I’ve never seen a place like North Dakota with weather that can be so polar opposite from day to day or even one hour to the next. Planning for a week of hunting in the Peace Garden State requires thought, common sense, and the right apparel.
We always plan a trip to North Dakota in late October or early November. We try to time our trip with the peak of the waterfowl migration. The migration can be as hard to predict as the weather. The two go hand in hand. Southern winds can stall the migration, and you’re left with local birds that have played the game for several weeks and are tough to fool. You can go a week without ever putting on your parka. We’ve seen winds suddenly shift to the north with gale force strength, temperatures plummet, and when it does, you get to witness The Great Passage. Cranes, geese of several species, and ducks by the thousands take advantage of the tailwind to head south. Lakes and fields devoid of waterfowl suddenly host swarms of birds where there was none the day before.
You never really know what to expect. That’s part of the fun. Some years, it’s relatively warm, dry, and sunny for the entire week. Or it can be below zero in a matter of days. You need to dress accordingly and be prepared.
I’m not a fan of beanies. They make my head itch. But when I go to North Dakota, I make an exception. Experts claim that 90% of your heat loss is through your head, so it makes sense to keep your head warm when it’s super chilly. The Hardcore Arctech Fleece Beanie offers soft, subtle warmth without that infuriating scratchy feeling. Its lightweight fleece provides a comfortable fit.
Your neck is attached to your head, so it makes sense to keep that warm, too. Hardcore’s High Pile Fleece Neck Gaiter provides an extra level of warmth to keep you in the field when others cry, uncle. Enhanced with 80g of Primaloft® insulation and a high-pile Berber fleece lining, this neck gaiter can help you survive and thrive during a long cold hunt. The DWR finish wards off light moisture, and the polyester/spandex outer shell provides stretch and a superior fit.
If there isn’t snow when we get to North Dakota, there usually is before we leave. Having a white Hardcore Solid Knit Beanie (www.hardcorewaterfowl.com/products/hardcore-solid-knit-beanie) stuffed in your jacket is a good idea. Not only is the 100% acrylic rib-knit beanie incredibly supple and indulgently warm, but it will help you blend in when you’re hidden in a snow goose spread. The beanie comes in a dark olive version, too.
Next to your head, your fingers are the next most important thing to keep warm and functional. Lightweight gloves, like Hardcore’s Lightweight Fleece Glove, fill a niche while offering unparalleled performance plus value. The Lightweight Fleece Glove is the accessory you reach for when it’s time to set decoys, brush blinds, and ensure calls and shotguns are at the ready.
Buttressed with a diamond-brushed, grid fleece interior for warmth and a smooth, stretchy 100% polyester outer face, the Lightweight Fleece Glove has features you won’t find in similarly priced gloves. The glove features a Tech Touch finger and thumb to utilize your phone without removing the glove. The silicone grip and open cuff aid freedom of movement and adroitness.
Single-digit temperatures and North Dakota’s infamous howling winds will have you searching for a little more to protect your hands once you’re actively hunting. The Hammer Hi-Bird Glove would be the obvious choice then. Enhanced with 40g Primaloft® insulation and a 100% waterproof/breathable design, this glove will excel and exceed expectations regardless of the conditions. The DWR finish and neoprene cuff guarantee that snow and ice will be repelled instead of finding their way down your arm. The Hammer Hi-Bird glove will meet the challenge in all but the most extreme situations in North Dakota, but North Dakota can be an environment of extremes.
The only downside to setting an impressive spread of decoys is that you eventually have to pick them up. If your spread is on the edge of an icy river or nearly frozen lake, it will pay to have a pair of Finisher Extreme Decoy Gloves in your blind bag. The 100% waterproof/breathable design and DWR finish ensure your hands won’t be wet and numb before you’re done. The 100g Primaloft® insulation guarantees unparalleled warmth without the added weight. The one-handed cord lock and release allow you to quickly and easily cinch the glove tight to prevent moisture from running down your arm. The added length keeps you dry right up to your elbows. The leather palms and fingers promote a secure grip when handling icy decoys.
If your core is warm, the rest of your body will be too. The key is to avoid overdressing when setting decoys and working to get ready. The one thing you don’t want to do is work up a sweat before you even start hunting. If you do, later, when you are less active and crawl into the blind, you will get cold.
When setting and hauling decoys, wear the bare minimum. Start with a Long-Sleeve Power Crew as a base layer. Add an Arctech Fleece Hoodie if there’s frost on the pumpkin, and call it good for now. You want to be reasonably cold, to the point of having a noticeable chill. Hauling decoys out of the trailer, arranging the spread, and brushing blinds will provide more than enough activity to keep you warm without getting overheated.
The Power T Long Sleeve Crew is made from smooth, quiet polyester/spandex jersey material, which affords exceptional flexibility and fit without compromising performance. Its wicking and fast-drying properties, combined with S3® silver antimicrobial technology, ensure odor prevention. The combinations of features prevent clammy sweat, which is a death wish in arctic-like conditions.
The Arctech Fleece Hoody is the ideal mid-layer choice when temperatures dip. The cross-over collar allows unrestricted freedom of movement when the birds are working and your head is on a swivel. The three-piece mesh lined hood provides a form fit without limiting movement when scanning the skies. The zippered left chest pocket is perfect for your phone or the remote for the training collar. Gusseted underarms facilitate mobility and freedom of movement when swinging on incoming birds. A convenient kangaroo pocket is ideal for between volleys when shooting is hot and heavy, but you must maintain dexterity and nimble fingers. The textured face of the high-loft 100% polyester fleece lining is breathable, dries quickly, and offers S3® silver antimicrobial odor prevention.
The work is done. The trap is set. The sun is peaking over the horizon. Just before the guide gives the signal to load up is the time to add the final layer, the coup de grace. Whether you’re wiggling onto a layout blind in a frozen North Dakota cornfield, hunched over in an A-frame on the edge of a lake, or bobbing in a boat on the Missouri River, Hardcore’s Finisher Extreme Parka and Finisher Extreme Bibs offer the ultimate in concealment and comfort.
Fortified with 100g Primaloft® insulation for warmth without the weight, the Finisher Extreme Parka offers precise thermal body mapping that puts just the right amount of insulation where needed. (100g in the body / 80g in the sleeves and hood). Ultra-abrasion-resistant overlay panels ensure your parka doesn’t wear out before you do. Spacious cargo, chest, and fleece-lined handwarmer pockets leave plenty of room for extra gloves, ammo, and incidentals. The added length covers the space between where your pants end and your back begins. 100% waterproof /breathable performance ensures you can endure the worst North Dakota can throw at you and keep hunting. The articulated hood with built-in adjusters guarantees extreme protection when you need to hunker down.
The Finisher Extreme Bibs perfectly complement the Finisher Extreme Parka. Together, they cover all the bases to ensure you’re present when that long-awaited flight finally shows up.
The Finisher Extreme Bibs feature ultra-abrasion-resistant overlay panels fortified at specific points of wear and tear. Count on 100% waterproof/breathable laminated performance via the woven poly/spandex flex-stretch shell enhanced with DWR. The advantages of thermal mapping and lightweight Primaloft® insulation will become apparent the first time you wear the bibs. (100g in the upper body / 80g in the legs). Hook and ladder adjustable elastic shoulder straps guarantee that you won’t be constantly pulling them up. Hip-length waterproof leg zippers provide easy on/off access even with boots on. The rugged, two-way YKK main zipper makes it easy to zip up to repel a chill or quickly zip down when Mother Nature calls. You can never have too many pockets. Chest pockets can hold headlamps and glasses, cargo pockets excel with more significant items, and fleece-lined hand warmer pockets prevent numb digits.
Half the fun of hunting in North Dakota is that you never know what to expect weather-wise. A few years ago, a prolonged drought and tepid weather made hunting more problematic. A shortage of water and a poor year for reproduction compounded by the summer-like weather had the odds stacked against us. An optimistic farmer who permitted us to hunt and a substantial portion of the white-fronted goose population in the Central Flyway that wanted into his field saved the day.
The following year was the polar opposite. It was a blizzard when we crossed the Minnesota/North Dakota border. Drifts nearly blocked the road, and ponds and small lakes were frozen solid. We had serious concerns that there would be any ducks left around. As it turned out, it was one of our best hunts ever. What little open water we found was loaded with hardy waterfowl. The bitter cold moderated as the week went on, and we found a field that provided great shooting for almost the entire week.
As I said, you never know when hunting North Dakota. Be sure you have the right Hardcore apparel to meet whatever Mother Nature throws at you.
