It's going to be near zero at night and mid teens as a daytime high in Alberta when I'll be there next week. That's COLD! I've never had to deal with temps quite that frigid. I'm hoping to hear some ideas on staying warm for all day sits. This will be my 5th time up there, but like I said, it's never been this cold. My arsenal includes Skyline Camo insulated coat/pants/hood, hand muff (3 hand warmers), UnderArmour top/bottoms, Thermacell top/bottoms, Poly prope socks, Northern Outfitters Expedition boots (good to 40 below). I have a friend who wants to lend me his Heater Body Suit, but I'm not practiced with it. Any ideas on what I might add to make this battle with Mother Nature a bit more fair?
I wouldn't dare hunt in that cold of weather without a Heater Body Suit. Better take your buddy up on that offer.
I will be in saskatchewan the same week, We usually rifle hunt that week, which includes headed blinds (cheating i know!) but we have decided we are going to bowhunt this year, so like you we will be freezing! one thing that we are going to be utilizing this year is the Therma care Heat wraps, they make one that goes around your lower back, lasts 8-10 hours, and from what i hear can be a life saver. Those Northern Outfitter boots will help you but they are so clubby they arent worth it. When we sit outside up there we were Rocky 1200g hinsulate boots with GOOD wool socks dont skimp out on your socks, leaving you toe nails in Canada, luckily my dad and grandfather learned that lesson years ago so i didn't have to. but for just a couple bucks a day those therma care wraps are going to be the token this year... I hope! smoke a good one man! Last time i hunted Sask, the day time Highs during thanksgiving week were -46F, this year it's supposed to stay around +10F so hopefully it will workout!
Yea Drive Tacks, those boots are clumsy, but for stand hunting they're good. You're not moving your feet much when getting into position to shoot. They are warm though. Good luck in Sask!
Handmuff with handwarmers tossed in it. Allows you to wear thinner gloves or none at all. Toasti-toes(not the whole sole ones) keep your toes comfortable without sweating your entire foot. I also use the stick on body warmers and put them inside my stocking cap.
If you can find the hand warmers that stick, place one or two near your kidneys on the outside of your inner most shirt. It will help with keeping your core warm, by keeping your blood warm. We do that up here in ND, seems to work well. Good luck in CA.
I would take him up on the heater body suit - and practice with it asap. Worst case is....you might not need it. But that is seriously cold weather for sure, even with no wind. Throw in a medium breeze, you'll likely need it. I personally have not used one, but the couple guys I know that do hunt in real cold areas swear by it. Good luck!
I think I may have some suggestions here that may help. Over the years, I've fine tuned my regimin to keep me in the stand even in extremely cold temps. Though not quite that cold! First thing, stay as dry as you can! If you sweat, you're cold. One trick thats helped me is to use the scentless deodorant/antiperspirant and apply it to my feet before I put my socks on. This keeps the feet dryer and ultimately warmer. The tip about the thermacell heat wraps is dead on. I've worn them even when its not as cold as you're going to encounter. Placed over the kidney area, its amazing how much warmer you'll stay. Block out any wind with a windproof outer layer. The wind robs you of valuable heat. Keep your head and neck as warm as possible. Wear a heavy wool hat, and a fleece neck gaiter to keep those areas warm. Remember, most of your heat is going out through your head and neck. I'd even go as far as putting a hand warmer or two under your hat. Take plenty of food. You have to keep your fire stoked and having something to eat every couple of hours helps warm you up. When its that cold out, I will stand as much as possible. Constantly wiggle your fingers and toes, keeping circulation going to your extremities. Pull your bow back a couple times every hour or two, just to keep your muscles loosened up. Hope that helps.
Take the heater body suit along. I have one and once you slip it off your shoulders it's no trouble at all. Staying warm in one of those is easy. If your going to be in ground blinds, Mr. Heater makes a neat little propane heater that runs off the disposable cylinders. Once they are running they have very little odor. Play the wind and your good to go.
To expand on the foods a bit. While on stand and in camp, eat high calorie foods. The more calories the more energy your body will transfer when breaking them down thus generating more heat.
This is exactly the thread i needed this week! I feel like I'm stealing the resource from Early In because i was too lazy to start the thread myself! This has to be the friendliest, most resourceful forum on the net, such a great group of guys, and ladies! Thanks Early In, what day are you flying in to Alberta, and where? We are flying in to Edmonton Saturday early afternoon i believe, may pass you haha!
in the past when i have sat for long periods of time like stated above helps to eat something. i'll hammer those bite size candy bars about one every half hr. and again like said earlier i'll try and flex different muscles in my body at a time. might start with rt side and move to left, top to bottom. i dont get cold easy but if i do i try and mentally block it out by thinking of folks in worse situations dealing with the cold than me.
I leave Sat from Phila at 6:30AM and land in Edmonton, via Toronto (bummer), at 12:15PM. The thing is going from the 60's to the teens in a matter of hours! Thanks for all of the useful ideas guys. And I will use some of them!
Early good luck out here. Hopefully the weather gets a little nicer when you arrive. The rest of this week is going to suck!!!! If you make your way down to Calgary let me know.
we usually end up doing Burlington (VT), to Chicago, to Ed. if we fly through the states, we used to drive to Montreal and Fly direct, or through Toronto. Because you are landing in Toronto, does that mean you will have to claim your luggage, go through customs then catch your next plane? i thought that was the way that worked... I sure hope not. We have always made Edmonton our customs check in so we didnt have to deal with the guns at customs still needing to catch another flight. Good luck, be sure to post details, and I'll try to do the same!
Me too, I just wish I could hunt every day. I booked sat. and sun. mornings with the gf so I can go hunting. But with the crappy weather this week it looks like I won't be able to take much time off next week. What days are the full moon?
