I am a newbie at hunting. I get cold pretty easy, and once I am really chilled it takes a lot to get warm again.
Especially when you aren’t moving much in between runs, how do you stay warm? I layer, but there are limitations. I have acquired a Melton wool coat but was wondering if anyone here had a favorite product or type of clothing that will look traditional but keep me warm!!
Any thoughts appreciated.
Hound’s Blood
Get a bottle of white port and a bottle of Courvousier.
Mix to taste. Hopefully your taste is pretty strong
Put in flask
Put in pocket
Imbibe generously
that should do it.
seriously
I wear Cuddleduds long underwear under my breeches, a polartech white insulated turtleneck shirt under my coat, sometimes Cuddleduds under that, plus I have silk insulated sock liners that i wear under a pair of knee hi pantyhose and socks in my boots.
I also have a fleece face thing I wear skiing that I wear when it’s really cold. It’s like a big headband looking thing you pull over your head and up over your mouth and nose, I forget what it’s called.
Of course, I’m in FL, but today was a hunt day and when I got up to feed and load, it was 26 at my house and we had frost, so it does get pretty cold here.
Wrong Jaegermonster. 
Get a bottle of Peach Schnapps and a bottle of JB Scotch (or plain old Blackberry Brandy which is not mixed w/ anything.)
Mix to taste. Hopefully your taste is pretty strong.
Put in two flasks
Put in pockets
Imbibe generously and share with others.
that should do it.
Thin good quality thermal underwear- I like Lands End silk crew neck undershirts and silk sock liners- are your friend. SmartWool socks. Those tea bag size hand and feet warmer things. Go to a fabric store and have them cut you a length of white polar fleece which you can use as a scarf. I leave mine extra long so the extra length can hang on my back- it really keeps you toasty.
On bitter cold days I use the ear warmer/cover thing, it really makes a difference. If it’s cold enough to require a fleece face warmer like JM describes, I surf the web instead of hunt. ;0 Today a bitterly cold strong wind was blowing, it was cloudy and the temp was maybe 30 degrees. I wigged out of hunting.
Wicking poly fabric next to your skin. Wool, too. No silk or cotton as they don’t breathe. Handwarmers. In your gloves. If it’s really cold, in your sports bra.
If you have no pride at all, get some wooden western stirrups.
(Forget the sports bra thing if you’re a guy.)
Oh lordy… here’s my “secret” list…
2.) See #1
3.) See # 1,2
4.) Any long underwear that feels like fleece inside. And breeches and boots that allow for this
5.) If 1-3 don’t work, buy toe warmers…BUT… activate them 2 hours before. That way the excessive heat isn’t burning you during the beginning of the hunt.
6.) Undershirt made of poly cotton. Bras are your own choices.
7.) Wear your safety vest under your coat. Works great for me!!
~Emily
On REALLY cold days, I’ll wear under armour leggings (AMAZING) under my breeches, then I’ll wear nylon knee high type socks, and then wool blend or coolmax socks. On top, I’ll either wear an under armour cold gear mock or l.l. bean heavy weight wicking thermal top, with thumb holes in the arm cuffs (helps to keep the wrists warm!). I’ll then put on my hunt shirt, then canary vest, and heavy melton. On occasion I have worn a canary colored V-neck cashmere sweater for extra warmth. I then usually wear UA glove liners and a thick leather glove, though my hands don’t normally get tooo cold. I’ve also heard good things about the cold gear socks from Under Armour. Tight to the skin, but very warm and not bulky. I then make sure my hair is up in my hair net so that is comes down over my ears. I think that’s it…
I use chem packs in the boots and also Futi’s.
When it gets really cold I just switch to the Mountain Horse Rim Frosts for footwear. I also have a pair of Tuff Rider fleece lined breeches.
My coat is fairly heavy and with a thin layer of long underwear and my wool vest my body really doesn’t get cold.
I have a white turtle fur that I wear over my stock tie on really cold days to pull up over my face and neck.
I have fleece ear warmers that snap on to my helmet harness.
I have a variety of warm gloves from cabelas. My favorite are a Kangaroo skin roper they have that is Thinsulate lined.
The under armor cold weather gear is spreading quickly through our hunt. It is very warm and really gets the sweat away from the body. It is also very thin and light weight.
On really cold days the silk long johns come out.
Granted it has not been that cold out yet but around 32 so cold enough for me:lol: I wore the underarmour leggings under my regular breeches, an undermour mock neck, my regular shirt and stock tie. Silk socks and then smartwool socks over them. The only thing cold was my feet! I see a lot of people have the futi’s so I am looking into those. Underarmour socks might be a good idea to. I love my SSG ranchers…really warm fleece lined gloves and they are the buff color so acceptable for our hunt. If my hands and feet are warm I am okay. I suppose it all depends on what kind of day you are having out hunting and if you are going fast or just standing around. We had a super run on T-day when it was cold and I was so hot with all my underarmour on but it did let the heat out easily without making me cold.
Try a Thermacare back wrap. I put one thin layer between it and my skin. That really keeps my core warm which indirectly helps hands and feet. Make sure you have poly type layers on that do not get/stay wet becuase it may have you so warm at times that you sweat a little. They last for hours.
for cold feet
Years ago,I was told this recipe for keeping feet warm from several staffers in the hunt.
put cotton balls between your toes
put baggies(sandwhich kind) on over barefeet and cotton balls
3.wool socks
They never seemed to complain about the cold, but could be because they had also done #1 and #2 in OP post
Wateryglen is SUCH a downer!
Actually the BEST thing you can do to stay warm is to get and keep well hydrated. Drink a lot of water before hunting and afterwards. A LOT. And forget about alcohol until after the hunt is over. Alcohol dehydrates you rapidly (hangovers are really bad dehyration episodes!) AND it dilates your peripheral blood vessels which brings your blood to the surface to be exposed to the cold - and why would you do that!??!!! It also makes you impervious to the cold so you don’t heed the warning signs - like PAIN!!
One swaller ain’t gonna hurt ya! :winkgrin: But that flush of warmth you feel?? temporary and even hurtful! Sorry, WG is such a downer:mad:.
Tip for hangovers - drink lotsa water with your drinks to minimize them and lotsa water to get over them!!
All previous tips were good! I’d add = don’t put on so many layers that it restricts your circulation in your feet/hands especially. Many of us have a larger foot sized pair of boots especially for winter riding so we can wear thick wool socks or do layering. Other suggestion is polypropylene or combo it with wool. Comes in thick/thin socks/long underwear. I like silk and I’ve used mylar glove liners which rock.
My favorite for the “one swaller”? Peach Schnappes…
Thanks!
I knew I’d get some good info here.
My chubby brown horse has a problem with his shoulder I am trying to get resolved but in the mean time I will “cold proof” myself. That way when he is feeling better we will be ready to go! It is in the teens here this morning. Brrr…
Thanks again
I spent many years skiing in sub-zero conditions, which is far colder than any temperature than any temperatures at which we might ride. (My personal record: -52F, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, January 20, 1984. Unbe-effin’-lievable.) I did learn some things that have direct application to horses and hunting. OK, I’m not saying you can actually stay warm and cozy at 20 below, but there are some things that make for less misery.
NO COTTON. Soldiers, mountain climbers, and Nordic skiers will tell you honestly, “Cotton kills.” It gets wet from sweat and chills you. Do not wear cotton glove liners or sock liners, cottong undershirts, or cotton-knit long underwear.
Put anti-perspirant on your feet and let it dry before putting your socks on. This will help keep them from sweating and getting the socks wet.
Use wool socks, preferably some you got at a ski shop. These stay up, wear well, and do keep you warm.
I have a CO helmet that’s a few sizes too big so I can put a small wool cap under it.
Thick white fleece neck gaiter. You can put your hunting tie over this so it doesn’t show early in the hunt, and later, when everybody is concentrating more on the run or the hound work or just staying alive, you can pull it up over your face and nose.
I have a little down vest I put on under the melton. Nobody sees it; they just see the yellow of the canary vest sticking out. Also put on a couple of inexpensive cashmere sweaters. Nobody can see those either.
I don’t have a frock so I haven’t figured out how to keep my thighs warm. I’d like to wear 27 layes of fleece pants but that is probably not goign to work out aesthetically.
Thermacare
Thermacare back wraps are great. I think they are used for the lower back, but it works better for me to put it up closer to my shoulders. They stay warm for nearly 8 hours.
I’ve not had them make me sweat, but I only use them in extremely cold weather. If you get too warm with them and you have them up by your shoulders, you can just reach in your collar at the back and yank em out.
Cabelas also sell some tiny little packets you can put in gloves as handwarmers. That keeps your fingers from getting numb.
Alcohol only makes you “think” you are warm, but I’ll drink to that!
Yeah, I got a polarfleece vest from LL Bean for the really cold days.
Note they have a lemon that is a nice canary yellow. I also got one in what was closest to our hunt colors now that I have my colors
They also have a polar fleece shirt that is warm and snug. You can still put your stock tie on.
I have this in several colors for every day riding in the winter but will use the Ivory color for hunting when it is really cold.
[QUOTE=Ashby;3704513]
I don’t have a frock so I haven’t figured out how to keep my thighs warm. I’d like to wear 27 layes of fleece pants but that is probably not goign to work out aesthetically.[/QUOTE]
One very dubious benefit to having thunder thighs is that the layers of fat insulate pretty well.
The heavyweight frock helps too, and folks I know swear by UnderArmour.
I wear white turtlenecks (2$ at Wal-Mart!) and a thick real 4 fold stock tie wound high on my neck. Does a good job keeping the cold out. Wool socks - oh yeah. Love 'em.
Hot soup, hot chocolate and tea at the tailgate also works wonders. 
Or Me
When Wateryglen accompanies me so I know where to go, if you see my truck while out hunting and are cold, I alway have hot coffee and can fix it to go and have now added made from scratch Hot chocolate to the menu. Just ask for a quick swig.
Hubby swears by UnderArmor long johs that I bought him several seasons ago.
M
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