At North River Outfitting, our Alberta whitetail deer hunts in November have the tendency to get cold. The weather is highly variable and hunters need to be prepared. Whitetail hunting in Canada can certainly mean cold temperatures. We receive questions each year from hunters on what clothing we recommend. With that in mind, we’d like to give you our recommendations on cold weather gear for a whitetail hunt.

On our Alberta deer hunts, our hunters have the benefit of heated blinds. Each of our elevated blinds is equipped with a propane space heater. But when conditions are cold, being prepared will help you stay focused on the hunt.

1. Base Layers

When it comes to hunting in cold weather, base layers are a critical element. This is your long underwear, or the layer you put on first each morning.

We have found merino wool to be an excellent base layer. Synthetic fabrics like polypropylene or capeline are also good insulators under a wide range of conditions. The only problem with synthetics is that they tend to pick up body odors and smell after a couple days of use. Merino wool is naturally odor resistant.

Both merino wool and synthetics will do a good job of wicking moisture away from your skin. Ideally, you want to avoid products with a high percentage of lycra or spandex, because those materials also trap moisture. When it comes to moisture management, look for a high percentage of merino, nylon or polyester and a low percentage of spandex or lycra.

2. Mid-Layers

Your mid-layers are your comfort and temperature control layers. From a lightweight fleece to a puffy down jacket, these mid layers should easily be added or removed to help you adjust to the current conditions.

Rather than a single heavily insulated jacket, we recommend packing a few layers of varying warmth that you can mix and match. This might include a lightweight hunting shirt, a fleece or softshell jacket, and a jacket with quality goose down or synthetic insulation. Being able to add or remove these pieces from your system will help you stay comfortable no matter what the weather decides to do.

2. Outerwear

Outerwear for a cold-weather Canada deer hunt is your protection against biting wind. Since our hunters are in elevated box blinds, having waterproof rain gear isn’t an issue. But the protection of a breathable shell is still an advantage. A hard shell or softshell jacket with a waterproof/windproof membrane will protect you from convective heat loss when those November Alberta winds begin blowing.

As we mentioned with mid-layers, make sure your system remains versatile. Select an outerwear jacket and pants or bibs that can be comfortably worn over your mid-layers. Many hunting clothing systems are designed with this idea in mind. Companies like First Lite and Sitka offer excellent whitetail hunting systems.

At North River Outfitting we offer free range, trophy whitetail deer hunts in Alberta, Canada. As a full time outfitter for more than 30 years, our experience and attention to details is second-to-none. We also offer hunting in British Columbia for moose, mountain goat, mountain caribou, stone sheep and grizzly. For more information, call us at 780-675-1942 or contact us with questions.