Merino Wool Hunting Clothes

When it comes to hunting gear the clothes you wear is one of the most important things to consider. In this post, we’re taking a look at what works for me in the places I hunt. A lot of this info will apply no matter where you are or what type of hunting you’re doing. But when we start talking about specific pieces of clothing you might need to switch things up for your own needs.

I hunt elk in relatively high elevation areas where temperatures can swing pretty dramatically within the span of a few hours. A 50-60 deg swing isn’t uncommon. The weather can also change rapidly. As mentioned in previous YouTube videos I don’t like to carry a bunch of stuff, so the layers I do have with me need to be versatile to deal with the changing conditions. And when it comes to versatility you just can’t beat merino wool!

Merino Wool Rocks!

Merino wool is like a miracle fabric. Unlike any other fabric in the world it has the ability to keep you warm in extreme cold, cool when it’s hot, it maintains it’s loft and insulating ability even when wet. It’s dead quiet and it does not stink! These last two things I’ve found to be very important in the type of hunting I do most often – close quarters, backcountry bowhunting.

Let’s talk about noise. One of the things I pride myself on it the ability to get “breath holding” close to big game on a regular basis. When you enter into that hypersensitive zone of awareness that all big game seem to have there is no room for error. Any mistake or stoke of misfortune and the gig is up. Having clothing that doesn’t rustle, hiss, scrape, jingle, etc. is pretty damn important especially if you’re trying to draw a bow for a shot. Merino is silent in motion!

What about scent? Something I’m asked about often is, “What do you do for scent management”? This is it. I wear merino wool. That’s it. For the type extended backcountry hunts I do, taking a bath, washing clothes every day, or most of the other scent control techniques employed by so many whitetail hunters back east, is just impractical. Elk season is a grind. I’m up at 4am and in the sack no earlier than 10pm most days, day after day after day. Merino doesn’t allow the bacterial growth that causes BO. I’ve worn this stuff for weeks without a proper washing and it just doesn’t stink. Try that with synthetics and you’re going to smell like a$$!

Specific Products I like

Now let’s talk about layering. We’ll start at the base layer and move outward. As mentioned, I hunt areas where the temperature and weather can change dramatically.  It’s common for the temps to drop well below freezing at night and remain so when I leave camp in the pre-dawn darkness. One thing I usually have on is my long johns. I wear these things constantly and there’s times where I don’t take them off for a week! I have, on rare occasion, just striped them off and stuck them in my pack but they wick moisture so well this usually isn’t necessary even when it warms up.

For a base layer up top I like the fuse quarter zip. If you’re expecting it to get warm, the Wick might be a better choice, but the fuse is pretty dang versatile. And I like the quarter zips. If you’re really chugging up a hill it helps get some air flow. That brings up a great point. If I’m starting an ascent, even though it might be cold, I’ll often strip down to just the base layer on top. You might be cold to start off but you’ll warm up fast as you climb. With just the base layer on that built up heat will dissipate quickly and take any moisture along with it. So when you get to the top and slow down you’re not soaked with sweat.

Over the top of that I like the Obsidian pants. They’ve got plenty of room and they’ve got some stretch to them so you’re not fighting against the pants when you’re scrambling over rocks. They’re quiet when you’re moving through vegetation, and they fit well.

For up top I usually carry two more layers. One is a heavier quarter zip. This year I’ll be using the kiln hoodie. It’s basically just like the fuse but heavier. This is what I’ll wear MOST of the time. With just these things on I’m dead quiet and comfortable in a wide range of conditions. If it’s colder than usual, I’ll throw in an Uncompahgre vest or puffy. These stay in the pack unless I’m sitting still or it’s just damn cold. These are synthetic layers and, although they’re mighty warm, they just aren’t as quiet as I like. I have, however, killed several animals while wearing them.

Break it up!

One of the primary functions of camo is to break up the human form. Although a good camo pattern can go a long way in doing that, it often falls a little short. One strategy I like to use is mixing up patterns. I sometimes wear solid green pants and a camo top, or different camo patterns top and bottom. Although you won’t find your way onto the cover of any outdoor industry catalogues (as if you wanted to…) you’ll be one step closer to breaking up that human form that’s so alarming to game.

Here’s the Deal!

If you’re reading this soon after it hits the web, you’ve got a chance to take advantage of some deep discounts on FirstLite gear. On September 3^rd and 4^th, they’re having a massive sale to get the hunting season started. So head over to firstlite.com to grab some smokin’ deals on some merino wool hunting cloths!