Stayin warm in the stand

[turkeyfeather]

Ok, I need to know what you guys do or wear to stay warm in the stand all day. I have a 45 min. hike up Mica to my stand. I wear a set of sweats on the way up so I don't get my camo stinky. I pack 4-5 layers of clothes in my backpack which adds quite a bit of weight for a decent hike. When I get to the stand I put everything on and still end up a little cold. Is there anything you guys or gals have found that will keep you warm without having to pack in 20 pds. worth of clothes, and ending up looking like the little boy from A Christmas Story.

[jgrimes]

I have a heater body suit for those really cold days. They cost a pretty penny, but they are well worth it in my opinion. Best of luck up there on Mica.

[pianoman9701]

I use the stick on toe warmers from Little Hotties hand warmers and the hand warmers. I put them in my hat and shirt pockets, as well as in my pants pockets. I use wicking underwear and give myself plenty of time to get in so I don't sweat at all. I eat a lot of food on stand - you burn twice as many calories staying warm. You already mentioned layering, which is essential.

[Sneaky]

One thing I learned about is windshear... Cabelas makes windshear fleece vests and I won't go afield without one. I originally bought it for waterfowl hunting in just the vest to free up the my arms for shooting but I would like to get a full vest because of how awesome this stuff is. You could stand in a windtunnel and not feel a thing. Keeping the wind off is really important when you get 20-25ft off the ground.


On top of my windshear I was wearing a wool jacket, and thermal shirts underneath with wool pants and long johns and I was cold everywhere but my core because of that vest

[turkeyfeather]

Yeah I have a set of cabela's wind shear dimensions fleece( jacket and pants), but I was wondering if I would be better off with a good wool set or those heavier bibs and jacket sets. I am just concerned about the sleeves getting in the way of the string.

[Elkslayer]

  I use the windshear as well. It works great. I just wear a good set of thermals and then jeans and a good heavy shirt then a layer of windshear over that. For the real cold days I always get the stick on handwarmers and stick them on the thermals. Keeps me nice and warm!

[pianoman9701]

Yeah I have a set of cabela's wind shear dimensions fleece( jacket and pants), but I was wondering if I would be better off with a good wool set or those heavier bibs and jacket sets. I am just concerned about the sleeves getting in the way of the string.

Use an arm guard.

[UptheCreek]

Careful with the windshear.  I have some I wear too but I also have been busted by a nice buck when I pulled my bow back because of the noise the windshear made.  I tend to just layer more fleece on top now over 2 to 3 layers of good thermal underwear.  I can stay all day in a stand in temps under 15.  My only problem is my feet getting cold. 
 

[vandeman17]

One thing I recommend is to get the heated back wraps. I have used them deer hunting and the little lady used them while out duck hunting. Once you get in your stand, take it out of the package and wrap it around your lower back. That little bit of warmth will make a lot of difference. 

[pianoman9701]

One thing I recommend is to get the heated back wraps. I have used them deer hunting and the little lady used them while out duck hunting. Once you get in your stand, take it out of the package and wrap it around your lower back. That little bit of warmth will make a lot of difference. 

I don't understand. You've got the little lady out hunting with you and you have problems keeping warm?  You're either very lucky to have a hunting wife, or very cursed!

[vandeman17]

One thing I recommend is to get the heated back wraps. I have used them deer hunting and the little lady used them while out duck hunting. Once you get in your stand, take it out of the package and wrap it around your lower back. That little bit of warmth will make a lot of difference. 

I don't understand. You've got the little lady out hunting with you and you have problems keeping warm?  You're either very lucky to have a hunting wife, or very cursed!

I don't have problems staying warm, she does.  She does like to hunt with us but I have to be careful when I bring her because she gets cold very easily.

[Helix]

#1 cotton kills.  Right down to your briefs/boxers and socks get in Poly or Wool.  If wool, the finer the wool  the better.  Smartwool is great.  Cotton loses almost all of it's insulating ability when it is damp even just from a little sweat from your hike. 

#2 Over dress on your head, hands and feet, think mittens for your hands that you can pull off quick when needed.  For your head consider a gore windstopper belaclava and a wool watch cap.  Insulated boots are a must.  These areas lose a significant portion of your body heat. 

#3 pad your seat.  The points you touch the groud or your tree stand will sap a lot of your heat. 

[quadrafire]

I have found that if I keep my head/hands/feet warm my body is  not bad. I started using a balaclava for my head/face. It is amazing how much warmer I feel with that on. I will often put some hotties in the back of my gloves and over my toes if I have on my sorrels.

[rasbo]

head hands and feet as stated before,BUT putting your stand in an active area will also help keep your mind off the cold..

[yajsab]

Couple of layers, some hotties and the thermacare wrap.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I use a heater body suit on brutally cold days (but you can use them in milder temps if desired and you will be fine). They are expensive but you will actually save money because you don't have to buy all the layers. You can hunt with very few layers so you don't sweat on the walk in and you don't have to worry about the shooting issues that may come with bulky clothing.

That being said the heater body suit can cause issues if you have to get a shot off quick or if the deer are really close. I prefer to be 22 feet or higher in a tree when I am wearing it and at least 22 -25 yards from where I expect them. Any closer and I worry they will hear the zipper. Despite the drawbacks there is a lot to be said for being comfortable on the stand. You can't kill them if you can't sit there due to the cold and I don't know anyone who can truly enjoy a hunt if they are freezing their arse off for hours at a time.

[huntnnw]

2 beanies and a fleece facemask I always wear..80% of your bodys heat escapes from your head..also oversized boots to wear big socks and so they are not tight! tight boots= cold toes! I also have some army wool cargo pants these are the best purchse I ve made for late season sitting!

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Patrick Meitin wrote a recent article about bowhunting out west and in the cold on Western Whitetail

http://www.westernwhitetail.com/articles/departments/bow-hunting-the-west-cold-weather/

[DBHAWTHORNE]

An older but still good article about how they stay warm while bowhunting the Edmonton Bow Zone in Alberta.

http://www.bowhunter.com/feature_articles_bw_cold_0210.html

[Vo2max]

#1 cotton kills.  Right down to your briefs/boxers and socks get in Poly or Wool.  If wool, the finer the wool  the better.  Smartwool is great.  Cotton loses almost all of it's insulating ability when it is damp even just from a little sweat from your hike. 

#2 Over dress on your head, hands and feet, think mittens for your hands that you can pull off quick when needed.  For your head consider a gore windstopper belaclava and a wool watch cap.  Insulated boots are a must.  These areas lose a significant portion of your body heat. 

#3 pad your seat.  The points you touch the groud or your tree stand will sap a lot of your heat.

  best advice on here by far

[h20hunter]

I've never had a problem. I spend a bit of time each sit yelling and threatening the people that seem to want to hunt in MY area. I'm amazed that they know my stand is there yet still think they have a right to hunt the same spot. I have cleary marked it by peeing and leaving beer cans on the ground while walking in. If it wasn't for the whiskey I drink while in my stand they would be in big trouble. I usually yell and act very agitated when they walk in. I keep a harness in my pack so I'm probably not going to fall while pointing my vindictive finger in their general direction. The plus is by the time I'm done yelling and back to drinking I'm plenty warm and there are no deer left in the area for them to hunt. Win win.

ps......usually I just pack some warm clothes and add a layer once I'm on stand.

[Huntbear]

I find building a fire at the  base of the tree my stand is in works well....

Makes getting out of the tree much easier later in the day...   

[h20hunter]

I joke and all but really....for me I find that taking an extra layer that stays dry and doesn't get sweaty helps. I usually change all the way down to my undershirt. I carry an extra bag to put them in so the scent doesnt' bust me.

[gjbruny]

agree with DB on the Heater body suit. with a little fine tuning, it will be perfect...... i'd love to see it with something like rare earth magnets to close the front instead of the zippper..... some of the Primos blinds are done that way on the windows..... about as quiet as it gets.

on days where i am in regular winter gear, i really really like the Cabelas "Trans Alaska III" pack boots..... they are terrible for hiking as the sole is about 3" thick but for stand hunting, i have yet to find a boot that keeps my feet as warm as these and you never need the foot warmers. my feet have never once gotten cold in them (and my feet get cold very easy) and that includes a few all night sits in past late seasons where i stayed the night in my stand to eliminate busting the deer that i was after. i have used them in North Dakota in temps as low as -20 and still never got the slightest chill.

for my hands, i absolutely love the military issue arctic mittens. they are a large oversize mitten with insulated liners. they snap around your back to get them out of the way quickly and also have heavy heavy fleece on the outside on top of your fingers so that you can use it to warm your cheeks up. the best part is, you can either use very very thin gloves or go completely bare handed. the mittens are suspended by a strap around your neck so when you need to grab your bow or rifle, you just raise your hands out of the mittens and they stay put at your side. they are also pretty inexpensive if you know somebody on base and you can also find them at the surplus stores.

[buck man]

  have the body heater suit and love it in the cold!!!

[400out]

I find building a fire at the  base of the tree my stand is in works well....

Makes getting out of the tree much easier later in the day...   

I'm crying now thanks 

[AKBowman]

I'm in my stand right now freezing my arse off!!

I've found rattling helps to keep warm.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I'm in my stand right now freezing my arse off!!

I've found rattling helps to keep warm.

Teeth rattling?

[Camp David]

I'm in my stand right now freezing my arse off!!

I've found rattling helps to keep warm.

I find it sad that one needs gadget stimulation while hunting.

[AKBowman]

I'm in my stand right now freezing my arse off!!

I've found rattling helps to keep warm.

I find it sad that one needs gadget stimulation while hunting.

Ok I understand. I stand hunt almost exclusively in the late season so it helps pass the time. Dont see te difference between gadget or a book but your entitled to your opinion.

I won't tell you I'm in my stand again this afternoon, a little ware this time not trying to rattle in bucks withy teeth today!

[huntingfamily]

i have a app. on my phone with all the premos calls on it

[Helix]

Careful, electronic calls are a no-no during deer season. 

[Kain]

I also hear keeping your hand in your muff works.      

[Snapshot]

When it is really cold I duct tape a toe warmer to the outside of my wool pant leg right where the femoral artery is closest to the surface, then stand (or sit) with my knees together. It warms the blood.

Poly pro under-layer from the neck to the toes. Wool shirt, wool vest, wool scarf, wool stocking hat, light weight wool pants (as in dress slacks) under heavyweight wool pants. Smartwool socks, 2000 thinsulate rubber boots, jacket, fleece vest, balaclava, fingered wool glove on the bowhand, fingerless wool glove w/ leather shooting glove on the other. If I can't hang my bow I'll slip a toe warmer into the glove on my bow hand, too, to keep those fingers warm.

[grunt11B]

Looks like everyone is doing the same thing by using toe, body warmer and hand warmers... I use alot of hand warmers and placing them inside my jacket, one behind the neck to warm up the spine, 2 tapped on both thighs, and my military issued fleece thermals.....

[Archeryoutfitters]

I have a heater body suit also, it does a good job but has a # of draw backs if its dead quite like when its real cold out makes it really hard to get ready for the shot. also getting it on and off in the tree, or climbing with it on in a self climber not good ether. if you havn't tryed the cabelas stand hunter suite, you are truely missing out on the best pice off clothing that we as a late season bow hunter has. it is very warm, better than the suit and prob. quiter than any other hunting clothing you own comes with a GOOD quality hand muff a must if you dont hunt with one yet. but same as the HS you should wait till you get close to your stand to put it on becouse of the how well it works. easy to get into legs unzip all way to the hip.

[huntingfamily]

love that picture outfitter....is that alfalfa?

[Archeryoutfitters]

ya, our feed of choice

[Wildsau]

After spending a lot of late night hous, in the chilling cold, in Highseats, in Germany, hunting for Wildboar, I have come to love Loden.  I stay, toasty, warm and dry, even if it rains, and no movement makes a sound.  I have found that Loden pands and Parka work just fine.  It is not camoed, but the animals are color-blind anyway.

The rubberized doormat, from the Melissa Bachman YouTube clips, above, make a lot of sense, as well.

[Archeryoutfitters]

After spending a lot of late night hous, in the chilling cold, in Highseats, in Germany, hunting for Wildboar, I have come to love Loden.  I stay, toasty, warm and dry, even if it rains, and no movement makes a sound.  I have found that Loden pands and Parka work just fine.  It is not camoed, but the animals are color-blind anyway.

The rubberized doormat, from the Melissa Bachman YouTube clips, above, make a lot of sense, as well.

Do you have a idea where to look at these items. i goggled but couldn't find any hunter friendly things the color good. Thanks Brian

[pianoman9701]

I also hear keeping your hand in your muff works.      

Yeah, nothing like a muff to keep your hands warm.