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Winter hunting.

Shed84

Active Member
Dec 26, 2021
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Love hunting in the snow! I do get depressed when I have a long walk to the tree and don't cut one deer track and only see fox and coyote tracks. Let's me know how much I should also preditor hunt.
 
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Andrew920

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Sep 26, 2022
397
996
93
Michigan
Being from the deep South I have no love of cold weather, but the right clothes make all the difference. Wind PROOF is your friend. We have very little of the sub zero stuff guys up north have to deal with, but our cold is a wet, damp cold, just like our heat is humid.

My gear, with the exception of my dang socks works fantastically. While I was in the tree I ordered heated socks. Maybe that will help.


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WISCO

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2022
455
755
93
Northern Wisconsin
Wisconsin opens gun up on Saturday. Cloudy with a high of 19, 15 MPH winds. Been snowing the last few days, we have a few inches on the ground. I am looking forward to the hunt. I will be in the blind opening day, planning for an all day sit.
 
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Horn

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Mar 8, 2022
3,100
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Ha. If you’re asking because I whacked a deer that day, I can assure you there was no snow accumulated on my head that day.


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Nope, it was 75 last Thursday. Snowing this week lol
 
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Dmathews87

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2022
775
1,416
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SE Louisiana
35 and moist is the absolute worst, screw that noise.

Last week we had rain early morning but cleared...and that was true enough...what they didnt say was that it was going to mist on you all day long...sooo you were still gonna get wet and cold...hated every second of it.
 
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skell

Moderator
Staff member
SH Member
Oct 25, 2016
1,394
2,411
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Iowa
Great topic. I'm pretty much giddy to get out tomorrow morning. We have a few inches of snow on the ground now. Breaking out the snow cover ups and ground hunting until I find the spot. Forecast says upper teens w/ 15 mph WNW winds. Should minimize the crowd. We'll see how long I can take it!
 

redsquirrel

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Feb 19, 2014
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NJ
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Late season is hard hunting but I love it and the colder the better. Cold temps keep hunters in bed and get deer moving around all day to feed. I've shot a few does in single digits and my latest buck was on December 30 at 9:30 am with a temp of 12 degrees. I've seen a bunch of bucks on their feet that time of year just haven't been able to close the deal with most of them being out of bow range.
 

Andrew920

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Sep 26, 2022
397
996
93
Michigan
Late season is hard hunting but I love it and the colder the better. Cold temps keep hunters in bed and get deer moving around all day to feed. I've shot a few does in single digits and my latest buck was on December 30 at 9:30 am with a temp of 12 degrees. I've seen a bunch of bucks on their feet that time of year just haven't been able to close the deal with most of them being out of bow range.

I was mainly just feeling sorry for myself. I’ll be out all winter hunting doe’s. I’m tagged out on bucks.
My problem honestly with winter hunting is trying to stay out long enough to bag something. I saw 3 today, just a little to far away. Once we got out of the peak movement time though it was too easy to talk myself into getting down. Something I need to work on I guess.


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redsquirrel

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Feb 19, 2014
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I was mainly just feeling sorry for myself. I’ll be out all winter hunting doe’s. I’m tagged out on bucks.
My problem honestly with winter hunting is trying to stay out long enough to bag something. I saw 3 today, just a little to far away. Once we got out of the peak movement time though it was too easy to talk myself into getting down. Something I need to work on I guess.


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I wouldn't consider this late season yet around me at least, but once you see a nice buck walking around in the middle of the day during that time of year it starts to make it a lot easier to stay those hours. Same thing for me during the rut. I've shot probably a half dozen bucks between 10-2 so I have no problems sitting all day or even just going to the woods after sleeping in cause I know there's a chance it will be the day.
 

Ontariofarmer

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Dec 25, 2015
5,258
5,098
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No winter hunting for me this year. Tagged out after being skunked last year. Kind of nice.
The best thing for winter hunting is a pnuma heated base layer. Heat where and when you want it


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Bowtech12

Well-Known Member
Sep 10, 2017
393
119
43
55
Western New York
I’ve hunted when it was zero out
Pretty damn cold that’s for sure

I’d use something like a heater body suit if I ever did that again
 

MNFarmHunter

Well-Known Member
Jun 6, 2021
1,898
3,722
113
Minnesota
Not my favorite time to setup base camp but each season is different.

Early season: If anything too hot, plus bugs, but easier to regulate in a tree

Mid season: Crap shoot. If lucky, first frost has come so no bugs but temp swings and thus wind changes are a PITA

Winter: Base camp is almost a no-go due to snow drifts blocking the road. This is also spot-n-stalk time as everything is quiet and you can see distances.


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sureshot

Active Member
Aug 11, 2020
125
256
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It's been a while since it's been like this, but iowa shotgun season has had some bitter cold days - start out below zero with highs in the single digits. I go a mile into the public and it is steep terrain. There is no way to avoid getting sweaty. I thought it was going to be brutal and no way I was going to stay warm the first time, but it actually isn't that bad if you dress properly. Part of dressing properly is no sweaty clothes so when I get to my spot, I strip down and put dry clothes on, along with all the additional layers I packed in. There's been at least one year I remember when I was changing that my sweaty hair was frozen solid. It's always a sun up to sun down hunt unless you tag out.

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