Opening day of firearm season is nearly here. For deer hunters or hunting spouses, that means once again rising to the challenge of staying warm out in the woods.
Whether you’re the hunter of the family like me, or your partner is the one you’ll be sending out to find meat for the family, no one wants to get sick from too much chill. Take a look below to find the best tips for staying warm while cold weather hunting.
*Disclaimer: Some of the links you see may be affiliate links. All that means is if you click through and end up making a purchase, I’ll earn a commission.
Cold Doesn’t Make You Sick
If you’re a parent, all you have to do is trawl the parenting groups on Facebook to hear from enough nurses and doctors who swear that being out in the cold doesn’t make you sick.
Hunt enough times in cold weather and get sick afterward, and you don’t care what they say anymore. Plus most people refer to “the cold and flu season” just as often as they say “winter.”
There are a few reasons for this, direct from science. The first is this: the virus that causes the common cold, human rhinovirus or HRV, spreads more easily in lower temperatures. Secondly, studies show that lowered temperature AND humidity are both contributing factors to developing HRV infections. It’s likely that your immune response is lowered in colder temperatures.
Regardless of whether you believe the data or not, when you go out hunting this fall in the cold, your chances of getting sick goes up. Here are some great ways to stay healthy and strong while you wait for your buck.
Take Care of Yourself
Before you head out into the cold, be sure you’re doing everything you can to boost your immune system. If you’re buffered against micro invaders, you’ll stand a better chance of staying healthy. Vitamin C is a proven contributor to immune defense, as well as zinc and echinacea.
If you’re an oily mom, you can pull out those essential oils that help boost immunity to get you ready for deer season.
Get plenty of rest leading up to deer camp. Your body releases proteins your body needs to fight sickness while you sleep. If you’re behind on rest, you won’t have enough of those proteins to fight germs.
Best Gear for Cold Weather Hunting
If cold weather can make you sick, then staying warm is the best way not to get sick, right? Yet it’s hard to feel toasty when there’s snow on the ground and it’s below freezing and you’re planning to be in the woods from sunup to sundown. Having the right gear can make a difference.
Seat warmer
Even a simple cushion filled with warming foam can help keep your body warm while you wait in the woods. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a warm seat.
Warm socks and boots
Be sure your boots have enough room for thick socks. Use a fiber like wool to be sure your feet stay warm, even if they get wet or sweaty. If your feet are cold, it’s hard to keep the rest of your body warm.
Heated clothing
Some vests or jackets are heated with air-activated packs like handwarmers, and some are heated with electricity via USB battery packs. Either way, heated clothing is a great way to keep yourself warm in the deer blind.
Propane heater (or infrared if you want to get fancy)
Blanket
An old wool blanket from an Army surplus store can go a long way toward keeping you warm, especially if you get wet from dew or snow. Wool will warm you even when you’re wet, unlike other fibers.
Muff (hand pouch) with clear panel for texting
If you’re hunting with buddies at deer camp like I do, you’re texting all day about what you see and whose blind it’s headed for. You’ll need to keep your hands warm and still be able to communicate with your friends. This is the muff that I use, and it’s fantastic. It’s big enough for my phone and some hand warmers.
Sustain Yourself
Hot drinks and soup can help you stay warm from the inside out. Coffee, chili, or soup in a thermos can warm up your core and ward off the chill. If you’re worried that you’ll have to go to the bathroom, just make sure you spread out your sips and use a really good thermos cup that will stay warm for hours.
Be sure you pack snacks with protein, too. Your body will need extra fuel to keep itself warm while you’re sitting in the cold all day long.
Ready As You’ll Ever Be
Besides for target practice, be sure you’re taking care of yourself, stocked up on cold weather hunting gear, and stocked with hot drinks and snacks. We can’t wait to see a picture of your deer this year! Tag us on your socials when you post a picture.
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*Disclaimer: Some of the links you see may be affiliate links. All that means is if you click through and end up making a purchase, I’ll earn a commission.