Camo Clothing Essentials?

[Overthehill]

One thing I have come to appreciate over the years is a fleece or down filled vest. It keeps your trunk warm but doesn't add bulk to your arms which is important to a bow hunter. I will also say remember to underdressed a bit when walking in because if you get overheated and sweating you will be cold all day. Once you get to your stand add layers as needed.

[TheProvider00]

Your smart to ask on here. So many others simply watch a couple hunting tv shows or read a couple hunting magazines to "learn" what they need to hunt and end of spending thousands of dollars just to go on their first hunt.

Biggest piece of advice. Camo isn't a name brand. Camo is to break up the outline of your body. Clothes that keep you warm, dry and are breathable are more important than a name brand or an exact color match to your surroundings.

To start hunting you need a rifle/bow, sharp knife, bino's, comfortable boots and clothes that keep you warm and dry. All else gear can wait for the most part.

[jlmorgan]

As said earlier, your friend gave you good advise and I'm sure regulars on this site will have good suggestions. Staying still is the key.

x2 on staying still and make a habit of slow deliberate movement in a stand or a blind, everything picks up fast movement, try to stay down wind when hunting big game and coyotes or fox and up wind for waterfowl as they like to land into the wind.

[patvetzal]

If it keeps you warm while standing beside an outdoor rink all day, then it will probably keep you warm sitting in a tree stand, no matter what colour it is....I wear the same gear cutting firewood ( not splitting), plowing snow on a tractor or sitting in my blind. It is the temperature and activity LEVEL that are more important than the brand or colour design.

[seabast]

The essential for me is a waterproof/breathable CAMO bibs and 3 season jacket of good quality (Gore-Tex or similar fabric, no BP or Cabela's own waterproof fabric), an early fall and a winter rubber boots (does not need to be expensive at all), and some waterproof/warm gloves. For the layering you can use whatever you have at the beginning....
The bibs and jacket are the expensive pieces of the puzzle but it will makes the all experience a lot better.

[Bluebulldog]

Good Post to learn from. 4 yrs ago, at age 48 I did the course and started as a hunter. Here are some tidbits I have learned.

Deer:

-In a stand (box) or tree deer for the most part do not care if you have camo. (it does help for the bow hunter as you have more movement)
-Dress in layers..( what color your shirt, pants or underwear is mute…camo bib and coveralls)
-$400.00, danier boots will still give cold feet..when sitting still. (buy big enough to put hot paws heating packs). $39.99 Canadian Tire muck boots or Snowmobile work just as well.
- Make sure your coveralls cover your lower back from cold
- Good pair of gloves with cotton liners to do finger works.

Duck:

- Camo is as import as movement as is concealment in a blind or canoe!
- $40.00 duck will still call in ducks
- $40.00 goose call is wasted money, buy a good one.
- Painted goose wood shells work. (6 pack of geese is $200)
- 12 Pack of Mallards or Woddies is $89.99…why is goose more expensive???
- If shore hunting in shallows without canoe/boat, invest in good waders.
- Don’t buy into 3.5 inch or even 3” when buying a shotgun.. Buy a used old wingmaster, 878, 1100 in 2 ¾” AND wait until the ducks and geese are in range. My 870 was $400.00, but my used Model 878 (semi) in 2 ¾” was $499.00 (bit high, seen since for under $400.00)
- New semi (cheap) start at 800+
- 2 ¾” is cheaper than 3”, and way cheaper than 3.5” shot..period.

Rifles:

- By used if you can 30% jump in prices with the fall CAN $$.
- Savage Axis 2 Line is best bang for the buck out of the box. I swear by this product line…find them used if you can.
- Buy your gun on these principles: Distance I expect to shoot, Caliber restrictions in your, price. Consider the cost of ammo, look on the shelf at local store and see what prices are.
- Common (value) calibers 308, 30-06 and 30-30 are standard cheap rds
- 270, 7MM, 300, 22-250, all very pricey and purpose designed.
- Shotguns, consider a triple barrel combo pack, Bird Barrel, Turkey Barrel and Slug barrel. This combo package, will allow you to hunt, small game, ducks, geese, deer with one gun…good point.

For me this is my list:

$15.00 Camo pants: Giant Tiger (grouse do not care if you are wearing Under Armor)
$59-69 on sale Can Tire (yukon brand) Camo coat, camo bib coverall (insulated).
$39 Can Tire Snow boots and Muck boots
$1 store cotton liners and CT Camo Gloves with flip fingers.

All my guns (27) are used except Rem 870 Triple Combo Pack and Savage Axis in .223.

^^^^^^

This.....all of it.

Base layer, buy what you can afford. Polypro will get the job done, later you may want to upgrade to a merino wool.

I take issue with the .270 Win as being pricey....usually it's the same as .308, 30-06, etc. But as most on here will attest, unless you're in an area with a CF Caliber restriction, I always advocate for the .308.

[JBen]

Going to go against the grain here and suggest those who say what you wear isn't important are the people giving you "bad advice" and or who are saying "don't listen to people who say you need or want" good or expensive stuff. In my real world experience, people who only favor, argue, recommend one thing.....

First.
How much good is your $750-$1500 bow, or $400 scope, or $150-$250 range finder, or $1,000-$2,000 Shot gun doing you when.

A) It's miserable out and you decide to stay on the couch watching tv?
B) It's cold and wet out and you decide to call it a day 2 hours earlier
C) Worst case scenario (maybe your lost, maybe you trip and break your ankle, maybe XYZ) you end up spending an unplanned night in the bush....

Nuff said.

Me?
Pound for pound I spend more on my clothing than gear.
A $500 Scope or $1,000 (Rifle, Shot gun, Bow) does jack for me when its in the gun cabinet.

My outdoor cothing, from base layers/boots, to mids and outers are what allow me to go out and stay out...And worst case scenario.........

[Bluebulldog]

Going to go against the grain here and suggest those who say what you wear isn't important are the people giving you "bad advice" and or who are saying "don't listen to people who say you need or want" good or expensive stuff. In my real world experience, people who only favor, argue, recommend one thing.....

First.
How much good is your $750 bow, or $400 scope, or $150 range finder, or $1,000 Shot gun doing you when.

A) It's miserable out and you decide to stay on the couch watching tv?
B) It's cold and wet out and you decide to call it a day 2 hours earlier
C) Worst case scenario (maybe your lost, maybe you trip and break your ankle, maybe XYZ) you end up spending an unplanned night in the bush....

Nuff said.

Me?
Pound for pound I spend more on my clothing than gear.
A $500 Scope or $1,000 (Rifle, Shot gun, Bow) does jack for me when its in the gun cabinet.

...and you have some nice Sitka gear....

[JBen]

True that.
Is it worth it?

That's hard to answer. For me, obviously it is. Having just returned from 10 days in 47 archery hunting, even in this extremely mild, no snow on the ground year...THis year average temp was around 4-5 degrees...Previous years avg temp is -10 to -15 and one year I was spending 6hrs day in a stand when it was -25.

So we basically hunted in spring this year...And it rained constantly for the better part of 4days.
toasty warm and dry through out..

Am I recommending Sitka?
Nope, not by a long shot.

Just that what we choose wear and use is what gets us out, keeps us out and safe.

[terrym]

Clothing depends on time of year and game hunted so over the years you will accumulate many different setups. Upland hunting in early season has no similarities to hunting deer in a stand in November. Most camo is fashion anyway so don't get too wrapped up in that unless you bowhunt or waterfowl hunt. Buy good gear from the beginning and it will treat you well.