Next fall will be my first season hunting deer, and hunting in general really. I'll be bow hunting. I figure I should start looking into camo and boots now. What do you recommend for what I'll be doing?

Thank you,

Drew

Depends on where you plan to hunt... Realtree AP works pretty well for this side of the mountains. If you're planning to hunt the dry side, Realtree Max 1 is the way to go, IMO.

One thing i have ofetn overlooked, but the deer haven't, is my face. Make sure that somehow the face and hands are covered; the blovk of one color has been easy for them to see, at least on me.

Drew, ALL camo looks cool up close, think about what it will look like at 50 to 100yds. Most dark patterns just blob up at those distances and you stand out against a lighter background and visa versa. I've found in general, that a pattern with large areas of light and dark work better to break up you outline both up close and farther away. Good luck.

Perfekt Hunters by Meindel at Cabelas. Best boot ever!

Shoot just noticed the new thing under my avatar. Corkies under a float do in fact rock!

Drew, dont know about hunting around here but I know the danners never let me down while in afghanistan. So I figure if they can handle 8 months of the hunting season there, they would be great for here.

This is good. I wear brown wool fingerless gloves while hunting. Pale skin shows up well in the woods and your hands move a lot. I also usually wear a full brimmed hat to shade as much of my face/head as possible. My lucky hunting shirt is a gray fleece that zips up to cover my neck.
Most camo is intended to fool hunters into spending their money.
Count me as another Danner fan for boots.

+1 on Danner boots & EE width, much more comfortable.


And be sure to get GOOD socks, I like Smartwool.

For camo I like the Vanish, and then for all around the Radical 452 in GTX 6"


c/22

I'm rockin' the 452's as well.
Not "real" Danners but I like 'em a lot. They're light, but for super wet, muddy conditions I would use something else. Mucks are nice.

Favorite socks these days are REI Expeditions....non-itchy wool, no hot wash and drip dry only ! They are my everyday go-to for work and play.
Warmth plus the all-important cushion, not cheap.
Buy one size larger.

Camo...so many choices these days, depends on your terrain.

I was looking at some of the camo options at outdoor emporium the other day. Seems like a big part of what makes some camo better than others is the material it's made of. Noticed a few brands that looked and felt like wool or something. I'd assume camo like that would be very quiet while walking which would be to my advantage while bow hunting. I'm also looking for stealthy boots, that will be quiet. I'll be getting pretty close and just don't want to get busted by the buck I'm tracking.

Thanks everybody.

"I'm also looking for stealthy boots, that will be quiet."

Never really known a boot to be loud.... Most of the time, it's the stuff that you are walking on that's loud.


"I'll be getting pretty close and just don't want to get busted by the buck I'm tracking."

For a newb bow hunter, you seem pretty confident

Confidence is key. I fish the same way and catch fish.

Funny. I thought stealthy boots and camo was the key....

Looks like little Jake is wanting an internet argument for Christmas.... Looks like he'll just have to go wanting....again.

(dfnw)

Can we keep the content of this thread aimed at my original questions please? I'm not into pissing contests.

(SD)

Okay, sense "I" some how started a pissing match, I'll try and get your thread back on topic....

Have you decided on what side of the mountains you plan to hunt? would help narrow your decision.

Also, if you're in the market for a bow, look into the Mathews z7 or Hoyt CRX

Yes! I am a big fan of the predator print pattern. It looks a little funky up close with its angular presentation but flat out vanishes in the woods at a distance.

Also, you asked about materials. If you are bow hunting it will most likely be hot as hell and most bow hunting requires a lot of hiking. I am a fan of light cotton in long sleeve. also a tougher cotton based pants, quiet , breathable and light.

don't get too caught up on gadgets and gear. focus on your shooting and scouting as much as possible!

I'll be staying on the west side for deer.

Westside camo hardly matters. If you are trying to "sneak up" on a deer on the Wetside, there is bound to be plenty of cover to hide in and behind. Also the brush on the Westside varies so much that you can't really go wrong with too many patterns. Just pick one that isn't really dense. If you feel like you are standing out where you are, move 3 feet and blend into something different.

I do recommend a mask though. I like the mesh ones they trap your breath less. The thicker material will force your breath out of the top of the mask and fog your glass. I found that the deer will stare at you for a few more ticks on the clock when they don't see eyes/nose/mouth combo.

If you are going to be using a tree stand, then camo be more of a consideration.

as far as boots are concerned, i couldn't be happier with my danner hawks. they're USA made, have the bob sole, and have the wider footbed that their work boots usually come with(compared to their "classic" hunting boots like the grouse, hood winter, canadian etc). the "D" width fits my wide feet really well.

they also needed very little in the way of break-in. the day i brought them home i ran down to the bluff hole on the hump, walked down and back in them, and didn't even feel like taking them off when i got home! 2 weeks later i spent the majority of rifle season walking sidehills on the eastside and they were unbelievably comfortable.

i'm not a big camoflauge guy, if it's warm i usually wear army BDU pants from thrift shops, if it's cold i like wool military surplus pants. if i were to pick a pattern for deer hunting, i think that realtree AP would fit the bill in most situations in this state.

One aspect i discovered with boots, at least for me, is soft flexible soles. When I switched from a traditional boot/sole to something like LL Bean's pac I found myself going through the woods really quietly. This is especially noticable in the early season when things may be dry.

Love my Danners. I just picked up some new camo as an early birthday gift. The new omni heat camo from Columbia looks to be sweet. Perfect for those rainy westside days chasing blacktails. I had to take advantage of the 40% off all camo at WS.

last year I tried Sitka Optifade.
now this year have two sets: forest for wetside (& treestand), open country eastside.
best clothing I've ever hunted in and I've tried most. sold most thru Ebay after a season; ASAT, Max 1 and a Predator-grey wolf woolens brand.

both sets of Sitka in their 90% pants & jacket. Added the Downpour Rain coverups in only Forest pattern too for wetside rainy days.

Danner usa boots but like the Perfekt boots too.

yes on face mask or use camo face paint, cover thy hands. And most important; constantly be aware of wind direction and limit your movements when game is close.

archery hunting isn't like the Outdoor Channel TV show Best of the West; where they cherish their 600-850 yard rifle shots.

Drew,
Critters with a cloven hoof are pursued 24/7 by other critters with teeth and claws that are far more proficient predators than any of us will ever be. Mainly because, in both cases, their longevity directly depends upon their success rate....

Keep that in mind before you end up looking like a Cabela's catalog model crunching your new gore-tex Danners through the wet salal with the wind at your back, and maybe your time afield spent with those of cloven hoof will graciously learn ya a thing or three 'bout what's most important...

and not so much so....