are small and fast, finding them and......
  • deerhuntHow to Make Deer Hunting Videos If you've ever thought of making your own deer hunting videos but wondered who would want to watch them, you should consider the enjoyment you'll get from making them. You may be surprised at who would enjoy watching your videos. But even if no one did, you would have the......
  • bearhuntalaskaSafe Bear Hunts Bear hunts are a popular sport in Alaska. It's one of the many types of big game hunting that's popular in this very northern state. People who don't live in the area and aren't familiar with bears may wonder why anyone would want to hunt a bear. But it's actually......
  • huntingfishingtripPacking for Hunting and Fishing Trips If you want to avoid looking like a complete rookie when it comes to going hunting or fishing, then you need to know how to prepare and pack. You should start to prepare for a big hunting or fishing trip well before hand so that you can avoid any embarrassment.......
Online Stores

Which Type of Hunting is Right for You?

squirrelCamping, fishing and hunting are popular outdoor sports. What makes someone want to do any of those instead of just taking a hike through the woods and going home, or taking a stroll through a field to do some bird watching?  Many people prefer the sense of them against nature; living in the wild and fishing and hunting like we used to have to do to survive. Sleeping under the stars and cooking what you caught or killed for dinner is almost a primal need for some people, even though we have comfy beds to sleep in and grocery stores where we can buy meat.

Hunting might be more technological today than ever with laser scopes and precision weapons, thermal underwear and heat packs, but people still want to hunt because of that primal urge that has never seemed to go away-man against nature, struggling to survive. If you want to hunt, but you’re undecided about exactly how to go about it or what you’d like to hunt, here are some basics to help you decide.

Can you tolerate cold weather? A great deal of hunting is done during the winter season.  Even more passive methods of catching game like trapping are often done when the temperatures dip. If you’re deer hunting or trapping, for instance, you might need to be out before dawn in extremely cold weather.  Are you well-suited for this or do you think you would be miserable doing this as a hobby?  At the very least, consider the cost of the equipment you’ll need.  You have to have protective clothing and you must dress in layers, with one of them preferably wool. Warm boots that will keep your feet from getting wet, proper headgear and excellent gloves will all be necessary.

Can you climb a tree and sit perched in one for hours?  Deer hunting will involve you setting up a deer stand in a tree–often not the easiest of tasks, especially if you’ve never done it before.  Do you have someone to help you set up the stand originally?  Do you like the idea of climbing up into the stand in the dark and sitting there for a prolonged period of time?  If that doesn’t appeal, you might choose to hunt something other than deer.

Do you want to go after big game? Some people enjoy the challenge of squirrel hunting.  Squirrels are small, they move quickly and it can be difficult to bag one or the several required for a good meal. But some people dream of taking down the giants like bear, moose and elk. First, consider that just because you want to hunt bear or other large game doesn’t mean you’ll be allowed to.  Often areas where you can hunt have draws and only those who draw the tags are allowed to even try. And consider the cost.  Often its necessary to travel, and you might need a large gauge (and more expensive) gun as well as other specialized equipment.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2009-01-08 15:07:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • treestandChoose a Tree Hunt Stand A tree hunt is something that most deer hunters look forward to. Many happy hours can be spent looking at stands and deciding which one to purchase. The tree stand is a great place to hunt from because it conceals your location even more than if you were on the......
  • hoghuntHog Hunts If you're considering going on hog hunts, you're in for an exciting adventure. While this type of hunting is less well known in many areas where most people hunt for things like deer and ducks, hog hunts are becoming increasingly popular. Because hogs are small and fast, finding them and......
  • Pellet GunPellet Gun Hunting Guide Are you thinking about going out hunting with a pellet gun? There are a few important guidelines that you are going to need to follow if you want to make sure that you are being both humane and effective out there. Some of the things that you need to consider......
  • mountainlionMountain Lion Hunting Mountain lion hunting is one of the most exciting hunting sports imaginable. All hunting is exciting, but when you're hunting the hunter it gives you an extra rush of adrenaline and the knowledge that you're truly into the natural rhythm of the wild. Hunting a big game cat-like a mountain......
  • poachers trailWhy You Should Obey Hunting Laws The hunting laws in your area are necessary reading before you go on a hunt. While some people think it's fun or a bit of a joke to hunt and fish without licenses or permits and basically do what they want, hunting laws should be taken seriously. They're very often......
Online Stores
ammunition animals antlers arrow arrows best time big game Binoculars Birds bow hunting camouflage compound bow Decoys deer deer hunters deer hunting deer season duck hunter duck hunting ducks going hunting guided hunts horns Hunting hunting deer hunting dog hunting equipment hunting gear hunting knife Hunting Season little bit local area predators prey quail risk Shotgun target trees trophy vegetation weapons weather what this means white tailed deer