Being an American, seeing men in capes is pretty rare. Further, they are more common as a formal accessory to be worn on a cold evening in the city with white tie than they are out in the field.

However, I have heard that capes are still popular in Spain and central Europe with shooters and hunters.

Is this true? Why?

Is it because they allow you to quickly shrug the cape off your gun shoulder so you get a good solid mount?

If I were to go on a driven game hunt in Europe, what would be a good outfitter to get a cape from?

The only people i know who wear capes are Sherlock Holmes, Bat Man and The Count on Sesame Street.

If i were you i would just turn up in your normal gear.

quote:

Originally posted by crazy_quik:
However, I have heard that capes are still popular in Spain and central Europe with shooters and hunters.

Is this true? Why?

Is it because they allow you to quickly shrug the cape off your gun shoulder so you get a good solid mount?

If I were to go on a driven game hunt in Europe, what would be a good outfitter to get a cape from?

Sure.
Very practical when walking: you sweat less than with a coat, backpack and rifle are under the cape and protected from rain.
Can also be used as a blanket.
Good windbreaker when sitting.
Less practical for fast shooting, then you would rather take it off.
Also some disadvantage when it's windy, game may see the flapping fabric.
Preferred fabric is Loden: silent, warm, reasonably light, reasonably water-tight.

Any decent German or Austrian manufacturer has it. Do a Google search for "Lodenkotze"

Fuhrmann

I use capes as an extra layer of clothing when I'm on a stand in cold weather. Very easy to use over your regular clothing. Sometimes I also use the capes for the more formal parts of hunting in Europe, such as for the final "parade" of the game shot in a driven hunt.

A Loden (or just woolen) cape is about as silent a piece of clothing you can get. And when you are on your stand for an extended period of time, freezing your butt off, there is nothing like snuggling into your cape - short of being at home in bed with the missus

As Fuhrmann stated above, the capes are excellent for keeping snow (and rain, to a lesser degree) off your gun. That is very practical if you have to sit on your stand, trying to keep your gun ready for use in the snow.

I have 3 capes, 2 lighter loden ones which I mostly use for driven hunts, or if I have to carry the cape a bit further. I also have a super heavy military woolen cape, which I use in the depth of winter. But since it is a tad heavier and bulkier, I mostly use it when I don't have to carry it too far.

The Loden cape is still commonly used for hunting in the Alps. It is often referred to with the German expression "Wetterfleck", which translates into something like "perl for poor weather". They are used for pretty much everything, ranging from protection for the wearer, gun rests and places where you can bed your dog down - just to mention a few of the most common uses.

- mike

P.S. I should add, that good (Loden) capes often come with a fastening mechanism, which works around the back of your neck, under your arms and locks on your back. This will not only allow you to carry the cape on your back while you walk (unless you choose to wear it or keep it in your pack), but will also allow you easily to move the cape out of harms way, if the need for action is imminent.

I have never seen a cape in the hunting fields of Europe including driven hunts, and everything else. I think this would be really limited.

Kind of like those gay french hats someone was asking about before.

Any chance of some photo's?

At present we have an au pair who is a wizard with a needle and I have a thick grey blanket that I was co-incidentaly thinking cape.

For sitting up in a high seat in sub zero it would be extremely useful.

This page has some photos - plus it is the homepage of a potential supplier.

This is only one way to deal with the "sleeves" (i.e. how to get the arms outside the cape). The other way is to cut "slits" in front of the cape, to allow arms to be extended out that way.

What is nice about these pics, is that they also illustrate the fastening mechanism I was talking about.

For use on a seat, longer is probably better. It should at least extend below your knees when you sit.

- mike

Very good photos - I shall see if I can recreate it without appearing as if I am a cross between Clint Eastwood and a Republican prisoner in the Maze!

If it were made of plastic, it would like kinda like a poncho...

Do they help you fly if you fall out of the hochsitz?

Sorry couldn't resist.

Very traditional. I remember seeing a hunting horn player wearing one of these in the Vienna Woods but it was Spring.

You should get one NitroX, I might. It would fit right in with your 9.3 double, amd my BBF, on those foggy, drizzling days chasing Sambar in the Alps. (you are still coming over?). Can you get them in Goretex?
Then all we need are a couple of those Bavarian or Tyrolean hats with the Chamois hair, feathers and badges, and we'll be set!

Cheers, Dave.
Non Illegitium Carborundum.