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Sunday, November 16, 2008

Hunting Tip 159

After spending the past week in the mountains, in a tent, in the rain and snow, hunting deer that never came close enough to make it all worth while I'd thought I'd share a tip for staying warm.  

I make all day hunts in miserable weather bearable and almost comfortable at times with five adhesive hand-warmers.  I know it's no so manly but it keeps me in the tree or in the field longer and free to concentrate on the task at hand. It's all about strategic placement:

One hand-warmer on each foot (outside the sock).

One hand-warmer covering the kidney area on either side of your body.

One hand-warmer on the back of your neck.   

And just like that you can endure anything mother nature might throw at you.

A couple of other tips for staying warm and dry in and around the tent if you're not so fortunate to have a hunting camp of our own:

- Build the first fire fairly large so that you'll have a nice bed of coals to get subsequent fires going quickly (helps to have a         deep coal bed when it's raining as well)

- Stuff wet boots with newspaper.  The paper will soak up moisture fast.  Change the paper often for maximum effect.

- Pay attention to the wind when picking a spot for your tent.  Getting in a hollow is usually good but pay attention to low           spots you may wake up in a water bed.  

- Don't skimp on the thermos.  There's nothing worse than a container that won't keep your coffee and soup steaming hot           all day. 

- Throw a few of those hand-warmers in your bag before you hit the sack.  You'll stay warm and toasty all night.  A Nalgene         bottle filled with hot water works well and makes for easy sipping in the night and keeps water from freezing for                those particularly brutal nights.