- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,329
Clothing
Two sets off good moisture whicking base layers tops and bottoms.
At least three pair of good wool socks accompanied by good moisture whicking sock liners.
Two pair wool pants.
I prefer the Swedish wool ski trooper pants that you can buy surplus for like $15.00 a pair. Cabelas usually has them on sale in the early fall. I've got two pair that have lasted me over ten season and they are WWI issue! Tough gear to say the least!
Top end I wear a good base layer and then I'll have at least two layers usually a light weight synthetic fleece topped by either a light wool sweater or a fleece vest and a shell. Gore tex or wool. I have both and find that a good Gore tex light weight shell is about the finest protection there is.
If adaptability is the key to airpower layering is the key to staying warm and dry in the winter in blizzard conditions. DO NOT bring one gynormus parka for a jacket you'll be hating it shortly after beginning your first hard climb.
Extremity's;
Gloves two pair
One heavy duty gore tex and one lighter duty warm glove. I think I've tried them all and this is the best I've found for the money. If you want to do better you've got to get into the high dollar mountaineering stuff.. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cloth...3Bcat104128380
I carry two heavy pair and one light. I hate cold hands!
Hat
whatever works for you I've started to wear a fleece beanie with a stretch fit Under Armour hunters orange cap over the top of it. I also have a Charhart fleece in hunters orange that has a fold out face mask for really crappy days. One thing to keep in mind is that one needs to be comfortable enough to wear at night while sleeping in the tent.
Boots
sorry guys but you HAVE to have two pairs. One dry land hiking boot and set of snow packs. The very best hunting/hiking snow pack I've ever used are the Schnee's 13" pack boot BUT you can get away a lot cheaper with a pair of regular old pack boots they just don't have the support that the Schnee's have. As far as the hiking boot well I've tried lots of them and my two recommendations are either a Danner or a Kenetrek Mt Extreme. But the Kennetreks are EXPENSIVE!
Why two pairs? Because it can be 50 or 60 deg and dry as bone one day and have 3' of snow on the ground the next. There never has been and there never will be a pair of leather boots that can stay dry in the snow with hard use for multiple days. I've had guys argue it with me but they all have to quit hunting after several days of hard use in heavy snow with leather Gore tex boots. Visa Versa pack boots are miserable suckers on loose dry steep ground.
Gaiters
The last yet most important item for long term comfort and essential warmth for deep snow hunting. I use O.R. Goretex gaiters that come up to my knee. When you buy your gaiters MAKE SURE you are getting snow gaiters and NOT summer time hiking gaiters which are designed to keep grass seeds out of your socks. BIG DIFFERENCE
Other essential gear;
Two knives
One that you wear or in your pocket one back up in your pack.
(Ask Gaiudo about this one.)I carry a hunting knife my favorite is Wegner drop point pro hunter folder and my back up is a Leatherman Skeletool. It's a crappy knife but an invaluable tool.
Knife sharpener.
I have a good one for fixing a knife at base camp and carry diamond stick or ceramic stick with me while hunting for dressing an edge while field dressing.
Fire starter.
Any survival expert will tell you to have at least two fire starting systems. I carry a Swedish fire stick and two bic lighters with a quart sized zip lock bag full of petroleum jelly soaked cotton balls.
Micro camp stove
I've recently started carrying a tiny little guy that fold up into the space about the size of a pack of playing cards and weighs less. It fires up instantly and boils water/melts snow in your metal water bottle in a matter of minutes. It sure is nice to put some hot coffee or chocolate down your gullet during a rest break. To me it's a serious morale booster. There are lots of them available go to a camping store and figure out the one that works for you if you think you'll want this luxury item along.
Water bottle.
I use the aluminum hikers bottles not painted. You can stuff them full of snow and put the bottle on a fire to melt it, that's why I use aluminum or steel bottles that aren't painted. Also carry a dropper full of bleach with you. that way you can dip into a river or even a lake drop two drops of bleach into your water wait 20 minutes and safely drink from local water sources. Lot of beavers up there DON'T DRINK with out purifying the local water.
50 feet of 550 para cord.
Para cord holds the world together.
GPS if you want. I don't generally use one.
Day Pack. I've got to where I like a good fanny pack.
High energy snacks.
High viz marker tape.
Toilet paper, when you gotta go you gotta go. Decent fire starter too.
First aid kit. You can't do any better for pre prepared first aid kit than the NOLS wilderness first responder or the ultra light first aid kit. The one and only thing you need to add to it is mole skin for blisters. That has saved my buttock more than once on a high country hunt. http://store.nols.edu/Store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=35#details
Light weight micro shelter tarp.
Will save you butt in a blizzard if you have to over night. One of those cheap survival blankets will work in a pinch.
Flash light or head lamp with extra batteries. I carry both.
If you wear glasses bring dry cloth and cleaner
Rifle
Carry the rifle you shoot best use good controlled expansion bullets and don't get stupid with long range shots on elk. I know the guy who wears eye liner and is selling his long range shooting system on TV does it every week but you don't wear eye liner and they don't show his screw ups on TV.
Extra shells.
I use one of those cheap Cabelas nylon floppy ten round shell holders that go on your belt they cost like 5 or 10 bucks. I've found nothing that works better. Do not stuff rounds in your pockets loose and then jingle when you walk. You might as well be walking through the woods with a amplifier yelling ROCK N ROLL BABY! Elk hear that stuff.
Buttler Creek scope covers, or other scope covers.
You will NOT be hunting very long in the snow without scope covers! Trust me on this one.
Electrical tape or barrel condoms.
You'll need it to cover your muzzle same as above. Once your bore becomes filled with ice and snow repeat shots become unreliable after your barrel bulges or splits. As above trust me on this one. Cover those muzzles in the snow!
Camping gear
Good sleeping pad or a cot depending on your tent.
I use a Synpad 9 but there are multiple good pads out there for cheaper. I am at the age where I'll pay extra for some comfort and the Syn Pad is best I've found. It's like sleeping on a bed. (Almost)
A good sleeping bag.
If you don't have a really warm sleeping bag you can make it warmer by simply getting a fleece sleeping bag liner or doubling up two light weight bags. I use the Cabelas guide bag which is supper warm but it's HEAVY AND it's got a cotton blend fill which makes it a BASE CAMP ONLY BAG if it gets wet you're up the creek. If you want light, packable and warm they exist it just depends on how much money you want to spend. See sleeping bag liner above. If you are spike camping you'll need a good expedition type cold weather synthetic fill bag.
Tent
Nothing beats a good wall tent with a wood burning stove but if you don't have one get something with some room and a good vestibule that is solid and no kidding water proof.
Gear to absolutely stay away from;
Anything branded "Red Head" from Bass Pro. It is the cheapest non functioning crapolla available and it will get you killed in the high country. It might work just fine out on the deer lease but at 11,000 feet in the Rockies during a blinding blizzard it's going to fail on you.
Sitka Mt Light gear. Expensive, lightly constructed, and it doesn't last. Sitka gear should be ashamed of themselves for even putting their name on it. I bought some for my solo Goat hunt last year and was happy with it at first. It lasted exactly two hunts the goat hunt and then it started coming apart during deer season.
Charhart canvas/wool lined gear. Works great in the flat lands but anything cotton will get your butt killed in the high country. Charhart does make some very useable gear in synthetics now days but stay away from the bubba canavs/cotton gear in the mountains.
Primo Brothers = Cheap, gonna fail gear. I've never had a Primos brothers product survive a whole season nuff said.
Cheap scopes. Sooner or later they are going to either fog or loose zero during tough conditions. Usually right when you need them most.
Cotton. Wear jeans and die in the high country. You can get away with it maybe forever but the one time you get soaked in the snow and have to sit over night you might not make it. My search and rescue team pulls a couple of dead frozen bodies out of the high country every year and they are usually wearing an ice encrusted tomb of cotton clothing.
NOTE
This list is geared towards a drive in or ride in base camp and the hunting being conducted on foot from camp or driving from camp each day to the hunting areas IE a series of day hunts from a base camp. If you are hiking in the gear needs will be different and much more specific to ultra light weight high tech gear.
Also note;
( This list is somewhat dated as it was written about ten years ago.) Many of the links are invalid and I’ve taken to wearing synthetic light weight tech gear over wool. I’ll try and update soon.
Two sets off good moisture whicking base layers tops and bottoms.
At least three pair of good wool socks accompanied by good moisture whicking sock liners.
Two pair wool pants.
I prefer the Swedish wool ski trooper pants that you can buy surplus for like $15.00 a pair. Cabelas usually has them on sale in the early fall. I've got two pair that have lasted me over ten season and they are WWI issue! Tough gear to say the least!
Top end I wear a good base layer and then I'll have at least two layers usually a light weight synthetic fleece topped by either a light wool sweater or a fleece vest and a shell. Gore tex or wool. I have both and find that a good Gore tex light weight shell is about the finest protection there is.
If adaptability is the key to airpower layering is the key to staying warm and dry in the winter in blizzard conditions. DO NOT bring one gynormus parka for a jacket you'll be hating it shortly after beginning your first hard climb.
Extremity's;
Gloves two pair
One heavy duty gore tex and one lighter duty warm glove. I think I've tried them all and this is the best I've found for the money. If you want to do better you've got to get into the high dollar mountaineering stuff.. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cloth...3Bcat104128380
I carry two heavy pair and one light. I hate cold hands!
Hat
whatever works for you I've started to wear a fleece beanie with a stretch fit Under Armour hunters orange cap over the top of it. I also have a Charhart fleece in hunters orange that has a fold out face mask for really crappy days. One thing to keep in mind is that one needs to be comfortable enough to wear at night while sleeping in the tent.
Boots
sorry guys but you HAVE to have two pairs. One dry land hiking boot and set of snow packs. The very best hunting/hiking snow pack I've ever used are the Schnee's 13" pack boot BUT you can get away a lot cheaper with a pair of regular old pack boots they just don't have the support that the Schnee's have. As far as the hiking boot well I've tried lots of them and my two recommendations are either a Danner or a Kenetrek Mt Extreme. But the Kennetreks are EXPENSIVE!
Why two pairs? Because it can be 50 or 60 deg and dry as bone one day and have 3' of snow on the ground the next. There never has been and there never will be a pair of leather boots that can stay dry in the snow with hard use for multiple days. I've had guys argue it with me but they all have to quit hunting after several days of hard use in heavy snow with leather Gore tex boots. Visa Versa pack boots are miserable suckers on loose dry steep ground.
Gaiters
The last yet most important item for long term comfort and essential warmth for deep snow hunting. I use O.R. Goretex gaiters that come up to my knee. When you buy your gaiters MAKE SURE you are getting snow gaiters and NOT summer time hiking gaiters which are designed to keep grass seeds out of your socks. BIG DIFFERENCE
Other essential gear;
Two knives
One that you wear or in your pocket one back up in your pack.
(Ask Gaiudo about this one.)I carry a hunting knife my favorite is Wegner drop point pro hunter folder and my back up is a Leatherman Skeletool. It's a crappy knife but an invaluable tool.
Knife sharpener.
I have a good one for fixing a knife at base camp and carry diamond stick or ceramic stick with me while hunting for dressing an edge while field dressing.
Fire starter.
Any survival expert will tell you to have at least two fire starting systems. I carry a Swedish fire stick and two bic lighters with a quart sized zip lock bag full of petroleum jelly soaked cotton balls.
Micro camp stove
I've recently started carrying a tiny little guy that fold up into the space about the size of a pack of playing cards and weighs less. It fires up instantly and boils water/melts snow in your metal water bottle in a matter of minutes. It sure is nice to put some hot coffee or chocolate down your gullet during a rest break. To me it's a serious morale booster. There are lots of them available go to a camping store and figure out the one that works for you if you think you'll want this luxury item along.
Water bottle.
I use the aluminum hikers bottles not painted. You can stuff them full of snow and put the bottle on a fire to melt it, that's why I use aluminum or steel bottles that aren't painted. Also carry a dropper full of bleach with you. that way you can dip into a river or even a lake drop two drops of bleach into your water wait 20 minutes and safely drink from local water sources. Lot of beavers up there DON'T DRINK with out purifying the local water.
50 feet of 550 para cord.
Para cord holds the world together.
GPS if you want. I don't generally use one.
Day Pack. I've got to where I like a good fanny pack.
High energy snacks.
High viz marker tape.
Toilet paper, when you gotta go you gotta go. Decent fire starter too.
First aid kit. You can't do any better for pre prepared first aid kit than the NOLS wilderness first responder or the ultra light first aid kit. The one and only thing you need to add to it is mole skin for blisters. That has saved my buttock more than once on a high country hunt. http://store.nols.edu/Store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=35#details
Light weight micro shelter tarp.
Will save you butt in a blizzard if you have to over night. One of those cheap survival blankets will work in a pinch.
Flash light or head lamp with extra batteries. I carry both.
If you wear glasses bring dry cloth and cleaner
Rifle
Carry the rifle you shoot best use good controlled expansion bullets and don't get stupid with long range shots on elk. I know the guy who wears eye liner and is selling his long range shooting system on TV does it every week but you don't wear eye liner and they don't show his screw ups on TV.
Extra shells.
I use one of those cheap Cabelas nylon floppy ten round shell holders that go on your belt they cost like 5 or 10 bucks. I've found nothing that works better. Do not stuff rounds in your pockets loose and then jingle when you walk. You might as well be walking through the woods with a amplifier yelling ROCK N ROLL BABY! Elk hear that stuff.
Buttler Creek scope covers, or other scope covers.
You will NOT be hunting very long in the snow without scope covers! Trust me on this one.
Electrical tape or barrel condoms.
You'll need it to cover your muzzle same as above. Once your bore becomes filled with ice and snow repeat shots become unreliable after your barrel bulges or splits. As above trust me on this one. Cover those muzzles in the snow!
Camping gear
Good sleeping pad or a cot depending on your tent.
I use a Synpad 9 but there are multiple good pads out there for cheaper. I am at the age where I'll pay extra for some comfort and the Syn Pad is best I've found. It's like sleeping on a bed. (Almost)
A good sleeping bag.
If you don't have a really warm sleeping bag you can make it warmer by simply getting a fleece sleeping bag liner or doubling up two light weight bags. I use the Cabelas guide bag which is supper warm but it's HEAVY AND it's got a cotton blend fill which makes it a BASE CAMP ONLY BAG if it gets wet you're up the creek. If you want light, packable and warm they exist it just depends on how much money you want to spend. See sleeping bag liner above. If you are spike camping you'll need a good expedition type cold weather synthetic fill bag.
Tent
Nothing beats a good wall tent with a wood burning stove but if you don't have one get something with some room and a good vestibule that is solid and no kidding water proof.
Gear to absolutely stay away from;
Anything branded "Red Head" from Bass Pro. It is the cheapest non functioning crapolla available and it will get you killed in the high country. It might work just fine out on the deer lease but at 11,000 feet in the Rockies during a blinding blizzard it's going to fail on you.
Sitka Mt Light gear. Expensive, lightly constructed, and it doesn't last. Sitka gear should be ashamed of themselves for even putting their name on it. I bought some for my solo Goat hunt last year and was happy with it at first. It lasted exactly two hunts the goat hunt and then it started coming apart during deer season.
Charhart canvas/wool lined gear. Works great in the flat lands but anything cotton will get your butt killed in the high country. Charhart does make some very useable gear in synthetics now days but stay away from the bubba canavs/cotton gear in the mountains.
Primo Brothers = Cheap, gonna fail gear. I've never had a Primos brothers product survive a whole season nuff said.
Cheap scopes. Sooner or later they are going to either fog or loose zero during tough conditions. Usually right when you need them most.
Cotton. Wear jeans and die in the high country. You can get away with it maybe forever but the one time you get soaked in the snow and have to sit over night you might not make it. My search and rescue team pulls a couple of dead frozen bodies out of the high country every year and they are usually wearing an ice encrusted tomb of cotton clothing.
NOTE
This list is geared towards a drive in or ride in base camp and the hunting being conducted on foot from camp or driving from camp each day to the hunting areas IE a series of day hunts from a base camp. If you are hiking in the gear needs will be different and much more specific to ultra light weight high tech gear.
Also note;
( This list is somewhat dated as it was written about ten years ago.) Many of the links are invalid and I’ve taken to wearing synthetic light weight tech gear over wool. I’ll try and update soon.
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