Marmuzz
Well-Known Member
Going rifle hunting in some NY Adirondack wilderness with a buddy later this week. We will be “tenting” in a capped truck bed. We’ll have a campfire and the truck cab for short-term heat, but nothing warm and enclosed for a long period of time. Forecast calls for rain Thursday, then overnight dropping to 20-30° F which will remain for the next few days. (Yes, it’s gonna be very cold for camping.) My concern is my rifle scope… since we’re planning to still hunt/hike (i.e. not standing still where I can cover the scope), I’m imagining a scenario where the scope gets wet Thursday, then sits overnight in the truck, and freezes. At best, the scope fogs up… and I can’t see to shoot. At worst, the water freezes in the scope, expands, and ruins the scope. I’m trying to figure out how to prevent either situation if possible, but especially the latter.
Do you guys who hunt northern woods in freezing temps have solutions for this? Although I’ve hunted in PA rain/sleet/snow plenty of times, I’ve always had a warm cabin to rest the rifle in overnight.
My only thought to avoid the worst-case scenario is to—
a) not hunt Thursday, or
b) meticulously dry off the entire rifle and scope end of hunt Thursday, let it sit with me half an hour so in the warm truck cab to help draw out moisture, and then cuddle it in my sleeping bag while sleeping.
Any suggestions? Or am I overanxious about this?
Do you guys who hunt northern woods in freezing temps have solutions for this? Although I’ve hunted in PA rain/sleet/snow plenty of times, I’ve always had a warm cabin to rest the rifle in overnight.
My only thought to avoid the worst-case scenario is to—
a) not hunt Thursday, or
b) meticulously dry off the entire rifle and scope end of hunt Thursday, let it sit with me half an hour so in the warm truck cab to help draw out moisture, and then cuddle it in my sleeping bag while sleeping.
Any suggestions? Or am I overanxious about this?