Worst part of hunting — the cold
I’ve always said my favorite season is winter. The snow, brisk temperatures and biting winds that create a beautiful, albeit barren landscape are invigorating.
I’ve said that, though, because I’ve always been active outdoors, whether it’s a daily walk, shoveling snow or hiking. A friend once compared the human body to a tiny furnace that warms itself when we’re cold and active.
A new outdoor passion, however, demands little to no movement and no way to ignite that furnace.
“You’ll never be as cold as you are when you’re hunting.”
My boyfriend reminded me of that — several times — when I would buy hunting clothes and accessories, or dress for a brisk morning in the woods.
There’s no moving or walking around. You can’t even stomp your boots or clap your hands to circulate blood in your extremities. You’re literally sitting on a hard surface, usually metal or mesh, while body heat seeps and your core temperature drops.
Though I’ve had several chilly hunts to date, two weekends ago with the opening day of bear season was down right frigid.
The morning started around 22 degrees with temperatures slowly creeping up with the rising sun and a surprisingly mild breeze. But it wasn’t long before a cold front moved in and brought heavy rains, a drop in temperature and snow squalls. Then it got cold.
After a break for a quick lunch — and to dry off — we were back at it again in the afternoon and sat into the evening with the battling snow flurries and blustery winds.
I was freezing. But I understand that the best hunting conditions are when there’s snow on the ground and cold temperatures that prompt the deer, or in our case, a bear, to move around.
There was a moment when a particularly strong snow squall passed that cut our visibility down to mere feet. But it was stunning. Like someone had shaken a snow globe.
We didn’t see any bears that day, just a dozen or so deer. It was cold, and the ATV ride back was brutal.
The opening day of rifle season last week was much of the same as a thick layer of frost covered the ground with temperatures in the twenties. Again, I came home empty handed, and freezing.
But it’s all a part of the hunting experience I’ve grown to love.