Gear Recommendations - Mid-December First Timer

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Ridlejs

New member
I’m headed up to hunt the Aberdeen area in mid-December with my dog.

This is my first time pheasant hunting in SD.

Would love your gear/clothing recommendations for this time of year, including things to consider for my dog. I understand weather is unpredictable in mid-December but this was the only time I could get away.

Thanks!
 
Ridlejs said:
I’m headed up to hunt the Aberdeen area in mid-December with my dog.

This is my first time pheasant hunting in SD.

Would love your gear/clothing recommendations for this time of year, including things to consider for my dog. I understand weather is unpredictable in mid-December but this was the only time I could get away.

Thanks!
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Neoprene vest
 
I like a tote of variety of clothing for my trips to so dak. Some years in December you’ll get a blizzard and some times you can hunt in jeans and a long sleeve shirt. Good tall boots with gators on to keep snow out of your boots help. One thing I would highly suggest that’s in my tote is boot warmers. They have saved my trip multiple times!!!
 
Thanks yall.

Dog is a Springer.

I am planning on bringing my boot dryer. Boots are Danner un-insulated 8’’ waterproof. Have read as long as I have good socks, then I should be okay but open to other thoughts.

Coming up from Texas and have zero experience with that level of potential cold.
 
Neck gaiter or anything to protect your neck from the cold wind. I have spent most of my working career outside and I can wear a lot less clothing when my neck is warm. You’ll have to find the right balance between sweating, just being comfortable, or cold. Warm hat, but breathable. Layers you can shed or add quickly.
 
Golddog said:
Neck gaiter or anything to protect your neck from the cold wind. I have spent most of my working career outside and I can wear a lot less clothing when my neck is warm. You’ll have to find the right balance between sweating, just being comfortable, or cold. Warm hat, but breathable. Layers you can shed or add quickly.
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And this is the balance. I hate hunting in a coat. I usually do a base layer with multiple layers over that I can shed as needed. If it is really cold I usually go for a pair of insulated bibs with a couple sweatshirts. I can’t do a stocking cap as I will sweat too much.
 
T shirt- long sleeved T shirt- hooded sweatshirt. I’m good to 15 degrees depending on the wind.
Boot dryers and 2 pairs of boots with the extra in the truck. What looks like a frozen slough, probably isn’t frozen enough in the cattails.
 
I would recommend a product called Mushers Paw for you bff Springer. It is a paste/wax to keep ice chunks from building up between toes. Protects pads as well. Warm shooting gloves are a must. Several threads on this. Mountain Made cold weather gloves are my savior as a ND hunter who hunts regularly in late December. Bring two pair in case hands get wet or sweaty. Keep extra pair in your vest against your body. Put them on before getting out of truck.
 
Appreciate all the replies so far.

Will definitely check out the Mushers Paw. Do you have your Springer wear a vest? I think she’d be fine without it but not sure.

And I’m hearing the “bring two boots” frequently also. Not all that enthusiastic about buying another pair of boots, but sounds like it may be worth it.
 
I hunt with vizslas. I have them wear a vest but the lighter weight ones. My buddies springer gets ice build up on feet frequently. Maybe consider a light pruning of them. Boots can get wet especially if you break through ice wear a spring may be. I am sure that is the reason for the suggestion.
 
There has been great threads on winter excursions in the Dakotas. Search back…

Prepare for 60F to -20F. -40F or lower with windchill. Respect that ground blizzards can form with minimal snow. Visibility near zero.

Always keep the gas tank full and truck readied to spend a night. Top off at 3/4 or below if you pass by a station.

Seems like a lot more minimum maintenance roads in South Dakota than ND (where I grew up and still hunt) and MN (where I hunt the most now). To be honest SD country roads largely suck and get messy to easily. Is gravel tough to get in SoDak? Too often it’s those roads that lead to many public access spots.
 
Search back for sure. Basically two of everything with one set extra in your vehicle. Mushers Secret can be found online.
Hope for the best, but plan on the worst.
 
ive been once in early december and twice in late january. the temps have ranged anywhere from 7 to mid 50's and winds from 5-10mpy up to 20-25mph with 30mph gusts.

two years ago, we caught an unseasonably warm weekend for late january, and last year we arrived to find shin-to-knee-deep snow.

I usually pack the following and layer as needed:

LS flannel shirts
LS under shirt
wool sweater
puffer of fleece-lined duck vest
hoodie sweatshirt
flannel lined carhartt pants
long underwear bottoms
wool socks
light field jacket
heavier carhartt-style jacket
rain jacket
2 pair insulated hunting boots (rocky or danner laceups)
uninsulated leather gloves
fleece lined leather gloves
stormy kromer rancher cap
fleece earmuff headband
knitt cap
neckgaiter/balclava
briar chaps (double duty in protection from frozen blades of grass and blocking wind)
snow gaiters just in case
zippo handwarmer
back/chest warmers with advesive to stick to undershirt
 

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Camo bdu pants, camo jacket, camo hunting vest, camo fleece cap, neck gator, fleece linked brown gloves,wool cabelas socks,insulated packs, insulated hunting boots, hip boots, camo sweatshirt high quality.
 
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