From The News Journal.
Like most hunters who have grown accustomed to Delaware’s recent mild winters, I was caught off guard by the frigid weather that has blasted us for the past two weeks.
In fact, I’m struggling to recall a Delaware hunting season during which we’ve had such cold weather for such an extended duration.
Although Mother Nature gave us a short winter preview during the opening days of the November shotgun deer season, I think many of us discounted the 25-degree early-morning temperatures and viewed them as a strange anomaly rather than a harbinger of Jack Frost’s true December arrival.
Unfortunately — and quite unbelievably — it looks like the next several days may be even colder. With snow and single-digit low temperatures forecast for Friday and Saturday, we hearty, diehard hunters must prepare for the brutal cold if we plan to hunt deer (handgun season opens Saturday), ducks, Canada geese, snow geese, or small game.
Years ago, I took some foolish pride in refusing to take advantage of sensible products that reduce winter’s bite. Figuring I would tough it out by donning two pairs of cheap socks, cotton long johns, a thick flannel shirt under my flimsy hunting coat, and thin wool-knit gloves, I chose to ignore the warmth of some commonsense products. Nowadays, however, I throw frugality and fashion sense aside and dress appropriately for whatever nature conjures up.
Base layers (a fancy name for newfangled long johns, really) are important when planning for cold weather hunts. Various manufactures offer warmth-promising, moisture-wicking tops and bottoms, with some offering different fabric weights for temperatures ranging from cool to extreme cold. Although there are high-tech alternatives on the market, I opt for wool tops (over a moisture-wicking undershirt) and bottoms for hunts in extreme cold.
As layering truly is the key to staying warm — and cooling down if temperatures rise or if activity causes sweating — I add layers as the situation warrants. In extreme cold, I’ll wear thick wool pants over the wool base layer and add a wind- or water-resistant shell over the pants if wind or snow is forecast.
Depending on the game I plan to hunt, I wear layers of shirts, sweaters, and/or vests that can accommodate the coat, bibs, coveralls, and/or waders I’ll wear as an outer layer. Directly over the wool base layer, I may wear a think chamois-type shirt and then cover that with a wool sweater or a wool (or wool-lined) vest. Wearing a vest as the layer directly beneath the outer shell allows for more freedom of arm movement for climbing, setting decoys, shooting, etc.
As most of us know, toes and fingers are the first things to feel the effects of bitter cold, and nothing will ruin a hunt faster than numb toes and fingers.
Brush all pride aside and invest in some basic items that will make your hunt much more comfortable. A good pair of thick-soled pack boots rated for extreme cold temperatures is a must.
Additionally, chemical hand, foot, and toe warmers cost a few dollars per pack of two and work well. Be sure to read the instructions and activate — and use — them before your hands and feet become popsicles. Rechargeable heated socks are another option. (I’ve been using them all year, and although they work great, I keep packs of chemical warmers handy in case my hunts last longer than the batteries.) To further warm your hands, consider using a hand muff and place the handwarmers along with your gloved hands in the muff.
Top everything off with a warm hat that comfortably covers your ears and consider a facemask to minimize any exposed skin. Be aware, however, that facemasks without adequate ventilation can lead to fogged and frozen eyeglass lenses for those of us who rely on such antiquated technology.