Layering Merino Wool Hunting Clothes
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- Опубликовано: 16 июл 2024
- 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 RUclips 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 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$$!
www.firstlite.com
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Alpaca wool has some very cool features too. 2x the tensile strength for the same micron compared to merino, the hairs are hollow which means they don’t absorb water, so they wick sweat right through the fabric while staying insulating. It’s anti microbial, very water resistant, very durable, dead silent, and SUPER breathable
Agreed. Wool is a miracle fabric. The most sought after piece of kit, when I was in the military was the Norwegian Army sweater (longer than normal sleeves that had a thumb hole and could act as almost gloves plus a collar that you could flip up against the wind and cold, but also buttoned up the front like a quarter zip, but with quieter buttons). The German Mountain Infantry start every morning movement with their kit on that was keeping them warm in camp. They stop after 15 min. and strip down to their movement layers.
The ( cheap ) MaGyver Method :
I've created a lot of my own camo
by buying used regular
quality garments
and 3- 4 quarts
of vary colors of wall paint.
You will use very little of those cans of paint in creating one camo outfit.
You will get a lot of mileage
out of those cans of paint.
I used sponges or
old wadded up rough towels as a dobber,
and I have even used crunched up plastic shopping bags to blotch the paints on.
Then use the painting sponges
( with stick already attached )
from the dollar store,
and paint in a few lines and edges.
Changing the hues by adding
( tiny amounts ) of black paint,
or one of the other darker colors
you chose ...
to the lightest color you chose, on a plastic trash bag.
It's a tapering transition
in the color ( or hue ) scheme.
Use a photo
from a commercial
camo garment as a color guide.
You'll figure it out.
It need not be perfect at all,
to work extremely well.
You can find excellent cotton,
fleece, and wool garments
at secondhand stores
for very little money.
Jackets, hats, and gloves too.
The key to painting the material
is to just dab the paint on.
Don't try to paint the material
as if it were a wall in your house.
Blotch it on with only a little paint
on your improvised paint dabber.
( Again, a little paint
goes a very long way. )
* You want the material
to still be able to breathe.
Apply too much paint
and it clogs the pores
of the garment,
and it will also make the surface noisy.
Use as little paint as possible and maybe even add some water to it
to assist in getting the paint
absorbed into the cloth of the garment.
Then let it dry thoroughly.
You're now a pro
at improvising camo clothing.
Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Do what you can.
- Arthur Ashe
* Happy hunting.
Orrr- you could just skip the paint and be all set
Big fan of New Zealand merino/outdoor gear. They grow some of the finest wool on the planet, have a strong hunting/outdoors culture and they’ve always punched above their weight quality/design wise. With the exchange rate being what it is, bargains can be had too.
I just love the bow and trad Hunting is life
Awesome.
Good channel
Clay, when whitetail hunting. How do you approach morning and evening hunting? Meaning what type of spots do you hunt on an AM hunt vs. evening hunts? I’m not unsure of what to do, just like to get others perspectives. Maybe worth a video.
What pant do you recommend instead of the first-lite obsidian pant if your hunting environment requires more durability?
G'day from South Australia, saw you on Keto Homestead with Jess ans thought Id come over, sub and watch :) We have a marino sheep amongst ours-the best wool!
Being Scottish I'll never go hunting, but when the SHTF it's merino wool for me.
There is a British (and specifically Scottish) movement to legalise bowhunting. If it's something you might be interested in, check it out...
www.britishbowhunterassociation.co.uk/page10.php
Clay, I too am a big fan of wool. You mentioned Obsidian pants from first lite. How durable are they?
They’re probably not going to hold up well if you’re busting through briars. This is my first year with the new design but the old ones did pretty well. I still wear them after 4 years in the field.
Spanish sheeps, the best jejejeje
How do I get my hands on one of those long bows?
In respect to quietness I'd be interested to know what you wear in rain and what kind of gaiters you use. Thanks
I stand under a fir tree when it’s raining! Seriously though, I haven’t found any rain gear that’s quiet enough for my liking. The gaiters are somewhat loud if walking in brush but not too bad in the open. These are by kennetrek
What are your thoughts on the durability of the obsidian pants? A lot of reviews say they get holes easily and just plan don't hold up over time with actual use. I'm tempted to buy but also don't feel like wasting my hard earned money. I hunt in northern NY. I do not hunt from a tree stand. I'm either sitting on the ground somewhere or walking the woods.
They aren’t what you want for busting through briars and heavy brush for sure. It’s a trade off, lite and quite vs rugged and loud or heavy and hot. For me, in the country I hunt, the trade is worth it. I have a pair of their older kanab pants I’ve had for years. They have a few homes in them but I’ve worn the hell out of them.
I used alpaca
Where do you get your pants? I'm a thick thigh guy and it causes a lot of rubbing and loud noises, any tips on gear? I have tried several types and haven't found the ideal type yet. Thanks for the video, love your content.
Firstlite.com they’re having a big sale on the 3rd and 4th.
what kind of knife do you carry?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm guessing that one dislike was a whitetail hunter xD
Haha! Wait....Im a whitetail hunter....oh yea! Ive been wearing wool since I was a kid but mine is old school itchy although it does serve the same purpose and I chuckle at all the new age materials.
@@turtlewolfpack6061 Synthetics are terrible for the environment - just wish I could afford wool
@@3nertia shop military surplus like me. Surplus wool pants and tunics can usually be had for a song and works just as good as merino.
@@turtlewolfpack6061 If we had somewhere around here to get stuff like that, maybe. Ordering online is a no-go though; never know what kinda crap you're gonna get heh
@@3nertia that is true. Ive been pretty lucky on both points, as well as thrift stores over the years.
I dont' know whether I can trust your advice or not because the hard sales stuff going. Hard to navigate these days. Probably won't buy this gear.
7:44 - I don't understand how a solid colored bottom and camo top breaks up your silhouette. Wouldn't you want a camo top and bottom?
Ungulate vision doesn't work the way ours does
firstlight.com ?
Firstlite.com