How to Stay Warm Saddle Hunting in Winter

What Actually Keeps Me Warm Saddle Hunting In Winter

I stay warm saddle hunting in winter by fixing heat loss at my feet, my hands, and my core, then managing sweat on the hike in.

If I am cold in the saddle, it is almost always because I walked in too hot, sat on a windy side of the tree, or my boots are too tight and cutting off blood.

I have been bowhunting whitetails for 25 years with a compound, and I still get cold if I get sloppy.

I split my time between Pike County, Illinois and public land in the Missouri Ozarks, so I deal with both open, windy edges and thick timber that makes you sweat.

Decide If You Are Hunting “Cold And Still” Or “Cold And Windy”

This decision changes everything you wear, and where you put your platform.

If it is 24 degrees and dead calm, I dress lighter than you think and focus on not sweating in.

If it is 24 degrees with a 12 mph wind, I treat wind like rain and block it first.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, I killed my biggest buck, a 156-inch typical, on a morning sit after a cold front.

It was 27 degrees at daylight, and the wind was enough to steal heat the second I stopped moving.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If it is below 30 degrees and the wind is over 10 mph, I wear a windproof outer layer and I tuck in tight on the leeward side of the tree.

If you see deer moving fast with their heads low at first light, expect short “get up and go” feeding movement, not long cruising.

If conditions change to wet snow or freezing drizzle, switch to waterproof boots and a bigger hand muff, even if you hate the bulk.

Make The Hike In Cold On Purpose Or You Will Freeze Later

I learned the hard way that sweating on the walk in is the fastest way to get cold in a saddle.

In 2007 in the Missouri Ozarks, I gut shot a doe and made the worst mistake of my hunting life by pushing her too early and never finding her.

That night was cold, and I remember shivering while tracking because my base layer was damp from rushing around.

Here is what I do now when it is 15 to 35 degrees and I am saddle hunting.

I start the walk in wearing my base layer and a light hoodie, with my puffy jacket in my pack.

I also loosen my boot laces one notch for the hike so my feet do not sweat.

I stop 80 yards from my tree, slow my breathing for two minutes, and let steam come off before I climb.

Pick Your Tree Like You Pick Your Stand Site, Not Like You Are In A Hurry

In a saddle, the tree matters more because you are glued to it for hours.

If you pick a skinny, smooth tree in January wind, you will feel every gust through your hips and back.

Here is what I do in the Missouri Ozarks on public land when it is cold.

I pick a tree with rough bark, at least 14 inches thick, and I set up on the downwind side so my body blocks wind.

If I am hunting a field edge in Pike County, Illinois, I will even pick a tree 10 yards off the edge just to get out of that open wind tunnel.

This connects to what I wrote about how deer move in the wind because cold wind can change both deer movement and how long you can sit still.

Do Not Let Your Platform And Sticks Turn Into A Cold Sink

Metal steals heat, and saddle hunting puts your feet on metal all day.

I use cheap gear where it counts, and I spend money where it matters.

My best cheap investment is a set of $35 climbing sticks I have used for 11 seasons.

But I learned I needed to change how I use them in winter.

Here is what I do.

I wrap the top step area with hockey tape so my boots are not sitting on bare, cold metal.

I also make sure my platform is level so my toes are not jammed forward, which cuts blood flow.

Decide If You Need Insulated Boots Or Just Better Blood Flow

Most guys blame their boots when it is really tight boots and sweaty socks.

If your toes go numb in the first hour, your boots are too tight or your socks are wrong, even if the boots cost $280.

Here is what I do when it is 20 to 35 degrees.

I wear one midweight merino sock, and I size my boots so I can wiggle my toes.

If it is under 20 degrees and I am sitting four hours, I switch to a true insulated boot and I walk slower.

My buddy swears by wearing two pairs of socks, but I have found it makes my feet sweat and then I freeze.

When I am trying to judge deer movement on these cold sits, I check feeding times first so I am not sitting longer than I need to in brutal weather.

Hands Are Where Most Saddle Hunts Fall Apart

Cold hands end more hunts than cold feet.

In a saddle, you are also handling ropes, carabiners, and a release, which is basically grabbing ice.

Here is what I do.

I carry a hand muff and I keep it on my bridge side so I can slide my hands in without looking.

I also keep a thin glove on at all times so I am not touching metal with bare skin.

If you are hunting 15 to 30 degrees, forget about bulky ski gloves and focus on a muff plus thin gloves so you can still shoot.

I have used the Sitka Incinerator Hand Muff, and it is warm, but it is pricey and easy to snag if you are sloppy.

I have also used the HOT SHOT Men’s Camo Hand Warmer Muff, and for about $35 it does the job if you block wind with your body.

Do Not Trust Scent Gadgets To Replace Warm Layers

I wasted money on $400 of ozone scent control that made zero difference.

It also made me carry extra junk, and extra junk makes you sweat more on the hike in.

Here is what I do instead.

I focus on wind and access, then I wear clean base layers and keep my outer layers dry.

This ties to what I wrote about are deer smart because deer notice movement and wind mistakes more than some magic machine in your pack.

Choose Layers Based On Your Sit Time, Not The Forecast High

A 38 degree “high” does not matter if you are sitting from 5:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

What matters is the temperature for the first two hours and how much wind hits your tree.

Here is what I do for a typical 18 to 32 degree morning.

I wear a merino base layer, a light grid fleece, and a puffy jacket that goes on after I am clipped in.

If wind is steady, I add a windproof shell even if it is not “that cold.”

Back in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, I sat freezing in hill country snow because I thought a thick jacket was enough.

The wind cut through it, and I spent more time thinking about my fingers than watching the ridge.

Stop Heat Loss At Your Waist And Neck Or You Will Always Chase It Elsewhere

Your saddle and tether can create little gaps where air pumps in and out every time you shift.

If your lower back gets cold, the rest of you follows.

Here is what I do.

I wear a long base layer top that stays tucked, and I use a neck gaiter even at 35 degrees.

If it drops under 25 degrees, I add a lightweight balaclava and keep it down until I need it.

This connects to what I wrote about where deer go when it rains because wet cold and wind cold both punish gaps in your clothing.

Decide If You Are Going To Carry Weight Or Get Down Early

This is the tradeoff nobody says out loud.

You can pack heavy insulation and sit all day, or you can pack light and plan to climb down at 10:00 a.m.

On public land in the Missouri Ozarks, I usually pack lighter because I move spots more.

On my 65-acre lease in Pike County, Illinois, I will carry more because I know the funnel and I will sit it out.

Here is what I do to avoid overpacking.

I pick a sit goal before I leave the truck, like “three hours” or “until noon,” then I dress for that.

Stay Organized In The Tree Or You Will Fumble And Sweat

Cold weather saddle hunting gets dangerous when you start rushing and fighting gear.

If you fight your pack for five minutes at 22 degrees, you will sweat under your puffy and then you will chill.

Here is what I do every single time.

I hang my pack at knee height, I clip my pull-up rope where I can see it, and I put my release in the same pocket.

I also stage my next layer so it goes on with two motions, not ten.

If you are new to deer basics and you keep hearing guys say “doe groups” and “buck bedding,” it helps to read my quick pieces on what a female deer is called and what a male deer is called so the talk makes sense in the dark.

Do Not Sit There Shivering If Deer Are Not Using That Spot

I hunt 30-plus days a year, and I am not tough enough to freeze for nothing.

Cold makes you stubborn, and stubborn makes you sit bad spots too long.

Here is what I do on cold mornings.

I give a setup 90 minutes at first light, and if I do not see deer or fresh sign, I climb down and still-hunt to the next spot.

My best public land spot is Mark Twain National Forest, but it takes work, and I do not waste prime cold mornings on dead timber.

Use The Cold To Your Advantage Instead Of Just Surviving It

Cold weather can make deer move earlier, and it can make them bed tighter to cover.

That is a tradeoff you can use if you pick the right tree.

Here is what I do in late season.

I hunt the thickest edge near food, not the wide-open food itself, because deer step out late when it is bitter.

When I want a reminder on where a deer can jump or slip through fences in winter, I check how high deer can jump because it changes how I plan access around cattle fences and woven wire.

FAQ

What is the warmest thing you can do for saddle hunting without buying new gear?

Walk in colder and slower so you do not sweat.

Then add your puffy layer only after you are clipped in and settled.

How do you keep your feet warm on a saddle platform?

I keep my boots loose enough to wiggle toes, and I avoid doubling socks.

I also tape high-contact metal spots so my soles are not sitting on freezing aluminum.

Do heated hand warmers actually help for bowhunting from a saddle?

They help if you use them to warm your hands between movement, not as a fix for bad gloves.

I put one in a hand muff and keep my fingers ready for a shot.

Should you wear your bibs and big jacket on the walk in?

No, not if you are walking more than 200 yards or climbing hills.

I carry them and put them on at the tree so I do not sweat and chill.

Where should you set up on the tree to stay warmer?

I set up on the leeward side so the tree and my body block wind.

If wind shifts, I will rotate around the tree before I accept freezing for the next three hours.

Does cold weather change how long deer stay on their feet in the morning?

Yes, and I see more short, early feeding moves right at first light after a hard cold front.

If you want to time that better, I use feeding times as a reality check before I grind out an all-day sit.

Make One Smart Upgrade If You Keep Freezing In The Same Spot

If you do everything right and still freeze, you need to buy one thing that fixes your weakest link.

I am not talking about another camo pattern or some miracle spray.

Here is what I do if I know I am sitting 3 to 5 hours in 18 to 28 degrees.

I pick one upgrade for that season, and I run it hard instead of changing five things at once.

I learned the hard way that buying a pile of “warm” gear does not matter if the cold is coming from one place, like your feet on metal or your hands on rope.

Back in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, I kept adding layers and still froze because my hands were the failure point.

I fixed my hands, and suddenly my “old” jacket was fine again.

Decide If You Are A Toe-Cold Guy Or A Finger-Cold Guy

This sounds dumb until you pay attention for one season.

If my toes are cold, my whole body is cold 30 minutes later.

If my fingers are cold, I start fidgeting and moving, and then I blow deer at 18 yards.

Here is what I do to figure it out fast.

I sit one cold morning and I note the first thing that goes cold, and the time it happens.

If it is under 45 minutes, I change that system before I change anything else.

When I am thinking about shot chances in late season, I keep what I wrote about where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks in my head because cold hands make bad releases and bad hits.

Fix Feet With A Real Boot Plan, Not Just “More Insulation”

Insulated boots can help, but only if you do not sweat on the walk in and only if blood can move.

If your feet sweat, insulation just traps that moisture and you freeze worse at 9:00 a.m.

Here is what I do on a 600-yard walk on Missouri Ozarks public when it is 22 degrees.

I walk in with my boot laces loose, and I keep my pace slow enough that I am not breathing hard.

Once I am at the tree, I snug the laces just enough to feel stable on steps.

If it is under 20 degrees and I am sitting until noon, I will wear a true insulated boot like the Muck Boot Arctic Pro.

They are warm, but they are bulky on small platforms, and I had to size up to keep toe wiggle room.

If you are hunting a steep ridge or long hike, forget about the heaviest boot on the shelf and focus on dry socks and loose fit.

That tradeoff matters more than the insulation number printed on a tag.

Fix Hands By Making Your Release Easy, Not By Wearing Boxing Gloves

I see guys wear giant gloves and then wonder why they cannot clip a carabiner or find their D-loop.

In a saddle, you touch cold metal all morning, and that sucks heat out fast.

Here is what I do when it is 15 to 30 degrees and I am bowhunting.

I run thin gloves, and I keep my hands in the muff until I see a deer or I need to adjust.

I also keep my release clipped to my D-loop holder or in one pocket every single time, because digging around equals sweat and frustration.

My buddy swears by rechargeable heated gloves, but I have found the batteries die right when the woods get good.

I would rather run a muff and a chemical hand warmer and keep it simple.

If you want a cheap heated option that actually lasts, I have used HotHands Hand Warmers.

They are not fancy, but they stay warm for hours, and I can put one in the muff and one in my chest pocket.

Use A Wind Block Even If You Hate The Noise

Wind is the thief that makes a 30 degree day feel like 12 degrees in a saddle.

If you can block wind, you can wear less insulation and still sit longer.

Here is what I do when the forecast says 10 to 15 mph.

I pick the leeward side of the tree, and I rotate my platform to keep the trunk between me and the wind.

If wind is swirling, I take the “warmth loss” hit and I hunt for the shot window instead of trying to hide from it.

In Pike County, Illinois, those field edges can feel like a wind tunnel, and I would rather be 10 yards inside the timber than freeze on the edge.

This ties back to why I watch do deer move in the wind because wind changes deer routes, and it changes how long I can stay sharp.

Don’t Let Hunger And Dehydration Make You Cold

This is the boring part that matters at 9:30 a.m.

If you do not eat, your body stops making heat like it should.

Here is what I do on a cold morning sit.

I eat a real breakfast, and I bring 20 ounces of water and something salty.

If I am on Missouri Ozarks public and I plan to bounce ridges, I bring a snack I can eat one-handed in the saddle.

Back in the Upper Peninsula Michigan on a snow trip, I learned fast that being a little dehydrated makes cold feel twice as bad.

Know When To Quit And Move Before You Blow The Spot

There is a point where cold makes you sloppy.

Sloppy means loud steps, dropped gear, and shaking at full draw.

Here is what I do if I start shivering.

I give it 15 minutes and I try a small fix, like adding a layer, tightening my neck gaiter, or rotating around the tree.

If I am still shivering, I climb down and move, or I end the sit and save the spot.

I learned the hard way that “toughing it out” just makes me stomp out of the woods like a madman at 10:15 a.m.

On public land, that mistake can burn a ridge for the whole week.

If you want more context on where deer hold tight in nasty weather, what I wrote about where deer go when it rains helps, because cold wind and wet cold push deer into the same kind of cover.

My Mental Checklist Before I Climb

I do the same checklist every time because cold makes me forget stuff.

Here is what I do at the base of the tree.

I check that my bridge is not twisted, I check my tether knot, and I make sure my muff is reachable with either hand.

I also make sure my top layer is easy to grab and not buried under snacks and ropes.

If I am sweating at the base of the tree, I wait two minutes and cool off before I ever leave the ground.

This is the part most guys skip, and then they freeze at 8:00 a.m. and blame their gear.

One Last Thing I Tell My Kids On Cold Sits

I take two kids hunting now, and they will quit if they are cold and miserable.

Honestly, so will most adults, they just do it quieter.

Here is what I do with them that also helps me.

I plan shorter sits, I pick easier walks, and I make sure hands and feet are handled first.

If you can keep a kid warm at 28 degrees, you can keep yourself warm too.

If you want a quick refresher on deer basics for new hunters, it helps to read my pieces on what a baby deer is called and how much a deer weighs, because it makes the whole hunt feel less confusing and more fun.

That is what winter saddle hunting is for me now.

Stay dry on the walk in, block wind on the tree, and fix the one body part that quits first.