Thursday, October 09, 2008
My Choice of Hunting Clothing
There have been countless hunters who seem to study my old hunting clothing. I don’t wear any of the modern camo stuff that is on the market.
My idea of hunting clothing is different than that of many hunters. I’m still wearing the same camo coveralls that I wore 10 years ago. They are a bit frazzled around the ankles and threadbare at the elbows, knees and seat.
It’s what I wear. It’s comfortable on me, and what many hunters don’t seem to realize is that I don’t dress to suit them. I dress to suit me.
Some of my friends have tried to conspire with my wife to get me into a new hand-made outfit. They soon learned that isn’t a good idea. I’m happy with what I wear.
A pair of knee-high rubber boats complete the outfit. I don’t bother with a face mask or painting my face. Sit still with your head down and the cap pulled low over your eyes, and it doesn’t make much difference. Don’t move or make noise, and the deer won’t know you are there.
I’ve had people come to hunt, and some are tricked out in the latest fashions. Their clothing is stiff while mine is soft and comfortable. Theirs still has the new smell that clothing has while mine smells like a fall day with a bit of a cedar odor. A garden hose will rinse off my rubber boots, and it doesn’t affect the boots or the deer.
My clothing has no odor, and is seldom washed. There is a problem with how most people wash camo clothing.
Most detergents contain whitening agents. They live up to their advertisements by producing whiter whites. Hunters don’t need brighter looking camouflage.
Those whiteners will make your camo clothes clean but the patterns are much brighter. Use a product like SportWash that contains no whiteners. Wash the clothing in clean water, hang it out to dry, and the dirt will be gone without any odor or brighter patterns.
There is a bunch of clothing companies that manufacture camo clothes. Savvy sportsmen know that if a person is hunting in the hardwoods, they should wear a hardwoods pattern.
Those who hunt out west and in desert country know that a pattern with tan and gray is ideal. Learn to match your camo with the season and terrain being hunted.
A friend hunts in wool clothing in cold or warm weather. He’s also convinced that wool doesn’t make a bad noise. He’s convinced it sounds like the fur on a squirrel or raccoon rubbing against the bark.
It is warm when the weather is cool, breathes well, and is not overly warm in warm temperatures. He swears by it, and he shoots a good buck every year.
For him, it means the clothes makes a natural woodsy sound. Wool doesn’t rasp when rubbed against tree bark. Many of the fleece patterns work equally well, but I warn people about fleece backed with a hard finished cloth. It can be very noisy in the woods.
Most hunters want comfort and quiet clothing with their hunting attire. It is difficult to find both qualities in new garments. Another friend, when he buys new hunting jackets and pants, washes them a dozen times before wearing them in the woods. Frequent washing will help break down and soften the fibers of the fabric, and means a quieter hunting garment.
Me, I’m entirely happy with what I wear. It is quiet, comfortable and the deer never pay any attention to me ... and that’s why it works for me.—The Whitetail Wizard
