Hunting Tips and Tricks

[JacobMHD]

This is a pretty neat topic in the Archery forum so I thought I would start one here that applies to a more broad range of hunters. Contribute at will.....

Out of all the hunting gear I have, I have found that the most important piece is my hat. I can dress from shoulder to toe in the warmest or coolest clothes for the climate I'm hunting, but if I am not wearing the right hat for the temperature or the activity, I will not be comfortable. So here's what I do. For the walk to the stand I will typically wear a lighter weight hat. Once I get situated in the stand, I'll typically let my body cool down a little from the walk in and the climb up before I put the more insulated hat on. So, rather than removing articles of clothes, I'll regulate my body temp by adjusting my headwear. Obviously, the temperature that you're hunting in will dictate the degree of insulation required. It's not uncommon for the area I hunt to experience below zero temps in the morning and mid 40's to 50's in the afternoon, so I will often have three hats and a fully insulated face mask with me while in the stand. Ultimately, my goal is to reduce the amount of movement required to stay comfortable and changing a hat requires way less than removing an under shirt or a coat.

[BLACKJACK]

One of my most important pieces of gear nowadays is relatively cheap, about $10 at Menards, yet it goes on all my trips - its my headlamp. Walking to your deer stand in the dark, setting out decoys, in the boat, even around camp, its so convenient, frees up your hands for carrying gear. If I lost it tomorrow, I'd go right out and buy a new one.

[BobT]

Take your suggestion a step further, Jacob, and consider a collar of some sort. I wear a dicky for your neck. When I'm sitting on stand it doesn't matter how warm I dress, if I get a cool breeze blowing down my neck it sends a chill I can't recover from. A dicky is nice because I can easily take it off when I decide to go walking without removing any other clothing. I can actually go longer without a hat if my neck is kept warm and draft free.

[mrklean]

i just got a under armour full face mask and man that thing is nice and warm suprised how well it works.

[Rippinlip]

Carry some of the hand/feet warmers.

When cold I use a hand muff and set of those units in there and keeps the hands very warm without gloves.

If it gets real cold I take 2 of them and set them between my insulated underwear and my next layer by my kidneys and seems to keep me a heck of alot warmer.

[psepuncher]

If you're up in a tree stand and someone is walking by you,

be ready and attentive after they walk away.

I've harvested a few deer after someone walked up a trail by my stand.

And I mean within a few short minutes after they walk by and we've spoke in a low tone...all a sudden from nowhere, here comes a deer out of the bush.

good luck

[Ufatz]

Never, EVER go into the woods without your toilet paper. Keep it right next to the hand warmer. Ahhhhhh...there is nothing like heated paper!!

[mabr]

Just heard this one on TV and to me its going to be used this year.

If you have to cross barbed wire fence during your hunt. Take a garden hose cut into 3-5 ft sections split down the middle and install over the wires to protect clothing while crossing. How many pants and jackets have we all ripped because of barbed wire.

[student]

I haven't tried this yet, but I do plan on trying it this year.

Drill holes in a section of PVC pipe. The length will vary depending on the width of your stand.

_______________

o o o o o o o o o

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Zip tie the pvc pipe to the front edge of your stand.

Put fresh braches in the holes to blend or camoflauge your outline when sitting in the stand. Oak braches will hold it's leaves longer than other tree types.

[BLACKJACK]

Take your suggestion a step further, Jacob, and consider a collar of some sort. I wear a dicky for your neck. When I'm sitting on stand it doesn't matter how warm I dress, if I get a cool breeze blowing down my neck it sends a chill I can't recover from. A dicky is nice because I can easily take it off when I decide to go walking without removing any other clothing. I can actually go longer without a hat if my neck is kept warm and draft free.

Forgot about the neck gaiter, I just started using them a couple years ago, now I own 3-4, a heavier one for stand sitting and couple light ones for pheasant hunting and other activities, keeping your neck warm is almost as important as keeping your head warm!! Love'em!! And like you said, if you start getting hot they're easy to take off and put in your pocket.