Kids Gear

[mooretitan]

I am getting ready for a very important deer hunt this winter. I drew basically the best hunt that you can in California and would like my 8 1/2 year old son to be part of it. The hunt can be as easy or as hard as I want. Since this is a once in a life time hunt I am going to take it serious and do whatever needs to be done to put a good one down. a 180-200 inch deer is the goal and is reasonable if the right time is put in. I have taken my son on lots of hunts the last few years and he has slowed me down some put nothing to the point where I have not wanted him there. I am going to give him a few extreme hikes leading up to it just to make sure he knows that it takes to go.

The problem I am running into is his gear.
1. The boots that he has a keep ankle type boots that fill with sand and stickers pretty easy and are not going to get it done in a december hunt with snow and rain. Who makes a good youth size 13 or kids size 1 that is water proof and a mid to high calf boot.
2. what socks are the same size foot and are good quality
3. Pants - he is around 45lbs not very big. I need a solid pair of pants that are some what water proof and can take a beating. We will be off the beaten path most of the time.
4. Same thing for jackets and layering gear.

I know that he is going to out grow must of the stuff before it wears out but he does have younger siblings that they can be passed down to.

Agin this is a december hunt that could be cold and wet and i want to make him as comfortable as possible or he will not be able to go. I have no problem leaving him home if i can't find the right gear but I do believe that it would be special to share with him and is probably going to be able to physically able to keep up.

Thanks

 

[go_deep]

My son also goes with me, and I had the same problems. If you google youth or kids Merino wool socks a bunch come up, for boots I ended up buying him non-waterproof leather boots then spraying them with camp dry. You can also get a heavy pant and spray the fronts of them with a waterproofing also, and just layer up under. For a jacket he just wears a regular winter jacket then I have a thin long sleeve tshirt that's a few sizes to big for him to pull over the jacket so it's quiet.

Good luck!

 

[Tim McCoy]

Not sure if Browning still makes them, but both of my boys have cycled through several pairs of their youth hunting boots. 4 grandkids coming up will probably use them too. Have also had great luck with women's sized boots for kids. All were well above the ankle, that or gaiters should do the trick.

 

[Hoytfanatic]

I was on the gaiter comment as well Tim. Sitka has kids sized stuff, might try that for some mnt type gear.

 

[sneakypete]

I was on the gaiter comment also, may also want to look for clothing in the women's section. As for boots maybe REI? Socks I say the same thing women's hiking sock or let him try on socks at REI with the boot either already bought or purchasing them? Clothing is tough thing I went though that with my oldest son. Good luck, what zone did you draw in Calif?

 

[Drhorsepower]

Check out koda kids clothes. I saw them at shot show and might have to get some stuff for my kids when they become of age.

 

[Drhorsepower]

Also if you drew the zone I think you did, I know a guy who flew it in January. He saw 2 180 bucks. Good luck. That's a big area.

 

[ssliger]

Check out koda kids clothes. I saw them at shot show and might have to get some stuff for my kids when they become of age.

Thanks for this! Have a 12 year old daughter that I need to get gear for.

 

[mooretitan]

Thanks guys for all the help. I will be sure to check everything out. The main thing is to make him comfortable in the cold wet snow that is possible that time of year. I drew G3 which is a once in a life time hunt. Realistically a 180-200 inch deer is possible if I hunt hard. The zone is know for broken horns around that time so we will see what happens.

 

[sneakypete]

Lucky you, my partner hunted G6 last December above Isabella, anyway you'll see and hear a lot of fighter jets staring around 9:30 am, very cool. Good luck I look forward to some great pictures! We meet to area warden that lives in Isabella, I can't remember his name but he gave us some great info, not sure if he could help you out?

 

[mooretitan]

I found a pair of boots from cabelas that go to size 1 that I think will work. Not excited to pay $99 for them so I will keep looking. I remember back when I was his age not getting anything and making due with what we had and it seemed to work. I don't think I got a pair of boots until I was 14. But then again I did not go with my dad deer hunting until I was 12. Before that I was just small game and birds. So I am on the fence how much I want to dive into it. The one good things is he has 3 younger ones that will be able to use them at some point
Thanks

 

[buckbull]

If there is one thing to splurge on it would be boots. An ill fitting pair of boots will probably slow you guys down or at worse ruin the hunt. If you have to, go to goodwill for the clothing. Lots of nice stuff at our goodwill.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[ivorytip]

im in same situation right now, not knowing what to get my 10 year old. he has a pair of boots, but has grown out of them. its hard dropping a large sum that he will outgrow next year, I guess I can always resale them on craigslist, hey, not a bad idea. ill check out craigslist

 

[JimP]

I remember many years ago when I was 12 years old my dad purchased me some insulated hunting boots for the grand total of $20.00. At that time he told me that my feet had better not grow anymore until these boots were wore out. After that I had the same size of boot until I started to purchase my own boots. My toes are just now recovering from being cramped up for so long 50 years later.

I didn't see if they were mentioned but check on some insulated irrigation boots from a place like Tractor Supply or a farmers CoOp. You may have to change socks out a couple of times a day but they are not too expensive and the do wear fairly well.

 

[Dakota Kid]

my son just got some Rocky boots, he is 10. I also like the Gaiter idea, and cabelas has the boots and great socks.