How To Stay Warm In A Tree Stand

I don't see how Jim Bridger did it. Information technology seems like yesteryear's outdoorsmen could withstand the cold better than nosotros can at present. Mayhap it'due south because we don't have to hunt for survival as they did, or possibly nosotros've only been spoiled by central heat and air all our lives. Whatsoever the case, our bodies—my torso at to the lowest degree—just isn't as conditioned to bitter-cold conditions, and if yous've ever saturday in a metallic stand 20 feet upwards a leafless tree during December in Kansas (or Iowa, Minnesota, Canada or anywhere else north of almost Georgia), you know information technology can get bitter-common cold.

The trunk tin can take frigid temps if it'south free to motility around, as activeness generates heat and promotes blood flow to the extremities, but sitting motionless generates nix except shivers, thoughts of Momma and a warm fireplace. So, if y'all're a tardily-flavor treestand hunter and movement isn't possible, you take 3 real options:

1. Bulky, insulated habiliment such as downward, wool and advanced synthetics like PrimaLoft.
2. Artificial heat generating devices.
3. A combination of both.

What follows is a layered, common cold-weather habiliment system that works for me, as tested via trial and error spanning 30 years of treestand hunting. Information technology keeps me comfy while allowing me to stay quiet and actually shoot. Delight comment if you've developed your own cold-combating strategies, as mine are ever-evolving with newfound knowledge and applied science.

Extreme Cold
A few times in my life, I've hunted in Canada for whitetails during the late flavour, and each time I swear I won't practise it over again. Information technology's then cold that I presently forget about Milo Hanson and his record-breaking buck. At negative 20, your spit freezes instantly, and later on 10 minutes, your lunchtime sandwich turns into an ice cube if it's not kept close to your torso every bit if it were a baby kangaroo. If you're not wearing the right footwear, your toes can be frostbitten before the guide comes dorsum for yous at dark. Information technology'south serious business out hither, and more than once I've been worried about more than whether or not I'd kill a stupid deer.

Thankfully, many outfitters nowadays place clients in tent-fashion ground blinds or wooden box blinds to cutting the wind and create a pocket of warm(er) air. Then they add together a propane space heater like the Piddling Buddy to bring the temperature upward around goose egg. The thing hisses, but information technology makes sitting for eight hours out there achievable. Some savvy hunters bring a sleeping pocketbook to the blind, and while I've never done it because information technology's embarrassing conveying that affair around like Linus Van Pelt's coating, I always wish I had. Information technology'southward a great idea that allows sharing some of your body'due south natural estrus with your toes that don't produce much on their own.

Winter Treestands
I've endured treestands in December over Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois that felt colder to me than in Canada, because in Canada everyone knows it's going to be dangerously common cold, then they're prepared for information technology. But when loftier in a metallic treestand, exposed to the wind and with no room for heaters or sleeping bags, it all boils down to how yous dress. Too much can hamper movement, produce racket and cause yous to sweat while walking in. Besides trivial can turn what is supposed to exist an enjoyable deer hunt into a Siberian prison camp.

Base Layer
For the coldest days, I showtime with a polypropylene base of operations layer. I love Sitka'due south Core Lightweight Hoody and Core Lightweight Bottom because they're a alloy of poly and lycra, so they're warm and wet repelling, but non then bulky that I can't become my next layer over them. I like the hoody because the thin hood moves with my head and doesn't completely block my peripheral vision like many parka hoods practise. Nonetheless, it'south pricey. If you don't have that kind of cash, any poly-based thermal underwear product—including the ECWCS gear you tin can find at military surplus stores or Sportsman'southward Guide—works fine.

Socks
Of all the clothing listed, my footwear is the nigh of import to me, because I've found that my toes are my Achilles Heel. In trying to preclude them from freezing, nonetheless, I've also found that less is ofttimes more than, because compacting the micro air pockets in wool or constructed socks defeats the whole purpose of this air-trapping insulation. And so I wear one sock liner from Cabela'south—it's a paper thin poly sock to keep moisture off my feet—followed by one thick pair of wool-poly/spandex alloy socks like those from Browning. They're warm and dry. Then I rely on my boots and occasionally bogus rut to do the rest.

Pants
If information technology's not raining, I've institute no finer cold-conditions hunting pants than Weatherby Wool. They're quiet, lined and so they don't itch, and ridiculously warm. I tin't find them from Weatherby anymore, merely a company called Silent Predator out of Canada makes basically the same thing called its Stalker Pant. It uses an outer ply of 22-oz. virgin Pendleton wool, then lines information technology with a 90 percent wool insulation. The affair near wool is it's so warm that even a relatively thin layer will do and allows flexing for movement. This stuff is expensive, but information technology will last a lifetime.

If it's raining or snowing hard, however, I opt for Gore-Tex/thinsulate-lined bibs similar those from whatever of the high-stop hunting companies such as Sitka or Kuiu. On the less pricey end, Cabela'due south MT050 Bibs are corking. While not as purely warm every bit the wool pants, the summit priority is staying dry, and pants such as these can exist used for other endeavors like waterfowling or water ice-fishing.

Vest
A downwards or PrimaLoft vest worn under a parka does several things. First, nothing is warmer than goose downward, and then information technology keeps the core toasty. All the same, if y'all get likewise hot, all you accept to practice is unzip the thing and in a second all the trapped heat escapes and you're cool again. Lastly, a vest keeps your core warm while assuasive your arms and elbows a full range of motion. While companies like Nomad (I love it'due south Dunn PrimaLoft Vest) Sitka, Browning and dozens more make wonderful downwardly and synthetic vests with all the bells and whistles, whatever downwards vest that'southward not overly bulky will exercise. Y'all'll be glad you lot have it.

Equally an alternative, Milwaukee Tool makes its M12 Heated Axis Belong—and indeed a parka system—that uses the same bombardment packs the visitor sells for its cordless tools to heat the vest. While it's not bad and works meliorate than a toaster, the battery packs are expensive, and keeping them charged is nevertheless another thing to remember the night before the hunt. But wow is information technology a good feeling when that heat hits your kidneys! Information technology'll also charge your telephone.

Parka
For most cold-weather hunting, I prefer a thick, lined, pure wool parka like that from Weatherby or Silent Predator because it's tranquility, warm and easy within which to move. However, if it'south raining, I'll go with a Gore-Tex 4-in-one waterfowl-blazon parka with a downwardly or PrimaLoft liner. They're available from nigh all the upper-end waterfowl hunting clothing companies; Drake, Sitka, Browning, Kuiu, Cabela's, Columbia and many more make them.

Finally, for the coldest and windiest situations, nothing beats a thick, downwards-filled nylon-shelled mountaineering coat similar Sitka'south expensive but hotter-than-Hades Blizzard Parka, The North Face'southward McMurdo Parka or Kuiu'due south Super Down Pro Hooded Jacket. On the less expensive side, Browning's Hell's Canyon BTU is a practiced purchase. While the nylon is relatively noisy and the coat itself is beefy and not recommended for bowhunting or for stalking, for stationary stand up hunting in wind and negative temperatures, such a coat can't be browbeaten. If information technology's nylon and not Gore-Tex lined, I spray the shoulders with Atsko Silicon Water Guard to keep my dry out in the upshot of a light snowfall or drizzle.

Boots
I've tried virtually every kicking available for keeping my feet warm, and all of them struggle if my feet remain inactive for hours on end. Some, however, are improve than others. For common cold weather stand up hunts where I must move or walk some, I prefer Schnee's Hunter Ii Pac boot. They come up with a heavy wool liner that's amend than thinsulate. It'south waterproof and the leather upper makes it flexible for walking. I buy them 2 sizes also big and so I tin fit my heavy wool socks in there—and perchance a foot warmer—with room to jerk my toes. For hunts where hiking isn't anticipated, LaCrosse makes a 1600-gram Thinsulate rubber boot chosen the Alphaburly Pro that's as warm as an oven. Make this your dedicated stand hunting boot, and purchase information technology two sizes bigger than normal.

Headwear
My headwear consists of four parts. Offset, I like a Gore-Tex cap. The Gore-Tex allows vapor to escape so my head doesn't sweat while walking, but it blocks the wind. The cap beak shields my eyes from the sun. If it's silly common cold, I'll accept my Stormy Kromer wool cap with ear flaps instead. Adjacent, I like a beanie to put over my cap if it gets really cold. 3rd, I always wear a thick cervix gaiter that keeps my neck and mentum warm. If information technology gets freeze-my-snot-cold, I can pull it upwardly over my entire face. It also serves as a facemask to camouflage my mug from wary animal optics. Finally, I like a hood of some type, either on my parka or core layer. Certain, a parka hood blocks some peripheral vision and stifles hearing, simply when the snowfall falls and the wind howls, it'south invaluable for keeping the cold off the back of your neck and creeping all the way down into your soul.

Gloves
Gloves are important, but I must be able to shoot my rifle or bow in them, so I've gone to a thinner glove and and then rely on pockets or manus warmers for the majority of my sits. Some people swear by mittens, but I tin't stand them considering I feel handicapped in them. If it's raining or snowing, I use a medium-weight Gore-Tex glove like that from Sitka, only for all else, relatively thin wool ones with a tacky grip work well—when combined with either a defended hand warmer pouch or heat packets placed in the pockets of your parka. I've also tried ScentLok's fingerless Popular Tiptop gloves/convertible mittens, and I love them. Besides bad I lost them.

Handwarmer
A dedicated hand warmer pouch like the Banded Neoprene Handwarmer with PrimaLoft is a smashing investment. Drop a couple rut packets in there and your hands will always take a sauna-esk refuge even as you lot alternate holding your rifle or bino.

Heated Insoles
While I used to consider such engineering science cheating, the heated insoles made by ThermaCell changed my life. Nearly the fourth dimension I begin to feel my claret turning to vodka, I simply push button the push button on the remote and over time, I can start to feel my toes again. They're expensive, but I'm glad I have 'em. Once again, however, keeping them charged and the remote located tin exist a challenge, so I besides rely on rut packets for when it's so cold my eyeballs hurt.

Oestrus Packets
Hand-warming rut packets are a must for me in truly frigid weather. Buy a giant box of them and have many with you. If something happens—like the heater goes out or yous simply need a friend—they're worth whatever cost the toll gouger downwardly at Tom's Hardware Shop puts on them. Trust me on this.

Thermos
While I'm not a big coffee drinker while on stand, as I believe my odds for scaring a cadet are cracking if I'm upwardly there having a circular, some hunters swear by it. No doubt hot lava downwardly the hatch keeps y'all warm. Have at information technology if information technology suits you, just avoid Thermos-type bottles that squeak, clank or reverberate low-cal similar a mirror.

Burn down
When it'due south really and truly cold, I e'er deport a lighter and fire starting cloth. Things happen out there; maybe you autumn in a creek or your guide gets a flat and leaves you lot in the woods for most of the night, any. Heck, sometimes I've salvaged a chase by hiking over a hill, making a fire, warming up, so climbing back into my stand. And occasionally, when information technology gets too cold to chase whatever longer, I pack it upward and go home where I pop in a DVD of Jeremiah Johnson and take please in watching him suffer for a while.

Source: https://www.americanhunter.org/content/how-to-stay-warm-on-stand-in-the-late-season/