Cold Truths -#2 :Cold Punishes Mistakes — Especially Sweat

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Cold Finds Your Screw-Ups Fast

Cold weather doesn’t slowly wear you down. It calls you out immediately. You can get away with dumb decisions in October. In December, cold exposes every one of them.

• Too many layers.

• Too fast of a walk.

• Zippers closed when they shouldn’t be.

Cold doesn’t care how tough you think you are or how much money you spent on your jacket. It only cares about physics.

Sweat Is the Real Enemy

Everyone thinks cold air is what makes them miserable. It’s not. Sweat is. If you’re sweating on the walk in, you’re already behind the eight ball. That moisture doesn’t magically disappear when you climb the tree. It sits there. Then the minute you stop moving, it turns into a refrigerator wrapped around your core. Once you’re wet, you’re done. No gear fixes that.

The Mistake Happens Before the Sit

Most guys think the hunt starts when they get on stand. It doesn’t. The hunt starts in the parking lot.

Cold hunts are won by:

• Walking slower than feels natural

• Dropping layers early, even when it’s uncomfortable

• Unzipping when you don’t want to

• Taking the hat off on the move

You should feel slightly cold walking in. If you’re cozy, you’re overdressed. I always carry in my heavy coat and mid layers , strapped to my stand. Bibs too if it's cold enough to need them.

Gear Can’t Save Bad Decisions

I’ve watched guys blame boots, jackets, and gloves all season long. Truth is, the failure usually happened 30 minutes earlier on the hike. Good gear helps. Smart pacing matters more. Cold doesn’t reward optimism. It rewards discipline.

The Truth

If you’re freezing on stand, the mistake probably wasn’t the temperature. It was how you handled the walk in. Cold doesn’t lie. Always carry your extra clothes in. You won't regret it. The hike in is more comfortably, no sweating as long as you pace yourself and take short breaks. Remove your hat often too. I found that I tend to take more extra layers if I pack them in, instead of wearing them. You can't put them on if you left them at home🤔.