24' Up in a Tree Stand, -10F, 10 MPH Wind - Warm and Comfortable?

[MikeT49]

We're not talking about a shooting house with a heater. It's up in a hang on tree stand like this:Still, the answer is yes. Just gotta have the right tree stand and be properly dressed. The tree stand must have a comfortable padded seat and backrest. Hard to beat a sling style seat. Seat must have arm rests. The platform needs a foot rest. For clothing, forget cotton. Dress in layers depending on the weather. You may end up looking like the Michelin Man. I Used to use a Kraemer 12V heated vest, but the batteries were too big and didn't last long. The vest does have pockets front and back for 2 ea of the body sized dispoable heaters. Works good. Loose fitting insulated boots w/inner synthetic socks and outer heavy wool socks. Add disposable toe/foot heaters or thermax foot heaters. I wear a camo, carbon impregnated face mask when it is required. If, because of the wind, I have to put up my hood, I put on electronic ear muffs. Now everything is warm except my legs. Till now. I just stumbled on to some 5V heated clothing for a reasonable price at Amazon. Got a heated vest for ~$77 and the pants for ~$63. 10000 mah 5V power banks are ~ $22 for a pair.



I have opt tested both. Fairly simple single button operation. 3 settings, L, M, H. The power banks last about 5 hours on M. The vest has front and back heating panels, heating panels for the front pockets and a heating panel on the back of your neck. I think I'm going to like neck heat. The pants have heat panels on top of the thighs, front and rear of calfs, and for the butt and front. The L heat setting may be enuff, we'll see. Haven't tried the new stuff yet actually hunting, It will be getting a full scale in the woods test shortly in NW WI. I suspect I will be a happy camper. My skinny 73 year old ass should be warm. Mike

 

[Loudenboomer]

The challenge is to keep from getting all sweated up while your getting settled.

 

[snert]

The older I get the colder I get.

I once took my 0 degree sleeping bag with me, crawled in it and had a lovely day sitting in central New York 10 degree weather.

 

[MikeT49]

The challenge is to keep from getting all sweated up while your getting settled.

You got that right. If you get sweated up, the best clothing system available won't keep you warm when it's really cold. I have stripped down to my bibs before climbing up into the tree, cool down, put clothes back on. Beats freezing your butt off. I try to slowly still hunt to my stands and stay dry if possible. Pulling the clothes up into the stand and getting dressed can be very interesting, I don't recommend it. Staying dry is one of the biggest factors to staying warm.
The new vest and pants should allow me to use fewer layers, leave the heat off until needed. Will probably help with the sweating issue.

 

[Immike]

I like the fleece coveralls that zip open on the legs. Loose and light combined with quality lightweight insulated underwear seems best for me. I was given a fleece shirt once as a Christmas present that was a few sizes too big and didn’t realize what I had at first, warmest damn thing I ever put on. My stocking caps regulate my temperature and choose the weight according to conditions.

 

[markT]

@Immike where did you find the fleece coveralls? I got where I freeze my butt off. Thanks

 

[boltfluter]

Just thinking about sitting up there makes me cold! Good luck young man!
Paul

 

[CaptainMal]

After reading about the conditions and what you go through to deal with them, think I'll just stay home until it warms up.

 

[Downeast]

Why so high? How far can you see and how far of a shot can you make? I usually hunt about 16 feet up and I limit my range to about 200 yards.

"Cool" setup!

 

[Immike]

@Immike where did you find the fleece coveralls? I got where I freeze my butt off. Thanks

Remington, I usually wear a Columbia fleece lined hooded zipper Sweatshirt with it and Browning rain jacket. Very warm set up. The browning rain jacket has draw strings built into it to cut off any leaks.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

For sitting in cold weather, I need bibs, coveralls are better but I don't like them for walking or climbing into stands. I use tree steps and hanging stands mostly. Ladder stands are easier to get up with winter clothes. ALWAYS wear a fall restraint device. I have went to Tree spider.

 

[MikeT49]

Why so high? How far can you see and how far of a shot can you make? I usually hunt about 16 feet up and I limit my range to about 200 yards.

"Cool" setup!

My stands are setup for bow hunting on public ground (County forest) and are also used for firearm hunting. The higher you go, the longer distance it takes for your scent to hit the deer's nose. I have observed deer walk onto a field under my stand and feed out onto the field. They do not smell me until they are 50 yards or so down wind. If you have a decent scent control program going, they will not spook. They know you are there, but the amount of scent they get makes you seem to be a long way away.
A deer's vision works kinda like a person wearing a ball cap. If you are up high enough and they are within 25 yards or so, they can't see you unless they look up. Unfortunately, they have learned to look up. But, as long as they don't look up you can get away with slow, quiet movement to draw your bow or get them in your scope.
For bow hunting, I limit my shots to 40 yards, even with the crossbow. For firearm hunting, in the North woods where I hunt, in most situations you can't see much farther than 100 yards. All of my firearm kills, except one, were within 50 yards.

 

[Immike]

Good luck Mike , your a tough old bird. Consider a ground blind soon, it presents new challenges to your skills and if you go with a carbon lined and a heater you don’t fall out... set up several and play the wind.

 

[Ron Huff]

I have learned to layer wool under my camo. First lite makes two different weights of underlayers that work well for me. I also make sure that my outer layer resists wind well.

 

[MikeT49]

Good luck Mike , your a tough old bird. Consider a ground blind soon, it presents new challenges to your skills and if you go with a carbon lined and a heater you don’t fall out... set up several and play the wind.

Thanks Mike, I do have ground blinds. My first set up on the location pictured in the tree stand photo was this ground blind: (the date stamp is about 6 weeks off). If you notice, there are not a lot of trees to put a tree stand in. The county harvested the timber 38 years ago, only left a few larger oaks and maples It's hard to find a tree big enough to put a stand in, much less where you want it.
I did shoot my first deer with a crossbow out of this ground blind set. It's a sweet spot for a ground blind. It sits on a plie of dirt from clearing and leveling the log landing in front of it. The log landing is on top of a "ridge", between swamps.
I still prefer tree stands, but sometimes the optimum location dictates your method. I have several locations that your only choice is a ground blind. My main ground blind gripe is lack of visibility. I did pick up a 270 degree, you see out they don't see in, mesh blind. We'll see how that works.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

If its really cold you might consider bunny boots or mickey mouse boots. By FAR the warmest boots I've ever worn. Bunny boots are rated to -60, mickey mouse -20. Haven't had them to -60 yet but they are toasty warm at -26.

 

[MikeT49]

In addition to a proper clothing system, a comfortable stand (a former hunting partner called my stands "old man lounges"), and not getting over heated getting to and into your stand, you also must provide your body with fuel. There is something to be said about fresh deer tenderloins, bacon, eggs and hash browns when you have the tenderloins. Best hunting breakfast ever. The idea is to cram as much fat, sugar, carbs and protein into your stomach as you can for fuel. Pigging out is encouraged. I usually skip the fried food deal (for scent control) and gobble donuts and hot chocolate. I bring a sandwich heavy on the butter and cheese. A handful of fresh cheese curds to go with the sandwich. The breakfast fuel will burn off in 2 - 3 hours. Now is a good time to pick up fuel for the bod. Halloween candy will be on sale. Stock up on your favorites. I like the bite size candy bars. Also consider bite size chunks of black licorice. The best scent control system on the planet doesn't do squat for mouth odor. A carbon impregnated mask will help. Black licorice smells like anise oil and has a lot of sugar. An old time combination attractant/cover scent was anise oil. It still works. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate. It's great to drink when you eat your lunch. Warms you up two ways, provides immediate internal warming and fuel for later. I bring a big thermos so I can have some a couple hours after lunch. Keep your body fueled is a necessity for staying warm. Edit: Make sure you take the wrappers off any candy bars, etc you are taking with you for fuel. When it's real cold the wrappers are VERY loud. Ask me how I know. Crown Royal bags work great. One for the chocolate and one for the licorice.

 

[MikeT49]

If its really cold you might consider bunny boots or mickey mouse boots. By FAR the warmest boots I've ever worn. Bunny boots are rated to -60, mickey mouse -20. Haven't had them to -60 yet but they are toasty warm at -26.

A smidge on the clunky side for climbing into tree stands.

 

[Kurz]

I have a great deal of admiration for all of you who brave the bone chilling temperature when deer or elk hunting. The types of clothing alone is mind boggling!

I still make it to the UP for deer every other year or so but I’ve basically abandoned those freezing climes for the sunny, warm desert of the Southwest. It might be 60 or so in the early hours but gradually warms up to low 80’s on nice days. T-shirts and blue jeans for rifle hunting, camo for bow hunting.

Northern AZ for elk is a crap shoot, if you get drawn, could be beautiful fall or 2 feet of snow and freezing cold. Still hunting helps keep warm and comfortable.

 

[MikeT49]

As soon as I get all bundled up I have go pee, then start all over again.

I have a pee bottle at my stands. It can be a bit difficult finding your stem through all the clothing. I have found that if you take half a Viagra, he is much easier to find.