bigbore442001
50 Cal.
Yesterday I went out with the muzzleloader after whitetailed deer in Massachusetts. Friday afternoon and into Saturday morning we got a good eight to ten inches of snow in our area. In addition, the temperatures would be in the teens and with the windchill it would be in the single digits.
I made a number of discoveries. One is that the deer where we hunted changed their habits completely. They are living in the thickest growth and were milling about my father's treestand at what I figured was around 4:00 to 5:00 AM. I found two piles of droppings and two urine stains in the snow. A light dusting covered them so I figured that was the time frame. I found that they circled around and then headed for safety at the state line.
I wanted to check out the other area on the same side of the road. I had walked down into the thick wooded area covered in mountain laurel. As I walked I was very comfortable with the cold weather. What works in this climate is wool. My baselayer was a set of wool/polypro underwear made by Kenyon in Peacedale RI. Good ole US of A stuff. For sox I wore a pair of wool socks with a polypro liner over them. They are made in the good ole US of A and sold by a man called the Sox Man at the New England sportsmans show in Springfield. Every time I attend that show I get two pairs. Over that I wore a Polartec fleece sweatshirt made in good ole Malden Mills Massaschusettys. It is the right thickness for moving or standing for a while. The pants are Woolrich Malone Pants. I was intrigued by them when I went to Herkimer NY with Mary last summer. There was a gun shop in Newport that sold almost everything and he had wool pants at a great price. I bought a pair and love them in addition to my two green woolies. My coat is an old Woolrich CamWoolFlage pattern. Sad to say, no longer US made but this one was made in Pennsylvania. Over that was my obligatory hunter orange vest I obtained at Kittery Trading Post.Malden Mills made in the US of A. Boots are a pair of Schnee's pack boots insulated at 13" in height. These boots are great and my feet never really get cold except when standing for a long time in the same conditions. The orange hat, again obligatory, is knitted and made in the good ole US of A. It is a Christmas gift from an eight grader many years ago. I still like it because it is comfortable and keeps my head warm even when covered in snow.
I was warm and dry while pushing through snow laden mountain laurels and did not get overheated. The wool is naturally repellent of the snow and keeps you warm. I found out that the deer had evacuated the area. I had set up a stand on the east side of this road. Not one single track in all of the acreage. I went back to my truck and drove in 4 wheel drive down the unpaved and unplowed road. On unplowed roads you need four wheel drive.
I then crossed the paved road to the entrance of the club property and saw a friend's truck parked. He and another hunter were waiting for a friend to partcipate in a manned drive.
Both complained about being cold. I noticed their dress. One wore what looked like the latest outfit from Dicks and the other wore a camoflage wool outfit from Dicks. I know my friend's wool outfit is imported from India. I have handled it and it seems to be somewhat loose in weave. I wondered at why they complained of the cold and it dawned on me. Both were smoking cigarettes and I know they are heavy smokers. Nicotene is a vasoconstrictor thus making one more susceptable to cold. It appeared that they were bundled up more than I was but again it must be the cigarettes. Also, when you face the elements you can't have second best with clothing.
One other thing I did notice. Since July I lost a good forty pounds. In the past I would tire very easily and get winded. I would not go on really extended hikes through the snow. I just got tired and overheated.
Now it was different. I plunged through the woodlands covered in snow and covered a number of miles in search of deer. After chatting with my comrades I headed off to the other side of the property and wanted to see if there were any tracks. I hiked in a good mile before I found two sets of tracks. They were coming between two stands I had set up. I will have to move one today in order to get a shot.
Anyways. I learned over the years and it was made very cogent yesterday what works and what doesn't
I made a number of discoveries. One is that the deer where we hunted changed their habits completely. They are living in the thickest growth and were milling about my father's treestand at what I figured was around 4:00 to 5:00 AM. I found two piles of droppings and two urine stains in the snow. A light dusting covered them so I figured that was the time frame. I found that they circled around and then headed for safety at the state line.
I wanted to check out the other area on the same side of the road. I had walked down into the thick wooded area covered in mountain laurel. As I walked I was very comfortable with the cold weather. What works in this climate is wool. My baselayer was a set of wool/polypro underwear made by Kenyon in Peacedale RI. Good ole US of A stuff. For sox I wore a pair of wool socks with a polypro liner over them. They are made in the good ole US of A and sold by a man called the Sox Man at the New England sportsmans show in Springfield. Every time I attend that show I get two pairs. Over that I wore a Polartec fleece sweatshirt made in good ole Malden Mills Massaschusettys. It is the right thickness for moving or standing for a while. The pants are Woolrich Malone Pants. I was intrigued by them when I went to Herkimer NY with Mary last summer. There was a gun shop in Newport that sold almost everything and he had wool pants at a great price. I bought a pair and love them in addition to my two green woolies. My coat is an old Woolrich CamWoolFlage pattern. Sad to say, no longer US made but this one was made in Pennsylvania. Over that was my obligatory hunter orange vest I obtained at Kittery Trading Post.Malden Mills made in the US of A. Boots are a pair of Schnee's pack boots insulated at 13" in height. These boots are great and my feet never really get cold except when standing for a long time in the same conditions. The orange hat, again obligatory, is knitted and made in the good ole US of A. It is a Christmas gift from an eight grader many years ago. I still like it because it is comfortable and keeps my head warm even when covered in snow.
I was warm and dry while pushing through snow laden mountain laurels and did not get overheated. The wool is naturally repellent of the snow and keeps you warm. I found out that the deer had evacuated the area. I had set up a stand on the east side of this road. Not one single track in all of the acreage. I went back to my truck and drove in 4 wheel drive down the unpaved and unplowed road. On unplowed roads you need four wheel drive.
I then crossed the paved road to the entrance of the club property and saw a friend's truck parked. He and another hunter were waiting for a friend to partcipate in a manned drive.
Both complained about being cold. I noticed their dress. One wore what looked like the latest outfit from Dicks and the other wore a camoflage wool outfit from Dicks. I know my friend's wool outfit is imported from India. I have handled it and it seems to be somewhat loose in weave. I wondered at why they complained of the cold and it dawned on me. Both were smoking cigarettes and I know they are heavy smokers. Nicotene is a vasoconstrictor thus making one more susceptable to cold. It appeared that they were bundled up more than I was but again it must be the cigarettes. Also, when you face the elements you can't have second best with clothing.
One other thing I did notice. Since July I lost a good forty pounds. In the past I would tire very easily and get winded. I would not go on really extended hikes through the snow. I just got tired and overheated.
Now it was different. I plunged through the woodlands covered in snow and covered a number of miles in search of deer. After chatting with my comrades I headed off to the other side of the property and wanted to see if there were any tracks. I hiked in a good mile before I found two sets of tracks. They were coming between two stands I had set up. I will have to move one today in order to get a shot.
Anyways. I learned over the years and it was made very cogent yesterday what works and what doesn't
