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Cold Weather Saddle Hunting

Dhamilton1

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2020
Messages
56
Location
West Virginia
I understand this topic has probably been discussed in length before but I was wondering about saddle hunting in cold weather, mid November when their could be snow on the ground and temps freezing or below.

Typically on the ground or in a ladder stand you’d have on heavy bibs and a jacket but I assume that’s almost impossible in a saddle.

I had thought about instead of being layered so heavy you can barely move, why not wear heavy merino base layers and lighter out later then in the tree slip on slim fleece lined pants and jacket or puffy down pants and jacket?

Being new to saddle hunting and just getting back into hunting in general the last 3 years, I’m new to the concept of being warm but dressing so you can move. Childhood hunts consisted of long johns, sweats, then jacket and bibs that weighted 10 pounds each it felt like and only rifle hunted.
 
I agree I remember being 12-14 and my dad bundling me up with 2-3 cotton sweatshirts. Now with good base layers, a good mid layer and an outer layer that is windproof I wear 3 layers. I am a huge fan of bibs and for saddle hunting I think they will win out over pants because of trying to keep your jacket tucked into the saddle. I wore my windproof stuff yesterday morning unzipped the bibs on the legs and front and was fine. Moved slow so I didn't overheat and put my jacket on at hunting height. Basically I have learned that a good base, mid and outer is very important FOR ME to stay warm in cold weather.
 
I'll be interested to hear from those with experience but at least for this season, I'm not changing what I'd normally wear as the saddle just goes on over my cold weather gear. I've already hunted in my winter boots so that wasn't an issue. The only issue I've had so far is tucking my jacket into my saddle if I put it on once at height.

Biggest PITA I may find this year is the butt pockets on my cold weather gear have zippers which may in fact turn into a PITA.
 
I agree I remember being 12-14 and my dad bundling me up with 2-3 cotton sweatshirts. Now with good base layers, a good mid layer and an outer layer that is windproof I wear 3 layers. I am a huge fan of bibs and for saddle hunting I think they will win out over pants because of trying to keep your jacket tucked into the saddle. I wore my windproof stuff yesterday morning unzipped the bibs on the legs and front and was fine. Moved slow so I didn't overheat and put my jacket on at hunting height. Basically I have learned that a good base, mid and outer is very important FOR ME to stay warm in cold weather.

What bibs and jacket are you using? Are you wearing your saddle over the bibs? Is it possible to put bibs on in the tree over the saddle and have the bridge through the front?
 
I have been hunting exclusively with a saddle not for 4 years. In that, I have hunted in below 30 degree weather. What I do is I wear in my first lite long johns, (Light-Heavy for bottoms and the same for the top) and I pack in my heavy bibs and coat. Get to the tree, and I put my bibs on and one stick up the tree. Go slow...do not work up a sweat. Once at height, I place my platform, put my one stick with scout platform to my weak side of the platform. Get up on the platform and secure myself to the tree. At this time, I'll use my linemans belt and put it around the tree twice so that I don't slide if the platform fails. I'm still secured to my rappel rope for the "what if." Then I put my coat on, unbuckle my belt on my saddle and tuck my coat on the inside of the saddle belt. Secure my waist belt and continue to hunt. Unhook my linemans and make sure my tether is supporting my weight (before I unhook the lineman's) and hunt. It's a process, but it's doable. I've even killed deer every year I've hunted in cold weather with my saddle.
 
I'll be interested to hear from those with experience but at least for this season, I'm not changing what I'd normally wear as the saddle just goes on over my cold weather gear. I've already hunted in my winter boots so that wasn't an issue. The only issue I've had so far is tucking my jacket into my saddle if I put it on once at height.

Biggest PITA I may find this year is the butt pockets on my cold weather gear have zippers which may in fact turn into a PITA.

What cold weather gear are you using? Any issues with the saddle overtop of it?
 
Few different ways to do it depending how cold were talking. For real cold I had a HBS that I cut slits For the bridge to go through wire my saddle under ‘ used a removable bridge to get setup. Now have iwom xt basically same setup just easier to use with the saddle (the hand warmers pass through pockets, keep you from having to modify it. Just regular cold just pack my jacket & unzip my bibs at the legs & to my waist & dress light for the walk in, wearing saddle on top.
 
What cold weather gear are you using? Any issues with the saddle overtop of it?
In past years, non-saddle gun hunting, I've work a cabelas brand insulated coveralls and synthetic base layers with (2) pairs of a merino wool socks in my boots. I do ventilate the coveralls while walking and zip up once I get cold. I'll probably change things before next season but won't know what to change until I try what I currently have.
 
Last year was my first season so I didn't have a lot of gear/clothes. I used a lot of hand warmers and body warmers(the kind that stick on to an underlayer/sold for back pain) and some electric heated socks, but I still got really cold sometimes. One area in particular I screwed up (and still struggle with) is sweating. I sweat, a lot, and haven't yet figured out how to control sweating on the walk in, which leads to being an icicle on the tree. Following to learn more as well, the key for me will be figuring out how to deal with sweat, rather than getting more fancy gear. I may start bringing a dry bag and change of clothes and just walking in in pants and a sweatshirt then changing completely at the base of the tree, my hope was that the dry bag may contain the sweat smell to a degree.
 
I've done alot of winter camping and layering is key to not sweating (I sweat easily too). For winter camping, I wear the same base layers and (2) pair of wool socks. For outer wear, I have a pair of M1951 wool pants, a M1951 wool shirt and a heavy parka. Most of the time, the parka is removed with the shirt/pants plenty warm while working down to -20 without sweating. Once stopped and cooled off, the parka goes back on.

Depending on how cold it gets during this season, I may only wear my FL Catalyst bibs (with base layers) and the wool shirt (with base layers) and pack in a jacket. Once at height and if I get cold, then put on a jacket. This year is an experiment but the bibs and shirt with wind blocking jacket should get me down to 30 degrees. Colder temps will probably require the coveralls or full wools.
 
I am a large American (6'2" and we'll just say a solid 260lbs)... I have no problem wearing my Sitka Incinerators (bibs and jacket) with either my Cruzr XC or JX3. Haven't had the change to test with my Transformer yet, but not 100% sure I will be using that come late season. I even end up with a pair or Ice Breakers boot blankets on as well as it is over for me shortly after my feet get cold - just can't sit still. Walk in in base layers to avoid sweating as much as possible, throw bibs and such on once cooled down at base of tree, jacket and boot blankets get put on at height once settled in for the sit.
 
Last year was my first season so I didn't have a lot of gear/clothes. I used a lot of hand warmers and body warmers(the kind that stick on to an underlayer/sold for back pain) and some electric heated socks, but I still got really cold sometimes. One area in particular I screwed up (and still struggle with) is sweating. I sweat, a lot, and haven't yet figured out how to control sweating on the walk in, which leads to being an icicle on the tree. Following to learn more as well, the key for me will be figuring out how to deal with sweat, rather than getting more fancy gear. I may start bringing a dry bag and change of clothes and just walking in in pants and a sweatshirt then changing completely at the base of the tree, my hope was that the dry bag may contain the sweat smell to a degree.
6'3" and 315# here, so yeah I sweat a lot too. I've had the issue of walking in and being drenched by the time I got to where I was going. While properly layering is definitely what you're going to want for aim for, I found when I layer to be just as important. Last year here in MI I was hunting all thru the end of December. I decided not to climb when it was too cold, but what worked for me was this:

  • Walk in wearing just my underlayers (longjohns and thermal undershirt) and any Hunter Orange needed. All other layers are packed in
  • Take my time walking in, its not a race.
  • Once at my location and set up....hang out in my underlayers until I started to cool off.
  • Throw on my next layer of clothing. Wait until I start to get cold again.
  • Throw on my bibs and heavier winter coat.
I've found that waiting until I've fully cooled off and start to just feel that chill prevented me from continuing to sweat when I do add those extra layers. I was able to comfortably sit for full days last winter like that. One of the reasons I decided to stick to the ground when it gets that cold is I don't want to have to try and add layers while up in a tree. Plus I can't imagine putting my layers on at the base of a tree and then climbing without sweating up a storm.
 
I use Pnuma Gear heated bottoms and top base layers. These allow me to just wear the heavier Vertx pants and jacket on top of the core layers. I will also a down puffy vest under my jacket.
 
I use Pnuma Gear heated bottoms and top base layers. These allow me to just wear the heavier Vertx pants and jacket on top of the core layers. I will also a down puffy vest under my jacket.
That sounds more like the system I’d like to eventually get. Minimum layers but max warmth.
 
I use Pnuma Gear heated bottoms and top base layers. These allow me to just wear the heavier Vertx pants and jacket on top of the core layers. I will also a down puffy vest under my jacket.

I grabbed those Pnuma IconX vest and pants this off-season. Excited to try them out. Hoping to get by with that, possibly merino base (if needed), Klamath hoody and Pnuma Jacket and Pant for 20s and below this season. We’ll see how it goes.

I can get by in that Wick hoody for a good chunk of my hunt in the 40s so core heat usually isn’t too big of a deal for me. It’s my fingers and toes that get me. What gloves do you guys use that work well in the 20s and below? I’ve had some mild frostbite on my fingertips so they give me problems when it gets really cold.
 
I used to layer and over dress in my treestand days often getting sweaty by the time I got settled in.
I learned to layer, leave early, dont rush but most of all, instaed of extra clithes to fight hypothermia I began using chemical packs.
The big ones with adhesive. I despise the non adhesive ones.
I put one in my inner layer by the kidneys, that takes care of my back zone, one below my sternum and sometimes one by my femoral artery.

You will be surprised how light you can dress doing this and they will last hours.
I wear my saddle or tree belt outside all my clothes. Thats why I buy size 2.
 
i hunt southern MN... public land... i hike in anywhere from .5 to 2.0 miles in.... last year i was still wearing my under armor cold gear 4.0 stuff that i use for duck hunting.. worked fine enough... now, when it gets cold, i use multiple layers of merino wool.. i went out last weekend the low was 37 while i was in the tree and i never bothered to put my jacket on... left the bibs at home... i was blown away that merino wool actualy made a difference... when its below 25... ill bring the bibs.. i pack them in and put them on at the base of the tree... leave my jacket in my bag until after ive cooled down after climbing the tree... no issues at all working them around the saddle
 
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