Staying warm while hunting is not an accident, and you don’t have to be in the wilds of northern Minnesota to get chilled. I’ve felt frozen in deer stands in the south as well as the north, but there are ways to stay warm no matter where you are. Here are seven tips that will help.

Tip 1:
Your Mother Was Right.
Take a scarf and a hat, and dress in layers. Wear (or take with you) enough clothes for the coldest possible temperatures. Being wet transfers heat faster, so avoid sweating whenever possible, and make sure to dry everything overnight. The PEET shoe and boot dryers will dry your footwear, and do double duty with gloves and hats.

Tip 2:
Stay Warm While On Stand.
The Heater Body Suit is sort of a sleeping bag with legs, and if you are going to spend a long, cold day in a stand, this will keep you toasty. Your own body heat is trapped, and the camo exterior helps hide you as you wait. Wind, snow, or below-zero temperatures will not keep you out of the woods. This is really simple, but it’s high quality and really works.

Tip 3:
New Heat Sources.
The one-use hand warmers have saved the day for me many times, but they are not the only game in town. When I was much younger, the Zippo hand warmer was the gold standard, and I remember saving my money to get one. Well, they’re back (in two different sizes) and work great. The electronic warmers by ThermaCELL are always in my bag for short excursions. These work great, can be turned on or off, have three heat settings, and come in two sizes. If I forget to charge them at home, my car has USB ports, or the EnerPlex Jumper battery can top them off to keep me in the field.

Tip 4:
The Toes Know.
Keeping your toes toasty is imperative, because cold feet will make you miserable, fast. I loved the original ThermaCELL heated insoles the first time I used them, and now they’re even better. The ProFLEX models are more comfortable to walk in, and the newest model can be controlled with your smartphone via Bluetooth. They also have longer battery life, charge faster, and have three temperature settings.

Tip 5:
Ask a Hard Water Fisherman.
People who fish on top of a billon gallons of frozen water are experts in staying warm – and no one is more versed in ice fishing than the people at the Clam Corporation. Wear the Clam Sub Zero Base Layer bottoms and top under your hunting clothes and you will stay warm in any conditions. Made with moisture-wicking and anti-microbial technology, and a high-pile fleece, they are also the perfect garments to keep you warm in a drafty deer camp shack. Also check out Clam for hats, gloves, socks, and outerwear.

Tip 6:
Keep Your Hands Happy.
Like your feet, if your hands get cold, you get miserable fast. Hunter Safety System’s Muff Pack Hand Warmer will keep your hands warm – put a hand warmer inside if it’s really cold, and just slip your hands out when you need to reach for your bow or rifle.

Tip 7:
Keep Your Backside Warm.
A big part of staying warm is keeping a layer of air trapped next to you to provide insulation. A layer of fluffy fleece will work great on your chest or shoulders, but if you plop your butt on it for a while, it will compress and lose its ability to insulate. My Hunt Comfort FatBoy Portable Comfort Cushion (aptly named for me, and made in the USA) has been with me for years, in all weather, and provides both comfort and insulation on surfaces including rocks, logs, metal seats, and wet ground.

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