The Secret Layer of Warmth in the Woods

Getting cold and deer hunting go together like peanut butter and jelly. Some of my most vivid memories of the first few seasons I could hunt were shivering on stand and wondering how long before I could move and go warm up. Then spending each night trying to figure out how I could stay warm the next day. Over the seasons I have figured out a few tricks to do just that, with plenty of trial and error and advice from other hunters. 

I think I may have finally cracked the code and found the final ingredients for warmth in the woods, including one solid game changer. 

Freezing in a treestand seems like a prerequisite of deer hunting. It doesn’t have to be that way. Photo credit Chris Berens.

Here it is: Ditch that old, worn-out cotton long underwear base layer, and the smelly spandex-like, athletic-style material, too. Better yet, throw them in the fire and enjoy watching them burn. Although you should burn them outside, cause they probably reek.

Then go find yourself some merino wool base layers. 

Of course, we all know that wool is one of the world’s best insulators and has a ton of positive properties. But regular wool is also heavy and itchy against the skin. I’ve tried the old cotton long johns, regular wool and a few of the polyester/spandex athletic-style base layers. They all work to a degree, but they all have significant downsides. Cotton stays wet and sucks out the warmth, regular wool is heavy and itchy, the spandex stuff stinks like sweat and doesn’t wash out. 

I had heard about merino wool for a couple of years before I bit the bullet and found some on sale to try out — yes it can be expensive, but if you keep your eyes peeled you can find good sale deals on merino wool.

Turns out — this stuff is legit. 

Even after it’s soaked from sweating through it during a long hike to a stand way out on public land, it stays warm — it is wool after all. It’s as soft and comfortable as your favorite Green Bay Packers T-shirt. It’s available in different weights for different temperature ranges. And one of its most surprising attributes is that it doesn’t smell. This might be too much info for some, but I’ve put a couple pairs of merino base layers through the wringers of a week straight at deer camp, with no washings, and it doesn’t smell. OK, it might have a little odor, but nothing compared to what other base layer materials would smell like. Do a little test of your own if you get some — you’ll be surprised. It’s a big plus for camping or staying at a cabin without any laundry facilities.

A basic merino wool neck/face gaiter and stocking cap are nice additions to fight the cold north wind. Photo credit Chris Berens.

So that’s it, that’s my last secret to staying warm in the woods. Merino wool. A few pairs of base layers won’t cost anywhere near as much as some of that high-end insulated camo that’s all over Instagram (you know what I’m talking about). But, those merino base layers will combine with your normal insulated hunting clothing to get you through the coldest days of deer season.

By watching for sales on the Interwebs and FaceGram, deals can be found to stay within a budget. I have a hodgepodge of merino wool from the likes of First Lite, Badlands, BlackOvis.com and Browning, all found on sale for cheap. Plenty of other companies like Smartwool, Ice Breaker and more sell decent merino, too. Doesn’t really matter who makes it, as long as it’s merino. 

Don’t forget your warm feet system, a hand muff, a neck/face gaiter and two stocking caps. These will team up to help you face that cold north wind and stay in the woods — after everybody else threw out the white flags and retreated for home early.

Warmers Are Not Just for Hands Anymore | Public Land Deer Hunter with John Eberhart

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