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Cold weather hunts

Luckofthedraw

New Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2021
Messages
11
New to the saddle game-looking to purchase soon.

I can see the benefits of being mobile during my Sept/October hunts and I love the idea of the saddle.

I hunt the mule deer rut in late November. Hiking I’m usually in mild layers; but when I use my climber or ladder stands in the late season I am in wool sweaters, bibs, over coat, gloves, winter boots and hand warmers.

Cold weather guys-how does this work for you? Tia-LOTD
 
It is the same except I find it easier to put bottom layers on at base of tree. It is much harder to get these layers under the saddle at height. Plus it would not as safe. Some have modified the Heater Body Suit to be able an put it on over the saddle.


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I’m new to it as well and I put my fanatic bibs on at the base of the tree as well, the problem for me is I sweat really bad climbing up using the 1 stick method I’m sure it’s cause I’m not in one Stick shape still. Even putting my jacket on at hunting height seems dangerous to me and scares me to death lol I’m almost ready to say when it’s that cold ima just use my climber. I never did but it’s a thought..: good luck


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It is the same except I find it easier to put bottom layers on at base of tree. It is much harder to get these layers under the saddle at height. Plus it would not as safe. Some have modified the Heater Body Suit to be able an put it on over the saddle.


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Where would I find info on modifying heater body suit!? Thanks
 
I use a sit drag/rch over bibs and it works fine. Not conformable but fine for my four hour sits
 
I use an iwom xt when it’s really nasty and no modifications are needed, I put it on once up in the tree, on a decent size platform like the mission, for normal deer season weather I don’t think Sitka with the proper layers can be beat, put it on that the base of the tree.
 
The Iwom xt already has slits on the side that are perfect for your bridge, I have a second fixed length bridge with biners on each end I leave in a pocket of the Iwom, once I’m up to height and settled in I haul that thing up with paracord and jump in, Im never untethered during the process, when I’m done I just unzip and it almost falls off, I just throw it down I hardly ever hunt the same place twice.
 
Ive been hunting out of a kestrel the last 4 seasons. When it gets around freezing i go to my lock on. Ive got a Jx3 comming this week to help see if it helps with comfront when its cold.
 
I usually leave my jacket off on the climb. Or I climb slow so I don’t build up body heat so fast. I also do not over dress. With my area the temp will rise throughout the day. So I dress according to the high of the day. Not the low temp. If it starts at 33 and ends at 50 for the day. I will dress for the 50. Most of the low temps for the day is while I am moving. Or I will spend a hour or so in that temp setup and still but after that, it warms up pretty quick.
 
I’m new to it as well and I put my fanatic bibs on at the base of the tree as well, the problem for me is I sweat really bad climbing up using the 1 stick method I’m sure it’s cause I’m not in one Stick shape still. Even putting my jacket on at hunting height seems dangerous to me and scares me to death lol I’m almost ready to say when it’s that cold ima just use my climber. I never did but it’s a thought..: good luck


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Maybe spurs or multiple sticks would be less work for your ascent?
 
I modified a heater body suit By making holes with 6" sleeves for my bridge and linemans belt to pass through. The sleeves are insulated with draw strings in their cuffs to cut off any draft. I only use the heater body suit when the temperature is greater than -10. My Cabelas 9n1 cold weather combination suit insulated pack boots is my to go to cold weather rig down to -10.
 
Last weekend of season in Wisconsin was -3F in the morning getting up to 10-12F by 11am. Snowshoed in a few hundred yards because the trails were so blocked with downed trees.

Sitting in a Fanantic bib/jacket/hat, Ambient jacket underneath, Kuiu balaclava, wool base layers, and Steger Mukluks I was reasonably warm for 4 hours a day. I would stick a body heater to low back over my kidneys and have one in my kangaroo pouch.

The issue was even with toe heaters my feet got really cold standing on an aluminum platform. When they finally started to get numb I’d get down. And I haven’t found a pair of gloves that allow dexterity to tie truckers hitches on sticks but still keep my hands warm doing it.

I’m going to be the first in line for the Tethrd Vader (they put an update in the vendors area this week) and would love a set of carbon sticks. Not really for the weight savings but for less heat transfer from my feet and hands.

I also need to make a set of wood and lace snowshoes, the plastic MSRs are good for hiking and slopes, but loud. I’m also considering the Black Diamond trekking skis, which make a lot of sense for where I live and hunt.
 
Last weekend of season in Wisconsin was -3F in the morning getting up to 10-12F by 11am. Snowshoed in a few hundred yards because the trails were so blocked with downed trees.

Sitting in a Fanantic bib/jacket/hat, Ambient jacket underneath, Kuiu balaclava, wool base layers, and Steger Mukluks I was reasonably warm for 4 hours a day. I would stick a body heater to low back over my kidneys and have one in my kangaroo pouch.

The issue was even with toe heaters my feet got really cold standing on an aluminum platform. When they finally started to get numb I’d get down. And I haven’t found a pair of gloves that allow dexterity to tie truckers hitches on sticks but still keep my hands warm doing it.

I’m going to be the first in line for the Tethrd Vader (they put an update in the vendors area this week) and would love a set of carbon sticks. Not really for the weight savings but for less heat transfer from my feet and hands.

I also need to make a set of wood and lace snowshoes, the plastic MSRs are good for hiking and slopes, but loud. I’m also considering the Black Diamond trekking skis, which make a lot of sense for where I live and hunt.
I am looking into these snow shoes. Lots of snow in north west Wisconsin this year. Those skis look nice also.

I have not figured out the hand or cold foot riddle quite yet. I have not tried it yet but I think I am going to go to a wool sock, down booty, muckluck solution. I just have not been able to get out to try it out yet. I have a set of wiggies muckluck and wiggies bootie.


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I use USGI wool glove liners which work fine in sub freezing temps as long as you put a hand warmer on the backside of each hand. Without the warmers or if you mistakenly put them in your palms, your fingers will go numb quickly.


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I am looking into these snow shoes. Lots of snow in north west Wisconsin this year. Those skis look nice also.

I have not figured out the hand or cold foot riddle quite yet. I have not tried it yet but I think I am going to go to a wool sock, down booty, muckluck solution. I just have not been able to get out to try it out yet. I have a set of wiggies muckluck and wiggies bootie.


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Still working towards a perfect solution; but either a CGM hand muff with a good thin glove or properly placed "convenient" pockets seem to do ok for my hands, and a silk or really thin polypropylene liner sock with a Hollow Alpaca sock for my feet; has worked better this year than what I've used previously! Counter-intuitive, but less on my feet in a looser-fitting "breathable" less-insulated boot seems to keep my feet warmer. I've hunted down to about 10 degrees with a 25 mph wind this year, as a low...
 
New to the saddle game-looking to purchase soon.

I can see the benefits of being mobile during my Sept/October hunts and I love the idea of the saddle.

I hunt the mule deer rut in late November. Hiking I’m usually in mild layers; but when I use my climber or ladder stands in the late season I am in wool sweaters, bibs, over coat, gloves, winter boots and hand warmers.

Cold weather guys-how does this work for you? Tia-LOTD

I pack my layers in and put them on at the bottom of the tree! I do have a size 2 Cruzr XC for heavy clothing layers vs. my normal size 1, and CGM makes a Saddle Woobie (if packability size isn't an absolute issue). I don't find saddle warmth really any different than stand warmth. I've used the Tethrd SBW and really didn't see much of a difference, so I didn't even install that on my saddle this year...
 
I love First Lite stuff...it'$ pricey, I know, but I use the Solitudes for cold weather down to about 20 deg, and the Sanctuaries for cold below that temperature. I've been ok down to -25 or so (wind chill) with those. I usually put the bottoms on before I leave for the hike in, but I'm in PA, & my longest hikes are 1-3 miles, & usually are ALOT shorter than that.

Sometimes I wait until I get to the tree. But if I have a long hike in, I just stuff 'em in a dry bag & use the bottom "bedroll" straps on my pack to hold it- the dry bag keeps 'em dry, but more important, I usually hunt in really thick stuff which, in PA, means PLENTY of thorns & stickers, so they are protected & don't get caught up/torn up on the way in. Thorns just slide off of dry bags.

My bottoms ALWAYS go on when I'm on the ground. I practiced trying to put them on with a platform set about a foot of off the ground & my saddle on, and it wasn't pretty- I'm just too clumsy & off balance for that! :rolleyes:

The nice thing about them is they have what I call "double zippers" in the legs-you have a zipper that goes down your leg, to close it up once you put your foot thru it, and then you have another one on the same track that you can open, so you can "vent" as much of your legs as you want to on the hike in & during the climb. Once I cool down a bit, I just stand up, zip the legs full closed, put the jacket on, and stay warm!
 
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I hike into my stand / tree wearing minimal clothes and carry warm and heavy layers to put on when I get to my destination. It’s a simple solution that prevents me from getting sweated up and allows me to get toasty warm and comfortable. I sit still when I’m warm and figit and move a lot when im cold. So, warm is the key to success, for me.
 
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