Aroostook outdoorsmen who coyote hunt, chase rabbits or ice fish deal with the challenge of staying warm each winter, but some years are been even more difficult. It seems every week or 10 days, we have a snowstorm and daytime temperatures hug single digits. Add on the frequent frigid wind chill and outdoor conditions are brutal. It is possible, however, to get outside and enjoy a few activities if sportsmen pick and choose the right times and select proper clothing to maintain warmth.
Advances in clothing materials have skyrocketed over the last couple of decades, but even these new innovations won’t ward off frostbite and chills if not worn properly. And believe it or not, one of the oldest and most common materials for outerwear still outperforms many of the high tech options. If you don’t have a few pieces of wool or wool-blend outerwear among your winter garments, your attire and cold-weather comfort will suffer.
Hunting and fishing endeavors during winter take various levels of activity. For some such as sitting completely still watching a coyote bait, freezing conditions can quickly affect the body, especially the extremities, and end an outing. Ice fishing encompasses periods of activity, and then long spells of less mobile wait and watch. Snowshoe hare hunting offers a bit more movement, but it too has spells of immobility. During sub-zero conditions, sportsmen need to be very careful not to overexert when using an ice auger or snowshoeing and become sweaty and overheated in heavy clothing. The rebound conditions and a perspiration soaked inner layer of clothing may be deadly.
I offer one example of several personal cold-weather outings to prove that like a great birthday cake, several layers are also better when dressing for cold. It was a Canada goose hunt near New York’s Finger Lakes during January. We worked and waded through two feet of snow to set out over 100 decoys, then lay on our backs on thin ground cloths with white sheets covering us. It was windy, and blowing snow encompassed the five of us as we waited hopefully for honkers to arrive. At the end of the third hour, only the guide and I were left. Cold, wet conditions and poor clothing choices had sent the others one by one, back to the vehicles to warm up and thaw out.
For the first layer of clothing I recommend a long-sleeved turtleneck shirt and a set of long johns with tight cuffs at wrists and ankles to allow no air exchange. Medium thick real wool socks that reach mid-calf cover my feet — though available commercially if you search, I have several hand-knitted by my mother-in-law in a strong, light weave.
Single piece union suits or two-piece long johns of various blends are readily available, but a company called Under Armour offers a wide variety of moisture-wicking body-fitted tops and bottoms. I’ve found these to be comfortable, dry, warm and fairly priced. My second layer, the middle layer in most situations, is all wool. Despite all the new materials and advanced, heat-capturing, water-repellent, breathable options that I’ve tried, high-wool content shirts and pants never let me down.
My Dad and even my grandfather wore dark green wool pants known as “Marine Pants” for shoveling snow, cutting wood, and most other winter work or sporting outings. Even wet, wool provides insulation and preserves body heat and I’ve yet to be disappointed. There are only a handful of companies selling top rate wool clothing and I opt for the company that kept previous generations of my family warm, Johnson Woolen Mills. This fine Vermont company has provided warm woolen outerwear since 1842, the unlined, full cut traditional pant combined with their long-tailed, flannel lined wool shirt keep me toasty.
The third layer, the outer protection, needs to be windproof and water repellent. I like a two-piece outfit of pants and coat for most occasions, but will occasionally use bib style overalls instead of waist high pants. Be sure the legs have zippers to the knees so pulling on over large heavy boot present no extra difficulties. The coat should offer a dual button and zipper front closure, Velcro collar and neck closure and a hideable or detachable hood. Wrist hugging knit cuffs keep snow and wind out of sleeves.
Cabela’s offers a fine set of Guidesware, a set of multi-layer bib overalls and a below the waist jacket, that offer dry comfort, ease of motion and warmth with tough, large zippers and pulls for ease of use with cold fingers. On really frigid days I select the bib overalls and the Johnson Cruiser jacket for extra torso insulation as well as chemical hand warmers, an extra wool hat and second set of gloves.
For really sedentary outdoor sports such as sitting in a snowbank calling coyote and fox, standing on ice all day waiting for a flag or laying stationary on frozen ground waiting for waterfowl, I make a couple of alterations in my dress code. First, I add a set of Thermacell heated insoles into my boots. They are wireless, remote controlled, rechargeable foot warmers that last a full day regardless of how cold the conditions. My second addendum is an additional layer of clothing, a set of goose down filled long underwear. Goose down is tremendously lofty and warm insulation for low movement, extremely cold outings.
Outdoor activities are supposed to be fun, but extreme conditions like we experience during most Maine winters lead to cancellations or miserable experiences when improperly dressed. Don’t go stir crazy indoors — update your cold weather garments, dress in layers and stay toasty warm while enjoying Aroostook’s winter sporting activities.
