Late-season hunts require proper dress Wrong clothes can shorten day

Three weeks of regular deer season remain, followed by two weeks of muzzleloader hunting, and it’s likely each consecutive week will yield colder, wetter, more uncomfortable weather and woods conditions. The very climate changes that affect and alter whitetail behavior, especially travel, feeding, and mating patterns, are both a benefit and a detriment to sportsmen. Chances of bagging a buck improve with the advent of cold and the rut, but comfort levels for outdoorsmen decline with the mercury level.

Whitetail hunters are extremely particular about selecting their rifle, ammunition, scope, GPS, binoculars, and tree stands, but their hunting clothes – the items that allow each sportsmen to withstand the rigors of cold, wet days – often get only passing consideration. Improper clothing has shortened or ruined more outings than any other type of equipment failure. This is unfortunate since deer season is so short and each opportunity to be afield so precious.

With proper apparel, adverse weather conditions should never interfere with a deer hunt, even if an unexpected overnight stay in the woods occurs. I vividly recall one Thanksgiving week hunt when our group experienced sleet, snow, subzero temperatures, and chilling winds for three days, and then rain, fog, and unseasonably mild conditions that actually melted away snow cover for two days. We hunted through it all, tagged some deer, and thanks to proper hunting togs, we endured each unpredictable change in the weather in stride.

Deer hunters of the Pine Tree State, especially the northern zone, need to dress for the worst and hope for the best when it comes to late fall weather. The extremities are the quickest and most severely affected body parts, so the head, hands, and feet must be given special attention. Warm, dry, comfortable, and safe are the four most important characteristics of dependable deer hunting clothing. Just because a product features new technology, improved synthetic material, or is top-of-the-line expensive, doesn’t mean it’s best for you. Practical experience and firsthand experimentation with clothing combinations are the only ways to settle on the best outfit for each individual sport. Here are some considerations.

Heads up

An amazing amount of body heat is lost from a bare head and neck during cold weather. Being outdoors for a prolonged period without a hat or scarf will actually drain heat from the rest of your body. If heat preservation isn’t enough of a reason for a deer hunter to wear a cap, then know that it’s the law. Of the two pieces of orange outerwear each deer hunter is required to wear, one must be a hat.

Baseball-style caps of windproof, waterproof material are fine for outings during moderate temperatures. The front bill keeps precipitation, sun, and most brush away from the eyes. Ski hats or watch caps are light, fit any head size and pack easily since they have no form. They can be pulled down to cover more of the head and ears in cold conditions, but have no brim to protect the eyes from rain or sun glare. Wool is a good material for this style hat since it holds in warmth even when wet.

During periods of frigid weather, particularly if there’s a steady wind, caps with fold down earflaps are beneficial. Some styles of hunting hats have sections that roll out from inside or from overlapping the top of the hat to cover the back of the neck, ears, and part of the cheeks. Despite looking a bit like Elmer Fudd, such headgear will allow a sport to withstand the most severe cold and keep hunting without fear of frostbite. Covering the ears does mean the eyes will have to be even sharper.

Although the neck is often ignored, it too should be covered to preserve heat loss. A turtleneck shirt or high-collared jacket will do the trick, but if a cold morning turns into a warm afternoon, it’s suddenly too hot, but you’re stuck with what you’re wearing. An orange scarf can be used as necessary, then stored in a pack or pocket as the day warms up, and a scarf keeps rain and snow out, as well as heat in. Even a good bandana will work, and it prevents chafing from a jacket collar due to constant head turning in search of game.

In severe conditions a scarf or bandana can serve as a mask to protect the face and ease subzero breathing. It can also be used to hold a hat in place and cover the ears when tied under the chin during wild winds. Worst-case scenario, either can be used as a sling, bandage, or tourniquet. Always tuck in the ends of a scarf or neckerchief to prevent flopping that a deer might see or hear, and to prevent snagging on branches.

Helping hands

Flexible fingers with full feeling and warm hands are a must for proper sighting and shooting, not to mention safe handling of a possibly wet, snowy, or slippery firearm. Years ago I missed a close shot at a big buck in dense cover with a shotgun because my partially numb fingers couldn’t depress the small safety button completely. Refusing to wear gloves for fear of them interfering with properly shouldering the gun and pulling the trigger cost me a deer. No matter how tough you are, the weather is tougher and takes its toll slowly but surely.

It’s nearly impossible to carry a rifle while still-hunting without gripping the metal receiver, trigger, and safety area, being always ready for a shot. Thick gloves are warm, but too cumbersome for fine finger movement. In moderate weather a pair of light leather gloves cut the wind, offer some insulation and protection, yet allow excellent dexterity. Lightweight cotton work gloves, often used for gardening or picking potatoes, also offer warmth and freedom of motion. If there’s rain, sleet, or snow, leather and cotton gloves lose their effectiveness within an hour or less, so you’d better have a spare pair or two.

Fleece-lined Cordura and Thinsulate-lined Gore-Tex are two of the best combinations of glove material to assure warm, flexible fingers and hands in subzero temperatures. Swatches of leather or lycra on the thumb, trigger finger, and palm assure a secure grip of the rifle and nonslip operation of the safety and trigger. Some hunting gloves and mittens are designed with palm slits or breakaway finger covers allowing an archer or firearm hunter to quickly and easily free their warm fingers to achieve shooting dexterity.

My personal solution for toasty warm hands is a thin pair of space gloves of polypropylene and metal fiber worn under a set of wool hand-knitted mittens. My mother-in-law even goes to the trouble of knitting a separate trigger finger, or I can simply slip off the mitten and use my gloved hand to operate the safety, trigger and bolt. On subzero days I can even slip a small chemical hand warmer into each mitten.

Cold feet

A sportsmen’s feet are always in contact with cold ground, snow, mud, or water while still-hunting or in a ground blind, and only quality hunting boots will ward off the chill. Poor footwear leading to wet, frigid feet curtails more deer hunting forays than any other clothing. Proper fit and comfort are every bit as important as insulation, because if boots are ill fitting or difficult to walk in, discomfort will ruin the outing.

Too loose and insteps will ache, ankles tire, and heels will blister. Too tight and toes will cramp and reduced blood circulation will lead to cold feet. Hunting boots should be snug but never tight when laced and the wearer has on medium weight wool socks and a set of moisture absorbent, heat reflective inner soles.

Select your boots to match the terrain in which most of the stalking will be done. Tread style, material, and height will vary with land that is swampy, hilly, rocky, snowy, brushy, thick with ground vegetation, or a dozen other terrain combinations. Gum rubber style boots are light, flexible, scentless, and waterproof. They are fine for marshy or slushy going but not the answer for severe cold conditions.

Snowmobile boots are extremely warm, great for stand hunting, but too heavy and clumsy for stealthy, prolonged woods wandering. A favorite style of all-weather footwear is the 12- to 15-inch lace-up L.L. Bean or Pac boot. Leather uppers and a rubber lower section with Thinsulate insulation or a removable moisture-wicking, heat-trapping liner make these sturdy boots perfect for Maine deer hunting conditions.

Boot styles and features can be mind boggling, so select a dependable brand name you know and go for waterproof, scent-proof, precision-fitted boots. Consider 800 to 1,200 grams of Thinsulate, dual tread soles, padded collar, quick lacing eyes, fiberglass comfort contoured shank, and for style, a camo design upper.

Keep your head, hands, and feet dry, warm, and comfortable and you can concentrate on hunting rather than hurting. Dress correctly and even the most miserable Maine weather won’t dampen the challenge and excitement of a day in the woods chasing after whitetails. Remember, you can always remove layers of clothes, but you can’t put on what you don’t have with you. Think comfort, think safety, and think Big Buck Club on each and every outing.