First Season hunting - need help with gear

I

IzzyTheGreat

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Location
SE Alberta
Hello everybody,

This is going to be my first season hunting. I've been getting together all the gear I may need but the plethora of selection out there can feel a little overwhelming at times and I'm not really sure what I need vs. what I think I need. I'm located in SE Alberta and will be hunting in WMU 148 and 732 if that provides any context. I've already gotten the obvious things like a licence, tags and rifle but am kind of stuck on what to do about clothing.

I've already bought boots (10" 800g thinsulate half a size up for thick socks) and a backpack (Cabela's Scout daybag). I already have warm wool socks and a few fleece tops for layering but there was a few things I wasn't sure about am I'm hoping I could get some insight on;

1. I'm considering buying some military surplus clothes as they are typically much more affordable compared to an equivalent consumer market product. Any advice for or against this? Is there any surplus items to avoid? I would probably buy some base layers, fleece (for mid-layer) and toques/hats. I've heard and can surmise from experience that some mil. surplus jackets/coats can be quite noisy and may not be well suited to hunting.

1a. For a decent outer layer coat does anybody have any recommendations. I wouldn't want to spend more than $250-300 and would like to get something with good wind/water resistance, warm and not too noisy. I'm considering Cabela's and a few other cheaper brands but I may spring for something nicer if there is a strong consensus.

2. How do you carry your gear such as binoculars? I have a pair of Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42's that I will be using, they came with a Glasspak which is quite nice for an included accessory. However I've seen some more upscale binocular harnesses from companies like Badlands that look more comfortable and user friendly. I've also considered the possibility of buying a minimalist MOLLE/PALS chestrig or vest and using that to carry my binoculars and any other gear I may need to access quickly. Is there any merit to this concept or does it just get in the way versus using a backpack and jacket pockets?

I may have more questions if the thread develops further but for now I'm at a bit of an impasse. I don't want to break the bank or go overboard for my first season but I don't want to be inadequately equipped either.

Please feel free to share your thoughts, I'm a total newbie at this and unfortunately don't have any family or friends that are hunters that would be able to take me under their wing.

P.S. Is it a cardinal sin to mix camo patterns? :d
 
my advice is more for the little things like make sure none of your gear has velcro..... seriously
For clothing , I'm a big advocate for fleece or fabrics that behave like fleece. If wools don't make you itchy there are some nice options. Merino wool is popular.
When you choose an outer layer it's nice if it is made of a very quiet material, is breathable and stops wind from getting in to your base layers. It should be "waterproof" enough that light showers or hiking in bush does not get you soaked. For actual wet weather hunting I have packable rain gear and I buy a size that will fit over my standard outer layer.

Camo is nice but not really necessary. If you do buy camo, think about the bush or areas you will be hunting. Try and buy camo that "fits" the colors of those areas.
fingerless fleece gloves are great , I wear Glacier Gloves and have for over 20 years.... probably going on 30.
a face covering is nice to protect the face from winds and also to break up the image of your face.
I learned a long time ago from one of the few mentors I have had and he said that hands and faces are natural flags and the movement will be the first thing an animal sees as it spots you.

25 years ago I was a total noob too, wandering the forests of bc with and SKS , an old .303 and cooey 64B alongside my only hunting friend who had only hunted with his dad back in manitoba. We had great fun camping and 4x4'ing but never shot much more than grouse. Got my first deer in year 5 while hunting with a much younger Ray Weins who went on to become a respected Taxidermist here in BC.
It will come together if you are keen, just keep things simple and most of all enjoy it!
 
There is gear difference for active and stationary hunting decide how your gonna hunt. Stationary hunting you want warm/wind/water proof if you active hunting in stationary gear you’ll run hot and sweat. Active wear is breathable to dump the sweat/moisture out and light less warm. People carry a puffy jacket while active hunting it’s super lightweight and warm
 
I still use some military surplus stuff when i am sitting in a stand. Their cold wet weather surplus stuff is great for the price starting out.

The big thing i always look for is:
1: warm, you won't stay out if you're too cold.
2: quiet, nothing nylon that makes a loud swishy sound when you move, and like 45ACP said, avoid velcro if you can
3: colour, camo isn't necessary, but avoid blue and grey, deer see them very well and can pick you up easier than greens or blacks.

Other than that a are things i always have with me are;
decent knife
you can get a binocular harness pretty easy to keep them at hand
Headlamp
Some rope or paracord
small folding camp saw
small first aid kit
I like to keep all of this in a small waist pack that i can just grab and go any time. Any extras i have a bigger pack that i leave in the truck to go back to if i need it, but i'm not generally hiking in anywhere too crazy.

if you're sitting in a stand and not moving around, go get a box of those hand warmers. I put one up each sleeve against my forearm to keep my hands warm, one in each boot (the sticky toe warmers work well for that) Sometimes even a couple in my pants pocket or down the front of my shirt on a REAL cold windy day. They can make the difference between shivering and miserable and nice and toasty. If you're walking they're not as useful
 
My advice is start with what you have or look second hand for items and change/ adapt as you find weakness in your set up.
Questions to ask are
Are you a move all the time run and gun hunter? Still hunting? Tracking? Or are you a half sitter half Walker? Spot and stock? Or just a sitter? Blind / stand ?
Different clothing/ gear are suited to different styles.
My advice is stay away from cotton as much as possible unless your not the type to stray too far from the truck. Once you have been on a few hunts evaluate your gear and look to make changes based on what your comfort/ style dictates. You don't need camo or even hunting branded clothing. There are lots of other options at lower price points but test everything in store before you buy it. Lots of jackets/ pants ( even hunting branded camo) sound like rubbing wax paper together when you move...not as big a deal for a sitting hunting but for a mover it makes a huge difference. Good luck and have fun
 
obsessed1b said:
My advice is start with what you have or look second hand for items and change/ adapt as you find weakness in your set up.
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Totally agreed. If you feel the need for warmer clothes than you already own, and it's not too hard on your pride, I'd find used wool and fleece clothing at VV, etc.

There are lots of options for bino carry. From light and simple, like the basic strap or the Rick Young Outdoors Ultralight Bino Harness. To quite elaborate and expensive brand name harnesses. I used the RYO for years, and really liked it. The fully enclosed harness I use now is nice also.

Good luck out there!
 
As was mentioned, decide on the style of hunting you will be doing. It means the difference between suffering (read miserable) and comfort (read enjoyable).

Don't overlook places like Peavey Mart. they usually have a good selection of outdoor clothing and prices cheaper than those big name camping/fishing stores. Their clothing may not be the highest tech stuff but is usually silent, warm, and relatively water resistant. And they come in earth colours so you don't have to worry about camo.
 
If it is your first time hunting, you should look for a hunting buddy. Safety is the prime concern but a buddy is always good for the companionship, suggestions, and ideas. Probably the most important item (I hate to use that term for a person) for you.
 
One thing I haven't seen mentioned and I neglected to mention in my earlier post is that if you plan to hunt solo or your only option is to hunt solo, get yourself a basic easy to use GPS , an actual old school compass and a Garmin Inreach device that links with your phone. That way you remain connected to emergency responders and loved ones at home.

As for clothes.... I remain mostly disappointed in what I find at Cabela's and local outdoors shops.
I am still mostly wearing stuff I aquired nearly 20 years ago.
Nearly everything came from Ebay , purchased in the months following new years.
The deals I got were incredible and the gear excellent seeing as most of it I still wear and use today.
My favorite hunting jacket for clear fall days when the cold stiffens most fabrics and makes them noisier is a camoflauge Columbia archery jacket that they sold years ago..... it must be pushing 20 years now and it is no longer waterproof but it is so silent in the bush while hiking or sitting it remains one of my go to deer hunting jackets.
The large pack I have is very similar to a modern day Kiui although it does not have a manufacturer tag. It was a branded and made for item for Mossy Oak Apparel and I got it for 50 bucks on ebay. It was advertised as a 550 dollar pack with a starting 50.00 usd bid. I was the only bidder and when I won it they didn't want to ship it so I filed a complaint and a few weeks later it arrived. Steal of a deal and that pack has been incredible over the years and still 100% of it's original condition.

anyhow, don't get sucked in to buying a pile of expensive gear. Spend good money on the important things..... your feet, your base layers and your safety items. Then go from there.
 
I can only repeat what 45ACPKING said. "Get a compass." I always have two with me, just in case I lose the one in my jacket pocket there is a spare in my daypack.

I finally got a Garmin Inreach last year because at 68 after 52 years since I got my first hunting licence, my wife was sick and tired of me going off into the bush alone sometimes for a week at a time with her not knowing if I was alive, injured or dead. It has a basic GPS in it, which I don't really use much (see compass remark above) but I can send a message home twice a day if I like and not only does she get the message that I'm okay, she also gets my exact long/lat position too.

I don't do anything sophisticated to carry my binoculars, I hang them around my neck inside my jacket. Some with sensitive adjustments get knocked out of focus, but I use a pair of vintage 1970s 7x35 Bushnells that don't. A couple sharp knives are good to have, again nothing elaborate, I have a Buck Lite and a Morakniv.

You know what else? Plastic bags. Stout plastic bags. I used to be involved in the commercial fishing industry and attended a marine trade show in Seattle nearly every year from 1997 to 2017. Every year I collected vendors' free bumpf and you know what I ended up using the most? The plastic bags. Large stout bags from Caterpillar, Cummins or Furuno, Twin Disc and others.. I have a collection and always have two in the bottom of my day pack. They are perfect for heart, lungs and liver. You can use them for a dry seat if you want too, but I have a rectangle of blue insulate sleeping pad for that.

100 %Merino wool long sleeved sweaters. I get them for $7.00 to $10.00 at the Sally Anne or VV. Sure beats $70 to $100 at retail stores.
 
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I think layers, and in particular the base layer, are more important than any specific/matching camo outer layer. A merino base layer is a good investment....it’s not ###y like the latest and greatest fancy camo pattern but it will keep you comfortable longer which translates into more time in the field which translates into more opportunity. Costco had/has some really inexpensive Canadian made 100% merino tops, merino blend bottoms, and merino blend socks that are hard to beat for value and performance. As far as an outer layer that is relatively inexpensive, water and wind resistant, and quiet, well that is the holy trinity of hunting clothes - please let us know when you find it ;)

I would not worry about a bino harness just yet. Work with what you have and see what your needs are for next season. In my opinion you will learn a lot about your gear before you get to the point where investing in a specific binocular solution will be necessary.
 
Speaking of Canadian Made and base layers..... I have been wearing BARE fleece base layers for years as well. BARE is a long time lowermainland BC business and specializes in Scuba apparel and other watersports apparel. They are highly respected in the scuba industry. Their base layers are really worth a look and perform as advertised.
 
Runningfool said:
Costco had/has some really inexpensive Canadian made 100% merino tops, merino blend bottoms, and merino blend socks that are hard to beat for value and performance.
Click to expand...

We have been using the Canadian 100% Merino tops for years. Fantastic value! Unfortunately, at least at our local Costco's, they are no longer 100% for 2021. Something like 18% nylon. :(
 
Get an inreach if you’ll be out of cell service, a rifle that you can shoot accurately and do a lot of scouting for the animals you’re after.

Don’t put too much emphasis on gear as you're starting out. The best gear available won’t help you if you can’t access remote areas safely, shoot accurately or know where to find the animals.
 
148 pretty much has cell coverage everywhere. Land owners maps are more important than a compass/gps around here. Don’t ask land owners to hunt the same day, give them some notice and expect to be turned away. As far as gear, wear whatever you already use for fall/winter clothing and layer up as needed. Hard to know exactly what to recommend without knowing what kind of hunting you want to do but find a high spot and let your glass do the walking.
 
Just came back from a moose hunt north of longlac. The guys who spent the most time in camp also happened to be the same guys with the ####tiest rain gear or boots. It rained every day but one. All of a sudden the goretex rain suit and lowa boots didn’t seem so outrageously expensive. Spend thousands and travel 10+ hours to hunt to sit in camp? No thanks.
 
Thank you to everybody who has taken the time to reply to the thread it's been really helpful.

In terms of clothing I think I have acquired nearly everything I will need, less a blaze orange toque and baselayers, I'm stopping at Peavey Mart this week to look at some stuff they have on sale and will see if they have anything else. I couldn't find any merino tights/shirts at Costco so I may order some surplus PolyPro underwear from Army Issue Surplus (I'll be picking up a balaclava/neck gaiter as well). I'm definitely a fan of wool/wool blends (it's all I wear for socks nowadays) but have had luck with poly as well. I received the boots I ordered and they fit well with my wool socks on with room still there for a second pair of socks if necessary, I wasn't expecting much from them but my first impression is quite good. They are made by the Muck Boot Company and while I can't speak for their longevity or weather resistance yet I feel that they will serve me well. I will be sure to test them out when we get our first snowfall. I will also try to check out my local goodwill and VV as @MD suggested.

I wasn't really planning on buying much camo clothing but my local Canadian Tire had a sale that I took advantage of. I got a reversible RealTree/Blaze Orange jacket and a pair of pants as well, they are made by Yukon Gear. They seem warm and relatively quiet compared to my other jackets (no velcro). They should keep me comfortable with proper layering depending on conditions. Even if I upgrade to something fancier down the road these still seem like they would be great for cold days at the range, snowmobiling and such. I also got a warm pair of gloves as a gift and purchased some thin gloves to work as a liner. I also picked up or scrounged up a lot of smaller objects that would take too long to list, but I have a rudimentary survival and game processing kit together now as well, including a headlamp and more as suggested by @Dand883.

@TrollGRG asked if I have a hunting buddy. I'll actually be hunting with my Dad and possibly my younger brother, but they are just as new as I am. I'm not sure how serious they are about the whole affair though, so it's possible I may be solo some days if they don't want to go out. To be fair to them I tend to take any new interest/hobby quite seriously and dive in right away. I might try to network a little at work and through some friends to see if anybody more experienced would be willing to mentor or take me under their wing. For any solo hunting I do plan to let somebody know where I am going and how long I expect to be gone, etc but I will definitely consider an InReach device if I am going anywhere without reliable service. A compass is definitely on my list of must haves as phone batteries are fickle and cannot be relied upon as a sole source of navigation.

Regarding a bino harness I have actually setup my Vortex Glasspack and it works excellently for being free (it was included with my Diamondback HD's). I've tested it on with my backpack and I'm able to retrieve and return them from/to the harness with little difficulty and noise so I'll be sticking with that for the time being. When it comes to the style of hunting I'll be doing it's hard to know for sure (it likely depends on where I can get access), I have talked to an acquaintance who said most of the access he can get is walk-in only so I could be some distance from the truck for extended periods of time.

My next objective is to start looking for land to hunt, I bought the AB WMU maps on the iHunter App, they also offer a landowner map for around $30. Should I purchase that or is there a better method to acquiring one?

Also any advice on what to look for when scouting would be greatly appreciated, my Dad and I went out this weekend but we didn't really know what we were doing :d, my intuition would be to look in places where water, shelter and food would be within reasonable distances of one another but that leaves quite a lot of ground to cover. I've only seen antelope so far but I think we need to be getting out earlier in the morning (before dawn) to look.

Thanks again,

Izzy
 
IzzyTheGreat said:
Thank you to everybody who has taken the time to reply to the thread it's been really helpful.

In terms of clothing I think I have acquired nearly everything I will need, less a blaze orange toque and baselayers, I'm stopping at Peavey Mart this week to look at some stuff they have on sale and will see if they have anything else. I couldn't find any merino tights/shirts at Costco so I may order some surplus PolyPro underwear from Army Issue Surplus (I'll be picking up a balaclava/neck gaiter as well). I'm definitely a fan of wool/wool blends (it's all I wear for socks nowadays) but have had luck with poly as well. I received the boots I ordered and they fit well with my wool socks on with room still there for a second pair of socks if necessary, I wasn't expecting much from them but my first impression is quite good. They are made by the Muck Boot Company and while I can't speak for their longevity or weather resistance yet I feel that they will serve me well. I will be sure to test them out when we get our first snowfall. I will also try to check out my local goodwill and VV as @MD suggested.

I wasn't really planning on buying much camo clothing but my local Canadian Tire had a sale that I took advantage of. I got a reversible RealTree/Blaze Orange jacket and a pair of pants as well, they are made by Yukon Gear. They seem warm and relatively quiet compared to my other jackets (no velcro). They should keep me comfortable with proper layering depending on conditions. Even if I upgrade to something fancier down the road these still seem like they would be great for cold days at the range, snowmobiling and such. I also got a warm pair of gloves as a gift and purchased some thin gloves to work as a liner. I also picked up or scrounged up a lot of smaller objects that would take too long to list, but I have a rudimentary survival and game processing kit together now as well, including a headlamp and more as suggested by @Dand883.

@TrollGRG asked if I have a hunting buddy. I'll actually be hunting with my Dad and possibly my younger brother, but they are just as new as I am. I'm not sure how serious they are about the whole affair though, so it's possible I may be solo some days if they don't want to go out. To be fair to them I tend to take any new interest/hobby quite seriously and dive in right away. I might try to network a little at work and through some friends to see if anybody more experienced would be willing to mentor or take me under their wing. For any solo hunting I do plan to let somebody know where I am going and how long I expect to be gone, etc but I will definitely consider an InReach device if I am going anywhere without reliable service. A compass is definitely on my list of must haves as phone batteries are fickle and cannot be relied upon as a sole source of navigation.

Regarding a bino harness I have actually setup my Vortex Glasspack and it works excellently for being free (it was included with my Diamondback HD's). I've tested it on with my backpack and I'm able to retrieve and return them from/to the harness with little difficulty and noise so I'll be sticking with that for the time being. When it comes to the style of hunting I'll be doing it's hard to know for sure (it likely depends on where I can get access), I have talked to an acquaintance who said most of the access he can get is walk-in only so I could be some distance from the truck for extended periods of time.

My next objective is to start looking for land to hunt, I bought the AB WMU maps on the iHunter App, they also offer a landowner map for around $30. Should I purchase that or is there a better method to acquiring one?

Also any advice on what to look for when scouting would be greatly appreciated, my Dad and I went out this weekend but we didn't really know what we were doing :d, my intuition would be to look in places where water, shelter and food would be within reasonable distances of one another but that leaves quite a lot of ground to cover. I've only seen antelope so far but I think we need to be getting out earlier in the morning (before dawn) to look.

Thanks again,

Izzy
Click to expand...

If you don't find much for base layers i've found some decent ducks unlimited stuff at giant tiger, but it's hit and miss if they have it or not. Costco sometimes has some decent poly stuff if they don't have the merino, but hit and miss again what they have at any given time.

If notthing else the blue helly hanson stuff at marks work wearhouse is really warm, it's my "it's REAL cold out today" base layers. Better for cold day sitting in a stand, a little warm for walking around with.
 
I'm glade you started this thread, I just got my hunting license last week and a small game license so this info helps. Planning on dripping my toe in the water with grouse to start and mb try turkey next spring with friends.
 
All animals have the same thing in common. They are slaves to thier bellies. If your hunting bucks the rut is really the only time they have something on thier minds other than eating and staying alive. Does will be completely enslaved to thier stomachs in order to bring up the next years fawn crop. They will be on the highest grade feed that gives them the highest amount of protection they can bucks tend to be on higher alert and will rarely put thier stomachs above thier safety, but will still need adequate feed to get them through winter...find the food sources if your finding does look for the more hidden locations around the does that still have reasonable food. Bucks are vary wary and will generally put thier safety ahead of everything else...except breeding during the rut even the oldest buck will kinda turn off the impulse to security in an attempt to pass on thier genetics.
If Feild hunting is what your attempting use your glass far more than your legs. Early mornings and last light are great times to locate. Even on relatively flat ground there are natural creases that can hide a full deer from view and the deer know it. Deer love corners where timber meets farm, great spots to sit are pinch points where two sections of bush come together in natural points with short distances of open ground between... research as much info as you possibly can about the species your targeting, learn thier habits, needs, preferences, ect...learn to read sign...tracks, scat ect...enjoy the process...Hunting does not only start and stop with time spent walking with a rifle on your shoulder...your level of enjoyment will matched by your time involved. Have fun and make memories.

Glad you have a great start on gear. Use what you got and assess changes needed by your experience. Things that need changing (don't work) will be very apparent and things that do work will be as well.
 
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