Would like some advise for small heaters for use in a hunting blind. I figured there were more people in the north country who winter camp and ice fish. I think I want propane but open to any suggestions. Dad is 77 and has trouble staying warm in the late winter muzzle loading season but still wants to go. Any advice will be appreciated.

I have used the Mr. Heater versions. They come ready to screw onto 16 oz. bottles or there is another version that runs off a 20 pound tank. Just remember to lite them right away. Had a friend who waited to lite his Mr. Heater while watching deer out of an enclosed deer blind. Damn near blew himself out of the blind and singed off all hair sticking out of his hat. One side of his beard was gone also. We still laugh about it today. A Coleman heater throws off a fair amount of heat too.

Love my Mr. Heater Buddy portable.

I use a coleman Catalytic heater. One of those Green screw on portable propane bottles just screws on and you light it. It has no direct flame and protects things from fire that way. It would heat a blind or small ice shack (which is what I use it for)
It works great for me. Great for warming your hands over it.
SunCatcher

I second the Mr. Heater Buddy Portable.

You can hook up a 20 lb propane tank or a small screw on tank to it. It has a pizio lighter so no matches or other lighters are needed. (I always bring one though, just in case). If it tips over, it automatically shuts off. And most importantly, if it detects low oxygen, it automatically shuts off, so that you don't die of CO2 poisoning.

When not ice fishing with it, it lives in the back of my car, in case I am stranded somewhere.

Depends if an open flame is a problem. cheap wise, a single burner camp stove, or coleman suitcase would work. But they better stay upright and away from anything combustible. Otherwise, I think you have some good choices. The mr buddy is a good unit, but IMO, goes thru the small tanks like crazy. I would advise the 20# tank set up with Mr. Buddy if convienant. Otherwise bring a bunch of tanks. The catalytic heaters are great also, as noted. They can screw directly onto a 20 pound unit with a stalk if you get the right kind. Perfect for hand warming as noted.

If you have him in a enclosed stand with windows, you need a direct vented heater. The water in the exhaust of non-vented heaters will condense on the windows and you can't see out of them.
Be careful with infrared heaters because what they "see" can burn.

My vote is for Mr. Buddy type heater if you do this.

One hunter I know used a big cast iron griddle on the floor with a burner under it to get "floor heat". His feet would stay nice and warm.

Those disposable hand and foot warmers work good if you don't want to deal with the stove. Heavy insulated boots don't warm well from the outside so its easier to put the heat source on the inside of the boot!

At 77 years old and having troubles staying warm, I would consider more than just a heater. First of all there are body heaters that you could look into, they are like handwarmers but larger and can stick on to a layer of clothing. If you stick one on a shirt between the shirt and flannel and then have the jacket over that. The heat will stay in for a long time. Toe warmers in the boots will help keep a person warm. If the toes get cold it doesn't take long for the rest of the body to get cold. How about good boots. I know most people at 77 years old don't wear the same nice warm boots that I wear in my mid-thirties. Helping him dress warmer is where I would start.
Buddy heaters are nice and quiet and ideal for hunting but don't throw as much heat as some other heaters like the Mr. Heater. The downside to the Mr. Heater is that it is very noisy and I wouldn't use one deer hunting.

A question for everyone with Mr. Buddy heaters... how do you light them? I'd like to buy one for my deer stand, but I'm curious if there is a loud "clicking" noise when one lights it.

I've seen how some heaters light and they can be quite loud.

Note to Jackfish - read my post above. The important thing to remember is lite the damn thing right away. I wish I had a picture !

Jackfish

There is a loud click for igniting the pilot light but you can get pass it by using a long lighter.

Wisconsin proof Everclear not only should keep you warm but you can put it in the gas tank as well as use it to clean a wound. If your hunting with a spud gun it'll give it a little extra kick while doubling as a flame thrower.

Bring a large candle as a good backup to what ever method you choose. Propane freezes and other things can always break. Keep him well hydrated with water as well because being dehydrated does not boad well in the cold.

Here are a few links to heaters similar to what I've used hunting. We always grabbed a few cans of HEET (the gas additive type) for the fuel. No joke.

Toilet Paper Heaters

Toilet Paper Heaters

I agree with brerud. I would try insulating the person not heating the area. I'm not your fathers age but I have always had issues keeping warm hunting (I have a low thyroid) so I can relate.

Moisture management is critical. I think this causes more trouble than most people think. Is he getting sweaty on his way to the stand? I know I have to be very deliberate on my way out or I will, then I freeze. A smartwool base layer will really help and if he's not wearing one that is where I would start. Match the weight to the temperature.

Boots are a big deal too. Get the warmest ones possible and loose enough for extra socks (wool again). He should be able to wiggle his toes in the boots. I have never tried heated socks but that's another idea. For hands mittens are warmer than gloves. I got a hand muffler for my father as a Christmas gift this year, that would be warmer still.

One of the guys I hunt with has a some sort of hunting blanket that I have seen him use when it's really cold. Its camo and I think its like a short sleeping bag but I'm not quite sure. Covers his entire lower body. Looks real warm.

I have used the little warmer packets. The work well in mittens but require oxygen to work and don't work well in boots. You put them in hot, then your feet sweat on your way to the stand, then the heat stops and you are worse of than when you started.

The ultimate question I had was this:

If I ever-so-quietly walked to my stand in the woods at 6:00am carrying my heater, would any deer within a half-mile radius start running the other direction as soon as I started clicking the heater to get it started?

We are talking a doulbe bull blind, about 6-7' square and 5' plus ceiling. The smallest Mr. Heater Buddy would probably work the best. It sounds like it is the safest. If I can keep him warm from the start and only turn on every hour or so for a few minutes to keep him from getting chilled then that shouldn't use a lot of small bottles. I had thought of using an old bulky coleman sleeping bag for myself but had never messed with it but we are suppose to have snow and pretty cold temps over the weekend. Thanks for the info, I think I will run to Wal-Mart before they close and pick one up if they have them.

I have used Mr. Heater as well as Coleman heaters w/o problems, just follow the directions. And you may want to use a 20# tank or make sure you bring enough 16oz tanks since you will go thru them if sitting out there for any length of time.

The last few years deer hunting I would use a popup tent with a Coleman heater in it, a full thermos of hot chocolate and even a jet boil. The guys in my men's group called it my hunting condo.

Never bothered the deer. . .even with the Coleman heater on full blast

In total disclosure, there might have been a few occasions I nodded off in the popup tent with this set up

Jackfish: "The ultimate question I had was this:



If I ever-so-quietly walked to my stand in the woods at 6:00am carrying my heater, would any deer within a half-mile radius start running the other direction as soon as I started clicking the heater to get it started?"

Use a lighter instead of the igniter. This avoids the clicking of the igniter . We use buddy heaters in pop up fish houses. They work great.