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
Related Posts -
Which Type of Hunting is Right for You? Camping, 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;...... -
Packing to Hunt with the Family When you are planning on going on a family hunting trip, there are a number of things that you simply should not be leaving home without. It does not matter what type of game you are going for, there are some things that you really just cannot leave home without....... -
Hunting Deer: Knowing Their Diet Deer, when they are in their natural habitat, do not actually eat the commercial "deer feed" that most feed stores will sell you as bait or as a lure. So when deer are out in the wild and they are left to their own devices, what do they eat? Unlike...... -
Choosing a Rifle Scope Magnification Range One of the considerations that you are going to want to make when choosing a scope for your rifle is the magnification range of the scope. A scope that is in the 3 to 9 magnification range for a gun intended for whitetail deer is definitely pretty standard. In the...... -
Hunting and Gun Safety Hunting is a fun and enjoyable sport, but it is also considered to be one of the most dangerous. It is absolutely imperative that you take safety precautions to make sure that you and those around you are kept safe during this exciting endeavor. Your life and the lives of......