staying warm in a treestand

[Snapshot]

For the late hunt in the northeast (minus 24 degree wind chill expected there tonight!)  I'll wear 2000 gram Thinsulate rubber boots, sock liner, wool sock, expedition weight polypro underwear, wool shirt, wool vest, wool sweater, heavy wool pants over light wool pants, wool stocking hat under a fleece balaclava, fleece vest, wool scarf, wool gloves under insulated gloves with the flip-back mit (silence those f#*@ing magnets!), and an insulated coat. A chemical toe or hand warmer will be pasted on the inside of each thigh (between the wool layers, not against the skin) to warm the meat around the femoral arteries. Then I’ll sit/stand like a schoolgirl with my knees tight together and be toasty warm in -5 degrees for as long it takes for my hunting partners to get cold. I am hoping it won’t be above 32 degrees until after the season closes. IF it does warm up I’ll strip layers and add a waterproof outer layer, but I find that it gets harder to regulate temperature with that stuff on.

[Snapshot]

How much and what kind of gear are you willing to leave at the treestand?

My tow lines.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

 

[huntnnw]

I purchased some Browning 1200 gr thinsulate boots in wide adnd also one size to big..so I can put on lots of socks if needed.one of the better things I have bought was a fleece face mask that had pockets inside of it for handwarmers..this is a great item to have works great.

[724wd]

damn, you guys are starting to scare me!     maybe i should just sit in the living room of the landowners house with the tv on and wait for the deer to walk through the yard!   

[DBHAWTHORNE]

damn, you guys are starting to scare me!     maybe i should just sit in the living room of the landowners house with the tv on and wait for the deer to walk through the yard!   

haha...you will definitely want some different boots. The Mickey Mouse/Bunny Boots mentioned before are best. I also use Rocky Boots 1400 gram thinsulate deer stalkers with those hot hand heat insoles and toe warmers. I bought them 2 sizes too big. I wear a light wicking sock and a heavy sock and there is still plenty of dead air space. My biggest mistake used to be getting my normal size boots and wearing a couple pair of socks. There was no dead air space and it slightly restricted my circulation making my feet get cold faster.

[huntnnw]

yep.. too tight and packed in= cold feet

[ICEMAN]

I have overnight backcounty snow camped for many years, here are a few tips;


If your hands are cold, you do not have enough insulation around your core. Add layers to the midsection. Cold core body temps cause your body to go into survival mode. Your core cools only one or two degrees and your body starts reducing blood flow to your extremeties, hands, feet etc.... Add a down vest or parka to your attire...

Loose boots. Don't be a cheapskate and try to make other boots work for extreme cold conditions. There is a reason that 1200 gram boots are manufactured. Buy large enough for a loose fit over 2 layers of socks.

Proper hydration. I know you bow guys hate peeing from your treestand....but if you are not properly hydrated, you will get cold. Something about fluid volume in the blood and your bodies ability to metabolize nutrients....  When it is really cold out, it is really dry out too. Your body will attempt to keep your skin at the proper humidity level in the cold, and you will lose fluids as fast as you would when you sweat.  So, between normal respiration and your natural loss thru the skin..... you figure it out, you are dehydrated. Drink warm  diluted Gatorade or warm tang. Caffeine is a no no... as it causes constriction in your veins and reduces blood flow. Reduced blood flow = reduced heat to your toes and fingers...

Eat. Eat foods like cheese or salami, things high in milk fats or vegetable fats, they digest slower and help to keep energy (metabolism) up... Pasta noodles in some form are good too. 

Insulate your body where you are compressing layers.... IE: sit on a foam pad. Place a foam pad against the tree. When you sit, you compress your insulation and loose it's insulative value.

Cut the wind, Try to get a way to block wind. When snowshoeing at camp, we dig in deep into the snow to get out of the wind.... In a tree?  Quality windblocking clothing?

Good luck!

[AKBowman]

The chick in that video is pretty damn hot. The wraps are a cool idea...but not all of of have the extra insulation up top/front.    ...not that I am complaining.

[Sledd]

Lots of great ideas here.  One that I don't think was mentioned is spray your feet with odorless deodorant.  They will not sweat as much and dry feet stay warmer.

[Mossy]

Not to hijack this thread but has anyone ever put a heater in a ground blind while archery hunting?  Think it would spook the deer?  That's what I plan on doing if the treestand is too cold thursday.


As far as keeping warm, hot hands make a boot pad, kind of like a dr. scholls.  Work real well!

[magnus100]

Hello,
Boot blankets are nothing short of awesome. And the neck gator is a must for a long sit also. Hotties spread around in various pockets help also.
Mike

[Sumpnneedskillin]

Not to hijack this thread but has anyone ever put a heater in a ground blind while archery hunting?  Think it would spook the deer?  That's what I plan on doing if the treestand is too cold thursday.


As far as keeping warm, hot hands make a boot pad, kind of like a dr. scholls.  Work real well!

Buddy of mine from TX mentioned using a metal coffee can, roll of TP and alcohol as a heater in a blind.   Not sure if it was isopropyl or Denatured and not sure of how much.