Hike In and Sleeping Clothes

[deer615]

I would like some input from the lightweight back country western hunters. I'm a Midwesterner with mostly whitetail expertise but learning and loving mountain hunting with one DIY bow elk and bow mulie under my belt.

I am taking my 17 daughter on her first muzzy elk hunt in September. We are going deep with all of our gear on our backs. My question is, are you wearing your hunting clothes for your hike in to save weight or wearing different clothes for the hike and changing into hunting clothes when you get where you are going? Same question for sleeping. What do you sleep in?

I realize that I have to let go a bit of my extreme scent elimination regimen that I use for whitetails but hiking in 5 to 6 miles in my hunting clothes seems like it would add quite a bit of persperation / body odor. That being said, packing in several sets of clothes doesn't fit into the thought process or the money that I have spent on lightweight gear.

Thanks in advance from a novice.

 

[ivorytip]

playing the wind, as you already know is your number 1 tool. I wouldn't worry about hiking in with my hunting clothes on, but for sleeping ill sleep in my base layers or just my chonies, depending on weather. I wouldn't sleep in hunting clothes, take them off and let them breath. a solid good base layer will take care of most of your scent problem. there are a lot of cover up scents out there, that I prefer over scent controls. in my opinion its impossible to cover your scent, each breath you take sends your scent flying. so I mask with other scents. ill even add some dirt from hunting grounds, some twigs and leaves and put in bag with my hunting clothes while I sleep. what better scent than the scent the animals are use too.

 

[ivorytip]

with that said.... your hike in doesn't have to be a death march, take your time and take in the big open country, at same time sweating less.

 

[mntnguide]

Ya I agree with above. .I definitely won't be packing extra clothes for the hike in. ..I wear First Lite Merino wool for a reason, it handles sweat and perspiration and wicks it away and keeps odors way down after multiple days of hunting. .worry about playing the wind, not your scent. .if you play the wind right, you don't have to think about scent control much

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[JimP]

I'd have two sets of hunting clothes, one to wear into the area and then the second set to change into once there. Then you can hang the first set out in some pines to get that nice piney scent and then alternate them every day. That way you will also have a dry set to change into when the first set gets wet, and they are going to get wet.

For sleeping I would just sleep in my base layer of long johns and like the above have two sets.

 

[B&C Blacktails]

ivorytip is right on about clothes and scent control. I too believe just breathing is enough for an animal to smell you. Keep the wind in your favor and don't forget about thermals. Early morning expect the wind to be blowing downhill, later in the day as it warms up the winds will be blowing uphill.

I usually have most of my hunts in CA which are on the hotter side, I always hike in with a separate set of clothes, saturating your hunting gear right off the get go seems like a bad idea to me as well. Sometimes if the trails are not too dusty I will hike in with a pair of shorts on. Most muzzy elk hunts are late September and early October it will most likely still be warm out.

I have taken a few ladies up in the high country and they tend to run a little cold. Don't skimp on sleeping bags either. Most good temperature rated bags will keep you warm throughout the night, so I sleep in just my boxers.

Here is what I take in the high country

Socks for everyday I hunt (sweaty feet)
1 good base layer set
1 compressible Primoloft/down jacket
2 t-shirts
1 long sleeve
1 pair of pants
1 wind breaker/softshell jacket
1 set of lightweight rain gear (if rain is forecasted)
a pair of flip flops and shorts for camp use

I find this list covers all my needs as far as weather and temperatures from the teens on up.

Good luck on your daughter's elk hunt. Keep us posted

 

[B&C Blacktails]

I always bring in a pair of gators as well

 

[ivorytip]

I always bring in a pair of gators as well

a must, everyone should have a pair

 

[deer615]

Thanks so much guys. Here is what I have for clothes;

Kuiu merino 145 beanie, neck gaiter, long sleeve T, and zip off pants.
Kuiu Attack Pants.
Kuiu Teton jacket.
Kuiu boot gaiters.
Kuiu Pelton gloves.
?? Brand fleece/ windbreak vest.
Cabelas packable rain coat and pants.
2-3 sets of smartwool socks and merino liners.

Based on the recommendations an extra merino 145 long sleeve T would be a good addition if I could fit it in the budget. Thanks again!

 

[Never in Doubt]

I usually wear clothes that dry quickly and I do sleep in them usually. But this year I'm thinking I'll wear some basketball shorts on the hike in, they don't weigh much and it will be cooler.

 

[Laddy]

I think you guys have all the clothes lists covered.

The only thing I could add is sleeping socks. I bring two pairs of hiking socks regardless of season (started using Darn Tough two years ago, but I've used smart wool and cabelas brands in the past ten years or so)....so I have two pairs of hiking socks I switch out every day, and one pair for sleeping. Its nice to wipe down the feet at night with water (if ur lucky) or a wet wipe, and put on a clean pair of sox when you crawl into your bag.

 

[ivorytip]

I have to have bare feet to sleep, let my feet breath, feels sooooo good

 

[JimP]

I agree my feet need wiggle room and out of the confines of socks even if it is real cold, but that is why I bought a quality sleeping bag rated for the temperatures that I'll be sleeping in. I also take my cloths off at least down to my long johns to sleep in. I at one time slept in my clothes but found out that it is a lot more comfortable if you take them off, I get a lot better sleep without them on.

 

[ivorytip]

hey jim, wanna go camping.... hahaha

 

[mntnguide]

i saw another guide get Foot rot because he always was sleeping with his socks on the whole season because it was cold as hell from beginning of september on that year...but since that, I will never sleep with socks on and believe in letting your feet breathe through the night.. It was a pretty brutal thing he had to deal with, and it can happen pretty easily if your feet do not get time to breathe and "air out"

 

[Aussie_hunter_jd]

We do quite a bit of backpacking in Australia and NZ. I used to over do it but now I hike in with a shirt, jumper, thermal leggings and shorts that I plan on hunting in add in another set of thermal leggings to put on top of the other pair at bed time. I also take a good weather proof jacket. The thing not to skimp on is socks, important that you look after your hooves!

It's always good to have camp clothes but on big hikes it's just not worth the weight.

 

[Never in Doubt]

They say taking your socks off in the sleeping bag keeps you warmer, as the heat from your feet can spread out.

 

[B&C Blacktails]

I always sleep with no socks on, they stay warmer for me too. In real cold temperatures I sleep with a beanie on my head

 

[JimP]

It might surprise people at how much warmer they sleep if they put a beanie on their head before going to bed when it is cold.

I've been doing it for quite a while when it is cold out.

 

[Matthoek21]

I agree with B&C and JimP. No socks and Beanie if it's real cold. But hey I don't have much insulation up top...