Any ideas on how to stay warm when on blood thinner

Status
Not open for further replies.

ACES&8S

Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2017
Messages
1,131
Location
Virginia
I have been the toughest ever was when it came to cold weather hunting.
Being in the tree stand an hour and 15 minutes before daylight on public
land to secure a place plus beat the others no matter if zero or whatever.
I moved to ground hunting a long time ago which is harder and a bit
warmer plus using a hunting tent is really the way to go but I can't
carry all that without sweating.
Now I am on blood thinner for heart complications which makes me a
wimp when it gets below 45 degrees.
Do any of you have this condition & can deal with the cold with materials
or type of heat packs and where to place them or anything anyone may
know about.
I have carried extra layers to put on when I get there but then I am like the
stay puff marshmallow man and even a rifle is hard to shoulder then
impossible to hold steady for when the layers tighten up.
I find this important mainly because I haven't gone along this year deer
hunting with either of my sons for two years now, I just hunt here on
our property.
 
I was on warfarin for 30 days after my hip surgery in Oct of 2012. I froze all winter. I was on another one before my ablation. I forget what one. But it did not require constant blood test and adjustments. It did not bother me with weather either. Im now on a daily baby asprin. I find taking garlic caps help keep me warm.
 
Yes
I'm cold right now. These last few hunts
I've had a fleece blanket I've been covering
up with, and it helps considerably. The
old military fleece under layers work really
good holding the chill off. For cold cold I
still have a set of the old polyfill quilted
drawers that are good for sitting still.
Some polypropylene sock liners under
some thick merino socks and boots with
thinsulate do for my feet.
For cold cold I have some toe muffs and
a hand muff I put a handwarmer in.
Been meaning to buy a cheap sleeping bag
as posted ^ ^ ^ previously, but I never seem
to have the extra funds when it comes to
mind
There's ways to work with it for a few hours
 
For me and everyone I know, toes are the hardest to keep warm, followed by fingers. We use Thunderbolt heated socks. The rechargeable battery will last all day on low. My toes are usually warm from the walk in. I wait until they are not warm, but not yet cold, and put the socks on low. High will warm your toes up fast, if you need it, and then you can switch to low. http://www.thunderboltsocks.com/heatedsocks_sportsman.htm There are five of us who use these and we never have cold feet.

We use hand muffs that strap around our waists (like Ranger99 mentioned). Inside we typically put a warming pack. The new bigger size (Hot Hands 18 hour) works very well and stays warm all day long. There are many makes of handmuffs. Here is an example: https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-gore-tex-infinium-windstopper-handmuff

The great thing about the hand muffs with a heat pack inside is that your hands stay warm without bulky gloves.

You can use a Zippo hand warmer if the disposable packs don't make enough heat for you. I used to use this on the coldest days, but I think the Hot Hands 18 hours will be good enough. I can detect a very faint smell from the Zippo, so I would never use it in bow or crossbow season. https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/zippo-12-hour-hand-warmer

For your body, you need a high quality set of thermal underwear. The kind that stay warm even if you sweat. Then you layer over that.
 
Sleeping bag...
Never thought of that, after all these years, when I used to beat everyone early into the woods I left a sleeping bag
on top of my stand to get into the next morning, I actually took 3 of my better bucks like that, then 1 time I was
recovering from pneumonia and got a nice 8 point just off the road on public land. Had to get help to get it
out of course, my best friend Mickey dragged it out for me. He just passed away lately.
 
Newer lightweight gear like polar fleece and polypro underwear as used in the mil works great for layering and for the weight is very effective. Guys I know up north who ride motorcycles in weather where I would be inside watching TV or cleaning guns wear "heated gear"- gloves, jackets, pants, etc. that have heating elements in them and run off rechargeable batteries. Some of that stuff looks like the flannel shirts you would buy somewhere like tractor supply. If it works on a motorcycle at high speeds in the cold, I don't see why it wouldn't work in a blind setting still.
 
Heated socks ....
Good hat and gloves ( I like the mechanix winter gloves ).

You can try fleece lined jeans, but I find them excessively warm.
Never have tried heated socks but it is time to try anything with muzzle loader season
coming again in 2 weeks.
I have a pair of the fleece lined jeans and I use them for quick trips out in the cold
or them under a pair of coveralls for trips to the barn, it stays cold in there all winter
one of those -huge- metal Quonset Huts, where people can hang their deer in them
and come back in the spring and get them, just kidding, but it never warms up in the winter.
Perhaps thermals would be ok with the fleece jeans, worth a try.
 
Cabelas offers the Dog sled Suit. The Trans Iditarod …

Most reviews state a t shirt and shorts is all that’s needed under

Pack that in a soft frame backpack… get to your location, Put it on- Ground tent and heater buddy not needed.
 
Xarelto was the one that did not bother me with the weather. Took me some time to think of it.
Haven't heard of that, I guess I am one of those that refuses to listen to doc about other options
I just let my wife and the doc decide.
I use Eliquis which is causes the cold weather problem. They seem to intend to keep me
on it the rest of my life, not sure.
Got cut field dressing and ended up in the ER where they had to stitch it to stop the bleeding
Then about a week ago I was sighting in a Model 29 Smith with a scope for my son to borrow
deer hunting, that night I noticed it had bruised my hand pretty good, never had that happen
with any of my mags. But I usually wear a pair of baseball batting gloves with the trigger finger
cut out which works perfectly. I had them on next day to sight in my T/C encore 7mm 08.
Blood thinner saves lives, can't complain about that part.
 
For me and everyone I know, toes are the hardest to keep warm, followed by fingers. We use Thunderbolt heated socks. The rechargeable battery will last all day on low. My toes are usually warm from the walk in. I wait until they are not warm, but not yet cold, and put the socks on low. High will warm your toes up fast, if you need it, and then you can switch to low. http://www.thunderboltsocks.com/heatedsocks_sportsman.htm There are five of us who use these and we never have cold feet.

We use hand muffs that strap around our waists (like Ranger99 mentioned). Inside we typically put a warming pack. The new bigger size (Hot Hands 18 hour) works very well and stays warm all day long. There are many makes of handmuffs. Here is an example: https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-gore-tex-infinium-windstopper-handmuff

The great thing about the hand muffs with a heat pack inside is that your hands stay warm without bulky gloves.

You can use a Zippo hand warmer if the disposable packs don't make enough heat for you. I used to use this on the coldest days, but I think the Hot Hands 18 hours will be good enough. I can detect a very faint smell from the Zippo, so I would never use it in bow or crossbow season. https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/zippo-12-hour-hand-warmer

For your body, you need a high quality set of thermal underwear. The kind that stay warm even if you sweat. Then you layer over that.
Got a hand muff a lot like the one you showed me, it is a life saver with a heat pack in it.
I sure hope Zippo has perfected their heater, been so long of course they have, the last one I had would burn you
were you had it regardless of layers between it and you but that was in 1974, if it was the same thing. It looks like it.
 
Newer lightweight gear like polar fleece and polypro underwear as used in the mil works great for layering and for the weight is very effective. Guys I know up north who ride motorcycles in weather where I would be inside watching TV or cleaning guns wear "heated gear"- gloves, jackets, pants, etc. that have heating elements in them and run off rechargeable batteries. Some of that stuff looks like the flannel shirts you would buy somewhere like tractor supply. If it works on a motorcycle at high speeds in the cold, I don't see why it wouldn't work in a blind setting still.
My son is a chopper rider so he & his wife look like more grown people on a bicycle when they pull up in
cold weather, they say their stuff works so ok, whatever blows your whistle i guess.
I am like you, cold weather isn't for riding choppers, better spent with firearm maintenance and indoor stuff.
 
For cold cold I have some toe muffs and
Back about 20 years ago my wife came up with making a pair of boot covers that were so good that every
one of my buddies had to have a pair. Not for ground hunting, they were made of material that was like
velcro on leaves and such bout great in tree stands.
I don't hunt from tree stands any more so the factory made type should work but I haven't got any yet.
 
Warfarin lifer. I only wear synthetic underwear/socks/layers/hat/coat/gloves. Regular cotton and wool underlayers get moist and wet then I get cold and clammy. Synthetic wicks and keeps me dry.
 


There area variety of heated socks, vests, and jackets available or tuck some "hand warmers", either the new generation of usb charged electric hand-warmers or Hot Hands in armpits and groin areas if you need to add heat under the insulation.
 
There are plenty of heated vests and coats out there, buyer be aware they repeatedly change the battery pack connections so that just when the old batts need replacement you can't get any. So far I have avoided them because of that. Most are Chinese, too, despite the Brand name embroidered on them. The current offering at HD is basically a medium weight hoody with elements for $129. Hard no by me.

A vest would be cheaper and you get to use whatever coat matches your need and you already have it. Layering is the answer still - and the military style fleece is inexpensive when you run across it surplus used. Those who wear merino swear by it however when you see the pricing you might swear, too. Best options are closeout sales end of year at places like Sierra Trading which require constant attention and a quick decision.

My circumstances are finally forcing me to prep a blind early before season so I will go that route. Jute cord, burlap, existing materials, and a tree stand umbrella will get me started. The key is to get the wind off of you and capture as much warm air as possible around you. Like layering clothing, you layer windblock shells, same as a double wall arctic tent.
 
1. Don't dress too warm BEFORE getting to your stand. IF you start sweating, you will find it nearly impossible to sit and be warm.
2. 1st layer, polypropylene or other wicking material. Find the lightweight underlayers that runners wear.
3. Final layer /blanket/sleeping bag carried in.
4. I bought some polypropylene sock, wore cotton socks over them, and good insulated hunting boots. Get to stand, remove cotton socks and put in wool socks.

Be careful with the battery operated socks and such. I know 2 people that received some serious burns on their feet. Socks started overheating and they had problems getting boots unlaced.

Dr changed prescription from Warfarin to Eliquis. Much better now.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top