Basic Deer Hunting Clothes

[Deanimator]

Unless business intervenes, I'm going deer hunting outside of St. Louis in November.

I need suggestions on reasonably priced clothing and boots. I'm not a hunter and may never go again, so I don't want to spend $1,000 on clothes and a pair of boots.

My only experience of hunting is hunting North Koreans, so some commonsense advice would go a long way.

Thanks.

 

[Muzzy_B]

How will you be hunting? (i.e. tree stand, box blind, spot and stalk etc...)

 

[Deanimator]

I'll be hunting on a friend's farm. I believe the current plan is to walk to a spot with good fields of fire on known lines of drift (Sorry, I know a lot more about shooting people than deer.) and wait for the deer. So, I guess that works out to some walking (up and down hills) and a lot of sitting.

 

[Blackfork]

Same thing.

I'd wear the same thing you wore hunting North Koreans....who by the way, might be easier to find than deer.

A camo ball cap and a camo bandana to cut down on face shine, along with cheap camo gloves...then sit still!

I wash my hunting stuff in "fragrance free" laundry detergent. I wear normal clothes but zip Swiss alpenflashe jump suit over them. 20 bucks from Cheaper than Dirt.

If I am going to be in a blind, I just wear long underwear, 5.11 pants and a warm jacket.

 

[Polishrifleman]

I would spend money on good boots, milsurp pants, wool shirt and cap. It can get a little windy back there so think about that. Also ask your buddy and check the regs for any hunter orange requirements (maybe he has some you can borrow if you plan on never wearing it again). Remember deer don't care what you are wearing so just be comfortable and quiet.

As you know from your military experience a good pair of boots can't be beat. You will use them the rest of your life, wear them around the house a week or so prior to leaving to break them in and prevent blisters. Make sure to wear the socks you plan on wearing into the field when you purchase and wear.

Nothing really special about it.

Find a pair of boots now at the store and find the size then buy them online, you will save some serious dough.

Boots $90.00 http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/2726,18408_Rocky-BruteForce-Boots-Waterproof-Gore-Tex-For-Men.html

Pants $15 http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=350910

Wool Sweater $22 http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=235069

Hunter Orange $6 http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=365076

Out the door for under $150 bucks and most of that is in the boots.

 

[eliphalet]

Decent pair of "hiker' type of boots or any work boot, Jeans and what is needed for warmth on top. I like a cap to help keep the sun out of my eyes. Wear clothes you don't mind getting bloody.
Good boots are better, but I have killed deer wearing tennis shoes. IMHO camo is not necessary.

 

[MeekandMild]

Boot suggestion: Find a pair of regular old rubber boots, preferably black (the color distinguishes you from being a fisherman or shrimper if you live on the Gulf coast -they all wear white for some reason) which should cost about $20. Get a size too big so you can wear double wool sox. Leave them outside but shake out all the spiders and other critters before you put them on.

Advantages are that after a few months outside they take on the smell of the environment, they are also: cheap, comfortable, waterproof, close to indestructable, warm and have good non-slip qualities.

Disadvantage is they don't have the logo advertised by your favorite basketball player or country singer. (But if you have a roll of duct tape you can make up your own logo and tape it in place. Duct tape will also patch any holes that happen to occur during five years of walking through briers. For some reason duct tape doesn't seem to go well with $300 boots.)

 

[mustanger98]

Well, my deer hunting clothes are my everyday Wrangler Pro-Rodeo jeans, riding boots, Resistol hat, plus a reversible goose down vest in Realtree and hunter orange. Orange and cammo don't really go together and the deer don't care.

 

[22-rimfire]

Basic deer hunting clothes and I assume it will likely be a little chilly. Blaze orange hat; Cheap blaze orange vest from Walmart with pockets for ammo and stuff that will fit over top of your coat; wear jeans or carhart pants; long johns; pair of rubber boots (see note below); winter gloves; sweater beneath coat (wear something you already have for cold weather); wool scarf; wool knit hat in case you get cold; and warm socks that will fit in boots.

I really like Lacrosse rubber boots with 400-800 gram insulation. Buy a couple sizes larger than your regular shoes. Gander Mt or Bass Pro may sell a green insulated pair (vs the more common camo design) that you can wear for other activities. These boots feel good all day to walk in and are great if you run into wet conditions or snow. Buy things that you can use now in your normal life. Same applies to a coat. You don't need camo anything. If regular leather boots suit you better, wear what you have or buy some new ones that you can use for other purposes like hiking or wearing in the woods. You may want to pick up a disposable poncho ($1.00) in case it rains. That is about it. You're set. Enjoy.

 

[Steel Talon]

My standard field dress is.. Redwing boots, Button fly Levis, layerd t-shirt / f lannel shirt / sweat shirt / neckercheif / carhart jacket , hat plus a "Beanie cap" and leather gloves in my pocket. Dosnt take special "wiz bang" field attire to be a successful hunter. Just sharp hearing, a good eye and a steady aim..

Good luck

Peace
ST~

 

[ReadyontheRight]

If you are going to buy anything, wool is always a great bet. But then again, I am from a bit further North.

Check out the local regulations, but a blaze orange baseball cap, a blaze orange watch cap (switch for weather), a blaze orange hunting vest with lots of pockets, some wool socks and a nice pair of boots should work nicely with what ever else you typically wear out in Fall weather. Avoid anything white.

A backpack with a blaze orange handkerchief pinned on its back is also handy for carrying meals, gear and emergency items. The extra gear I carry: Knife, .357 or .44 sidearm, cell phone, compass, matches, mirror, GPS device, batteries, flashlight, signal mirror, lighter, extra knife, rope, spare blaze orange watch cap (good for warming body parts), paper towels (use for TP/sniffles/fire-starting), Snicker bars, water, rubber gloves, poncho, duct tape, plastic leaf bag, .22 pistol, extra ammo. I also usually switch between gloves and choppers - I keep the non-used hand cover in the back of my vest to keep dry.

A good blaze-orange hunting vest, a blaze orange baseball hat and a blaze orange watch cap or two can go a long way with stuff you probably already have.

Leave your gear hanging outside or in the back of you vehicle as long as possible. I usually keep all my gear in the back of my SUV and change outdoors to keep the hunting cabin smells out.

 

[quicktime]

If you are hunting on a working farm with your buddy wear pretty much the same thing you would most days. I do agree on the good boots. I have hunted in rubber boots but the hills in Missouri and rocks are kind of hard on the ankles in rubber boots. So I say get a good pair of work boots or hiking boots and spend a lot of time breaking them in. If this is your friends farm he will know where the deer are and as long as their are not a bunch of yahoo's trampling through the woods before you get their just listen to where he tells you to go and you will be fine. When I lived in Missouri opening morning of deer season was as complicated as picking up the rifle that was kept in the milk barn (normally for coyotes) and shooting a nice doe. Then driving down to the alfalfa field and picking her up. Field dress her hang her in the barn and finish the milking.

 

[MCgunner]

Waterproof boots are nice in wet environs. If it's dry and there's not a lot of hiking involved, heck, I've seen guys sit in stands wearing dockers and Doc Martins. . I have a pair of LaCross All Temps. I also often wear a pair of stocking foot hip waders. Where I hunt, it's sorta swampy. In fact, it hasn't dried out down here in over a year. I'm glad we didn't get the brunt of that little hurricane the other day. We don't need the rain.

 

[Art Eatman]

Any old dull-colored clothing will do, generally earth-toned. Ask your host about the sort of boots he wears.

Deer react to motion and scent far more than color; everything is a sort of shade of gray to their eyes.

Art

 

[308win]

Many states require blaze orange equivalent to so many sq inches. If you are stalking/still hunting or walking in a good distance you will need to layer. A fanny pack or small rucksack comes in handy. Make sure you have something water resistant with you; nothing is more miserable (or dangerous) than being wet through in cold/windy conditions. Deer see in shades of grey so just about any cammo whose pattern doesn't look out of place will work.

 

[CommanderPoopyduX]

I live in Missouri and hunt in the south west part of the state. One thing to remember is you will get hot/sweaty while walking to your hunting spot and then once you get there and sit down, you will get very cold very fast. So, layer, and then keep the layering on. In Missouri you must wear a "cap or hat and also a shirt, vest or coat of hunter orange so that the colour is plainly visible from all sides. Camouflage orange does not satisfy this requirement" <-- that is taken directly from the regulations book.

I normally wear a pair of jeans I don't mind getting dirty/bloody with warm long underwear, hiking boots, and a couple shirts that keep me warm but still allow me to move freely. I then wear an orange vest and orange stocking cap or ball cap depending on the temperature. You should also ask your friend what he wears.

 

[pete f]

if you have synthetic underwear, use it, keeps you dry, avoid cotton anything like the plague if it's forty or below. Keep wool milsurp pants from sportsmans, a fleece jacket. a wind stop layer, and then the orange, you may find that a big orange hoodie from Walmart will work. get one ball cap and one stocking cap in orange, so you have the option of one or the others, wool socks in decent boots, and good gloves that come off easy, and your set to go.

 

[Deanimator]

Thanks to everyone with clothing advice.

 

[Muzzy_B]

Good luck on your hunt and be safe.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A successful hunter is a comfortable hunter.

First of all, you want to be warm. You're going to be motionless on a stand for hours, waiting for a deer. That can be a miserable experience.

Much heat loss is through the head. I like a good insulated head-and-face mask, and a couple of pocket-size wool or poly masks, as well.

Cold feet are agony. I fit my boots wearing two pairs of thick socks and a liner sock (you'd be amazed at how big your boots will have to be.) I also buy Thinsulate <tm> booties which can be worn in lieu of socks and Goretex <tm> liner socks.

You can get cheap knit or waffle-weave underwear at Wal-Mart. I stuff a pair in my pocket or pack, strip down on my stand, and put them on. Often I will carry a spare shirt. If the shirt I wore out to the stand is sweaty, I change -- a damp shirt will make you miserably cold.

I carry an insulated foam square -- you can cut one from a backpacker's mattress or buy one. Sitting on bare ground will make you cold.

I carry a quart milk bottle -- after you've been on your stand for a couple of hours, you'll understand why.

Beyond that, dress for the weather in layers. A good shirt and trousers (wool if you can get them) are ideal. Throw in a down vest (I have one that stuffs into it's own pocket, weights virtually nothing and takes little space) and a good water- and wind-proof parka with hood. Put on and take off as needed.

Finally, gloves. I've never found anything better than the old Army trick of a leather shell with wool inserts. You can wear the inserts all by themselves, if you like.

 

[mustanger98]

In my part of the country, it's not typically as cold as it is in Missouri, but I've known it to get down to 10 degrees F in December-February.

Down vest... mine's reversible; hunter safety orange and Realtree Hardwoods.

Gloves... I like those brown cotton Jersey gloves. I also have a pair of Wells Lamont deerskin. A good many times I'll wear the cotton gloves inside the deerskin. I've tried some insulated camo gloves, but my hands like-to froze off [/exageration].

Sometimes, I'll just wear the cotton gloves and stick my hands in the pockets of that down vest... kept my hands nicely warm all of last fall.

I like to keep the wind out of my throat and the best thing I've found for that... and I use this anytime; not just hunting... is those 36"x36" silk "wild rag" type deals they sell in the western catalogs. My old 4X Resistol hat keeps my head warm pretty well and keeps the rain from running down the back of my neck.

 

[MeekandMild]

I got to thinking, Deanimator, about your statement you used to hunt North Koreans. My barber did that back in the early 1950's and he says the only thing which kept him going was wearing all the wool socks he could find, one pair on top of the other. He says his feet still get cold. He has his shop really warm all year around and if a guy doesn't like it, tough, go somewhere else!

With that in mind, I wonder about whether it might be wise to look at getting those boots two sizes too big and find some extra socks?

 

[MilsurpShooter]

I'll throw in a nomination for the Nike Under armour. I used to wear this for those cold football games when the coach has you sitting on the bench and also wear it out for my jogs in the morning. This stuff will definately keep you warm and doesn't displace much space. I only mention it just in case you find some clothing and won't be able to fit layers under it. Little pricey though but don't just have to use it for hunting