for occasional hunter,r u just wearing whatever you want when hunting?

[loonie]

I just wonder if it is worth investing in specail hunting clothing(that's a big burden for me right now,since I bought lots of things and spent lots of money on those:banghead you know,for recreational hunter,they always avoid bad weather condition,so I guess I don't need so serious clothing?

 

[nico]

I wear clothes that are warm enough for the weather; generally dark colors/earth tones and a blaze orange hat/hood or vest. If they happen to be camoflage, that's OK too. If you really want camo and don't want to spend a lot of money, you can get military type BDUs at any military surplus store or online from a number of places for around $50 for the jacket and pants. They're durable and will do a good job of keeping out the wind.

 

[pete f]

All depends on the hunting.

Deer where I am going to sit all day in a tree stand, Yah i bought the bullet to stay warm. but My son just sits in a sleeping bag in the tree stand with a bunch of orange camo tied to the tree stand, and then wears a orange pull over on his body.

pheasant and grouse, sometimes, but not always. I have the fancy vest stuff, but somedays just an jacket with a orange hat is all i wear.

duck hunting, nope, just a big piece of camo canvas and mesh that sits over me, works just fine.

 

[jeepmor]

I'm new to outfitting for hunting also

I went coyote hunting in Eastern Oregon's sage brush and the olive drab green BDU's dad was wearing was the best camo between three styles. The green was perfect, even better than my sage camo shirt which was pretty good. The other was woods color, good in the conifer trees.

I have plenty of warm gear. I'll be getting something quieter than my nylon snowboarding shells, and something blaze orange for this season. But all my soft fleece winter gear will exceed the warmth need. And my hiking boots havn't given me blister yet.

For cheap camo, Sportsman's warehouse had a $50 camo mesh like suit you wear over your clothes. I wish I'd bought that, can't find it now. It had gloves, hat w/ face cover, jacket and pants, everything you need. That and a blaze orange accessory of some sort and your set. If you have some warm outfits already for outdoors. If not, fleece is cheap and works the best. Old Navy fleece is just as warm as any other. Columbia is tough and exceptionally warm.

As a kid, we never wore anything special, just warm and dry. Usually raingear in PNW coast range. Walking through small conifers full of dew at o'dark thirty can make a warm cotton jacket miserable in a few feet of brush beating.

 

[redneck2]

One of the most successful bowhunter of all times (Chuck Adams) used to be proud of the fact that he always wore a large check blue/black coat while hunting.

If you're out when it's cold/rainy you can wear a white tyvek chemical suit under your outside layer of clothes. Sounds goofy, but it's warm and totally waterproof. Won't make noise because it's covered up. Make sure the legs are outside your boots if it's raining or you'll have wet feet.

Milsurp can be your friend.

 

[JohnBT]

I still have the used M-65 green field jacket and pants I started with. No, I take that back, I have the 2nd jacket - I wore the first one out.

I sprayed them with silicone or Scotchguard one year to improve the rain resistance and it worked pretty well.

John

 

['Card]

Rifle season for deer in the area where I hunt is only two weeks long, and I'm usually only in state for the first week of it, so I know I'm going to hunt no matter what the weather conditions are like. This is also the mountains of West Virginia in the last week of November, so the weather can get pretty odd. I've seen daytime highs in the 70's, and daytime highs that never got above 8 degrees. Sunshine, driving rain, a foot of snow... doesn't matter. I'll be out there in it.

I used to scorn a lot of the new high-tech fabrics on the market as being just high-dollar gimmicks that didn't work all that well, but a couple of years ago I broke down and bought a waterproof/breathable outfit (after one particularly miserable season when I was out in freezing rain all day, every day) and now I'm completely sold on the stuff.

So here's what I wear now when I deer hunt:
- Rocky waterproof/breathable boots.
- Columbia waterproof/breathable gloves.
- Silk long underwear, a silk turtleneck, silk socks, and silk glove liners.
- Thin polypropylene long underwear over the silk - top and bottom.
- A wool commando sweater and synthetic fleece pants.
- A non-insulated waterproof/breathable shell jacket and pants. (Mossy Oak Apparel's APX Instinct line is what I use)
- An orange-camo fleece vest.

The idea behind the system is that I can add or remove layers as the temperature goes up and down. I've been really happy with it the last couple of years. It keeps me a lot more comfortable in the woods than I used to be, and that means I end up hunting harder, hunting longer and (in my opinion) hunting more effectively.

 

[nico]

'card reminded me of something. If it's going to be cold (deer season always is here), I always wear thermal underwear, but now long johns. Just about any other fabric (smartwool is supposed to be really good, but is expensive) will keep you warmer and will keep you more comfortable if you happen to sweat.

 

[BIGJACK]

Loonie, the camo stuff is a "business" and thats all, a business.

Sure, you need to be able to stay warm but you would need that outside anyhow. It is a scientific fact that deer are color blind and many test have shown that the camo hardest to see for a deer when the camo is laid accross some sort of shurbery is the blaze orange camo. However, it is equally as true that deer see very well in the ultra violet band. That means that clothing with UV brighteners (an ingredient in most detergents to brighten the wash) in them causes things washed with them to look like a florescent light in the woods, to deer.
My suggestion to you is wear what ever you know you will be warm in (long as it is washed in some sort of UV brighter remover) and feel comfortable in, and as long as you abide by your hunting areas blaze orange requirement.
I wear the dam camo, but killed more deer and turkeys back in the days when I wore Levi's and an old brown canvas (home made) shirt.

 

[1911ShooterTJ]

True for deer yes. But I wouldn't try the same for turkey, they have very good eyesight. And they see in color!

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I'd find some hunter who was around during the Depression and ask him what he wore then, when maybe failing to bag a deer meant a very lean winter.

To read the hunting magazines, you'd think you need about $5,000 worth of scent-blocking, photo-etched, windproof, waterproof, custom-fitted, bugproof, blessed-by-the-Pope camouflage. So what did they wear before all that stuff was invented?

 

['Card]

I watched my grandpa kill deer every year wearing cotton long johns, dungarees, and a plaid wool coat.

Of course, I also watched my grandpa pull one of his own teeth with a bottle of whiskey and a pair of pliers.

While I had a ton of respect for my grandfather, you won't see me doing either of the above.

The bottom line is that while camo certainly can be over-rated, comfort is still a pretty big deal for most of us. Avoiding cotton as much as possible, and sticking with wool and synthetics can make a huge difference in your comfort level. And don't even get me started on waterproof/breathable (Gore-Tex, and such) boots. Used to be that slipping while crossing a small stream could completely ruin my day. Now I don't even notice.

 

[swampdog]

Around here it usually stays pretty warm for the first month of deer season. Having clothing that bugs can't bite through is important. Surplus BDU pants have double knees and a doubled crotch. These areas stretch tight when your sitting and bugs can bite through even heavy denim unless it's doubled. I have a couple of pairs in woodland and a couple of pairs in OD. I buy long sleeved shirts with doubled shoulders for the same reason. Some are camo and some are earth toned.
I not sold on the whole camo thing. I shot plenty of deer when I was younger wearing bluejeans and whatever. I do think it helps to cover your face and hands, though.

When it gets colder I wear duofold thermax and fleece underneath. The synthetics really help if you end up sweating.

I'm sold on waterproof, breathable suits and boots. It's important to shop around and get a set that is quite. Those gore-tex suits are very warm for their weight and block the wind well. I usually silicone the boots when it gets cold to keep the exterior dry. It's worn off by the next year and when it's hot the wet exterior helps to keep your feet cool.

I wash everything I wear hunting in Sno-Seal "SportWash". It's oderless and has a UV killer.

IMHO, the most important piece of gear for a comfortable hunt is a good pair of socks in the appropriate weight. Nothing can make you more miserable than cold, wet feet. My girl thinks I'm crazy for spending 7 or 8 bucks on a pair of socks but I think it's well worth it. A pair that is too heavy is just as bad as a pair that is too light. Don't try to save money on socks or boots or you will be sorry.

 

[Abby]

And once you've got the main gear together for where/whatever you're hunting, don't let the "industry" sucker you in with some absurdly expensive blaze-orange outergarment just to meet the requirement. Your Wally World type places in big hunting areas will VERY OFTEN have cheap, blaze orange vests you can just throw on over everything else.

My husband and I bought several years ago. Although when we're on deer stands up north we wear the trusty "pumpkin suits," the el-cheapo vest goes on for everything else where there's a blaze orange requirement.

A lot of the guys had it right - according to the magazines, you should probably stay out of the woods until you've dropped several thousand on the "right" gear.

I think it's more important to get out there. A safe working weapon, warm clothes and good boots, and enough orange to obey the law. That'll do.

 

[Roadkill]

Can't go wrong with military surplus.

rk

 

[nico]

I just wanted to add: If anybody's really interrested Sniper's Hide has a lot of usefull and interresting info on concealment of you and your gun. It seems like a lot of those guys like the digital camo patterns.

 

[Mannlicher]

While lower 20s sounds cold to us Florida guys, its not really that bad. I don't really have special clothes for hunting season. I layer some sweaters, a sweatshirt or wool shirt, and maybe a cap or hat.
I am not an occasional hunter though, just one that never felt the need for a lot of special clothes for hunting.

 

[pete f]

Cold is when you take a leak from the tree stand and the pee bounces like marbles on the ground.....true story, about 1994 or so. Near Emily, Mn.

 

[killzone]

Can't go wrong with military surplus.

-by Roadkill
That is super true!

Also True
1-Good/High Quality Boots.
2-Only Whole
3-Flexable
4-Always have spare socks.

 

[nico]

What boots would you folks recommend?
I've been wearing a $40 pair of boots from Sunny's. They have thinsulate liners (weight isn't specified), but they're not the most comfortable thing in the world and are kinda clunky. I've looked around a little and it seems like a significant number of boots at places like Cabelas and Outdoorworld are >$100. Are there decent <$100 boots out there?

 

[killzone]

I like the Rocky. 400gr line.. But I will get a Browning this winter.

 

[clone]

meh, iv snuck up on several deer (within 20yds at times) with plain leather shoe's, khaki pants, and a tropical shirt. i think its all in the skill's u have, to remain quite.

 

[Rock_Steady]

one guy for the "new" stuff......

I'll tell ya, I don't believe in the new camos, the newest patterns, and all that. What I DO believe in, and I don't make any money by saying this, is Under-Armour. I bought some of that last year after sweating my butt off a few days and then getting chilled. Get the whole long-sleeve "cold gear" stuff, put it right next to your skin (no undies in there, they will get wet and hold water" and layer whatever is appropriate over top. After buying that stuff, I stayed dry and didn't get cold at all. I couldn't speak more highly of that stuff. I used it in different circumstances, from still hunting to walking up steep draws on my place, and never got cold or overheated.

 

[redneck2]

I guess a lot of it comes down to "getting by" at whatever your comfort level is. For hundreds of years hunters used pure wool clothes, black powder, and iron sights. Obviously it's adequate.

I can tell you that I have scent eliminator Gore Tex bibs and coat. I can hunt in rain all day and never get wet. I've had deer go straight downwind and not spook. I've had deer at 30 feet look straight at me and never see me. After spooking dozens of deer over the years, I'll consider anything that stacks the odds in my favor. Do you have to get them?? No, but it helps.

Haven't tried the Under-Armor thing yet, but it sounds like the program.

As for boots, I tried the Rocky's etc. Got rid of mine and went back to insulated rubber knee highs. The lugs on Rocky's get filled with mud and they end up weighing 20 # apiece (OK, maybe not, but it feels like it). With the rubber boots I can go thru creeks that would be over the top of the Rocky's. Also, the Rocky's are leather and carry human scent. Rubber boots can be scrubbed. I have a pair that I save just for hunting. You can wear different combinations of silk/cotton/wool socks depending on the weather. If it's real cold and you're on stand, get some of the disposable single use toe warmers. They're great.

 

['Card]

What boots would you folks recommend?

Check out the Bass Pro Shops website for good, reasonably-priced boots. Bass Pro's 'house brand' is called Redhead, and they're usually decent quality stuff for a fairly low price. Just took a look and they have their Redhead Bone-Dry Whitetail boots for $69.

There are basically two things to look for when it comes to boots. Number one is to look for the words waterproof and breathable. The meaning of waterproof is obvious. Breathable means that when your feet sweat, the boots will allow that moisture to escape, which is a big deal at low temperatures - especially if you're going to be walking a lot.

The second thing to look for is the term 'waterproof and breathable construction'. See, some bootmakers will make a normal boot, then stuff a Gore-tex bootie in it and call that 'waterproof and breathable'. Technically it is, because it keeps moisture away from your skin, but it still allows moisture to collect in the bed of the boot, and that's bad. When it says 'waterproof and breathable construction', that means the boundary layer is built into the fabric of the boot itself, and that's MUCH more effective than just a bootie.


Keep in mind though, that a lot of this depends on how you hunt. If you're going to be sitting in a tree stand a lot, then having breathable boots (or clothing) isn't that big of a deal, because you're not going to sweat that much just sitting there. Good, heavy insulation is a lot more important when you can't keep yourself warm by moving around. When I hunt, I don't sit still very much, and I'm constantly climbing up and down hills, so sweat (and getting rid of it) is a much bigger deal for me. I can get warm by moving, and then I benefit from boots and clothing that will dissipate the sweat I produce as a result.