What type of clothing do you guys recommend I should start looking at purchasing? The guy taking me says the wind stopper stuff is what I want. He said the cold is one thing but the wind can really make it miserable.

This should go over well, I new baby due and I just bought a new rifle, scope and cost of a non-resident permit and now I need to go shopping for new clothes. I will probably be kissing up for some time to come.

C-ROY

You'll be moving around a heck of a lot more on an elk hunt than on a Carolina deer stand.

[This message has been edited by sure-shot (edited 04-02-2002).]

[This message has been edited by sure-shot (edited 04-02-2002).]

Remember: When walking or doing some kind of activity, the idea is not to get too hot and sweat. If you are moving around and start getting hot, stop and remove a layer or two and store it in the backpack. keep on removing or adding layers just to be comfortable. Once you stop moving you will have to add layers. Sweat on your skin will rapidly get you cold when you stop. That's why synthetic layers are the best, and wool.

Areas to protect:

a. Body
b. Face and head
c. Feet
d. Hands

Any of those would make your day miserable if not taken care of, so it is best to spend as much as you need to of gear.

C-ROY

quote:

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Originally posted by C-ROY:
ons For a five day hunt how many pairs of socks, underwear, boots, pants, shirts, gloves , hats??? I think I covered it all?

C-ROY

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Depends whether you have to carry it all on your back or if you're getting back to a ranch house every night.

In Maine last fall I hunted 8 days in temps from the teens and windy, to 50 and drizzling, with lots of walking in hills & swamps, and wore the same pants all but one day -- 16-18 hours a day including drive time to the hunting area.

In reality, all you need of anything is enough to have a dry one if you get rained on or really sweaty. My one exception to that rule would be socks. You'll want plenty of pairs of clean liners and boot socks.

Also, I'd think that in that time of year, the elk will be on their winter range which would cut down some on your snow exposure. Have fun, NM is a beautiful place.

C-ROY

layering is the key, you can remove layers as you get warmer and put them on later. Wool is good but From years of working in the Northwoods and in the arctic in Canada I have found fleece is better, it dries out faster if it gets wet.

It is also cheaper than the overpriced brand name wool stuff.

Here is how I dress for cold weather

Start with a good set of long underwear or a union suit you are so inclined
Over this goes a helly hanson top and bottom.

If it is double didgits below freezing or ai expect to walk alot, I wear pants usually cotton or fleece and a flannel or wool shirt. covered with a light jacket and my blaze vest ( and a ball cap), I carry a wool hat in my pocket in case it gets colder

If it is much colder or I expect to sit most of the day, I will put on insulated overalls (or a wool overall if it is a dry day) an insulated shirt . I often wear a fleece vest if it is exceptionally cold. I usually wear a light jacket or just the vest and a blaze ballcap walking to the stand. I put on a heavier winter jacket and an insulated hat and gloves (that I carried in the pack) when I get to the stand.

By wearing the minimum, and adding layers as you need them, you don't overheat and sweat which is what chills you in the cold

all my clothes are loose enough to allow for good circulation

I wear wool overalls only when it is very cold and there is little chance that they get wet, because they wear a ton when they are wet and take forewver to dry out.

otherwise I generally prefer fleece which has similar properties as wool but dries out faster.

Get good footwear and always put on dry socks.

I usually either sorrel caribous which are rubber bottomed leather upper and allow you to remove the felt to replace it with a spare dry felt daily or the felt lined lacrosse boots that are entirely rubber with removeable felt liners. I usually bring 2 spare pairs of felt liners.

When it is 40 below, I usually wear 100 degree below zero pakboots made by Kaufman

One good trick is that if you are stand hunting in very cold weather, bring along an extra sleeping bag or comforter to wrap your lower body in while posted on the stand. I use a camo syntehetic sleeping bag for this when I hunt in cold weather.

RH

[This message has been edited by rockhead (edited 04-09-2002).]