Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
If this is your first season going out in cold weather to hunt, take some of our expert advice along with you.
There are several reasons to be extra wary about going out hunting in the cold weather. When temperatures drop below freezing, we are exposed to dangers that the animals don’t have to contend with. The cold can kill you, just as sure as an angry boar will. If you want to stay safe hunting in winter, you need to get wise to the dangers it presents.
Let’s talk about how you can hunt all year round, without being negatively affected by the cold.
4 Top Tips for Cold Weather Hunting from the Experts
Before you rush off and buy a crossbow, here are some tips that should help keep you safe in the cold weather.
1 – The Warmer, the Better
Dress warmly and opt for quality gear. It sounds like the most obvious tip in the world but think about it. You don’t want to dress warmly for your house, or for standing in your back garden for half an hour. You want to be warm in your 20th hour outdoors. You want to be warm in your tent if you have to sleep in it or crouching on the floor of a hideout.
Dressing in layers can really help you with the cold. Cold weather hunting clothes, applied in layers, is the best type of gear for keeping warm. It is far easier to take a layer you don’t need off, than it is to burn energy trying to stay warm because you don’t have enough clothes on.
2 – Clothing Materials
Next, look at your choice of fabric. Obviously, Merino wool is going to be one of the warmer choices, but not everyone can afford it. Opt for fleece materials, hardscrabble gear, wools that lock in heat, and don’t forget about your outer waterproof layer to keep you dry. Consider a good Kodiak pant to complete the look. There’s nothing worse than being cold and wet and stuck out in the brush.
Nowadays the modern hunter has plenty of opportunity to wear warmer gear. We have heat regulated jackets, and even jackets that can heat themselves up. We have parka’s with 100% waterproof protection, that incorporate Gore-Tex fabrics and easily fit on over other layers. We have body warmers that are camouflage and designed specifically to keep you warm. Maintaining core temperature is no longer a problem if you dress well.
Think about the materials you are investing in. It’s well and good to buy cheap hunting gear from your local clothing store, but it won’t be specific, tailored, or destined to keep you as warm as effective hunting gear will. Don’t scrimp. It could cause hypothermia.
3 – Think about Insulation
There are lots of ways that you can maintain insulation and keep yourself warm without spending too much. Many experienced hunters use heat packs placed around their body to keep them warm. Placed inside your boots or gloves, these trusty, sometimes reusable, packs of warmth can protect your extremities.
Other forms of cheap insulation come in boot blankets. Using a pair of these inside your boots adds extra protection to the feet area. Don’t forget the old-timer’s trick of using cardboard, either. You can use it under your bedding, place it in your boots, or put it under your clothing to help add a layer of heat. Outdoor Life even suggests that the right foods form insulation of their own.
4 – Think Food and Drink
Following on from the point about what you eat packing heat, consider what you are drinking, too. Hot liquids such as a thermos full of soup or coffee can really lift your spirits. If you are out in the forest for a long time, packing your camping stove and a few tins of soup can really keep your spirits up.
Food and drink are vitally important when you are out in the wilds all day. Whether it is summer or winter, you need enough strength to keep you moving about in the elements all day. Stock up on hot drinks and eat well. It just might help you stay alive.
