How do you dress for the cold weather while deer hunting? There are many variables, so there is no exact answer to that question. How cold does it really get? Does it snow or rain? Is your style of hunting sitting stationary on the ground for hours or are you in a blind? Are you doing any stalking? How far of a hike is it to the stand? These questions should be answered to pick the best cloths for cold weather deer hunting.
These questions can be answered with information from expert organizations and companies that work with cold weather clothing.
There are many similarities between the companies and organizations. First, dress in layers. You will be warmer wearing a thin and medium weight insulator then just wearing a heavy weight one. Next, the garments must be breathable to pull the perspiration away from the body. Finally, not one organization or company promotes the use of any cotton fabrics. Cotton absorbs water and holds it next to the skin where it cools the body off. See what the expert organizations and companies recommend, and pick your clothing accordingly.
The United States Antarctic Program (USAP)
For American Scientists to go to Antarctica (South Pole) they must be issued cold weather gear. This is the field manual for USAP Cold Weather Clothing. This is any easy read manual that is only 7 pages long. If you want to understand cold weather clothing then read this manual.
Antarctica Field Manual Chapter 1 Extreme Cold Weather Clothing in Adobie Reader (PDF File, 92 KB) Click Here
The United States Army
The United States Army must be prepared to go to any weather condition extremes. Soldiers of the US Army may train in snow in Alaska and within 24 hours be deployed to the desert. The soldiers must be issued to gear to handle the changing weather conditions. The Armys clothing solution is the "Cold Weather System Generation III". The You Tube video below shows an overview of the Generation III Extended Cold Weather System.
For more information and photos of each Level Click Here
Northern Outfitters
Northern Outfitters designs clothing for the extreme cold conditions. Northern Outfitter clothing is used by some in Sled Dog racing, and is the clothing you want to wear if your going Polar Bear hunting. Northern Outfitters uses an insulation called Vaetrex in which they claim through university research, “to outperform all other fabrics in heat retention, moisture wicking, and wind chill resistance.”
For more information and photos of each of their layers Click Here
