| When hunting season approaches each year, | | | | that may lead you into removing a scarf, |
| many eager bow or gun shooters make ready to | | | | gloves, or other clothing or render you |
| hit the wilds and bag their pretty. But what | | | | vulnerable to the cold. Caffeine can |
| many fail to take into account is the need to | | | | interfere with your circulation, too, so |
| protect themselves from the wilds of fierce | | | | stick to decaf on the day of your outing. In |
| weather, especially when hunting during the | | | | addition, alcohol use may impair your |
| late fall or winter seasons. If you or | | | | judgment, which can cause further problems |
| someone you care about plans to go hunting | | | | while hunting in the cold. |
| during those bitterly cold times of year, | | | | |
| here are a few tips to keep in mind. | | | | 4. Dress in layers. Expert hunters are |
| | | | familiar with the regular hunting clothes |
| 1. Get plenty of sleep beforehand. Since | | | | they can get at sports equipment shops or |
| hunters sometimes take to the woods at any | | | | department stores. You need insulated or |
| hour of the day or night, and because they | | | | thermal underwear, shirts and pants, and even |
| must keep still in their stands while waiting | | | | overalls or a cover suit to protect your skin |
| for prey to approach, it is natural to become | | | | from the elements. Don't forget a hat, |
| sleepy at times. But falling asleep can be | | | | gloves, boots (with thermal socks), and |
| dangerous due to the risk of hypothermia or | | | | sunglasses if you plan to be out during the |
| falling out of a tree, if that is your perch. | | | | day. If at any time you start to feel chill |
| Get at least six to eight hours the day | | | | and shiver, it's time to go in for the day, |
| before your hunting expedition. Avoid taking | | | | as your body temperature is dipping too low |
| medications that can make you drowsy, unless | | | | for safety. |
| you really need them. | | | | |
| | | | 5. Don't forget the safety equipment. In |
| 2. Eat a healthy meal before you go. Someone | | | | addition to appropriate weapons and licenses, |
| who is hungry or dehydrated can more quickly | | | | you may want to bring along a map or a GPS, a |
| become cold, lacking fuel to warm their | | | | woodman's knife, a thermos of hot liquid in |
| bodies adequately. It helps to feed on | | | | case you get chilled or thirsty, and some |
| protein and complex carbohydrates. Even | | | | type of communication device, like a cell |
| certain types of fat can be good as far as | | | | phone. Let someone know where you will be and |
| helping to insulate your body. Drink eight | | | | when you will return so in case something |
| ounces of fluid every couple of hours unless | | | | happens, they will know where to look for |
| you are expending lots of energy in chasing | | | | you. |
| your prey, in which case you will need to | | | | |
| drink more often. | | | | Taking a few sensible precautions like these |
| | | | will help to make your hunting trip fun and |
| 3. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Either of | | | | profitable while keeping you safe in the |
| these can provide a false sense of warmth | | | | bargain. |