I have hunted moose in -30 C with snow half way to my knees. But no wind, no crust, and no drifts. About sixty miles from town and hunting alone. I had access to a trapper's cabin a few miles away if something went wrong. Choose your footing carefully in those conditions. A torn ligament could be fatal. Fortunately I didn't shoot anything but it was a lovely clear day, excellent tracking, and no competition. Just dress right and keep moving. Another time I skied in to my old campsite 18 kilometers and hunted a clear day in -20s. Someone's snow machine had packed the light knee deep snow so my skinny skis would stay on top. I listened to two bulls fighting over a cow with yearling calf less than fifty yards away but couldn't see any of them in the thick tag alders. Skiing out in the moonlight is a cherished memory.
We get minus fifty days here occasionally and -40s just about every year (keep in mind the two thermometers cross paths at -42). Same snow here on Halloween is usually still here at Easter (well, in the old days anyway ... I'm headed out to rake leaves shortly ... Dec 11!). And though not born in Montana (first week of my life was in Idaho), I lived there until 1989 (37 years). So yes, I know a thing or two about winter and how to hunt it. But this past month in Montana was the worst conditions I've experienced ... FOR HUNTING. And I have a lot of experience. Not the coldest, windiest, or snowiest, not by a long shot. But drifted and terrible crunchy with cover for birds either stripped or flattened. Not impossible to hunt but damn near.
Don't worry. I take criticism from the immature and inexperienced peanut gallery with a grain of salt. Like snowymountain said, children abound on the internet.
