How Cold Is It!?

[Garry L Gordon]

For those of you across the country hunting this week (or hoping to), I pose the question, "How cold was your most recent hunt?" I know that with hunting members scattered throughout the States (and Canada), there should be a range of temperatures, from temperate to downright cold (as it is here in North Missouri).

***So, if you have the time, how about chime in and let us know what the temperatures and conditions were on your most recent hunt.***

We sat out yesterday when the high was 6 degrees, but are heading out in a few minutes to chase quail and pheasants with the thermometer reading 12 degrees with a stiff breeze and about 4 inches of snow on the ground. We'll use plenty of Musher's Secret today I'm sure.

I hope someone is hunting in warmer and more comfortable conditions, but as a favorite writer of mine, Percy Blogg, wrote, "There are No Dull Dark Days'.

[Jerry Harlow]

It was 13 this morning with a 10 to 20 mph wind. So according to the chart near zero! Got up and started to call my hunting partner to postpone, but the doves have to all feed unlike a warm day so we went for three hours. As the sun came up it got colder as it always does. Standing still so we did not get warmer.

[Garry L Gordon]

Nothing like doves with a good tail wind to provide good excuses for missing them, eh? And what state/area are you hunting? Just curious about the state, not prying into your secret dove spots.

[Gary Laudermilch]

Took the boys for a run on Tuesday. It was 12 with a 20 mph wind. When we worked into the wind it froze my face. I intended to go today but it was -2 this morning but only about 10 mph wind, but still I said the heck with it and loaded shells instead. Maybe tomorrow.

Supposed to shoot clays Sunday. Forecast is for 2 overnight and a high of 10. Grandson says we are going so we will.

[Jerry Harlow]

Nothing like doves with a good tail wind to provide good excuses for missing them, eh? And what state/area are you hunting? Just curious about the state, not prying into your secret dove spots.

The Old Dominion.

[Kevin McCormack]

Spent all day yesterday on the ram end of a log splitter; high was 28 degrees. Hit it again at 7AM (12 degrees) and finished up around 10 AM when it had warmed up to a balmy 28 again. A little wind always helps!! As revenge against the drudgery of 'chores', we have a quail hunt planned for tomorrow morning "late" (10-ish) and the weather can do whatever it wants; we're going anyway.

BTW - Percy Thayer Blogg was a local boy (MD) - Check out his, "When Springtime Comes to Bodkin Creek." - it'll help take your mind off this cold!!!!!

[Bob Brown]

Got up this morning and the temperature was -35 and wind chills of -45. Not too bad, but I've tried hunting in these conditions and in hindsight while it was occasionally satisfying it was never "fun". Must be getting old.

[Robin Lewis]

It's 7:30 Thursday evening and I set the broom under the thermometer and the mercury is down on the broom handle. It says its 4 degrees and heading down even more.

Not as bad as it could be but it is cold outside!

[Matt Buckley]

Went out this afternoon for what I think is the last pheasant hunt of the year for me in Minnesota with 15 degrees and a 10 mph breeze. Our season ends on Jan 1 and it is supposed to be below zero from here on out in MN. The Parker Reproduction 20 scored. The rooster looks a bit rough because he decided to go for a swim in a open drainage ditch before my friends Boynkin Spainel cornered him.

[Jeff Kuss]

I was going to wait another day, but my new waders came in the mail so I decided to try them out. It was a balmy 14 degrees when I started walking ditches this afternoon.
Only three more days of duck season, so I had to attempt hunting. I jumped two groups of Mallards. I doubled on one group . Of course I dropped both of them in the water! Unlike my old waders, the new ones don't leak.

[Phillip Carr]

Went out today south of Tucson. About 72 F. Wind under 5 mph. Humidity in the teens. Didnt get out until noon and took 3 dogs. Only time to run 2 of them as I needed to head home my 4. Weather is unseasonably warm. I was able to find some birds but had to hunt some tough areas.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=59251&stc=1&d=1514529795

[Phillip Carr]

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=59253&stc=1&d=1514530051

[charlie cleveland]

some people just got it made...good hunting....charlie

[Garry L Gordon]

The Old Dominion.

Hey! My home state. Born in Williamsburg many years ago. I hunted quail, deer and squirrels in the Old Dominion as a boy. I miss the smell of pines, but not all the people. Glad to know there's PGCA member shooting doves in Ole Virginny.

[Garry L Gordon]

Spent all day yesterday on the ram end of a log splitter; high was 28 degrees. Hit it again at 7AM (12 degrees) and finished up around 10 AM when it had warmed up to a balmy 28 again. A little wind always helps!! As revenge against the drudgery of 'chores', we have a quail hunt planned for tomorrow morning "late" (10-ish) and the weather can do whatever it wants; we're going anyway.

BTW - Percy Thayer Blogg was a local boy (MD) - Check out his, "When Springtime Comes to Bodkin Creek." - it'll help take your mind off this cold!!!!!

Kevin,

Good luck on the quail hunt. We went yesterday in 12 degree temps. Found a covey (got one from it), and managed a pheasant (not many around here). Still chasing wild birds.

Thanks for the tip on Blogg. I'll look it up.

[Garry L Gordon]

Went out today south of Tucson. About 72 F. Wind under 5 mph. Humidity in the teens. Didnt get out until noon and took 3 dogs. Only time to run 2 of them as I needed to head home my 4. Weather is unseasonably warm. I was able to find some birds but had to hunt some tough areas.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=59251&stc=1&d=1514529795

Phillip,

We had near 60 degree temps just a short time back. The dogs were kicking up dust. Now it's 12 degrees with a good bit of snow. At least we have seasons...I keep telling myself. I think of Tucson a great deal around early Feb. in north Missouri. Thanks for the pictures!

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Will try to get out tomorrow. Temps have risen from below 10 to the low twenties, but now have a snow advisory that may make roads treacherous in the morning. There are very few pheasants left at our club, but the fresh snow may help us in finding them . Hunted a local public hunting area a week ago(Ohio), and only moved 1 bird in about 5 hours--had a great point and back and managed to get the bird.
My 2 young pups need to get out and see some birds, so may need to go to a preserve

[Garry L Gordon]

Will try to get out tomorrow. Temps have risen from below 10 to the low twenties, but now have a snow advisory that may make roads treacherous in the morning. There are very few pheasants left at our club, but the fresh snow may help us in finding them . Hunted a local public hunting area a week ago(Ohio), and only moved 1 bird in about 5 hours--had a great point and back and managed to get the bird.
My 2 young pups need to get out and see some birds, so may need to go to a preserve

Harold,

Where in Ohio? I lived in Athens while in grad school and continued to go back to SE OH to grouse hunt until the well-meaning, but ignorant "conservationists" put a stop to timber sales in the Wayne National Forest. Your hunt sounds bittersweet. Sometimes when bird numbers are down and we've had several poor hunts in a row, even a single bird makes for a great day. I hope yours was.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Garry, I grew up, work, and own a farm in Belmont county--but live just across the river in Wheeling, WV now. I went to the local branch campus of Ohio University for 2 years, then to OSU. Ohio used to be a fantastic grouse state as you know, 20-30 flush days the norm. I used to hunt Wayne National a lot in Monroe and Washington counties. I will still hit those spots but grouse are now few and far between. It is really not any better now around Athens and south.
Serious grouse hunters must now head north to Mich, Wis, or Minn.

[Garry L Gordon]

Here's a follow-up (and thanks to all who have provided their own accounts!). It warmed to 12 degrees yesterday. We stole out in a light snow and crossed the border into Iowa. Our Cedar, with Musher's Secret on all four paws, found us a covey of quail (from which we got one), and then trailed a rooster pheasant that obliged me with a shot. Cedar was as happy as was I, and we celebrated a short, successful hunt at home later with the wood stove cranked up high.

[Garry L Gordon]

Garry, I grew up, work, and own a farm in Belmont county--but live just across the river in Wheeling, WV now. I went to the local branch campus of Ohio University for 2 years, then to OSU. Ohio used to be a fantastic grouse state as you know, 20-30 flush days the norm. I used to hunt Wayne National a lot in Monroe and Washington counties. I will still hit those spots but grouse are now few and far between. It is really not any better now around Athens and south.
Serious grouse hunters must now head north to Mich, Wis, or Minn.

Harold,

Your post brings back pangs of regret at what we've lost in grouse coverts in Ohio. I have hunted in Monroe Co. in years gone by. I, too, remember 25 flush days in the cutovers of SE Ohio. What a shame some (too many I fear) can't see that having early successional forests is healthy for both those forests and the creatures that live in them.

The fescue pastures and bulldozed fencerows are now taking away the quail habitat in Missouri.

BTW, we hunt northern and southeastern Minnesota for grouse, and have for almost 30 years. Thank goodness trees are still harvested in the north!

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I have not missed a season in the UP since 1986, it is as familiar to me as home now, spent 16 days there this year. I shot a grouse in Monroe county 2 years ago and later saw the game warden at the gas station in Clarington. Stopped to talk to him, and told him I just killed the last grouse in Monroe county, we commiserated over the dearth of the grouse population, and I haven't shot a grouse in Ohio since.
Nice Gordon, I have always had English setters but have several friends with Gordons, maybe someday, but have 4 female setters now.
Snow is falling now, will have to wait til morning to see if I can get out.
Sometimes I feel as threatened a species as the grouse in Ohio, it is good to hear from like-minded gents across the country.

[King Brown]

-18C as season closed for the year, pleased my Lab kept up with Chessies that take any weather throw against them.

[John Dallas]

-12 F in Grayling, MI this AM

[Jacob Duke]

According to Siri it was supposed to be mid 30’s and sunny. It was actually 7, with heavy fog, wind and spitting snow. First lesson learned, don’t trust predictions when it come to Colorado weather. Second lesson learned, always be prepared for anything between a blizzard and a heat wave. Third lesson learned, in spite of being 2000’ lower and further south Rush really can be 25-30 degrees colder than Colorado Springs.

[CraigThompson]

I've had a touch of shingles since the 24th . So I hadn't been out till yesterday morning . Think it was 17 or 18 I sat in a tree from 06:15 until10:15 then got down got the ATV and ride all my trails . I saw not a single deer track in the snow , kind of a let down to say the least . So I have laid off today and plan to hit it again bright and early New Years morning , supposed to be single digits in the AM suppose I better take a thermos of hot choco or coffee .

[Jerry Harlow]

Went dove hunting with a young man and he killed two at his granddad's farm yesterday and I was skunked. I did not know he had been out the evening before and chased them all away. Only saw five birds. It got up to 39 yesterday afternoon so I went after deer. Three little beagles were coming so I got up and the lead dog was the only one barking behind a herd of ten does and fawns. When they got to a fence they split up and went every way. They had been out of range but one doe split off and ran my way. One load of 00 from a Beretta Extrema gave me meat for the landowner. He is crazy about a rack of venison, and this young deer delivered today already cut up with ribs intact to the tenderloin and soaked in salt water overnight made him happy. Bitter cold today to make up for yesterday. Single digits tonight.

[Garry L Gordon]

I sure wish we could use buckshot here in Missouri. I'd like to use one of my old guns with some buckshot like we did when I was growing up in Virginia. It's muzzleloader season here now, but way too cold for me to climb into a tree stand and sit (Zero right now!).

[Stephen Hodges]

Was at camp in Pittsburg, NH, for the holiday weekend. Minus 24 degrees yesterday morning. Cold:shock:

[Jack Cronkhite]

“We’d be crazy to go if it’s minus 40”. So said my hunting partner of several decades. I replied “So we’re good to go up to minus 39 then”. Picked him up at 7:30 am for the hour and half drive to pheasant country. As it turned out the real temperature was minus 32 with light winds that dropped the wind chill to minus 39 so it never did hit minus 40, not that another degree would have meant anything other than that minus 40 is the same in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. All that could be seen on the two of us were four eyeballs. Charlie is a good cold weather bird dog but she did take breaks in the vehicle and refused any more searching for birds by 2pm. Wish I had known about mushers secret but no mattter. By then we had four good roosters and decided to head home. Limit is 3 each. We removed the cold weather gear and even seeing a few feeding roosters did not tempt us to get it all back on. That is the coldest hunt I have ever undertaken and quite enjoyed it. No pics as never exposed fingers for any reason. Cheers, Jack

[Garry L Gordon]

“We’d be crazy to go if it’s minus 40”. So said my hunting partner of several decades. I replied “So we’re good to go up to minus 39 then”. Picked him up at 7:30 am for the hour and half drive to pheasant country. As it turned out the real temperature was minus 32 with light winds that dropped the wind chill to minus 39 so it never did hit minus 40, not that another degree would have meant anything other than that minus 40 is the same in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. All that could be seen on the two of us were four eyeballs. Charlie is a good cold weather bird dog but she did take breaks in the vehicle and refused any more searching for birds by 2pm. Wish I had known about mushers secret but no mattter. By then we had four good roosters and decided to head home. Limit is 3 each. We removed the cold weather gear and even seeing a few feeding roosters did not tempt us to get it all back on. That is the coldest hunt I have ever undertaken and quite enjoyed it. No pics as never exposed fingers for any reason. Cheers, Jack

Jack, this sounds a bit too cold for me, but when the wind doesn't blow (rare here on the prairie) it's always worth the chance. We don't hunt quail when it's really cold. It's far too hard on them to be separated for any length of time. However, pheasants are another issue. They are pretty darned tough, and able to take the cold.

As good as Musher's Secret is, it still has to be applied, and, gosh, one's hands can sure get cold putting it on the dog before each hunt. However, I won't even try to hunt in snowy cold without it.

Thanks for sharing your hunt. I once grouse hunted in minus 25 weather. The beeper collar froze...I froze...my wife froze...and the dogs loved it!

[Mills Morrison]

They are predicting snow in Savannah and people are treating it like Armageddon is nigh. I am not even exaggerating.

[Dean Romig]

*snicker*...:violin:





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[Robin Lewis]

FYI all....... That is NOT Dean with the shovel!

[Mills Morrison]

Our office will be the last thing that closes. Actually, that is fine with me. Our gun club is even closing

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Good excuse for a hot toddy Mills. We only have a few inches of snow, but dropping down to zero or below at night, and highs ony hitting 15 or so. Ha d 3 days off, but couldn't make myself get out and hunt in this weather.
Dean, that looks like a new shovel, did you get your wife that for Christmas?

[Dean Romig]

FYI all....... That is NOT Dean with the shovel!


That's right Robin - Kathy isn't very good with a camera so I set her up with a shovel.

It kinda ticked me off a few years ago when my nosy neighbor told her that working the lever on the wood splitter was the easy job and that lumping the stumps was the hard part..... I haven't been able to get her to lift a stump since...:mad:




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[Dean Romig]

Dean, that looks like a new shovel, did you get your wife that for Christmas?

No, I bought her a set of snow tires...:whistle:





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[CraigThompson]

Well it was 1 degree at 06:00 needless to say I took the dog out and came back in . Maybe this evening I'll go . Group of us are planning to hunt Saturday the last day of the gun deer season in Virginia . Supposed to be rather cold that day also .

[Mills Morrison]

This whole place has shut down and we don't get snow until 1 or so. New England has every right to laugh at us

[Rick Losey]

Mills-

even Yankees can't always handle it

i was supposed to be in Buffalo yesterday - but decided the weather was against me, so I stayed home

worked well for me - because if i had gone - this is exactly the time i would have been on this section of the thruway

http://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/top-stories/2018/01/02/blizzard-warning-issued-for-erie-county-

[Mills Morrison]

To give you an idea, about 10 percent of businesses stayed open during the last hurricane. Only about a third of those are open now

[James J. Roberts]

I read the news today and it was so cold a zoo in Canada had to bring the penguins in side. J.J.

[Mills Morrison]

This sums it up

[charlie cleveland]

you hit the nail on the head with this one in the south....charlie

[wayne goerres]

Mills ain't kidding. That is exactly how it is in the south. You don't want to get caught out on the roads. Most these people can't drive on snow.

[Phillip Carr]

It’s on my bucket list to see this stuff you call snow ❄️ :)

[John Dallas]

Here in Northern Mich, it's colder than a mother-in-law's kiss

[Dean Romig]

Phil - you need to take a little trip to western NY, northwestern PA, and northeastern OH to see some of the white stuff.





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[wayne goerres]

Watch the news. You will be warmer and happy.

[charlie cleveland]

its still 19 degrees this morning at my house..been under the weather with severe breathing problems...ain t been out of the house in 2 weeks except for today and then its to see a va doctor...but if it warms up and i m better look out game or birds ....charlie

[Rick Losey]

stay safe Charlie - this stuff can be rough on you

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Muzzleloader deer season starts Sat in Ohio. Supposed to be below zero in the morning with perhaps a 10 degree high--only have 3-4" of snow on the ground here. My wife likes venison( willingly cooks/eats most wild game), and told me I better shoot a doe cause the freezer is about empty. The EHD hit the deer here very hard this year, so not seeing many deer, almost hate to shoot a doe.

[Rick Losey]

almost hate to shoot a doe.


almost :corn:

:rolleyes: dead deer or unhappy wife - anyone want to bet which wins out :rotf:

[Rick Losey]

and in the DUH category

http://parkerguns.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=588&pictureid=9791

maybe its not cold enough after all

[Ted Hicks]

Expecting a high temperature of 0 degrees F here in the Albany, NY area tomorrow. Today it was so cold I saw a Democrat with his hands in his own pockets!

[Rick Losey]

yeah - its brisk in the finger lakes

not much snow has fallen - at least not much has landed
it just keeps going by sideways

[Mills Morrison]

I think we have your snow, Rick. If you want it back, you can have it

[allan.mclane]

I think we have your snow, Rick. If you want it back, you can have it

Mills, it's good for you... builds character :corn:

[Dean Romig]

Mills, how many inches fell in Savannah?





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[Mills Morrison]

About 3. Nothing compared to New England standards, but the infrastructure and DOT just aren't equipped to deal with it

[Rick Losey]

only the best for our southern friends

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee214/Cajunwannabe/26229524_554535724900112_3346329978632923474_n_zps jf0ie4fy.jpg

image blatantly stolen from a duck hunting board

[Mills Morrison]

That is about the truth

[Bob Brown]

Crazy weather. JJ Roberts posted earlier in this thread about the Calgary, Alberta, zoo bringing in the penguins inside because it was too cold. Today at 2:00pm it was +47F there.

[Dean Romig]

Crazy weather. JJ Roberts posted earlier in this thread about the Calgary, Alberta, zoo bringing in the penguins inside because it was too cold.


Oh stop it!





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[wayne goerres]

I have seen that vehicle before. I think it was during our last snow storm here in western Ga. Think deer Mills.

[Bob Brown]

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;232190]Oh stop it!

As silly as it sounds, they did bring the penguins inside because it was too cold.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/calgary-too-cold-for-penguins-zoo-brings-birds-indoors-1.3740974

[Rick Losey]

the heat wave begins

it was a little below zero when i got the dogs out first thing this morning

already up to 8- it will be actually in double digits soon :rotf:

supposed to continue climbing through the teens and twenties all day and night until reaching near 40 tomorrow -

can't hardly stand it

[Jerry Harlow]

Last day of deer season yesterday (thank goodness). It was 21 with a 10 mph wind for a windchill of 9 as the sun went down, and I was sitting up in a stand hoping for thirty minutes after sunset.

[Gary Laudermilch]

When we got out of the car to shoot clays this morning it was -7 but at least the wind finally quit blowing 25 mph. It was actually quite nice to be out burning some powder.

[Tom Jay]

Here a few photos taken this afternoon around Falmouth, MA (on Cape Cod for you non-New Englanders). It's been a balmy 12 degrees all day. First photo is of The Nob facing Buzzards Bay, it's all ice for 1 mile out into the main channel, second photo of Quissett Harbor and a third of Falmouth Harbor. Even the Swans are running out of open water. Also saw quite a few ice skaters playing hockey on the kettle ponds.

[CraigThompson]

Finished off the last day of the Virginia gun season with friends in Louisa County Virginia ! At 06:30 it was 2 degrees after the sun came up it dropped to 1 !

We sat the first two hours or so then did man drives the rest of the day . Not a deer was seen just a lone red fox .

Not very positive in the harvest department but that's not why I go there for the last day each year .

I've got a pheasant encounter on the slate for 1/16/18 other then perhaps a venture to the skeet field or sporting course I'm most likely done with guns in the USA until after I return from the South Pacific in March !

[Rick Roemer]

Here in Southwestern Ohio it has been 0 degrees or less for more than a week. We still have been hunting ducks in the local rivers with great success. I actually have never seen it better since I have hunted ducks in Ohio. The low water levels and extreme cold weather has kept birds in our area. I believe we have actually shot every species of puddlers and most divers. The griffon I use for retrieving has done well even though the freezing temps keeps ice in his whiskers! Today we took the pointing dogs for upland birds and found 3 pheasants and several quail. I am always amazed at the range you can from a DH Parker with tight chokes.

[Dean Romig]

The cold snap here seems to have broken. It is a balmy 21 this morning and the prediction is for 52 on Wednesday.

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.





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[edgarspencer]

@5:30AM, it was 30 degrees warmer than 24hrs ago.

[Brett Hoop]

@5:30AM, it was 30 degrees warmer than 24hrs ago.

Same here, but we got a nice 3/4" of ice coating about 6:30am and now it has turned back to snow. Many accidents and schools have closed.

[charlie cleveland]

warmed up and rained here in miss.its 50 degrees here this morning and supposed to be near 60 by this afternoon...then its suppose to get down in the 20 s again in a few days...my granddaughters horse has been hafting to wear a blanket for the last few days.... i m feeling better so may go out and look for a buck this evening....charlie

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I t was -8 on Sat when I hit the farm with the muzzleloader, nothing was moving, except a small yearling that i deemed just to small to shoot. It was sunny with no wind, so my buddy Terry and i sat on a little sunny hilltop where we could see down the powerline 300 yds in each direction, and just shot the bull.Really enjoyable despite the bitter cold. Sunday, was warming up, but with it came the winds. Had a buck that had already dropped its rack run out in front of the truck. All the deer I saw were out of muzzleloader range. Freezing rain at 5:00am today followed by a few inches of wet snow. very few patients have showed up, most cancelling, so its really a slow day.

[Eric Eis]

Like Edgar, it was about 30 degree's warmer today then yesterday, I didn't even zip my jacket up when I went out to snow blow (got about 3" which I will take over freezing rain anyday ! ).

[Mills Morrison]

Enjoy this! Snow in the Deep South

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSmZiNZU66k