Backcountry Hunting in Cold Weather

As the mild, mid-season weather gives way to hints of winter, you tend to hear less about backcountry hunting. Many of the hardcore, bivy-bearing boys of September have changed tactics for the late-fall rifle hunts. But just because the weather turns cold, doesn’t mean spike camping is out of the question. September archery seasons aren’t the only time to enjoy a remote camp, miles into the wilderness. Sure, cold weather means more gear and more weight. But if prepared adequately, the late season is a fun and very effective time of year to hunt out of a backpack.

Backpack hunting late in the season presents unique challenges. Last year, four friends and I embarked on a backcountry elk and mule deer hunt in November on what turned out to be the coldest week we’d have the entire winter in Colorado. With highs barely into the double digits and wind chills as low as -30, it was a test of our endurance. It was also one of my most memorable hunts.

This mid-November hunt has become an annual tradition. While last year was the coldest we’ve experienced, weather in the 10's and 20's isn’t uncommon. Yet we go back every year, backpacking several miles into a roadless area. It may not be the easiest way to hunt in November. But as long as we’re prepared, it’s a lot of fun and it’s highly successful. Here are a few things we’ve learned along the way.

1. Consider Your Water Source

While water can be an issue on cold hunts, fortunately meat management is not.

Believe it or not, the hardest part of backcountry hunting in cold weather isn’t staying comfortable. That just requires the right gear, which we’ll get to next. The most difficult part of surviving in the backcountry when temperatures regularly dip below freezing is keeping enough water thawed for cooking and drinking. Water management becomes a primary concern.

First, consider where you’ll find water. And don’t rely on snow. Even if there’s enough of it on the ground, melting snow is really, really slow. With dry, powdery snow like we enjoy here in Colorado, it can take hours to melt down a few liters over a small backpacking stove.

Instead, plan to set your spike camp near a source of reliably moving water. Even if a creek is iced over on top, you may be able to break the ice with a rock or hatchet and find a trickle of clear, cold water.

When temperatures are below freezing, keeping your water thawed can also be an issue. The last thing you need is to fill your water bottles in the creek only to find them frozen solid the next morning. On late season hunts, heat your water over your stove just before bed. Fill your water bottles with warm water and toss them in your sleeping bag. In addition to keeping your water from freezing, it provides a nice toe-box warmer.

During the day, keep your water inside your pack and it should remain free of ice in all but the coldest temperatures. If the weather gets especially cold, just wrap it in an extra vest or jacket inside your pack.

The final thought on water management on a cold weather hunt is to bring enough fuel for cooking and warming. When the weather is cold, remember that it’s going to take longer to heat up a pot of water for your meals. Bring plenty of fuel and keep extra in the vehicle in case you have to go back to resupply.

2. Bring the Right Gear

Staying comfortable on a late season hunt in the backcountry is a matter of having the right gear. I’m not a sales rep for any manufacturer and I don’t work for any gear companies, so I feel like I can say with total honesty that having quality gear on a hunt like this will absolutely make or break it. Your go-to items are lightweight, moisture wicking fabrics with great insulation qualities. You’ve probably seen manufacturers use phrases like, “high warmth-to-weight ratio” and this is exactly when that matters.

On cold hunts when I’m miles from civilization, quality goose down is my best friend. There’s nothing warmer for the weight than good down. For years, the pitfall of down was that it’s worthless when wet. But today’s technology has allowed for water resistant down and down/synthetic blends that eliminate much of this issue.

A high quality down should be rated at least 600-fill. 700+ fill down is ideal. That number basically means the amount of feathers it takes to achieve the same amount of loft. A lower quality down requires more feathers to achieve the same warmth, meaning it will be bulkier, heavier and not as packable. Good down weighs very little and takes up very little room in your pack.

On this type of hunt, insulation isn’t the only layer that requires careful consideration. Choose your base layers and outerwear carefully as well. Merino wool is an excellent option for a base layer. It’s naturally odor resistant. I’ll often wear the same shirt on a four or five day hunt in November. It’s warm, lightweight and doesn’t require me to bring extras to change every two days. In addition to merino wool, warm, lightweight synthetics are also great options.

When it comes to outerwear, GORE-TEX is king on cold, late season hunts. It provides you with a waterproof, breathable, windproof barrier against whatever elements you face. Enough said.

There are a host of other things to consider when it comes to gear. There’s not enough room in this article to go into all of them. But your most critical items along with your clothing will include great footwear and a decent backcountry tent. I don’t bring backups of many items in order to minimize weight. But I always bring spare gloves.

3. Keep Your Body Fueled

One of the best things you can do to keep your body warm on a cold-weather hunt is to keep it constantly fueled with calories. You’ll burn through them faster than normal when the weather is cold. Even during the early season, I snack often to keep my energy level up. On late season hunts, I’m constantly munching on something.

In fact, I even keep a granola bar under my pillow at night. If you wake up cold in the middle of the night, take a few bites of something and a few sips of water. It’s amazing how your body will warm up with just a little extra fuel.

During the day, I like to carry a very small ultralight stove in my daypack. After I’ve been glassing all morning, I’ll usually take a mid-morning break to heat up a cup of instant coffee or some oatmeal. A hot cup of coffee on a snowy mountainside overlooking remote elk or mule deer country… well, it’s hard to think of anything better.