COOL TRICKS OF THE TRADE
With some pre-hunt scouting, you should have pegged several food-source locations a short distance from the truck and have located obstacle-free access trails to reach them. I like to scout early-season hunting grounds at least a week or two before the opener.

I always check out specific GPS-recorded food source locations that were productive in past years. Along the trail you plan to use to enter your chosen stand locations, trim low-hanging tree branches and clip small shrubs and other vegetation at ground level.

I like to do this for several reasons.

First of all, trimming an easily accessed trail means I won’t have to bend, contort and step around obstacles on my way to the stand, which gets me overheated in a hurry. Because I’ve chosen locations that are within easy walking distance from the truck, trimming a trail ahead of time usually takes very little effort.

Second, if I do sweat, I won’t be rubbing up against vegetation and leaving a trail of human scent all the way to my stand.

Another option is to use floating transportation to reach your stand locations. A johnboat or canoe, powered by an electric trolling motor or paddle, can be used to access islands or remote shores in swamps or sloughs with relatively little physical exertion. And they are stealth-quiet. Using a boat is also a great way to get away from the crowds.

To further reduce physical exertion and the sweat that it produces, take with you only what’s absolutely necessary. Ideally, you can put up the stand in advance, and dramatically reduce payload weight by 20 to 30 pounds or more. If equipment theft is an issue and you must tote a portable stand, then perhaps look into some of the ultra-lightweight aluminum models, such as those produced by Lone Wolf Tree Stands.

Your stand locations should be well thought out. A shady spot is a must. Sitting facing the sun is a great way to burn up in a hurry. Even on an extremely hot day, sitting motionless in the shade is tolerable.

Also, be sure to take along a plastic canteen of water you’ve kept in the freezer overnight. Drinking cold water as the ice thaws helps cool your body and keep you hydrated.

When temperatures are high, be sure to take extra water. Stay hydrated and stay safe.

To increase my comfort level and further control my scent on extremely hot days, I have developed a killer keep-cool trick.

The evening before my hunt, I mix a tablespoon of Arm & Hammer baking soda in a bowl of water and soak a kitchen towel in it. I gently wring out the wet towel -- but not completely -- and fold it into a little square. Then I place the damp towel into a zip lock bag and place it in my kitchen freezer or camp cooler. When it’s time to go hunting, the last thing I do before I leave the house or camp is to place it in my fanny pack.

By the time I reach my stand, the towel is partially thawed. After climbing into the stand, I remove my shirt, drop my trousers and wipe down my entire body thoroughly with the wet hand towel.

As fanatical as this may sound, don’t knock it until you try it. Almost instantly, your skin surface is cooled and you feel shower-fresh. Any odors on the surface of your skin are either wiped away or controlled by the solution of baking soda that is applied.

Baking soda -- also known as sodium bicarbonate -- neutralizes odors chemically. Most unpleasant odors arise from compounds that are either strong acids or strong bases. Both are affected by baking soda, which essentially deodorizes by bringing both acidic and alkaline odor molecules into a neutral pH, odor-free state.

After I wipe myself down with the cold, wet hand towel, I seal it back into my zip lock bag and stow it in my fanny pack.

Within minutes after I’ve wiped down and gotten dressed again, the cool moisture on my skin is wicked away by my clothing, and I’m left feeling dry and comfortable. On extremely hot days, I may bring two frozen hand towels with me. Halfway through my hunt, I take a two-minute break and use the second towel to freshen up and further control odor.

These towels weigh almost nothing and will greatly increase your comfort level and staying power when it is hot.

WHILE THE ACTION IS HOT!
Armed with the knowledge of available food source locations and the right equipment, you can collect your venison when the temperatures are high.

Employ these keep-cool tricks this season, and with a little planning, you can stay dry, comfortable and relatively scent-free during your early-season Florida bowhunts.