What do you wear for your deer hunts?

For archery deer, I use a Sitka Stratus jacket/pants with merino base layers and extra fleece underneath if its cold enough. For gun hunting, I like softshell pants for early morning dampness with a merino base layer and vest if I am moving a lot. I also wear a First Lite merino hat and some leather palmed gloves for moving through the thick stuff. If I'm down in the swamp or its snowy I like rubber boots but if its dry and I am trying to move stealthily, I wear Gore-Tex leather boots like my Meindls. I prefer merino next to my skin as it keeps scent down significantly and I usually have a compressable fleece jacket or vest in my pack. I have rain pants/jacket with me usually but don't like wearing them unless its really raining. If you haven't looked into softshell jacket/pants, check them out. They are very breathable, extremely water resistant and very light/tough, much nicer option than full Gore-Tex.

Patrick
 
shoota said:
Don't shave any body parts.

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Lord have mercy..... this guy blends.
 
I've started out with some footwear. Just picked up so Cabela Meindl Perfekt Hunters. Heard good things about them so decided to give them a try. There was an ultralight Meindl boot but after walking around the store for about 15minutes, I didnt want to take the Perfekt leather boots off. Paired them with a liner sock and thick darn tough calf sock. I'm going to pick up a pair of Mucks when they are on sale.

For me, cold feet, neck, and hands are my kryptonite. I picked up some merino liner gloves on sale and was looking at the Sitka Incinerator flip mits. WAYYYYY more than I would ever spend on a glove (I think I'd have to sell a kidney) but if they really work I may consider it. Couple these gloves with either a zippo hand warmer or so chem warmers and I should be golden.

Any one have feedback on the zippo warmers? Worth it or just stick to the disposable ones?
 
I have never seen the numbers, but I also suspect that wearing orange made little or no difference safety wise over the old red plaid we used to wear. Yes, orange is clearly more visible, but did it really make a difference? We are told deer are colour blind to certain colours and they don't see it as orange. I think they see it as very bright, regardless of the colour they see.
 
I wear a blaze “cowboy” hat. Water proof. Keeps the rain and snow from running down your neck. I don’t like toques or hats that cover my ears. I need to be able to hear at 100%.
 
John Y Cannuck said:
I have never seen the numbers, but I also suspect that wearing orange made little or no difference safety wise over the old red plaid we used to wear. Yes, orange is clearly more visible, but did it really make a difference? We are told deer are colour blind to certain colours and they don't see it as orange. I think they see it as very bright, regardless of the colour they see.
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In my experience of hunting big game, it really does not matter what clothing a hunter wears. Deer will not detect a hunter, for the most part, "not unless there is movement."
 
track said:
In my experience of hunting big game, it really does not matter what clothing a hunter wears. Deer will not detect a hunter, for the most part, "not unless there is movement."
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I can go along with that, and site several examples from my past, but, it still irks me that we must glow like neon signs in the bush. No doubt bright moving things are easier for a deer to spot than those that are not so glaring.
 
John Y Cannuck said:
I can go along with that, and site several examples from my past, but, it still irks me that we must glow like neon signs in the bush. No doubt bright moving things are easier for a deer to spot than those that are not so glaring.
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There is no dress-code in Alberta. I believe that it was challenged in the courts, that it was unconstitutional to enact a dress-code law. We, here in Alberta, are fortunate in more ways than 100 when it comes to hunting.
 
I found out some years ago that Camo is better then normal clothing. Look for a washed out camo - rather then the stuff with well defined oak leaves etc on it. If you watch any youtube hunting videos some guys wear camo that doesn't match the environment.
Wool pants are nice and quiet and can be found at various places.
 
I always wear camo, mostly desert/tan as I hunt the prairies exclusively. Snow camo in the winter. I believe it breaks up your outline, but staying still is the most important part of concealment.
There are occasions when camo may not matter as much but I believe it helps especially for waterfowl. Many who discard wearing camo think it does not matter but they never realize how many animals they have scared off as they never see them.
 
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I usually wear a pair of cotton/polyester German army flecktar camo pants for spring bear and early season deer hunting, not so much for the camo but the pockets, plus they were cheap. Later in the year I have been wearing an old pair of Canadian army dress pants that are dark green in a tight wool weave. I have three pairs of heavy wool army surplus pants from Sweden or Switzerand I have yet to wear.

I usually top it with a Cabela's rain-plus camo jacket, again for the pockets and water resistance more than the camo. Dull earth/wood colours would do. Camo colours and shapes all blend together into one mono-blob of gray or brown past 50 yards anyway. I have a lightweight set of greenish Helley-Hansen rainwear to put on top of everything in really wet conditions.

I layer with a combination of wool and fleece. I'm dumping my stinky-after-one-wear polyester undershirts for merino wool this year. I went on a campaign of thrift store haunting and got six merino wool pullovers a size too big for me at prices from $2.00 to $10.00 each. A damn sight better than $60.00 and up for merino wool undershirts at MEC for example. I have a variety of thicker wool or fleece shirts to wear in the layering.

I've also got a big German army flecktar camo parka I've worn (loads of pockets) and a couple Pioneer brand wool mac jackets I'll wear occasionally too in shades of green. Camo ball caps or a tuque go on top.
 
jric1308 said:
So I'm looking to get some clothing (everything from top to bottom) for the upcoming hunt and am looking for what works for you and what you may have thought was a good idea, but now is lying in the abyss of your closet never to be used again. If you have any specific brand and model suggestions, I'd appreciate hearing it too. Will be doing some stalking and stand hunting in northern Ontario.

My current thoughts are:
- Blaze cap
- neck gaiter (to me, these things are invaluble)
- thin first layer top and bottom
- gloves
- warm hoodie
- blaze thin vest
- warm overall bottoms
- merino socks
- boots
- fanny pack

What do you think?
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Make sure that the hoodie (and pretty much everything else is zippered so that you can open it up when walking/getting warm.
 
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