Dress Code

R

roy reali

New member
How many here buy special, "hunting" clothes and how many use whatever you happen to have on hand? What about footwear? Do your boots cost as much as a shotgun or more like a box of shotgun shells? How about camo? Do you go so far as to have camo contact lenses and toilet paper or is blue denim enough of a disguise?

The reason I am asking is that I see hunters that are dressed no different then a construction worker and I see some that look like they are going to shoot a commercial for Bass Pro Shop.
 
I will try to dig out a shirt that sort of looks "natural"... for the last sevral years, that was an OD (olive drab) pajama top from a "set" bought at walmart.

I am also as likely to be seen in a blue or red plaid flannel shirt or insulated "thick shirt"/"thin jacket".

Not completely in humor, I tell folks, I try to look like "Old MacDonald" the farmer... If I am out snoopin' a deer/squirrel or other game is likely to walk up to me and try to tell me where they seen my tractor parked... then... BLAMMO!!!! Off to the big PRESERVE (my freezer) they go!

Brent
 
I used to hunt in green or tan denim jeans, green or tan shirt, and green or tan coat. Dressed in layers to keep warm because I lived where the wind blows, and the wind can cool you down pretty quick. And ever since I was about 25 I have bought good boots, usually Danners or similar, so my feet don't get beat up.

Now I wear Cordura-faced jeans, and a Cordura jacket, and always GoreTex lined. I finally figured out that if I wore wind barrier clothing I could wear clothing that weighs a lot less. And I still buy Danners.

I see guys that wear jeans and cotton flannel shirts out hunting, and I see guys wearing camo this and that, looking for all the world like refugees from Cabela's. I try to be sensible and not dress like a nijit.
 
when i used to bowhunt, i had alot of different camo. Now i only suit up if im duck hunting. For rifle season, i have a blaze orange jacket (required by law) for pants, i have my carhartt insulated coveralls and winter work boots.
 
I do have special hunting clothing.... They're the BDUs and DCUs left over from my military service. The damn things won't wear out. They're comfortable. And the cargo pockets are amazingly useful.

They don't get reserved for hunting, though. I use them to mow the lawn, work on cars, do home remodeling tasks, and anything else I don't want to wear "good" cloths for.

Shirts? Whatever is clean.

Socks? Everything I own. I hate wet, cold feet; and 8 hours in boots is as much as I can handle, before my feet scream for a sock change.

Boots? I do want some good, insulated, water-proof boots again (used to have some really nice Danners). But... I have too many boots left over from the military.

For warm weather, I wear combat boots. Once they're broken in, they're not bad (you just have to keep them dry, or they squeak).
For cold weather, I wear my flyer's boots. They're mildly insulated, and more comfortable than combat boots; but far from water-proof (and they let the stank out). Most people would consider it a handicap, but I even like the steel toe in the flyer's boots. It provides a nice support for prolonged periods of kneeling, or weird sitting positions; and doesn't transmit the cold, like many people think.


I laugh at camo-ed up hunters. Not because it's a bad thing, but because the "super camo ninjas" I have known were exactly that. They were "tactical hunters", that never filled their tags....


If I feel the need to camouflage myself, I hide behind a tree/rock/dead cow.

I do own a camo rifle, though. It's pink and purple zebra striped, with a blue, red, and purple barrel. ;)
 
i hear ya frank. even with blaze orange, you can hide from bambi. its all about breaking up your image. Even if you have all the high tech uber camo, it doesnt mean anything if you are standing on the top of a ridge. I did bowhunt with street clothes, and managed to take my first deer. It was a ten yard shot. they didnt know i was there. I was hidden in some tall grass and shrubs.
 
I've never bothered with camo. I avoid blue jeans when dove hunting, having read that doves for some reason associate that color with danger. About the only "camo" I'd ever use is one of these little net deals over my shiny little face if I'm sorta facing into an evening sun.

Otherwise, mostly just old khakis. Old GI field jacket from way back when, in colder weather, along with an old wool watch cap.
 
I completely camo up for turkey and goose hunting, but other than that, why bother? With deer, I just try to have something with a broken up pattern like flannel or something like that. Color means nothing since they're color blind.
 
Yeah, I'm kinda like Franken, I wear old BDU'S or overhauls mostly, rubber boots and such. Whatever keeps my cheeks warm!!!
 
I have special clothing for hunting but it is mostly to keep it scent free. I primarily archery hunt so scent is important. Scent is more important than camo but you do need to break up your out line, that is why I use camo. I think other clothing would work just as well if it was cared for the same way as I do my camo with the scent control and special scent free and non brightening laundry soap.

I get a kick out of watching hunting shows where the hunter is all decked out in 500 bucks worth of camo and the guide is wearing blue jeans a long sleeve shirt and whatever hat the hunter gave them to promote their sponsor.

I believe that the only time you truly need Camo is while bird hunting. I don't worry about scent when duck hunting but I do worry about concealing my face and the rest of me. Quality camo not expensive camo and face cover or a good blind and face cover are very important while bird hunting.
 
Boots depends on what kind of hunting I will do.

If it's going to be hiking through possibly marshy or wet areas I will go with my Muck Boots. They are light and will keep my feet warm and dry.

If it's sitting in below freezing weather I will go with my Lacrosse boots with 1500 grams of Thinsulate.

If it's warm enough I will go with my Rockies Deer Stalker's.

As for clothes, I dress for the weather as well. But I almost always wear my carharrt vest which I have always worn when I have killed a big buck.
 
I usually just wear whatever is handy, if I'm hunting with a stick flipper I'll camo up.
I think going slow and using terrain and vegitation to break up my outline accomplish more than head to toe camo.
Boots, usually just wear my work boots, in cold weather I wear my pack boots.
 
I use surplus camo. Surplus stuff is pretty rugged clothing and cheap. I have to agree with Frankenmauser that all those extra pockets come in handy.
I use regular hiking boots.
I wear light wool socks from my cross country ski kit. I wear a poly-pro undershirt b/c it pulls sweat off quickly and dries quickly.
If it's late winter, I take hand/foot warmers.
I guess it's special combo of clothing b/c I don't wear it around the house, only hunting.
 
I broke down and spent a fair amount of money on a good pair of insulated boots. i have a tough time keeping my feet/toes warm while sitting in wait in the middle of winter.

I have a pair of camo coveralls. They're insulated, but I bought them a size big so that I can customize what I wear under them: from hooded sweatshirts to long johns, etc. I also have an insulate jacket that I can wear over my coveralls. It gets VERY cold sitting still in below freezing temps.

On an added note, I wear these coveralls underneath my Carhatt Bibs, and my big hunting jacket (bought the jacket before the coveralls) goes over both when I'm out ice fishing.

I tend to wait until after the hunting season, then I swing through Gander Mountain and check out their sale racks. That's how I got the coveralls.
 
I don't wear anything differant, just what ever I happen to be wearing at the time, jeans, boots and western style shirt.

Don't make no sense to wear camo when you are wearing hunter orange.
 
OH and for boots most of you would not pay what I paid for my boots. I can't see why you would spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on guns and optics yet buy 50 or even hundred dollar chepo boots.

I don't think that the amount of money spent on them makes the boot for example my winter boots are red wing Irish setter 600 gram thinsulate boots. However my pack boots are actually wild land fire fighter boots. I primarily bought them for work but I do wear them most of the time if it is above 20 degrees. When you think about it Wild land fire fighters tend to do a lot of hiking making a good boot for hiking paramount. And the construction of the boot just as important. I buy Nicks hand made boots, but there are others out there that are just as good or almost as good. Whites are another brand that are well made. Granted I paid nearly 400 for my boots about 3 years ago but I know people who have had the same pair of Nicks for 20+ years. When you think about how long that factory made boot from china lasts it does not seem that bad to spend double to get a good quality boot.
 
boots i dont skimp on, no matter what i am using them for. $150 is my cheapest pair.

and i just bought a bunch of camo stuff. why? because i needed some good quality warm waterproof clothes for hunting. the only stuff besides snowboarding gear that fits that description is hunting gear. and its all camo, so i bought the cabelas brand because it was so highly rated, and has a lifetime warranty.
 
I camo up. I don't buy the scent / lokt super duper camo, but just something to break up my pattern a bit. I also buy clothes that seem like they'll hold up well and keep me warm in the cold and wet. When we hunt, we hunt. The longer I can sit in the cold, the better chances I have.

As far as boots, I don't skimp on those. Warm boots that I can put the miles in with are a must.

Truth be told, I look more BPS than I do construction worker however, I'm the first to admit that camo isn't a must for hunting. Sitting still and picking a good spot is really what matters the most.
 
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