Hunting when it is HOT

I love early season except for the heat. Here is South Carolina, it is still in the 90's and deer season has been in for a few weeks now. I have been anxiously waiting to go, but with this oppressive heat it is difficult to get excited about getting into a tree stand pouring sweat. Some things I do to help with the heat may also help you if you are hunting in the early season. 1. Wear shorts. In the early season there is no way I can sit in a stand with long pants and long sleeve shirts. All of my stands have a camouflage wrapping around them that conceals my movement. I use this to my advantage, donning short pants and t-shirts, i can make my way to the stand and not worry about over heating, and also knowing that the bare skin will be hidden, I also wear a head net to conceal my face. 2. Thermacell: This is without a doubt the greatest invention to come to the hunting world since metal cartridges. This little device is a life saver when it comes to battling mosquitoes and flies. It will create a barrier around you that makes the hunt far more enjoyable and also allows you to stay still while hunting. I will never go to my stand without one. It also does not seem to bother the deer. 3. Hunt early. With the cooler evenings, morning hunts seem to be a lot easier to do, with night time temperatures in the 60-70 range, I can go to my stand in comfort and when it starts to heat up, I am properly dressed and ready for the day. I will usually stay on stand until 11:00-12:00 noon and head in for the day. It gets too hot and the deer do not seem to move under these extreme conditions. 4. Stay hydrated. This is a double edged sword. In the heat you must drink a lot of water, the down side of this is that you will have to urinate. Take bottles of water and something to urinate in while on stand. nothing is more miserable than having to go and have no way of going. 5. Wear a hat. I personally prefer a visor since it keeps my hear cooler, but a cap is important to keep the sun off of your face. It will lower your body temperature significantly if you wear a hat. If you keep these things in mind you will be able to stay on stand longer and increase your chance for harvesting a buck.