Dress for the weather: Armed for the cold

By Tresa Erickson

If you like to hunt and spend hours every season in a treestand waiting for the right opportunity, then you know how cold it can get. Depending upon what region of the country you live in, you could experience temperatures in the low 20s each morning. To protect yourself against the elements, you need to wear all of the right clothing and dress in layers.

When it comes to clothing, quality counts. You need to purchase the warmest, most well-made clothing you can afford. You must protect your feet with heavy socks and insulated boots. Some hunters prefer electric socks and boot blankets, which go over the boots. These, however, can make getting around difficult.

Long underwear is a must for cold mornings. You may wear an insulated suit or a flannel shirt and pants. Avoid cotton, which will wick away body heat when wet. To keep your legs warm, you may want to purchase some bib overalls with full-length zippers, which you can remove easily later when it warms up. Look for overalls made of fleece or wool for quietness.

Depending upon how cold it is, you will probably want to wear a light fleece jacket and a parka that will fit down over your waist. Make sure the parka has a tall collar to keep your neck warm and a hood to keep your head warm.

Heat can escape the head fast, so make sure you wear a toboggan under your hooded parka, and don’t forget your hands. Heavy gloves are an absolute must. You may also want some hand warmers or a muff.

These are just some suggestions for dressing and staying warm on those bitterly cold mornings during hunting season. Keep in mind that you will want your clothing to be waterproof and have an umbrella on hand for your treestand. That way, if it rains, you will be prepared.

Of course, you will want to pack much of your clothing to the woods and put it on once you get close to your treestand. Moving around in all of that garb could prove troublesome.