Prepping for a snow-tracking hunt bears little resemblance to getting ready for an all-day sit in a treestand. Blood doesn’t carry a backpack because it’s too noisy as he travels through the woods. Instead, he wears a waist pack that weighs 5 pounds when stocked and contains an extra compass, two fire starters, a flashlight, a dragging rope, a space blanket, chocolate bars, lunch, and a camera.
He wears green, checkered wool, without fail. (“It is, after all, the original camo.”) Wool is quiet, warm, breathable, and doesn’t absorb odors. But when you’re breaking snow, warmth isn’t much of a concern; Blood overheats in too many layers, so he opts for uninsulated pants and a jacket, and uninsulated rubber boots.
Once Blood cuts a good track, he pays attention to…