I'm up in the interio of BC where it can go from sunny and warm to blowing rain or snow during hunting season.
I currently have two outfits I wear hunting, one I like much better than the other.
-US Military Goretex camo jacket and pant. These are great if its really crapy out as they are great to layer with and breath. BUT, as they are Goretex you have to keep them somewhat clean AND when its gets cool out they make LOTS of noise. Not the best while hunting.
-Rivers West H2P water and wind proof fleace jacket and pants. These were not cheap but they are 100% wind and water proof, make no noise, and are very comfortable to wear. The down side is they don't breath like Goretex so if it get warmer out you have to be carefull about leaving the armpit zippers open and taking off a layer or two as you tend to sweat easier. These are my fav.
As most have said, clothing is very important, keeps you warm, dry, and safe. If you get lost or hurt you need to be able to keep this way until help arrives or you help yourself. (This goes along with the extra food, 1st aid stuff etc).
Can't say enoug about BOOTS!!! Find good one that fit and are comfortable, don't worry about price. Get them early and break them in well wearing what you plan to wear for socks on the hunt. If you break them in on the hunt they will likely break you!
Knives and dressing tools are important. As CAT mentioned, carry something on your belt you can use while hunting, not to cut up your kill. I carry 2 custom made knives (one large, one small) in my pack that are only for dressing work and as CAT mentioned, this way they are sharp as a razor and not contaminated with the other things one my cut during a course of a hunting trip.
Can't preach enough about going with someone who has good local knowledge and experience hunting and dressing "Swamp Donkey". This is one HUGE animal are requires HUGE amount of work to dress properly. As you mentioned above, "we all start somewhere", it just sucks to start by ruining a portion or all of your kill learning a big rather expensive lesson. For example, I am an experience outdoors person, with a range of hunting experience, (no expert believe me but I've been doing it since I was a little whipper sanaper). This spring I decided to undertake my first ever Bear hunt. I was lucky enough to have my brother on law, (a very very experience hunter), come along and show me the ropes. I'm glad I did as this was a whole new ball game for me. I ended up lucking onto a rather large black bear (way bigger than I though I would have ever seen). If he had not been there to show me the way,,, I would have certainly not dressed the animal appropriately for the taxidermist. It pays to recruit good help! I learned more having him there than one could ever read about Bear hunting.
Anyways, we could all go on for ever.
Have fun, be safe, and if this is your first time, please,,,, make good use of our natural resources (ie: animals) by recruiting some experience persons to show you the ropes. YOU will learn a ton and have way more fun out there!
GOOD LUCK!!
