Im through with hunting...
 

...til I can figure out how to be warm. I wentyesterday morning and it was only 20 degrees or so, and I wasnt out there 30 minutes before I started to get cold. By the time my cousin came to pick up, I was shivering. I had hung my bow up after only an hour in the stand. I was wearing a base layer of thremal underwear, with coveralls over them, and boots with some thinsulate(not sure how many grams), but by the time I left the stand my toes were so cold its not even funny. So unless I figure out how to stay warm, Im sticking to early season hunting and then indoor spots during the cold weather. Theres nothing I hate more than being cold. Id rather sit in 100 degree heat than be cold.

How do you guys in Canada or in the UP of Michigan or places like that where it gets REALLY cold stay warm and still be able to shoot a bow?

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

Use heater packs

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

Dont wear all that stuff on your walk into your stand. carry alot of your clothes in with you. Use your truck/car heater only enough to keep the windows clear and take the chill off. If you get used to it being 90 degrees in the car, then go outside, it will make you cold. If you feel yourself beginning to get cold, flex muscles - this generates heat. Anduse heater packs.

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

Let's start with your feet first - what kind of socks are you wearing? White cotton socks are about the worst thing in the world that you can wear during cold weather hunts. Your feet will sweat, the socks with suck up all the moisture, then get cold, and your hunt is miserable. You need to have a good pair of socks that will wick moisture away from your feet and keep you warm. Personally I wear a heavy set of wool socks and I have a set of rubber boots w/800 grams of Thinsulate and I've been pretty warm the past few hunts in the cold weather.

As for keeping the rest of you warm - layer, layer, layer! The same thing holds true for your body as it does your feet. If you're starting off with a cotton t-shirt or cotton underwear you're doomed from the get-go. Walking into your stand will generate a lot of sweat that is soaked up and held by the cotton and the next thing you know you're frigid. I've been wearing my Scent Lok BaseSlayers and that stuff has worked out great for me, although something like UnderArmour or another moisture-wicking base layer will work great as well. After that, still try to avoid cotton and start layering. Personally I wear my BaseSlayers, a fleece pullover, fleec sweatshirt, fleece vest, and then my wind-blocking uninsulated fleece coat. I've been toasty warm the past few days with that combo. But like JoshKeller said - don't wear it all out to your stand. I lash my outer coat to my fanny pack, and leave my neck gaitor and fleece hat in my pocket until I settle into my stand. The more you swear, the colder you're going to get.

Last but not least I use one of those pouches that you lash around your waist and stuff a few Hot Hands inside of it. I hang my bow on a hanger, keep my hands warm in my pouch, and wait.

My only advice to anyone buying cold weather clothing for future use is to get a set of bibs. I can't tell you how much it ticks me off when I move and my shirt(s) come up above my waistline and expose my skin. It seems like the more clothing I put on, the more it happens. Next year I'm forking out the cash for a good set of fleece insulated bibs.

RE: I'm through with hunting...
 

I don't understand how Nubo or Extreme can do it myself. I've hunted in the teens and single digits but it's tough.

If it's going down in the lower teens, I found that doubling my heavy duty thermals, one layer of gortex, another of cottonand then my outer coveralls works pretty good. I'm amazed how much that gortex and cotton layer helps. For my feet, I have 1000 or 1200 gram boots but still need my liners. Two layers of socks I think hurts, but a sock liner under my wool socks helps a lot. I have been known to use battery socks. They work a few hours on 2 d batteries. Gloves I hate but will dawn a heavy one on my shooting hand. I have a problem with the amount of deer I see because you have to be ready to shoot always. That requires my release hand to be exposed to the elements quite a bit.

RE: I'm through with hunting...
 

My cold weather layers are as follows. As was stated warmth is best achievedthrough layers.

First I start with a layer of X static, followed by polypropylene long johns, a fleece lined jogging suit, a thick fleece suit followed by an uninsulated scent lok gore-tex suit and ASAT. That is actually 6 layers I wear when the temps really drop.

I wear a pair of wool socks and 1000 gram rubber boots. I will put some hand warmers in there sometimes also.

I wear a pair of fleece gloves when its cold as well. I wear a fanny pack so I put my hands between my stomach and fanny pack to keep them warm. It actually works very well keeping my hands warm. They will sweat if you leave them there to long.

Best of luck in the late season.

RE: I'm through with hunting...
 

If you do it all the time, you'll find out what works and what doesn't. A good wool touk and 800-1000 grain boots are a start with a couple layers of wool socks. Make sure you don't sweat while hking to your stand either. Also, when I drive to my stand, I have my heater turned off and the window down. The first hour is usually the toughest but it takes about that long for your body to acclimate to the cold.
If thats all your dealing with is 20f temps, your dreessing totally wrong.

Bobby

RE: I'm through with hunting...
 

walmart sells toasti toes.. and they work great. Get some thick hunting gore tex clothing and you will be all set.

RE: I'm through with hunting...
 

i hear ya dairy. its why i bought the sts. i could care less about whatever else it does except it allows me to wear more layers without interfering with the string. i'm not sure if that helps an onieda shooter though. i also wear fleece, and its great as long as you've got something blocking the wind. i've got a fleece hand pouch that goes around my waist like a fanny pack,

i actually thought about inventing something while i was cold this year. my knees get cold. anyway a thick camo fleece blanket that has straps for your thighs. it would sit over your lap, extending down both sides and your front to your feet. it would have the straps that you hooked around your thighs so when you stood up it would stand up with you. it would conceal your feet and legs, help keep them warm, specially my knees, and your feet a bit, and you wouldn't have to worry about dropping it, and being fleece i think it would be quiet and not interfere with you standing. sounded good to me at the time. i might make 1. wonder if i can get thick fleece in asat.

RE: I'm through with hunting...
 

http://www.t3kwear.com/

It works in the frozen tundra of Lambeau field :D[:-][8D].

Toasty toes in the boots and handwarmers in the muff. And above all else mentally block it out. Pretend you're sitting under a palm tree in Florida.

RE: I'm through with hunting...
 

kill your deer in the early season LOL

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

Your feet are cold get some Army Issue Mickey mouse boots,and those words will never come out of your mouth again.

RE: I'm through with hunting...
 

Here in eastTx the forecast calls for highs near 80. And here we are in late Nov. I'd love some cold weather!

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

I CANT AGREE MORE WITH JUSTIN DAIRY
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RE: Im through with hunting...
 

Very good advice from all above. I can bowhunt until mid-January and believe me, in east central Illinois it gets cold. I start off with polypro thermals, then wear the 2 layer thermals over. Next I wear a wool shirt with blue jeans or fleece pants. I wear my Predator Fall Gray thinsulate bibs and a thinsulate jjacket. I never wear the jacket until I get to my stand site and my bibs are unzipped. Sweating in the cold is our enemy. I wear a thick pair of wickable/wool socks followed by 100% wool socks under my 600 gram Wolverines. Finally I wear a warm but not thick glove on my non-shooting hand and my right hand bares only my release but...........those body or hand warmers are a must!!!!

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

I wear either: two hats and a neck gaitor or a full face mask and another hat on top of that. Your head has to stay warm or you'll get cold. I see these guys on tv hunting in bone chilling cold with a baseball cap on!! Give me a break!! I also have used the big insulated things you pull over your boots once you get on stand, even without heat packs in them your feet will stay very comfortable. I have some Saddlecloth pants (not insulated) that are sufficient by themselves down to 20 degrees or so, below that and I usually wear a pair of long underwear (Duofold) also. I wish I could find clothes in Saddlecloth again because it is the warmest and most durable fabric I have ever found (it doesget a little noisy when it's cold but it is stillmy preferred clothing).

One more thing that works wonders for me: bring a small thermos of hot chocolate on stand with you, you won't believe how much that warms you up when you take a few sips. Trust me!

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

This year I picked up a set of Compression FLeece pants and jacket from Cabelas. HUGE difference.

Wool/Poly socks, 1200 gram Lacrosse boots, poly/cotton thermals, cotton camo shirt, Scentlock bibs & jacket, fleece neck gaiter. These things were good down to 40 degrees.

I added the compression fleece layer and I was still warm enough to sit still for 6 hours on stand Friday when the temperature started at 35 and went down to 25. I'd say that for the low 20s like that, insulated jacket and bibs would have been much more appropriate as by 5:30pm I had the first stages of hypothermia setting in (shivers and finger coordination starting). Who knew you'd need insulated clothing at 20 degrees?

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

Oh yeah, TWO layer thermals are a MUST, especially wool blend ones if you can get them.

I also reiterate Justin's suggestion of BIBS. Best addition to my setup I ever made was a pair of bib overalls. Comfy-comfy AND it keeps that chill off your lower back. That's probably good for 5 to 10 degrees of cold tolerance right there!

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

one thing just to keep in the file is that gore-tex by itself wont keep you warm, only dry.

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

Wool, wool, wool....

Broke down this year and bought a wool parka and have been extremely warm during the cold mornings we've had recently in Central IL. Also, the foot warmers that you place on tips of your toes work great. I think they are $.99 at Wal-Mart. Others have mentioned it, but stay away from anything cotton. Fleece and wool have worked great for me this year.

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

CougarMag: You were doing fine until you threw on that pair of jeans. That is a no no from the word go. Cotton Jeans?????? Say it ain't so Joe.

DK: I'd quit too if I were you. You're such a pansy.[8D]:D Take some of that money you spend on Quikspins etc and buy you some good cold weather clothes. You say you're wearing thermal undies. I suspect they're heavy in cotton or something like that. Get rid of anything cotton in cold weather. Oh you can wear an outer layer for camo purposes but next to your skin you want some hi-tech undies. Follow that with another layer or two of similar stuff. I like a light weight set, then a mid weight Smartwool layer. If it's really cold I may follow that with another layer of Expedition weight stuff from Cabelas. Top it off with a wool shirt(OR TWO depending on temps) YOUR FEET must come first along with the head. Sock liners(not cotton of course) followed with good wool and maybe another pair, depending on temps. YOU MUST have room in your boots. If you bought them too tight to put on two or three layers of socks you're sunk. Tightly bound feet will get cold right NOW. I generally go with at least one less layer below the waist than I do above. Chemical warmers can be used to take the chill off fingers and hands if you wear fingerless gloves like I do. Chemical warmers can be used in the boots in EXTREMELY cold temps. DOn't use them in moderate stuff like your 20 degree temps as your feet will probably get too hot and then cold. Other options for cold feet are better boots(MUST BE ROOMY) and/or bootblanket type thingys. Get some of that rubberized wrap for your bow riser to keep your hands from getting cold. Do isometrics against the tree and stand. Pull the bow a couple times every hour or so. Keep your toes moving...wiggle 'em. Don't play with yourself.[8D][8D] Suck it up wimp. 20 degrees is just getting right..it's not cold. Layer it.... layer it ......layer it. You described 2 layers. Not enough. Get rid of the big bulky cumbersome parkas and just get layer after layer of moderate weights. Wool is grand. Wind blocker type fabrics will keep the beast at bay too, but I don't wear them. I just add lots of layers. On a really cold day I'll hae the 2 layers of undies top and bottom, 2 wool shirts of modest weight and maybe a vest. Chemical heater packs and 100 degree below boots with 2 pairs of socks and a pair of liner socks. As a last resort I have inserts for my boots that hold a hand warmer in the insert below my toes. You must have room to wiggle the toes generously to keep the chemical packs breathing. This will keep me well below freezing. Below zero I may skip the heaters and go with boot blankets. They're bulky...but warm. Add a wool vest. I go to termax type balaclava around 10 degrees. Two of them(light and medium)as you dip lower. Keep the neck area and kidneys warm grasshopper.

Dressed for success in late season. Note the added pair of glove liners(thin weight Termax) for the finger tips yet I can still feel. Two wool shirts and all the undies. One fleece lined balaclava. Ready to rock and roll.

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

Well, as everyone has said, Don't Use Cotton!

My cold weather gear is as follows:

Feet:
poly sock liners, wool socks, 800-1000 gram boots and foot warmer packs - there are new ones with insoles that work well. Dont use them in moderate weather or walking to your stand as it will make your feet sweat. I will put them on at the base of the tree. If your feet get wet, your done. If you have a long walk, use one layer of socks and then change at your tree. The 10 minutes that your feet get cold changing will be worth it for the next several hours that they are warm and dry. davidmil has good advice on keeping your boots roomy. Tight fitting boots make you feet cold.

Lower Body:
Underarmour cold gear, mid-weight poly or ECWS thermals, regular camo pants and insulated bibs. Spring for some nice weather proof bibs. They will block the wind and moisture and keep your mid-section from being exposed.

Upper Body:
Underarmour cold gear, mid-weight poly or ECWS thermals, regular camo shirt and insulated parka. Throw some heater packs where your kidneys are if it gets real cold. If your jacket does not have a pocket for this, make one and safety pin it in there.

Head/Neck:
Underarmour cold gear baclava and hat. If it's real cold I'll throw on a fleece baclava over the UA and use another neck gator. You gotta keep your head and neck warm or your sunk.

Hands:
Depends on the situation.
Bow - Usually use a glove liner and throw some heater packs in my jacket pockets. I have one of those hand tube thingies that goes around your waste but my hands usually get stuck trying to pull them out. It does work well to keep them warm though.
Gun - Glove liner and one of those convertable glove/mitts. Put a hand warmer in the mitt part and when you need to shoot, just flip it back.

I also do not wear my jacket while walking to my stand. Try to keep sweating to a minimum. Move your toes and fingers. You can do this without attracting attention. If you get cold, make sure the area is clear and stand up. Just the movement while doing this will help a lot. Once standing, tighten your muscles without moving. (isometrics) I have used this system while hunting in the single digits to low twenties.


I think I am going to spring for some fleece or wool pants/shirt after this season. Hopefully they will be on sale. ;)

Hey david, where is the ASAT 3D leafy suite over that cold weather outfit? I'm going to talk to Len. :D

RE: Im through with hunting...
 

Must keep head warm! I wear a scentlok base layer head mask which covers my nose and mouth. This keeps scent down but also keeps you warm because your breath warms up your entire face and head. On top of this, I wear a wool camo ski mask. It has extends to cover my entire neck. Cold air down your neck or back will kill you.

Also, feet must stay warm. My toes used to freeze because I would cram three or four pairs of cotton socks into a boot that was too small. You gotta have big roomy boots and nothing but thick wool socks. Also, layer with the wool/polyester blend long johns. I like at least three layers - no cotton! And I hunt standing up most of the time because your muscles keep you warmer. I like to hang my bow and keep my hands in my pocket until I see deer. This really helps too.