Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: Carlh327 on February 19, 2019, 03:07:36 PM

Title: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Carlh327 on February 19, 2019, 03:07:36 PM: Any suggestions on clothing/layering for hunting elk on the Wet side? I like wool but if it's wet out all day, it just gets too heavy.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: chester on February 19, 2019, 03:23:16 PM: Carharts, T-shirt base layer , orange hoodie and boots for walking,romeos for driving :chuckle:
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: vandeman17 on February 19, 2019, 03:28:08 PM: I suggest the cab of a warm/dry pickup
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: JimmyHoffa on February 19, 2019, 03:35:35 PM: Archery or modern, early or late?
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Carlh327 on February 19, 2019, 03:45:11 PM: Hunting in SW Washington during muzzle loader and rifle. Lots of rain.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: vandeman17 on February 19, 2019, 03:45:37 PM: I will say that the older I get, the more I am willing to buck up and spend the extra money on good clothes. I also discounted the notion of how important it is to properly layer. This past year, I started reading and listening to podcasts about layering systems and started investing in Sitka gear when it would go on sale. Amazing what you can do when good clothes are used correctly. With that said, if I were to be hunting an area with a high probability of moisture, I would focus my attention first on my outer layer. Try to find the best combo of water shedding but still at least somewhat breathable.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: bobcat on February 19, 2019, 03:57:53 PM: Light wool or fleece clothing under real rain gear (non-breathable.) Knee high rubber boots. No cotton.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on February 19, 2019, 04:09:45 PM: Kuiu Yukon and Merino wool base layer...you won't regret it
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Carlh327 on February 19, 2019, 05:56:53 PM: 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!
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: JimmyHoffa on February 19, 2019, 06:25:11 PM: Early muzzleloader, can really be tricky. It can get rather warm out, but nights/mornings can be cool. Last year was t-shirt and lightweight pants on the first day and rain gear the next five. Just didn't really get that cold for muzzy. The late seasons can be really cold. I think a few layers with a fleece are usually enough in the late--with a cap and gloves. Modern is more rain usually than cold, but I have seen a few feet of snow fall during the night in modern--loose rain gear seems to work fine there too.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: vandeman17 on February 19, 2019, 06:32:02 PM: Quote from: Carlh327 on February 19, 2019, 05:56:53 PM
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
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Alchase on February 19, 2019, 06:48:19 PM: I hunted my whole life for elk on the west side. Most important good waterproof hiking boots. This is not as easy as it sounds. You can spend $300 - $400 on name brand high dollar Gortex boots that won’t hold up more than a couple hours of hiking in wet brush or constant rain. Two that I have good luck with Merrells Cold Pack Ice 6” and Asolo GTX.
Gaters, a good set of gaters are totally worth it.
Polypropylene bass layer if needed.
Good ripstop moisture repelling pants that breathe. Notice I did not say any of the $300-$400 hunting brand pants? I have been running Columbia ripstop lightweight camo pants for years. Bought two pairs for $20 each at an end of the year sale, normally $60. These have been the best hunting clothes investment I have made. They work great for timber on the wet side as well as hiking miles for muleys on the dry dry side.
Wicking t-shirt and “good” fleece jacket or wool jacket.
packable rain pants and rain jacket (I use grundens Petrus pullover and Columbia waterproof pants, many options to choose from)
And a good hat, gloves that you can shoot with.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Humptulips on February 19, 2019, 07:31:33 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: cougforester on February 19, 2019, 07:41:18 PM: My favorite hunting pants are the Eddie Bauer First Ascent pants. I work in the woods in both Western and Eastern WA and it took me a long time to find the right pants that I could wear comfortably in all seasons throughout the state. I now have about 6 pairs of them. Tough enough to give you a bit of resistance to the blackberries and devil's club, cool enough to wear chasing bears in late August, able to easily layer long johns underneath, DWR coating for dew, light rain or snow...even when they do get wet, if you keep hiking you'll dry them out once the rain stops. My only complaint is that there's not a suspender option, but I'm thinking I'll check out a tailor this summer to try and see if they can add some loops.

They're also on sale now....https://www.eddiebauer.com/browse/Pants-&-Shorts/men/first-ascent/_/N-274o

Tops I go with a merino long sleeve base layer, then a really light weight Sitka hoody only if I'm hiking hard, then add a quarter zip on top of that to wear while still hunting or glassing and I start cooling down. I have a hard shell (Sitka Stormfront, a bit overkill but I hadn't splurged in a while) and puffy with me pretty much all the time in case I want to sit down for a bit and glass or just relax, or it starts pouring. I don't care as much if my thighs get wet while hiking through brush since I work in the brush all year long, but I'm a big baby when it comes to getting my chest and neck wet.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Magnum_Willys on February 19, 2019, 07:59:09 PM: Merino base, fleece/wool under layer, breathable rainshell. Puffy for insulation when stopping.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Alchase on February 19, 2019, 08:03:02 PM: Quote from: Humptulips on February 19, 2019, 07:31:33 PM
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.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: JimmyHoffa on February 19, 2019, 08:08:21 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Magnum_Willys on February 19, 2019, 08:46:01 PM: Gaiters Rock!
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Mtnwalker on February 19, 2019, 09:32:25 PM: Quote from: vandeman17 on February 19, 2019, 06:32:02 PM
Quote from: Carlh327 on February 19, 2019, 05:56:53 PM
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.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: bornhunter on February 19, 2019, 09:38:33 PM: Quote from: Humptulips on February 19, 2019, 07:31:33 PM
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.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: kball4 on February 20, 2019, 07:06:14 AM: Silent stalker waterproof pants not as much noise busting through underbrush and a cabelas LWT rain jacket pullover.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: trophyhunt on February 20, 2019, 07:09:25 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: birddogdad on February 20, 2019, 07:23:25 AM: have worn wool for ever... Codex was older company , now Big Bills.... silent, warm
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: nwmein199 on February 20, 2019, 08:05:50 AM: Quote from: JimmyHoffa on February 19, 2019, 08:08:21 PM
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.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Alchase on February 20, 2019, 11:32:37 AM: Quote from: nwmein199 on February 20, 2019, 08:05:50 AM
Quote from: JimmyHoffa on February 19, 2019, 08:08:21 PM
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.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on February 20, 2019, 02:52:51 PM: Quote from: Humptulips on February 19, 2019, 07:31:33 PM
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 :chuckle:
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: T-Dozzer on February 20, 2019, 07:25:54 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Harbor_hunter on February 20, 2019, 08:34:57 PM: Filson tin pants always and Kuiu Yukon or Chugach jacket, depending on how wet of a day it is looking to be.
Title: Re: Western Washington Clothing for Elk Hunting
Post by: Matth on February 21, 2019, 09:06:33 AM: 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.