I'm elk hunting Northern New Mexico December 12 and I'm worried I'm going to freeze my butt off. If its all hiking and spot and stalking I'm not worried but I'm worried about staying warm when sitting on a hill side all day. I also bought some electric heat socks and they definitely didn't work so debating on getting hot-hand socks. How do y'all dress for those long cold windy days?

I hunted Elk 21 times in New Mexico and and Colorado, killed 8,I didn,t still hunt that much,most of my luck came from getting out ahead of everbody else and letting them run the animals to me. Good luck.

I have found that felt pac boots were the only thing that helped me.

Ask my buddies Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker, & Jim Beam. They know how to keep you warm! Jose' Cuervo is right there as well.

Get the disposable charcoal hand and toe warmers. They're worth their weight in gold, esp the toe warmers. One set of each will last about one day. I know personally.....over 20 hunts in Canada; 14 in Alaska.

And forget the useless electric socks. What a joke they are!

I'm cheap more of a Seagram (spelling?) seven kind of guy. Lol thanks keep the input coming!!! Im compiling all my camo and warm gear as we speak. Lol

Layers of clothing, not bulky.

I always carry a "Box O' Wine" to my hunting destinations, myself. I'm sure the previous references to liquor and alcohol consumption were tongue in cheek, and given with a knowing wink.

But....physiologically, alcohol will dilate your peripheral blood vessels and cause you to lose more heat. All of us have taken a swig now and then, and it's easy to mistake the burning feeling as a warming influence.

But there is no doubt.....alcohol actually/factually makes your body colder.

And, I'll drink to that....

Except for boxer shorts think wool & layers. Old trick if still hunting, get a couple of old style paper grocery sacks and put your feet in them. Know a lot of fellows are LTAO on that thought, but head up to the panhandle and see how folk keep their feet warm at football games.

I wear 80 percent wool, 20 percent polyester longjohns as a base layer. Then a wool shirt and a sweatshirt. And my Artic Armor coat. It will keep you warm to 50 below 0. I have goretex waterproof insulated rocky mountain hunting boots with a 1000 grams of insultex. Artic Armor gloves. If there is anything better than Artic Armor, I want to see it.

socks of at least 70% merino
wool. polyprolene long johns
next to skin for wicking.
military 100% wool watchcap.
maybe thin polypro liner socks.

Get some flannel lined jeans. They are really warm, especially with some good long johns underneath.

Pair of jeans, regular tube socks, t-shirt, flannel shirt. Gets too cold, I'll turn up the heater, or put on a jacket. Hunting ain't fun enough to freeze, and my skinny [censored] can't take the cold.

I always try to acclimate my body before winter seasons. I try to wear as little clothes as possible when it is still bearable. I was wearing shorts and a long sleeve T this weekend when it was in the 40's and was asked what the hell I was doing. I told my buddy I was getting ready for deer season and he kind of gave me a crazy look, but it works. Getting used to it is the only way you will really be comfortable. Your body is an amazing tool, let it adapt to the conditions instead of trying to hide from them.

This. Use layers. If you are walking and stalking you will heat up fast and sweat and then you are screwed. Layers allow you to adapt

Amen.

I got me a set of Thermacell heated insoles. They recharge in my cigarette lighter. Best $120 I have ever spent. I even wear them to bed at the house. If my feet get cold, click the key fob and your toes are toasty.

I used to fish in 20-30 F weather and have learned a few things
along the way to keep warm , even while running 30 mph on cold
lake

put good lotion on all exposed skin (hands/face/neck) and continue to
keep them treated

start with a wicking base layer: silk, CoolMax etc for long john + long sleeve shirt

another layer of long sleeve , polyester/wicking type;
Fleece pant (like the Columbia Titanium series / soft shell )

cut off/ sleeve-less down jacket (very important get the best down jacket
you can afford )

poly-fill jacket on top of cut-off
then top off with a GoreTex/Windbreaker jacket

for the leg lower portion , slip on a GoreTex bib/over-all

socks - Merino wool base, then thicker wool sock on the outside;
200,400-800, 1000 gr Thinsulate boots, if icy cold get Pac Boots

neck wraps - fleece and wool; should be oversized and lots of fluf (traps heat loss through neck )

head wear - wool hat with ear flaps

the key is the base layer, must be moisture wicking fabric
and down jacket

Thanks guys!!! Bout to go do some more shopping

Geez!

Great movie!

Silk against the skin. Layers after that. I didn't discover the benefits of a good wool scarf till just a few years ago. Heat loss around your neck and head affect your whole body.

If you are camping, find a way to warm up your boots or keep them warm overnight. Takes forever to warm them up on your feet. We always had an extra ice chest or two and would put our boots and socks in it with one of the sleeping bag heat packs.

A shot or two always makes me sleep better-but stay away from alcohol during the day-scientifically proven to cool you off-thats why they drink rum in the tropics.

Polyproylene ( Polypro) under garments !! Half the cost of the famous Under Armor, and works 10x better. You can buy it at most Army/Navy type stores. I order mine on line at USCav.com Cant be beat. Its just missing the high dollar UA logo !

if you are going to be in the mountains just remember "cotton kills"

its the worst thing you can wear for socks or undergarments while hunting and hiking

double tap