Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting

[Alchase]

You guys are over complicating this. Get yourself down to the saw shop and tell them you need some riggin' clothes. They'll know what you want. My dad would have called it a Black Bear suit (Black Bear was a clothing manufacturer that specialized in work clothes for loggers, out of business for years). Logger cut overalls (jeans to you millennial's), suspenders, hickory shirt and a set of black wool for when it gets cold. Round that out with a pair of caulks and a set of rain gear and you are in business. If you are of a mind you could outfit with a pair of tin pants although I have found them not to my liking. Make sure they are 4 sizes too big because they shrink. For a topper you will need a felt hat which to find the authentic red felt hat might take some searching but once were as common as hunters with smart phones are now. You don't need no danged gloves. Stick your hands in your pockets if they get cold or just man up, sheesh!
Generations of loggers wore this year round and few succumbed to the elements.

If you are now frowning and ready to report this as the worst advise lighten up, Life is too short to be serious all the time.

My brother in law out of NewPort, Oregon  wears his 30 year old wool logging pants with suspenders a wool Makinaw, floppy felt hat and his cauks to hunt elk in coastal Oregan.
Ratty and stinky but effective.

[JimmyHoffa]

Most of the people I've known that have tried gaiters have gotten rid of them and don't refer to them kindly.  They seem to be real good at snagging sticks and tripping, which can really suck when you're on steep slopes with lots of slash.

[Magnum_Willys]

Gaiters Rock!

[Mtnwalker]

Vandeman17,

Any Sitka rian gear suggestions? Quiet would be nice. Had the Kuiu Chugach, but was not quiet and it didnt like trees and brush.

Thanks!

Dewpoint if you want a more packable shell or cloudburst if you want more of a jacket. Both will layer well

Neither of those are any quieter than the Kuiu and the Dewpoint wouldn’t last a weekend in the west side elk woods. You would have to go with something like the Thunderhead if you want quiet Sitka raingear.

[bornhunter]

You guys are over complicating this. Get yourself down to the saw shop and tell them you need some riggin' clothes. They'll know what you want. My dad would have called it a Black Bear suit (Black Bear was a clothing manufacturer that specialized in work clothes for loggers, out of business for years). Logger cut overalls (jeans to you millennial's), suspenders, hickory shirt and a set of black wool for when it gets cold. Round that out with a pair of caulks and a set of rain gear and you are in business. If you are of a mind you could outfit with a pair of tin pants although I have found them not to my liking. Make sure they are 4 sizes too big because they shrink. For a topper you will need a felt hat which to find the authentic red felt hat might take some searching but once were as common as hunters with smart phones are now. You don't need no danged gloves. Stick your hands in your pockets if they get cold or just man up, sheesh!
Generations of loggers wore this year round and few succumbed to the elements.

If you are now frowning and ready to report this as the worst advise lighten up, Life is too short to be serious all the time.

C'mon. Real wetside hunters man up. Loin cloth, rambo knife and flip flops.

[kball4]

Silent stalker waterproof pants not as much noise busting through underbrush and a cabelas LWT rain jacket pullover.

[trophyhunt]

Sure are a lot of threads on hunting clothes,  Just stick with Kuiu and firstlite, you'll never look back.  I prefer kuiu outer layer, firstlite first layer. But I have to say, kuiu's undergarments are much better now. 

[birddogdad]

have worn wool for ever... Codex was older company , now Big Bills.... silent, warm

[nwmein199]

Most of the people I've known that have tried gaiters have gotten rid of them and don't refer to them kindly.  They seem to be real good at snagging sticks and tripping, which can really suck when you're on steep slopes with lots of slash.

I have only heard the opposite. I always thought they were a waste of time until I got a pair of Kenetrek gaiters and they still dont let water in after 4 years of many miles in the thick western washington timber, not a single complaint from me. Never had the snagging or tripping issue mentioned above. All my buddies that finally tried them wondered why it took them so long to get a pair. To me they are a must for western washington rifle elk hunting.

[Alchase]

Most of the people I've known that have tried gaiters have gotten rid of them and don't refer to them kindly.  They seem to be real good at snagging sticks and tripping, which can really suck when you're on steep slopes with lots of slash.

I have only heard the opposite. I always thought they were a waste of time until I got a pair of Kenetrek gaiters and they still dont let water in after 4 years of many miles in the thick western washington timber, not a single complaint from me. Never had the snagging or tripping issue mentioned above. All my buddies that finally tried them wondered why it took them so long to get a pair. To me they are a must for western washington rifle elk hunting.

I would agree, Gaters are great in snow and really wet undergrowth forests. Funny I rarely wore them for General Deer on wet side or dry side, but late season elk or deer on the Washington wet side they work well.
I have not used mine since moving to Oklahoma. Just do not have the wet or snow conditions enough to need them.

[deerhunter_98520]

You guys are over complicating this. Get yourself down to the saw shop and tell them you need some riggin' clothes. They'll know what you want. My dad would have called it a Black Bear suit (Black Bear was a clothing manufacturer that specialized in work clothes for loggers, out of business for years). Logger cut overalls (jeans to you millennial's), suspenders, hickory shirt and a set of black wool for when it gets cold. Round that out with a pair of caulks and a set of rain gear and you are in business. If you are of a mind you could outfit with a pair of tin pants although I have found them not to my liking. Make sure they are 4 sizes too big because they shrink. For a topper you will need a felt hat which to find the authentic red felt hat might take some searching but once were as common as hunters with smart phones are now. You don't need no danged gloves. Stick your hands in your pockets if they get cold or just man up, sheesh!
Generations of loggers wore this year round and few succumbed to the elements.

If you are now frowning and ready to report this as the worst advise lighten up, Life is too short to be serious all the time.

Now I know your a local harborite 

[T-Dozzer]

First lite for bases and Sitka for mids and shells.
Prana Zion stretch, Fjal Raven and Arcterx have nice peices as well.
I usually do Black Diamond or OR for gaitors. Always in gor-tex though.

[Harbor_hunter]

Filson tin pants always and Kuiu Yukon or Chugach jacket, depending on how wet of a day it is looking to be.   

[Matth]

Man oh man people put a lot of stock in this gear (my self included). I have a ton of really nice gear, so much so that some times i feel guilty about it. My take on this is buy the best you can afford and carry your ass out into the bush, and go for it. The best gear in the world isn't killing those animals for you. when i was 12 years old i very fondly remember my dad dragging me all over the country side in long johns, 501's, the cheapest boots he could find, a sweat shirt, a 30 gallon garbage bag, and a hard hat to keep the rain off of my head and until i started taking my own son hunting 2 years ago these where the fondest of my hunting memories. On a side note there are people on this site that can attest to seeing my narrow behind running around the woods behind my dad in this outfit.