Keeping warm when hunting

[sauer]

Two pairs of socks and thermal tracksuit bottoms below the trousers work for me. Remember layer up and you can layer down easily.

on a cold wet soggy /freezing day how the f&*k are you removing tracky bottoms and a pair of socks "easily"?

asking for a friend

 

[GThomson]

Totally agree, and Scotland has about the most difficult and deadly winter conditions. When it’s well below freezing the air is very dry and any moisture quickly evaporates. But when its just above freezing and windy and wet you just get sodden with sweat from the inside as the air is saturated with moisture.

You very quickly loose body heat, especially with wind chill and you quickly die.

How many when winter stalking actually carry a bivvy bag / survival bag, especially if on your own. Doesn’t take much to slip, twist or break an ankle and not be able to get back to shelter. At least with a bivvy bag or deer carcass bag you have some means of keeping the worst of the weather at bay, and it makes it lot easier fir the mountain rescue to recover your remains if the worst happens.

Winter has arrived so keep safe and don’t become a statistic. And keep a good eye on the snow pack - even a small wet Scottish avalanche is able to outrun and then kill - they are mostly full of ice and rocks so have the same effect as a concrete mixer. If you don’t know about avalanches Ben More Lodge has some good online videos and courses.

Wise words. I am sure most of us who stalk hinds up here in Scotland have had instances where the wheels nearly came off and an accident. An example of mine is a few years ago I slipped backwards into a frozen burn and was lucky not to land on my head. On that occasion I had someone with me but it was still dodgy. As I stalk on my own a lot I now carry a bivy bag and a head torch (an absolute must). Carrying extra kit is a pain but a day sack with a couple of safety items is worth the hassle IMHO.

 

[glasshalffull]

on a cold wet soggy /freezing day how the f&*k are you removing tracky bottoms and a pair of socks "easily"?

asking for a friend

It works for me and I'm beating thrice weekly atm (sounds suspect I know). Tell your friend to wait until undercover or a wee break in the weather in order to facilitate the divestment or to suffer on regardless

 

[Mungo]

Stick your hands up to the wrists in the water of a highland burn for about as long as the chappie was dookin’ in the video at #15 and your circulation will be usefully stimulated for the rest of the day, dry cold down to minus 10 to 12 isn’t anything to complain about, wet damp cold around -1 to plus 5 or 6 deg is where the real miserable cold is (maybe it’s a regional thing!).

View attachment 285019
…or you can make do with a couple of ‘pocket warmers’ in yer tweeds - that’ll stimulate the circulation too nae need for mountain rescue, I’m feeling fine, thanks!

Completely agree that -1 to plus 6, with rain is the zone of pure misery.

Re. Putting your hands in cold water - that’s fine if you’re active. I’ve done a fair amount of winter fishing, and once you get past the first 20 minutes of agony, it’s fine. But when you’re still, bare hands in any kind of wind are unbearable.

 

[Bwchyn]

Any thoughts on the Buffalo pile/pertex system @NigelM ?

I was out yesterday, not stalking but up a hill in Scotland, out all day in a Buffalo shirt worn next to the skin, no baselayer or shell carried. Perfectly comfortable and warm and dry by the time I'd driven home.

I use one of these with a base layer underneath, never been so warm when out. It works quite well when you sit up for a while too.

 

[JTO]

Any thoughts on the Buffalo pile/pertex system @NigelM ?

Had a buffalo pile sleeping back once, with waterproof outer shell. Really warm!

 

[JTO]

Had a buffalo pile sleeping back once, with waterproof outer shell. Really warm!

OOOPPS!!! Sleeping BAG.

 

[Scarpa]

I do a fair bit of winter and ice climbing and one thing that really works is a belay jacket. Designed to quickly put on over the top of your shell jacket when stationary, they pack fairly small and don't involve having to take your outer layer off.

 

[Scarpa]

Oh, I still use my old Buffalo shirt at times, great bits of kit.

 

[tarponhead]

I

Sat for nearly four hours Saturday in -4 with a team of guys on a cull day. Layered up with merino and down and was pretty much fine - just my toes got cold in the end.

What I found interesting was that half the team looked like me - basically like a barrel in their classic cut roomy stalking gear (2x merino base layers, Buffalo 6 shirt, body warmer, 900 down jacket with a smock thrown on top)

Meanwhile, the other half had real tight, almost figure hugging decent branded kit on.

No one complained of having being cold though, which surprised me as they looked like they were dressed for Autumn.

Brought me to the conclusion that some kit really is worth investing in.

did the same and whilst I’m not a Harkila etc man, I wear my shooting trousers and jacket because I put my kit in particular pockets. That over layers of merino and synthetic, over milsurp thermal base layers and I pay attention to a decent neck buff and hat. My Mac Wets are fine for my hands which can go into pockets, but my feet were still blocks of ice despite two pairs of socks in neoprene boots. Nothing a brisk walk on the spot whilst waiting to be picked up from the high seat, to fix that.

 

[Camdig]

This was yesterday decided to go back in and put fire on and sit in my merino thermals.
That's too cold for anything imo

 

[User00036]

Some of this high tech stuff is bloody warm, has one draw back, you get electrocuted when you touch a tap, or arc welded to your partners lips when you kiss her.

 

[Nellie Jensen]

Gotta say I bought some soft-shell fleece line trousers, only the cheap ones with a DWR coating. Game changer..... comfy and flexible, windproof and warm. Stick a pair of waterproof overtrousers and bingo toasty dry and most of all easy to hike in when on the hill . I bought regatta in the sale for £24. grey. I own harkila pro hunters which are great but soak up the water and are real heavy and not that flexible. Been looking at Hiking clothing instead of hunting clothing which , unless you're in a high seat is the way to go IMHO-----

 

[Polar Lynx]

High tech i.e. electric for feet and fngers. Going out this evening and looking forward. 'Only' - 8 C just now (Sweden).

 

[North Cumbrian]

To all the above advice I'd add not to wear a waterproof jacket unless its really raining, especially if you're working hard. In most conditions a light and relatively cheap windproof outer layer is less sweaty and much more comfortable. This will also result in expensive waterproofs lasting a lot longer.

 

[eldon]

Don't underestimate Chainsaw trousers, not for the wet but ideal for the cold. The safety padding keeps the chill and wind at bay quite nicely.

 

[Muir]

The video was for "late season" elk. Here that is November to mid February. Temps get to -40F with a wind and snow. Stupid time of the year to hunt but the tags are inexpensive and it keeps winter kill down. You need to stay warm as you hunt but also plan on staying the night which is more sweat inducing gear to carry. If you shoot an elk in the back country you will most likely carry it out in pieces; 4 or five trips. (In the same miserably cold weather)
I have a late season Elk Tag but I'm getting too old for this kind of fun. ~Muir

 

[sy247]

I rate the Bufallo pile and pertex system for cold, and windy conditions. It won't keep you dry but it will keep you warm. As mentioned the Belay jacket is great to chuck on over the top of everything else. I haven't used it for stalking though.

I like Snugpak jackets to put on top of everything when it's really cold especially when stopping. Better than down in the UK.

Bison Bushcraft do some nice wool shirts. Good as insulation under a DPM Arctic windproof gabardine smock or a Ventile jacket.

I prefer Paramo to Goretex, but it has its limitations.

Everything is a compromise.

Im general, keep hands, feet and head dry and warm. Have a spare pair of dry socks, gloves and hat.

Cary a vacuum packed bivi sleeping / survival bag. It packs down really small and could save your life. Something like this:

Bramble - 2 Premium Emergency Thermal Survival Weatherproof Sleeping/Bivvy Bag https://amzn.eu/d/4YAw6bC

After having a fall recently in the mountains it did occur to me that if it was worse and I had seriously injured myself and couldn't move, getting into such a bag would prove impossible. It could be cut but a reflective blanket is going to be added to my kit in future.

If really remote and you're alone consider a PLB or some other satellite communications device.

Just my thoughts, YMMV.

 

[User00047]

Well we’ve got it tough here in Cornwall. Sometimes in the depths of midwinter I have to wear two T-shirts to keep warm!