Almost any hunting archer is ready for cold-weather hunting. It just seems to go along with the whole idea of deer hunting—the idea of it being very cold out in the woods during deer season. Being that the archery deer season comes earlier in the year, it is not uncommon to find yourself in warm of even hot weather at times. This kind of weather can be both a blessing and a curse for hunting archers.

The average bow hunter takes many items into the field that just won’t do when the weather is warm to hot. That facemask that seemed so good when you added it to your kit will be too uncomfortable this time of year. You will be much better of with face paint, as this will not make you a lot warmer. If face paint is not for you, you can darken areas of your face with a burnt cork, and that will do just fine as well. The point is, you do not want to wear anything that will make you warmer than you need to be.

That goes for warm camouflage clothing as well. These can be left at home until later in the season, when the weather heads more toward winter than the temperatures we are feeling now. Go with the lightest set of camouflage clothing you have. This time of year, I hunt from a ground blind, and can wear a green t-shirt with a nylon camouflage cover. And shorts, as my legs are behind the blind, out of sight to the quarry.

You want to be comfortable this time of year, and that includes dressing so that you are not raising a sweat. Just climbing to your tree stand can cause you to work up some perspiration, and that will just not do. Adjust your gear to match the weather you will be hunting in, and you will be miles ahead. Be it hot, or cold, you want to be comfortable at all times. If you are not prepared, and find yourself thinking about your comfort, you are not at peak performance as a hunter. That is, if you are not counted among the lucky ones who fill their tags come opening day.

Once the first frost comes along, a lot of things change for the better, as far as hunting in really warm weather. Until that happens, you have to work with what you have.

In the early season, foliage that is still up presents a whole other problem, restricting your ability to see what is going on around you. A ground blind might help a bit. But when you are on the ground, you have to work with the wind and thermals in the area, and that is a whole new set of variables.

Hopefully, you have worked out most of these variables in your preseason trips, and have a very good idea what you plan on doing, be it a tree stand, or a ground blind. Working with either, you will still have to contend with the foliage, and that means thatl have to include pruning shears and maybe a wood saw. You have to improve your shooting lanes while the foliage is up and flourishing. This is an area I like to have all worked out long before opening day, but if you did not get a chance to accomplish the task, you will have to do it now.

You need clear shooting lanes if you hope to be successful. It does not take much of a stick to deflect an arrow, so you must improve several lanes for different shots that may present themselves.

Another challenge: the amount of insects that are still in full status. You can use bug sprays for sure, but be careful that they do not have a strong scent; this will only work against you, and in favor of the deer. Also, don’t get in the habit of swatting bugs the first chance you get, as the movement may be what the deer will see. Motion will always attract attention, and that is one thing you do not wish to do while hunting.

There are insect repellent creams on the market that go a long way in making your time in a tree stand more comfortable. Find those that do not have any fragrance added to them. Nice to keep in your kit, anyway, as you just never know about stinging insects.

If you have to travel to your hunting spot, prepare for how will you handle the deer in warm weather, while there is an abundance of insects just waiting for a meal, make sure you have a game bag in your kit to keep insects off the meat while it cools. This will go a long way in keeping your venison in the best possible condition until you can have it taken care of properly.

Hot weather hunting, just like cold weather hunting, requires that you make some adjustments. But once you have done that, you will be a whole lot more comfortable. Personal comfort may not be the only thing to consider, but to my way of thinking: while I am hunting, I would rather be cool than warm, I would rather be dry than wet, and I would rather be warm than cold.