Stalking and hunting can be a long and drawn out, but enjoyable, process. It takes skill and patience and it can often be hours before you are rewarded with any kind of chance to make a move. One particular type of hunting, fishing, can be the worst for this. If you are fishing a river or lake then you will probably set up in one location, set your traps and will be waiting and watching for movement and bites. Here are some top tips for staying warm and keeping on top of your game while you are waiting.
Invest in Technical Clothing
One of the best things that you can do as a hunter is to invest in what is known as ‘technical clothing’. It is used in many other sports and it is particularly useful in hunting. One specific form of technical clothing that you should look into are base layers. Base layers go underneath your other clothing layers and are great at helping to regulate your body temperature.
Base layers can be made from a range of different materials but one that is popular at the moment is called Merino Wool. The reason this type of material is great for hunting in particular is because it can be worn for days and it will not produce an odour thanks to the antimicrobial properties.
Take a Stove for Hot Drinks
A smart way to ensure that you are going to stay warm through the day and the night is to take a small camping stove with you. It doesn’t need to be anything major and the smallest camping stoves can fold down to fit into a side pocket or even a pocket of some camouflage trousers. The largest element is likely to be the fuel or gas bottle.
Using a camping stove to make hot drinks will help to keep your body temperature up but it can also be used to make hot meals which can do wonders for motivation on a cold night. You will be surprised the effect having a warm meal can have on your spirits and your luck.
Pack Appropriate Sleeping Equipment
Taking the right sleeping equipment is essential and if you want to be warm at any point on your trip, it’s when you settle down to try and get some sleep. If it is a particularly cold night then you will certainly regret not being prepared and not packing properly.
The basic equipment for camping out will be a tent, a camp bed or ground sheet and a good quality sleeping bag. Tents come in a range of different ratings that determine how waterproof they are. You will want to choose a tent that matches the number of people sleeping in it too. Any wasted space will just make it harder to keep warm.
A camp bed will keep you elevated, and will stop the cold encroaching your sleeping bag, and a good quality sleeping bag that is suited to all seasons is an essential.
