Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Elk hunt clothing help - October in Montana

Forgive me if this has been covered before but clothing is always changing and search engines in forums leave a lot to be desired so I am asking here for updated information and opinions.

I have an elk hunt in Montana in 2016 and am looking for advise on clothing. The hunt will be the first week in October and camp is at 9000 feet. Over the years I have hunted Canada, Newfoundland, and Colorado so I know what to expect for terrain but dressing for the ever changing weather is another story.

I realize this is very personal and opinionated but for those that live it every day, or spend those countless hours in pursuit of elk, what do you recommend for clothing? My current gear is a mix and match of everything known to man - I would like a complete layering system that is practical and effective.

Thanks for the help,
Dan

Be prepared for heat, and snow. Good chance you will see both during the week.

It could be 80 degrees or 0 degrees, so you have to come prepared for both

1) Warmer days:
uninsulated/gore tex boots
merino wool socks and long johns
flannel or microtex shirt
blue jeans or micortex pants
packable raingear
uninsulated hat

2) Colder days
insulated/goretex boots
merino wool socks and long johns
wool or thinsulate pants
flannel shirt/down vest/insulated jacket
packable rain gear
wool mittens
warm hat

Watch for frostbite in the morning and night, work on your tan during the day.

Just remember the old adage....Cotton Kills
Get damp and it takes long to dry out, catch a chill breeze and you are cold. If its on your core it can be rough, this comes from experience.

Synthetic or merino base layers. My likes are wool shirts, lightweight and medium for colder. They dry better are warm and don't seem to hold as much stink on multi day hunts.

your mileage may vary, jmho
Best of luck on your hunt, planning is all part of the fun.

I'm cornfused... What is it, really? Cotton kills? Or, Cotton is the fabric of our lives?....

Thanks for the info guys.

Is anyone using the "systems" like Sitka, First Lite, or Kuiu?

They are a bit pricey for me but curious if they are all they say they are?

<snork>

Milsurp wool DRESS pants. Not the heavy cargo pocket ones but the lighter weight dress type. They're light enough to wear up to 70F, will keep you comfortable down to 25 or 30 as they are, and with polypro long johns, are good to 0 or so. They're cheap, very durable, and ugly, but are the best pants I've ever found.

Take a look at Cabelas microtex or whatever they call their brand for pants at least. Reasonably priced and hold up very well. Stay away from denim jeans and as mentioned it can be cold and lots of snow and/or in the 60-70 degree range at that elevation during mid day.

I personally HATE long johns and would rather be a touch cold than over heated. Plan to carry a pack and be able to add or shed a layer or two as needed.

"Systems" are probably a good way to roll if you can afford it but I've basically pieced my bunch of duds together-and from August to November I wear...

Icebreaker 1/4 zip merino as my base layer.

Marmot 1/4 zip fleece over that (take it off when I hike usually)

Pants- Cabelas MicroTex

And I carry a First Lite Uncompahgre and then my rain gear in the lid of my pack.

If I'm getting into later October and November mule deer hunts I will add synthetic long underwear and maybe another insulating shirt under my IceBreaker merino, but I hike and move a lot, so I stay pretty light on clothing. That "system" worked well for me in Alaska, and in Colorado.

It might not look as cool as a full on Kuiu or Sitka "system" but then again I'm no mountain athlete or Pro-Staffer...grin

No, and No. There is no reason to pay those prices. I have a couple of Sitka pieces that were bought at 60% off, but while the quality is good, it doesn't merit their regular price

The places you can't skimp on are boots, long johns and rain gear. Just remember that long johns purpose is NOT to keep you warm, but to wick moisture away and keep you dry. When hiking in the mountains, you will sweat. I will agree that cotton would kill if we are talking long johns and socks.

So if you have good boots, a good base layer, and good rain gear, the middle layers are just personal choice

I've got Danner pronghorn boots but with years of wearing them, there is still a hotspot above my ankle right in front on one leg - other recommendations for boots?

I really like my First Lite merino base layers , and I wear Columbia wool pants and a med weight wool shirt, Dahlgreen alpaca wool socks and Hanwag boots and I stay pretty comfortable!

What he says. Cheap, quiet, butt ugly, but wide range of comfort. Anything works in nice weather; it is when you are miles from camp and things change that you appreciate GOOD clothing.

hands can be tough. I like glacier gloves with the mitt cover. You can start out with the mitts in the am, transition to fingerless, and go bare handed if nice. And quick to shoot from. Choice of fleece or neoprene.

Watch sierra trading post. I got some blaze orange polypropylene t-shirts which are a great first layer, and can be worn alone if it really gets warm. Wool or fleece shirts. For layering, they have to be orange. I like a windproof fleece jacket for cold weather, and have a fleece covered down vest as another layer. Works for all but the nastiest weather, when I use a waterproof, windproof breathable orange layer and combos of the other layer.

Head can be tough too. Too hot and a closed hat will sweat you to death, but that same hat will freeze your head if it is cold or rainy. I wear the ventilated hat when hiking and warm, and stuff a stocking hat in my pack just in case. If it is cold, I go to a closed top hat. And if really cold, I have a fur lined orange hat with ear flaps. Don't hike in it - use another hat because you will get soaked.

Not sure how you will be hunting, but this may help with organization: I'm sitting in Billings, MT waiting for a hunting partner to show at the airport. In the back of the truck is a rubbermaid tote with all the outer layers in it. They go in there when I get to the truck, and when I leave in the am, they come out.

Boots - something that fits! Lacrosse made an alltemp boot that is a rubber bottomed boot with thin liners for warm weather, felt liners for cold weather, as long as you keep moving. Leather or even tennis shoes in hot weather. GOOD wool socks and linersocks, even on a warm day. Good liners minimize blisters, but so do Russell moccasins!

Enjoy your prep - but start researching now. Santa Claus is coming soon ;-)

Curious about this comment. Is there a law on orange for hunting?

Just have a cheepy orange mesh vest and you're good to go.

I am thinking I can take advantage of the after season sales since the hunt isn't until 2016.

Yep. I if I am looking for something in particular, I look at Cabelas bargain basement and on amazon at least once weekly. Also, sign up for Camofire.com The send you a daily email of hunting clearance items. Once or twice a month, they will have something you might be interested in

Cabelas Meindl in Perfkt Hiker or denali. DO NOT buy the mendle boots that say "imported" because they are made in Asia. Buy only ones that say "made in Germany" I think you can find them on sale sometime this year.