The Best Clothing Tips for Bowhunting in Cold Weather

In an effort to help bowhunters weather late-season deer hunts in cold temperatures, we posed the following question on our Facebook and Instagram pages, and below are several of the responses, followed by my comments (in italics).

Question: What is your best clothing/gear tip for bowhunting in cold weather?

Answer 1: Store layers in your pack during the walk in, and then layer-up when you get to your spot. If you get sweaty on the way in, you’ll be cold the whole sit. (Evan Taylor, Facebook)

Answer 2: Sit in a blind with a Buddy Heater. (Michael Shaw, Facebook)

Answer 3: Buy boot covers if you’re sitting still for long periods of time. (John Richard Ramsey, Facebook)

Answer 4: Wool… The more the better. (Dutch Sedivy, Facebook)

Answer 5: Handwarmers and a handmuff. (stick__bow, Instagram)

Answer 6: Bring layers that you can put on/take off depending on temperature fluctuations. I bought a battery powered vest to keep from having too many layers. (chris.a.starling, Instagram)

I’ve spent decades trying to function while bowhunting in cold weather, so here are my thoughts.

• You must prevent breaking a sweat when hiking to your stand/blind. Start off your hike feeling like you’re underdressed, carry your outer layers in, and then dress on site.
• Wear a Merino wool base layer, Merino wool resists odor-production while also wicking moisture away from your skin, leaving you feeling dry underneath.
• Consider lowering your bow’s draw weight by a few pounds. You’ll have to check your tune and sights, but it can be much more difficult to draw your bow after sitting in the cold for hours and while wearing layers of clothing and a safety harness. Struggling to get to full draw can alert a pressured December whitetail.
• Double-check your rest to be certain it doesn’t make any noise during your draw — cold temps can cause this problem, and that is the last thing you need.
• I wear pac boots and put an adhesive toe warmer under my toes. A quality handmuff will keep your hands warm without chemical warmers. Using both may make your hands sweat, and they won’t last long outside the muff. Also, tucking a handwarmer under your collar on the back of your neck (not directly against your skin) feels amazing.
• If you wear ankle-fit, knee-high rubber boots, your pants probably won’t go down far enough to insulate your ankles. Try wearing a calf-length sock and fold it down so two layers cover your ankles. Or wear two pairs of higher socks.
• Use a boot dryer after every hunt to ensure there is no moisture buildup. Cold feet will send you back to camp just about the time a buck decides to walk under your tree or blind.
• I carry a down puffy jacket in my pack for when the mercury drops. In my experience, no high-tech material hangs with goose down when it comes to keeping you warm in extreme cold.
• A thick, fuzzy neck gaiter is a must for preventing heat loss out of your collar/neck region. For ultra-cold temps, I will wear two fleece balaclavas to keep my face/ears warm.
• I have recently joined the electric vest crowd to help cut down on bulky layers. I have the Trek vest from Fieldsheer that works beautifully and can be operated with my smartphone.
• Most of all, think safety. Let people know where you will be and when you’ll check in. Be diligent about a safety harness and lifeline. A slip on an icy stand or step can put you on the ground. If you’re lucky enough to have only a broken leg, the cold can still kill you before you’re found. Don’t ever take reckless chances — and be especially careful in cold weather.

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