Staying Warm
-
Joshua from KY asks:I always see you in the videos with a vest on. I was wondering if that was to keep your core warm. Also to shave a couple of layers from your arm sleeves so they will not get in the way of the bow string. I have a problem sometimes staying warm without bulking up on clothing. If you suggest anything I would appreciate it. Thank you Joshua HepnerWinke Responds:Joshua, Yes, I always wear a vest unless it is really warm out. The vest helps to hold heat without the bulk in my sleeves. Vests are very cheap these days. I would definitely get one. Good luck. (1-30-12)
-
bill from PA asks:I see that numerous state guys as well as Scott have small heaters in their blinds. I also saw your answer to another members question about deer smelling the heater. What type heater are they using? Propane?What are you referring to when you reference "chimneys"? Thanks and how did we do with the Sportsman Channel?Winke Responds:Bill, The results won't be out on the Sportsman Channel voting until the SHOT Show in mid-January. I know that sucks to have to wait that long to find out. I appreciate everything that you all did to help us! I really do! Hot air rises, that is a basic of physics. So the fumes from your heater will go up a ways before they cool down and blow sideways. Some of my friends (I don't do it) use chimneys (long black irrigation pipe hung up in trees) to vent the heat from their ground blinds way up in the air where the deer will never smell it. As the heat rises, it sucks air in through any small openings in the blind to produce a very scent-proof setup. I think to really do well the top of the chimney should be about 25+ feet up. One friend goes to 30 feet. Deer never smell him in the blind. Good luck and Merry Christmas. (12-14-11)
-
Brian from WI asks:Hey Bill, congratulations on a fine hunt and a great buck. I'm looking to find out what you wear for base layers when hunting. You seem to be able to sit in some pretty wicked looking weather with much less clothing on than what I would wear. I'd look like an Eskimo. I hunt in Wisconsin and as I am getting older I find it difficult to handle the cold. I am about to purchase all new base layers and was wondering what you would recommend. Thanks and keep the great programs coming.Winke Responds:Brian, I wear pretty much the same thing all season except when it is really cold in January. Your body adjusts to the temperature as it gets colder. Not sure if you just get tougher or if your metabolism goes up. I wear a mid-weight underwear layer close to the skin (Cabela's ECWCS Thermal Zone) followed by a heavy weight layer (Cabela's ECWCS Polar Weight) and then I wear a thin fleece vest. Over that I wear my windproof Winke/Cabela's scent suit and that pretty well does it. It keeps me warm down to about 20 degrees as long as it isn't blowing too hard. Below that I wear a thicker layer of wool (Ulfrotte) instead of the second layer of underwear. That does a really good job. I am also a big believer in keeping your head warm. If you wear a warm facemask, that really helps to keep you comfortable on stand. Good luck. (11-8-11)
-
Mike from NJ asks:Bill, Great job on the show. I wanted to know if you or any of the others hunting with you have ever worn the heater bodysuit while bowhunting. I hunt both with gun and bow but really enjoy archery more, however when the temperature drops and I'm bundled it's difficult to get the bow drawn correctly. I'm thinking of buying one of the bodysuits. How do you dress for the cold?Winke Responds:Mike, Yes, I have worn them and they are great products. The Warm Bag is another alternative that is similar. In the late season, we usually only hunt for about 3 hours per sit, so I generally just dress warm and don't carry the big body suit. I wear good underwear then cover that with a mid-weight wool layer. There are some good layering wool garments from Cabela's and Ulfrotte. I then cover that with a thin fleece vest and finally I wear a coverall that I worked on with Cabela's back in 2004 and 2005 that contains odors and also is windproof. Being a coverall, there is no seam or cold spot. Though it doesn't sound like much, it is enough to keep me reasonably comfortable and mobile in the stand. The main thing is having something good for your head, hands and feet. I wear a thick hat and a facemask, carry a handmuff on really cold days and wear big thick warm pack boots like the Scent Blocker Woolies or the Cabela's Saskatchewan boot. I have worn the Cabela's boot for a few years during the late season and it is very impressive. My camera guys wear the Scent Blockers and love them. That's what we wear. I think if you hunt nearly every day, your body naturally gets used to the cold as the season progresses. I would likely wear something warmer if I was not hunting (and toughening up) every day leading up to a late season hunt. Also, if you will be sitting long hours, you definitely need the body suit. Good luck.
-
Kevin from IL asks:Bill....What clothing combination do you wear for sitting in the tree stand during cold weather. Often it appears you are only wearing a vest with under armour type shirt underneath. It doesn't look like this combination could be very warm???Winke Responds:Kevin, I do dress pretty light. As it turns out, I wear about the same thing all season long. As the temps get colder I naturally just toughen up. I do get cold, but not terribly cold. The thing you aren't seeing is the coverall I pull up when I get to the stand. I wear it on the belt with the sleeves tied around my waist when walking to and from the stand. It is thin, but windproof and eliminates all cold spots. (It is the scent suit I created with Cabela's back in 2004). I also am very careful to keep plenty of protection on my head to keep it warm. I find that if you can keep your head warm it holds in a lot of heat. That is the main thing. I also wear a good facemask, good boots (Cabela's Saskatchewan boots). That is about it.
-
adam from MI asks:Here in Michigan it gets pretty cold at times, I have a enclosed box blind with a Mr. Buddy heater. This year I have had a couple times, when I had the windows down and the heater on, deer come up down wind off me and their gone! I know that the hunting pressure here is high, So my question is, are they that alert and know I am there or can they smell the heater and know that I am there?Winke Responds:Adam, My guess is that they smelled you and the heater. If you can keep the windows closed and use a "chimney" to vent the heat from the blind, you would likely get away with more regarding deer on the downwind side. I have seen it work. Good luck.
-
Steve from TN asks:I am very cold natured and I have to wear numerous layers to stay warm in the treestand. It gets very bulky and uncomfortable. I notice that you hunt in very cold weather but do not wear much bulk. Can you let me know what type of clothing you wear to stay warm in the very cold temperatures?Winke Responds:Steve, You kind of toughen as the season goes along. I spend a certain amount of those cold days shivering, but I am not super uncomfortable. The key is to make sure the outer layer is windproof. Then make sure your head and face are very well covered. next, go with the best boots you can find. (I use the Cabela's Saskatchewan boots when it gets frigid) and finally be sure to bring a long a few hand warmers to drop between layers once you get settled into the stand. Bibs or coveralls are best because they elminate the cold spot in your lower back that always results when wearing a two-piece suit. Good luck.
-
Mike from AR asks:I am new to bow hunting (2 years) now and seem to have a problem with cold feet. My feet get cold early and I have learned to live with it, but as I get older its harder to take. I have tryed every thing I can think of new boots ,old boots, thin socks, thick spray on anti-perspirtant on my feet I will but some new boots if you have any suggestions that would be great thanks so much MikeWinke Responds:Mike, I get cold feet too, but it may not be as bad as your situation. When it gets really cold I wear Saskatchewan boots from Cabela's. Scent Blocker makes some really serious warm boots too that are nice. Also, be sure not to tie the laces too tightly as that cuts down blood flow and makes the feet colder. The boot blanket type products (Arctic Shield and others) have helped me in the past and I would recommend them too.
