wild guide: cold-weather hunting
INSULATION
Layering is key
when hunting in
cold weather. After
putting on our base
layer, we need an
insulating layer.
Some of us require
a warmer insulating
layer and some a
cooler insulating
layer. It’s up to you
to determine if
you heat up and
cool down quickly,
or if your body
temperature is fairly
stable. I’m lean, so
I need a decent
insulating layer.
One of the best I’ve
found to date is a
pile pant and mid-
layer jacket made
by Helly Hansen. It
is also available in
a one-piece (top/
bottom). I first
discovered Helly
on an arctic hunt in
Northern Canada.
Asking the locals
what they wore for
OUTER LAYERS
the extreme cold,
without exception,
everyone pointed to
Helly Hansen.
The key here,
is the thermal
insulating value. To
properly fit, without
adding too much
bulk, an insulating
mid-layer must
have the ability to
retain body heat
over long periods of
time. I know several
hunters who wear
fleece, and for them
it seems to work,
but for me this pile
garment is the way
to go.
With only a few
hunting apparel
manufacturers truly
meeting the needs
of today’s cold-
weather hunter, I
again point to Sitka
Gear as an industry
leader. They offer
an entire line of
insulating layer options. Their Kelvin
line is designed with
PrimaLoft Silver
Hi Loft insulation.
Well-known in the
hunting community,
this mid layer is
a top choice with
many hunters.
Sitka also offers a
Jetstream vest made
of Windstopper
laminate material.
Depending on
what you wear on
top, choosing a
mid-layer with the
ability to block wind
may indeed be a
priority as well. In
my experience, vests
are an ideal option
for a mid-layer when
my goal is to keep
my torso warm.
Retaining core body
heat is imperative to
keeping me warm,
especially when I
want to extend my
time on stand.
hand and foot
warmers placed
strategically in
boots, gloves, and
throughout one’s
clothing, can literally
warm up your world.
As a rule, I count on
two hand-warmers
for every four hours
outside. Advertising
materials suggest
they last longer,
but seldom do they
maintain significant
warmth past the four-hour mark. With
heat loss being the
stationary hunter’s
number one enemy,
these accessories
can help retain body
heat and help you
stay comfortable
and alert for longer
periods of time.
If you have the
adhesive kind,
sticking them to
your base layer, over
your kidneys, can go
a long way.
HEAT PACKS
Thermal heat pads
or chemically
activated heat packs
can be a lifesaver.
While cumbersome
to pack and place
properly, these
little gems can
add comfort and
hours to your time
on stand or in the
blind. Available
through most
commercial outdoor
outfitters, either
battery-powered or
chemical-reacting
Then comes
the outer layer.
Everything
underneath is
designed to wick
and capture heat.
The outer layer
serves to keep
the heat in and
protect us from
the elements.
Conditions are
everything when we
consider the outer
layer, i.e., when we
need protection
from wind and
precipitation.
Until recently,
I was a huge fan
of Ravenwear. I
still am in fact,
but I’ll qualify. The
first is that they
are no longer in
business, and the
second is that their
clothing – albeit it
exceptionally warm
– is very bulky.
Likewise, I am a
fan of both King of
the Mountain and
Silent Predator wool
garments. They are
very warm, but they
are a bit heavy and
can be somewhat
restrictive to wear.
For hunters coming
to Alberta to pursue
trophy whitetails
in November, for
years these two
companies were the
go-to options.
As both a
professional
outfitter and big
game guide, and as
an avid recreational
hunter, I spend
all of November
in the woods and
much of December
and January as
well. As such, I
am always on the
lookout for the best
cold-weather gear
available. I can tell
you, with absolute
certainty, when I
discovered Sitka
Gear’s Whitetail
Fanatic line of cold
weather hunting
garments, I was
sold immediately.
Sitka actually makes
two different lines
– their Incinerator
and Whitetail
Fanatic series –
both designed
for cold weather
hunting. I’ve heard
it said that wearing
the Incinerator bib
and jacket is like
wearing a sleeping
bag. On hundred
percent waterproof,
it is made with a
Primaloft Silver
down blend in a
three-layer Gore-
Tex cocoon. For my
own applications
– especially as a
bow hunter – I’m a
firm believer in the
Whitetail Fanatic
jacket and bibs.
The Berber fleece
exterior and Gore
Windstopper barrier,
combined with the
133 g/m2 Primaloft
Silver Insulation
keeps body heat in
while blocking the
wind altogether.
Quiet, warm and
flexible, from the
zipper design to the
pockets, including
a built-in muff-style
front pouch on the
jacket make this
one my number
one choice for cold
weather outerwear.
The author’s wife,
Heather Wilson,
enjoys all-day
sits on stand
during extreme
temperatures by
dressing properly
from head to toe.
She says Sitka’s
Whitetail Fanatic
women’s line fits
perfectly and is
designed specifically
for the female form.
Wild Guide
. Winter 2018
28