Early season hunting gear

I sometimes hunt squirrels in the heat of the summer, usually just wear jeans and a longsleeve t shirt to keep the bugs and thorns at bay. Got what the doctors believed to be Lyme last year so likely won't be summer hunting this year.

Our archery deer season starts sept 15. Its still in the 80s that time of the year, id be mor worried about the meat spoiling than your clothing choice. I've shot a few does opening day and it's a race to get them quartered into a cooler.

I do have a pair of "mesh" pants with matching button down shirt I like. They don't do much for bugs but are cool and quiet. Not sure how to describe them, but they are "scent shield" brand. If you don't have thorns or bugs out there they'd be perfect. They have smaller holes than a penny type jersey but bigger than a bug net. I think you could still get poison ivy oil through them tho.

HB

It's hot here until Thanksgiving most years but not 100. Only 85-90. I use a long-sleeved t-shirt and a mesh bug protection hoodie.
I wear camo but mix and match because I don't think it matters to deer. Movement and scent is what they key on.

A Thermacell is indispensable.

Covelo-NdN said:

Hello THR, I'm wondering if anyone hunts early season, when it's hot.. and I mean like close to 100 degrees I live in northern California and season opens August. This year I'm planning on archery hunting, which starts july i belive. I'm looking for early season gear.

1. I'd like the pants to be quiet.

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Most modern hunting fabrics are fairly quiet. Ripstop fabrics which I find to be the lightest and coolest, are fairly quiet.

Covelo-NdN said:

2. Sent free.

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I'd like all my hunting clothes to be sent free to me too, but unfortunately, I pay for most of them.

If it's hot you will not be probably have the majority of your body covered, so it's your body that needs to be scent free. I tend to keep all my hunting clothes as clean as possible and avoid getting foreign scents on them, more than I worry about their claims of being scent free. Getting to and from stand in the heat without sweating up is the bigger problem. Allow yourself more time so you can go more slowly, and you will sweat(and stink) less. Pay close attention to the wind....this is your ally and your nemesis.

Covelo-NdN said:

3. Loose fitting.

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Just buy them big and buy cargo/BDU style pants.

Covelo-NdN said:

4. Realtree or Mossy Oak.

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For the most part, Camo patterns are for the hunter, not the game. Solids will work as well as patterns as long as you sit still and blend in with your surroundings. Some of the older military camo patterns work just as well as the newest and most hyped. Worry about fit, practicality, value and cost before you worry about pattern.

I'm a big fan of Kryptek. It's pricey, but if you sign up for their emails, they do a post-christmas blowout and I can usually find what I want for 50% off. They use Greek names for all of their gear which I can't pronounce or spell, so take a look at their website and find the lightweight stuff. I've been using it for years.

They also use their own camo patterns, but the stuff is legit. I can wear the same stuff for 24 hours, hunt, camp, hunt some more, track through thick brush, sweat, dry, sweat some more, and it still gets the job done.

Can't agree more about the clothing. I hunt early season in shorts, teeshirt, and tennis shoes. Lace up boots if I'm going to be hiking. Never have a problem on the ground or in a stand. Scent free is a MYTH. It's only a gimmic for hunters money. Hunting the wind is the ONLY way to stay scent free. Stick to lighter earth colors (or light grey) and you'll be just fine. But if you need the camo for confidence, by all means, buy some.

Wow, I guess I never felt that the heat while hunting is a problem. I Have never dreamed of hunting in shorts. Most of my summer is spent working on road projects next to an asphalt paving machine. Comes out behind the machine at 300 degrees.

Not much hunting in Kansas in the summer but I try to camp as many weekends as I can. I would guess hunting in the heat is the same, find some shade and with a little wind you'll be fine. The key I find is getting used to it, hopping out of an air conditioned climate takes awhile to adjust. Use whatever clothes you have, hydrate and relax, you are having fun.