Ive hunted in around 4degrees but im in the SE and even that is rare. Usually mid 20s. Ive read where up North places cant get WAY below zero. Just wondering whats the coldest temp you have been out in and is there actual clothing to keep a person warm at like 50below?
Whats the coldest weather you have hunted in or encountered?
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sumpnz
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I think it might have approached thinking about freezing once while I was elk hunting last year. Daytime highs were almost shorts weather.
Lucky 'mericans.... Boo hoo on your nice weather...Was -30C (-22f)here earlier in the week... spent 12 hours a day working outside in the mountains bordering Alberta and BC. Key is to stay outta the wind. Cotton tee shirt, heavy cotton 'hoody', light workshirt under a pair of insulated Carhaart covies. That's it. Didn't even break out the big winter boots yet, just the standard Thinsulate workboots I wear year round. -40 with heavy wind is where things get interesting. Best part of the sub -20C (-4f) mark is it is actually quite easy to stay dry so long as you don't break a sweat... which is key of course. Its worse getting slush on your feet at around freezing temps than to walk around all day at -30C. The air dries up completely, making sounds travel on and on forever. I'm not a big game hunter, but I suspect that may be tough to overcome. Snow squeels underfoot at those temps too.
Met some Canuck Forces boys this week, they were not excited about going outside, "We live in this #%@" he said when I joked about the weather... hey pal, don't we all. He had a sweat shirt/pant combo... no wonder he was complaining. Put a jacket on already....
To answer the question though, -37C is my limit for standing outside all day working... the wind'll freeze any exposed skin in less than a minute so you wrap up like a mummy. Bottle some of your nice weather and send it up here...
musher
Member
-55 F
I was hunting caribou and living in a wall tent for a week (with my wife
) We decided to go home when I came in from sitting on a stand all day and discovered that the peppermint schnapps had frozen. She had moved it outside the tent when straightening up.
When the booze freezes, it's time to leave.
I was hunting caribou and living in a wall tent for a week (with my wife
) We decided to go home when I came in from sitting on a stand all day and discovered that the peppermint schnapps had frozen. She had moved it outside the tent when straightening up.When the booze freezes, it's time to leave.
Cosmoline
Member
I had to work outside at about -45 f. along the Susitna one particularly cold night. That's about as cold as I've been or care to be. I knew I had to get the dogs a semi-warm meal or they'd be in real trouble. I had rigged up a high pressure propane burner that could ordinarily boil a gallon of water in a matter of minutes, but it was so cold that night the propane was getting sluggish in the line, and only a tiny flame came out of the burner. I had to rig a tent and nurse the 15 gallon pot of dog food all night to get it tepid. I started at about nine PM and finally got the dogs fed at about four AM, then had to go to work. When it gets that cold, all bets are off. Physical properties start to change. Electronics fail. LED screens freeze up. Fine machinery of all kinds just won't function. It can sneak up on you too. It gets much colder than that in the interior. I've heard sound begins to change at seventy below and you can hear the northern lights crackle on your fur coat, but I never want to find out.
As long as it's not windy, keeping warm is easy if you have the right clothes. Wicking poly like polartec is excellent. I usually wear a union suit made of layered material, then polartec fleece shirt and pants, good socks, a balaclava, then a nice lined hat with ear protection built in, my Norwegian fleece jacket or if it's *really* cold my Barrow coat. Below -10 f. I switch from insulated leather boots to big compressed felt bunny boots, which are slow to walk in but exceedingly warm.
No no. That's just when things start getting *good* Ever heard of apple jack?
As long as it's not windy, keeping warm is easy if you have the right clothes. Wicking poly like polartec is excellent. I usually wear a union suit made of layered material, then polartec fleece shirt and pants, good socks, a balaclava, then a nice lined hat with ear protection built in, my Norwegian fleece jacket or if it's *really* cold my Barrow coat. Below -10 f. I switch from insulated leather boots to big compressed felt bunny boots, which are slow to walk in but exceedingly warm.
No no. That's just when things start getting *good* Ever heard of apple jack?
Rembrandt
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-25F Below zero, wind chill brought it down to -52F. So cold the pheasants and deer stayed hidden....vehicles wouldn't start, snow surface squeaked when you walked, bottled water froze in our packs. Ice in our beards and mustaches from the condensation.
Being young and foolish, my brother in law and I went deer hunting one morning when it was down around +10F with a wind that just wouldn't quit. MY wife had heated up some leftover chili and put into a plastic thermos for us.
I had hidden the keys to the truck so that the first one back could get into the truck.
When I got back, my BIL was tryin to hold the keys with both hands to get in. He was so cold he couldn't hold them and kept dropping them. When I went to pour him some chili, it came out of the thermos in a chunk because it had frozen.
I don't think I've ever been that cold again in my life. LOL
I had hidden the keys to the truck so that the first one back could get into the truck.
When I got back, my BIL was tryin to hold the keys with both hands to get in. He was so cold he couldn't hold them and kept dropping them. When I went to pour him some chili, it came out of the thermos in a chunk because it had frozen.
I don't think I've ever been that cold again in my life. LOL
CSA 357
Member
Well it dont get that cold down here in the deep south! i guess in the single digits back in the 80s i drove my 1985 150 4x4 across a creek that am going in , on the way out it broke threw, shot at a nice buck that day on a gas line, missed him, that 7mag blew holes in that hard ground big as a frying pan!
et45
Member
Back in 89 it got down to 2 or 4 degrees here around Chattanooga.A buddy and me went deer hunting on top of a local mountain where it was a few degrees colder up there.We walked around the entire time to stay warm.I was dipping Skoal and I spit once and it landed on my rifle barrel and froze instantly.
MCgunner
Member
Well, living in South Texas has it's rewards come winter. I hunted ducks one morning with a guy I worked with near Freeport, Texas on a large pot hole/pond in 17 degree weather. I was freezing my butt off. I didn't know about neoprene waders back then and had those cheap PVC stocking foot things on. I had to lift my foot to break ice on each step. When you'd shoot a bird, it'd fall, hit the ice and just slide for another 50 yards, LOL! There was a hole out of the wind we broke the ice on to set up and the birds WANTED in there. It was, thankfully, a short hunt before we had our limit. I couldn't get back to the coffee pot fast enough. Took an hour to feel my toes after getting out of there.
We had a terrible freeze here back in the mid 80s. It got down to 6 degrees and didn't get above freezing for a week. I worked in the QC/environmental lab at a local chemical plant, was on 12 hour rotating shift and was on my week off. I didn't get out of the house the whole time. People were walking the shore line of the bay, only about 100 yards out my front door across the street, picking up dead/frozen fish. Not me, buddy, not in 6 degree weather! That was the most miserable cold I've ever experienced and I knew from that day on I'd never make it in Alaska. LOL!
I hunted ducks one morning with a guy I worked with near Freeport, Texas on a large pot hole/pond in 17 degree weather. I was freezing my butt off. I didn't know about neoprene waders back then and had those cheap PVC stocking foot things on. I had to lift my foot to break ice on each step. When you'd shoot a bird, it'd fall, hit the ice and just slide for another 50 yards, LOL! There was a hole out of the wind we broke the ice on to set up and the birds WANTED in there. It was, thankfully, a short hunt before we had our limit. I couldn't get back to the coffee pot fast enough. Took an hour to feel my toes after getting out of there.We had a terrible freeze here back in the mid 80s. It got down to 6 degrees and didn't get above freezing for a week. I worked in the QC/environmental lab at a local chemical plant, was on 12 hour rotating shift and was on my week off. I didn't get out of the house the whole time.
People were walking the shore line of the bay, only about 100 yards out my front door across the street, picking up dead/frozen fish. Not me, buddy, not in 6 degree weather! That was the most miserable cold I've ever experienced and I knew from that day on I'd never make it in Alaska. LOL!12-34hom
Member
I've been hunting while it was -20 range.
I once ice fished when the wind chill was @ -60.....
12-34hom.
I once ice fished when the wind chill was @ -60.....
12-34hom.
Lennyjoe
Member
West Virginia bowhunting in Jan when it was 19 degrees out. Try pulling back a 60lb bow after sitting in a tree stand for 4 hours in that temp
'Card
Member
We had a blizzard in West Virginia back in February of '91 or '92. Dumped about three feet of snow in the mountains. I remember measuring a drift behind the house that was 12 feet tall. I realize that's probably not a lot by western or Alaskan standards, but it's unusual for WV, and shut everything down hard. My wife and I lived way out in the woods with a long dirt-road driveway, so we ended up snowed in with no power for about 2 weeks.
It wasn't hunting season at the time, but when your food supply is running low you don't worry too much about the fine print. We had a wood burning stove, and I had my rifle and plenty of rounds, so we got through it OK.
The point being that I remember going out to hunt one morning and it was -17°. In spite of the cold, it was some of the easiest hunting I've ever done. The deer were huddled up in groups on the downwind side of stands of pine, and they'd basically just stand there while you shot them. That's the only time in my life I've ever gutted a deer while other deer watched me do it. Seemed like no matter what happened, they weren't going far from that pine thicket.
The coldest I've ever willingly hunted was probably about 3°. I remember getting out of the truck one morning and hearing my Dad say "Hell, even if the temperature goes up 100% it'll only be SIX."
Hunting in cold weather is (in my opinion) a hell of a lot easier now than it used to be. Synthetics, fleece, and waterproof/breathable clothing (especially boots) make it an entirely different experience from the days when we were wrapping our feet in bread bags and cramming three pairs of long johns under our jeans.
It wasn't hunting season at the time, but when your food supply is running low you don't worry too much about the fine print. We had a wood burning stove, and I had my rifle and plenty of rounds, so we got through it OK.
The point being that I remember going out to hunt one morning and it was -17°. In spite of the cold, it was some of the easiest hunting I've ever done. The deer were huddled up in groups on the downwind side of stands of pine, and they'd basically just stand there while you shot them. That's the only time in my life I've ever gutted a deer while other deer watched me do it. Seemed like no matter what happened, they weren't going far from that pine thicket.
The coldest I've ever willingly hunted was probably about 3°. I remember getting out of the truck one morning and hearing my Dad say "Hell, even if the temperature goes up 100% it'll only be SIX."
Hunting in cold weather is (in my opinion) a hell of a lot easier now than it used to be. Synthetics, fleece, and waterproof/breathable clothing (especially boots) make it an entirely different experience from the days when we were wrapping our feet in bread bags and cramming three pairs of long johns under our jeans.
modifiedbrowning
Member
Last winter we had two weeks of -20F weather. Just the other night it was -16F. It can get a little chilly in MT.
As far as clothing avoid cotton as much as possible. Cotton absorbs moisture and takes forever to dry out. Use synthetic fibers (polypropylene, capilene or whatever the manufacturer calls it).
A nice warm hat makes a big difference, you loose a lot of body heat through the head.
As far as clothing avoid cotton as much as possible. Cotton absorbs moisture and takes forever to dry out. Use synthetic fibers (polypropylene, capilene or whatever the manufacturer calls it).
A nice warm hat makes a big difference, you loose a lot of body heat through the head.
i've hunted down to about -25 to -30. as long as the wind isn't blowing, i can handle it.
having done all that kind of hunting, my personal cut-offs now are -15 w/ sun and no wind, 0 w/ sun and wind, and +5 w/ no sun, and wind blowing.
you know its cold when pheasants tip over dead right where they stand.
having done all that kind of hunting, my personal cut-offs now are -15 w/ sun and no wind, 0 w/ sun and wind, and +5 w/ no sun, and wind blowing.
you know its cold when pheasants tip over dead right where they stand.
Fair weather hunter
Born and raised in Texas, I am a fair weather hunter. If its dry, I'll hunt in the mid to upper 20s...if there is precipitation involved, you'll find me by the fire sipping Tennessee Whiskey.
Years ago, spent two days working in a blast freezer. 1500 feet/sec 'wind' blasting down from the ceiling and -30F. It was late August, near San Antonio. Folks were looking at us like idiots as we donned two sets of ski suites and multiple ski masks. We were still only able to work about 45 minutes at a time.
Born and raised in Texas, I am a fair weather hunter. If its dry, I'll hunt in the mid to upper 20s...if there is precipitation involved, you'll find me by the fire sipping Tennessee Whiskey.
Years ago, spent two days working in a blast freezer. 1500 feet/sec 'wind' blasting down from the ceiling and -30F. It was late August, near San Antonio. Folks were looking at us like idiots as we donned two sets of ski suites and multiple ski masks. We were still only able to work about 45 minutes at a time.
ID_shooting
Member
Not real sure of the temp, and wasn't hunting, but the coldest I have ever been was the 15 months I spent in Korea. I arrived in early December and my unit was in the field. Issued some snivel gear and into the back of a duece I went. Didn't even get a hot meal in my unit's mess hall before we left.
0 degree Fahrenheit with 30 M.P.H. Wind
Back in 2003, I harvested a nice whitetail during a week of on-going 0 degree Fahrenheit temperatures, and blowing wind to the tune of 30ish MPH, making for somewhere in the -30 WCF. During that entire week, I slept in my 20' by 20' tent (no heater). We received a little over 24 inches of fresh snow fall, in addition to the already 18” of standing snow. Not only did I have to frequently remove the snow from my tent top in the middle of the nights, I had to go to my hunting spot either on snowshoes and some days on cross country skies. All in all, it was a pretty incredible hunting experience. To this date, that 2003 trip remains one of my all-time most favorable memories of hunting. It was the last year that I hunted with my Uncle L. He passed from cancer that same year.
Doc2005
Back in 2003, I harvested a nice whitetail during a week of on-going 0 degree Fahrenheit temperatures, and blowing wind to the tune of 30ish MPH, making for somewhere in the -30 WCF. During that entire week, I slept in my 20' by 20' tent (no heater). We received a little over 24 inches of fresh snow fall, in addition to the already 18” of standing snow. Not only did I have to frequently remove the snow from my tent top in the middle of the nights, I had to go to my hunting spot either on snowshoes and some days on cross country skies. All in all, it was a pretty incredible hunting experience. To this date, that 2003 trip remains one of my all-time most favorable memories of hunting. It was the last year that I hunted with my Uncle L. He passed from cancer that same year.
Doc2005
Hunted ducks plenty of times in sub-zero weather. The best time though, was when I fell into the Arkansas river one morning when the temp was right at zero.
I hiked back to my FIL's van, he drove me home, I changed clothes and we went back out.
Ever try walking when your clothes are crunching and there's slush in your boots?
I hiked back to my FIL's van, he drove me home, I changed clothes and we went back out.
Ever try walking when your clothes are crunching and there's slush in your boots?
There was that other time when we were hunting ducks on Thanksgiving morning many years ago. We were hunting a warm water slough and it was about six below zero. I dropped a mallard hen on the other side of the slough, so my little brother Gary offered to go get it. He walked the quarter mile or so back around the slough and got the duck, but on the way back he decided to take a shortcut across the slough. He got stuck in the mud and did a face-plant into the water.
He came walking up, crunching with every step. "Here's your DUCK!" We made him go back to the truck get the heater going, and dis-robe.
Then there was the time, in April 1993, when my friend Smoke Rizen (Bud) took me and my son fishing from one of his rafts down Brown's Canyon on the Arkansas (North of Salida). There was about six of us in the raft and we got stuck on some rocks. Bud instructed us to jump to a rock a few feet away.
You guessed it, I missed the rock and ended up completely under water. Bud gave me his slicker (I'm 5-7, Bud's 6-4) and his cowboy hat and I started walking down the tracks beside the river, with my son. Riding the raft back would have been suicide (hypothermia).
As I started hiking down the tracks, Bud yelled from the raft "Hey, you look just like Deputy Dawg."
I've never been so cold in my life.
Seems us Ashcrafts have an affinity for cold water.
He came walking up, crunching with every step. "Here's your DUCK!"
We made him go back to the truck get the heater going, and dis-robe.Then there was the time, in April 1993, when my friend Smoke Rizen (Bud) took me and my son fishing from one of his rafts down Brown's Canyon on the Arkansas (North of Salida). There was about six of us in the raft and we got stuck on some rocks. Bud instructed us to jump to a rock a few feet away.
You guessed it, I missed the rock and ended up completely under water. Bud gave me his slicker (I'm 5-7, Bud's 6-4) and his cowboy hat and I started walking down the tracks beside the river, with my son. Riding the raft back would have been suicide (hypothermia).
As I started hiking down the tracks, Bud yelled from the raft "Hey, you look just like Deputy Dawg."
I've never been so cold in my life.
Seems us Ashcrafts have an affinity for cold water.
Greybeard
Member
My most miserable "cold" experience was actually probably fishin'. Brother wanted me to go with him first thing in the morning right after "blue norther" had set in. He had one of the super-duper bass rigs - the kind where, when cranked up, nothing touches the water except the prop. I made the mistake of getting in that rig with nothing but my "normal" cold weather clothes. Brother headed out - about 60 mph - to honey hole several miles away. I realized I was in trouble within the first few minutes, but did not say anthing until we finally slowed down. I remained "froze to the bone" until I got back for a couple of hours over fireplace at home that night.
I'd previoiusly hunted pheasant for years in TX pahandle in single digit temps and in 40 mph winds. Often had numb fingers and frozen snot hanging down to mid-chest. But those days seemed "cozy" compared to what that boat ride did to the whole body!
I'd previoiusly hunted pheasant for years in TX pahandle in single digit temps and in 40 mph winds. Often had numb fingers and frozen snot hanging down to mid-chest. But those days seemed "cozy" compared to what that boat ride did to the whole body!
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