I do walk a bit to get to my stands. Should I completely change socks at the base of my tree before going up? I worry about deer smelling my feet for the few minutes it takes to change socks. I would, of course, store socks in a plastic bag during the hunt. Any other advice?
Hi Patriot. Short answer: Yes. That is exactly what I do. In fact, on long walks, I pack everything in a big daypack and walk to my stand while wearing long underwear and a fleece layer, and one pair of liners. I stop about 100 yards from the stand and get completely undressed and then dress in my hunting clothing. This makes for a chilly few minutes! I also carry a small hand towel to wipe off excess sweat from my feet. Managing Editor Jacob Edson and I used this routine while filming a hunt here for in WI last fall when the daytime high was 5 degrees. If you walk slowly enough, you can prevent the moisture buildup, but you will still sweat no matter how you do it. I do not worry about the scent factor too much. We do spray ourselves down (boots and pant legs) before continuing to the stand. I adopted this strategy in about 1996 and it has drastically increased the time I can spend on stand in cold temps.
Dan
