Decent budget hunting clothes

Wear what works! In the 90s on the Prairies I wore two pairs of socks, long johns, wool pants, USGI M65 rain suit liner pants, and orange colours. On top was, t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirt, whatever shirt that had two front pockets, fleece or hoodie, several choices of 3-season jacket, the other M65 liner as an insulated layer, maybe a parka, and the top layer of colours. I did find I had two choices of hand wear depending on task, with Canadian surplus pilot's gloves and liners or ski gloves. Some times I'd wear two tuques. Sometimes I wore combat boots, other times heavy ski-doo boots. It all depended.
 
No need for any of that stuff unless you really want it! I’ve been out hunting for 27 years never wore camo and even sheep hunting sitting at less than 100m of a few rams for over 3 hrs!!
Bit that is just me!
 
Safe to say more animals have been shot by people wearing jeans or wool pants, a Stanfield or an old plaid wool Mackinaw than any fancy hunter specific camo.

I’d be more concerned my clothing is warm, dry and quiet than anything, I’m a fan of German camo patterns. I have some surplus German jacket's and rain gear that fit the above criteria, the fact that they are flecktarn is just a bonus lol.
 
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Aabradsh said:
Hey guys.

I have a buddy just getting into hunting. He’ll likely do some waterfowl hunting, rifle week for deer, and a little grouse hunting here and there.

most of my buddies and I have run Firstlite, Sitka, etc. for years. Cabela’s seems to only carry stuff on the $300+ range these days. Looking for recommendations on some half decent budget hunting clothing. Jacket/bibs kind of thing.

Thank you
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Work cothes are much cheaper and every bit as good. Throw on an orange vest and hat and you're all set to go.
 
A lot of stuff is just a fashion statement, I see guys all the time wearing Kuiu gear out and about. Stuff from the Red, Orange, Yellow, Green end of the spectrum, there's a reason Red Plaid was/is so popular. I've got plenty of photos of Old Timers with Sheep, Goats, Bears, Deer, and Elk wearing stuff that would get you laughed off the Internet if you said those were your hunting cloths.

I'd spend your money on binoculars and wear work cloths or thrift store stuff as others have said.
 
All starts with great boots and base layers then build on that.

After the holidays will be a good time to check marketplace and Kijiji. The big box stores will have clearances soon, and the big name brands will have good sales in the off season.

Surplus stores for wool sweaters. I’ve found big bill pants on marketplace.
 
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Believe it or not a wore the cheap giant tiger camo hunting suit on a few hunts this year. Bought for the warmer days but you could size up to wear a heavy base layer if he’s hunting in the cold. Got the jacket for $26 and 2 pairs of pants for 17$ each of sales rack. I believe full price for the jacket and pants is $70 if not on sale. (Jacket is 40 pants are 30). It held up well. My only complaint would be noisy velcro pockets on the jacket. And after heavy rain the jacket will start to take on water.
 
Basically all my hunting clothes came from a combo of Walmart, Canadian Tire, and Cabelas. Almost all of it bought on steep discounts, often 50% or better. As just one example, I bought RealTree camo rain pants from Walmart 10 years ago, have worn them 20-30 days a year every year, and they're still going. They cost me like $32.

After Christmas Walmart usually puts their camo section on clearance. Cabelas and Canadian Tire have stuff on sale 50%+ all the time, so watch the fliers and buy what you need when its on sale.
 
Aabradsh said:
Hey guys.

I have a buddy just getting into hunting. He’ll likely do some waterfowl hunting, rifle week for deer, and a little grouse hunting here and there.

most of my buddies and I have run Firstlite, Sitka, etc. for years. Cabela’s seems to only carry stuff on the $300+ range these days. Looking for recommendations on some half decent budget hunting clothing. Jacket/bibs kind of thing.

Thank you
Click to expand...
Put his money to use. Buy ammo and practice
If he insists on camo, check out Winners
I got Under Armor Gortex coat and pants.
Reg$750. I payed $250
Put the money to good use.
Ammo more ammo to practice and good footwear.
 
Well as others have mentioned, cabelas and Canadian tire are often on sale and definitely work well for that I do. I bought my wife a set from Walmart and it’s pretty good and hard to beat for the price especially if you only hunt a few times a year. Layering is key and good boots are where I’d spend my money. As far as waders I have a 3 year old set of tide we waders that have been good to me. You have to be realistic with how much you’ll actually use it and how much you want to spend if your in the swamp 30+ days a year maybe nicer waders are well worth the money.
 
I like my camo coveralls. Can put whatever I need on under them. Use them for waterfowl all the time. Good boots are a must for me. If you get some with liners, get a second pair of liners and change them every day. Let you boots dry out then the dry set before you go out.
 
I wear camo for hunting waterfowl (which I don't do much anymore) and turkey (which I really don't do at all anymore). For any serious hunting, I won't wear it unless I happen to already have a camo item which is absolutely perfect for the conditions. I'm thinking specifically of some woolen camo I own that's years old...and I wear it because I like the wool, not the camo.

Otherwise, camo just looks a little silly, IMHO. If I actually knew the name of a camo pattern that I happened to be wearing...I'd probably be embarrassed to admit it. :)
 
Buy on sale tech gear from thelasthunt

Varastuleka makes great stuff inspired by milsurp but in wool and technical fabric, made in Europe and reasonably priced for the quality

Most hunting brands make clothes that wouldn't sell at all if they were colorful and marketed to the expedition, rock climbing, ski touring or through hiking crowd

If you live in an "outdoorsy" area thrift stores often have great bargains on barely used gear.

Work wear is fine, but it's heavy and often made from cotton and by the lowest bidder.

In a decade working in the bush I transitioned from cheap work wear to wool and technical gear. Huge difference in weight, comfort and quality.

Buy once cry once applies. I've had the same arcteryx jacket for like 6 years. From the appalachian trail to the beaufort sea, it holds up.
 
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