Lets see what some of you guys are wearing around the woods early and late season. I'm looking for some ideas. I'm trying to get away from all the big box name brand camo and clothes and I'd like to go with simple but functional hunting attire. I've started with a G Fred Asbell zip up. I'm now looking into some decently priced pants. Lets see the footwear too!

I have no pics yet But I picked up a great sherpa lined plaid shirt that Im going to use a lot this season. Its wheat tan has 5 pockets and feels great. It actuall matches my shaggy boonie well.

I may add some darker shades to it (as its a little light)

They had a white and black (snow camo) but were sold out

Tip: Wal-mart sells a fabric dye/paint in an aerosol in the craft section

I know you cant see the pants. They are the Cabelas green wool pants with cargo pockets. Very affordable and I love them. Have fun!

I suspect you are not looking for this but I also like army bdus for real warm weather hunting. Not a fan of big name hunting camo so this stuff makes me happy and is very affordable and works great.

I hear ya! I am young, but want to back to the roots of trad archery. I want to dump my camo too.(ashamed I have so much $ tied up in it)

Paul, I like your pull over! What brand?

Pull over is G Fred Asbell.

For pants head over to the army surplus store. The military issue wool gear from Germany and the Scandinavian countries is top notch. Cargo pockets, heavy wool, washable, the whole nine. Might set you back $25 or $30 nowadays. I bought my first pair of West German issue 30 years ago for 10 bucks. Up top I wear gear from several makers and I have dropped some dough on it. My Filson Mackinaw and vest have been stalwarts for 25 years. I also have gear from Woolrich and Asbell. Oh, and the Ulfrotte long underwear is unbeatable!

I check out my local Goodwill and similar stores every week or so and have picked up Pendleton, Filson, Woolrich and others at a fraction of the original cost.

Just last week, I found a Filson Tin cloth jacket for $10. It's like new, so I need to drag it behind my truck for a few miles to break it it.

Back to basics camo.

...and don't forget to pick up a hat like Fred wore.

Doing the same this year...getting away from the box store camo as well.

Ron

Got mine!

During the middle to late season, I generally wear a Pendleton Plaid shirt or a Asbell Pullover. Early season I forced to wear a bugsuit jacket or a long sleeve shirt that has been treated with Permethrin. As for pants, some old military camo, carhartts or wool gets the job done.

I'm a beret guy, like my Dad always wore.

Cant beat the warmth of the felt.

Wool is the way to go!

My wife and friends kinda tease me during the winter about my camo pants and the wool plaid shirts that I wear to our archery club. I wear wool as a lining layer during deer season under a jacket (Columbia wool camo or camo jacket). At Compton I scored a pair of the old Fred Bear type Camo pants for $5. Could not pass them up. I usually wear a 34 waist and these are 36 but I figure they will be fine with a belt.

I like plaid and camo pants for most of my bow hunting, bow shooting wear.

Bill

Early season Sept. it's hot so I'm wearing USGI Army bdus.

I do have a Fred Bear hat but don't wear it hunting much. Did this day along with the old Fred Bear camo coat.

chenryiv, that hat really shades your eyes and face nicely.

I have assorted camo patterns. Viet Nam tiger stripe, BDU German army camo & plaid, lets face it though the camo is mainly for us as long as your outline is broken up most of the time deer will not spot you they will always wind you though! Just my opinion.

my favorite hunting sweater bought at good will

White Falcon - That is one cool hat!!!

Works well in the cabin also.

That's a Woorich medium weight, bought at Goodwill for $3.99.

I'm definitely going to check out Goodwill for some plaid. I've been meaning to do it for years.

One thing I love about wearing plaid and solid color pants is that I don't have to worry about people making rude remarks about being a hunter (Yes it does happen) when in public places.

I've never been one to care what other people think but its nice not to have to deal with them.

Not to mention a lot of "Traditional" hunting clothing is made in wool which means it has warmth advantages as well. I like to keep things simple and rely on my skills as a hunter instead of gear getting the job done.

I must say there hasn't been a difference in deer seeing me when hunting on the ground while wearing plaids and solid colors compared to big name camo. Its all about breaking up your outline.

I see big name camo as just another way to take people's money. My 2 cents.

For when it gets cols, Wool inside and out with muckluks on the feet

Ron, that is classic! Where you get muckluks ? I want some! They wool?

Those look like Steiger Muckluks.

My hunting and shooting buddy and I.

Yes, Steiger Mukluks, mine are the Arctic model.

http://www.mukluks.com/

A few years ago....about 30...:>)

Love it guys. Keep it coming. I've got the felt Fedora, Russel South 40's and Asbell jacket. I've just got to keep building. Ron your wool is on my list this fall too.

Best value on WARM pants is Wool mil surp. I've got Green US Army wool pants and Gray Euro. The Euro MilSurp is substantially warmer. They are always available on eBay.

Hit Thrift stores... I buy Merino Wool pullover shirts and sweaters as base layers. $3-$5 as opposed to $35-$75

In the south it is hard to find Wool Plaid shirts in thrift stores. But I do find thin Cotton Plaid for early season. I found one great Woolrich wool. I Have an Asbell Zip Hoodie

I found a used pair of Woolrich dark plaid overalls that I love. Also found a used pair of Columbia Wool camp pants that I really like.

I wear knee high Mocs in early season.

Not sure what happened. It was upright when I imported it!

Are muckluks warm? I always have a hrs time with my feet getting cold! Even in 30-40 deg weather! Not even 1200 gr hunting boots keep me comfy!

My go to hunting shirt, is a flannel red and black check shirt, never bothered the deer either, so much for camo

Steger Arctic Mukluks are rated to -20

They are making a waterproof version but unfortunately they are Camo. Going to suggest they offer a non camo version

Warm weather attire......

A line from the poem,>> "I'm a Mountain man"

"In the summertime I run's near neked

a breech clout hangs ta ma knee

the burnin sun makes ma hide like leather

cuz I'm a Mountain man, wild an free"

Hey Ron....you have a current photo like that? LOL. I guarantee you wouldn't want to see one of me in that attire. "Hide your wimmen and chillen!"

No I don't have a current one like that...that one was only about 20 years ago, not much has changed, my beard is a little grayer now....(roll eyes) :>)

I knew that photo would come up as soon as you started posting Ron. Haha Im sure you haven't changed a bit....

Ron do the mosquitoes ever give you trouble in that setup?

I wear just army issued body's and usually a army issued wool shirt. Early season. Late season it's a ll bean wool vest and a day one asat wool coat with ll bean green wool pants. And if it's real cold a king of the moutain wool vest over the wool coat.

My wool stable, mostly Goodwill finds .

That's a nice collection of wool!!!! The only downside to wool is how heavy it is.

I started phasing out my old camo several years ago and I haven't bought anything camo since. Earth tones and soft greens and browns in flannel or wool-- that's what I'm diggin' now. My favorite warm weather hunting shirt came from Sears- made by Arrow, $12 on sale. I should have bought them all, but didn't. There is a great website called rustyzipper.com-- I have found several great wool shirt-jacs there, very reasonable too.

cut it out, not all wool is heavy, and you certainly don't need cold weather to wear it. I wear wool socks year round and they are as cool as cotton.....actually breathe when cotton doesn't.

I have several wool shirts that I can wear in mild weather. Wool does breathe and had an inherent cooling effect by allowing evaporation. And if I'm out late into the evening, a wool shirt can keep hypothermia away by still insulating if you do cool down quickly.

You can also look at garments that are part wool with other fibers. I have a sweater that is only ten percent wool with other fibers mixed in that is very comfortable during mild evenings.

I wear Armani pinstripes, as it makes up for what my shooting lacks.

Archery season. Light wool for comfort and camo...

Heavy wool for the late bear and deer gun season comfort. With orange camo to blend in with all the gun hunters. :0)

George I know I where it also in warm weather. I didn't mean like to heavy to where just that it's heavier than most materials in general. And when wet. I love to how around a camp fire it is more resistant to catching on fire unlike fleece and other synthetics.

Good pictures Tom. Wool is hard to beat.

19 years and three Labs ago...

And since...

Plaid just isn't going to work. Either will Zwickey Eskimos or heavy arrows. :)

Like My Abell wools !!!

The hunting moccs I made are dead silent in my Georgia woods!

I like wearing wool later in the season, but for much of September in these parts (ID), there's no way I can wear even a light pair of wool pants and a Pendleton shirt - it's just too darn hot, and my typicaly hunting area involves some steep climbing right out of the gate.

That said, I've come to love a lightweight merino wool shirt for early season - it does a great job of wicking sweat, breathes well and doesn't hold odor the way that synthetic layers do. But you don't tend to find merino in classic plaid patterns, so I've have it in a simple camo pattern instead, worn with a pair of lightweight nylon pants. Anything more than that in early Sept. and I'd be sweating like crazy. Wool is certainly 'classic,' but it's hard to beat the performance of some of the modern materials - for moisture wicking, for compressibility of extra layers in your pack, etc. if you're doing anything more than walking into a treestand.

Later in the season, I'll mix and match plaids and various camo pieces - I really don't think it matters all that much. Apparently Fred Bear and numerous other trad icons felt the same way, as they wore camo and plaid mixed together all the time. Then again, they weren't trying to look 'traditional' back then, they were just hunting.

This wool shirt and pants was made from Whitney blankets. The moccasin boots I made with elk hide lined with sheep shearling, heavily greased. The hat is made from an otter. Very warm and comfortable for late season.

Wool again, cap, shirt and pants. The quiver is a wolverine.

I'll be goin for buffalo soon

Buffalo hides make a mighty fine coat for those real cold winter days.

I also wear wool plaid shirts - Red/Black and Green/Black - LL Bean Guide. But I make sure a use burnt cork to camo my face

The tail dragin in the snow behind you befuddles them that's trackin you.

Very nice Ron! I'm finally starting to get it together with my Shrew...Well sometimes. Hunting season can't get here soon enough.

Very nice Ron! I'm finally starting to get it together with my Shrew...Well sometimes. Hunting season can't get here soon enough.

Depending on my mood..Warm weather

Ron be careful with the for coat you mit get mistaken for a buffalo or worse bigfoot.

Wow Ron, some things just shouldn't be exposed to the public eye 'nekid breach cloth's'. The Buffalo coat is a dandy. Kind of made for sitting in the teepee with a good pipe and glass of Kentucky fire water with a splash of branch.

Here are a few.

D.P.

Another.

Another

I realize you mentioned getting away from the big stores but I can't endorse this stuff enough. We had a record cold winter last year in Ohio. I'm telling you it was brutal. I purchased the Cabelas Wooltimate top and bottoms and hunted in temperatures well below 0 with no problems. I mean the stuff is just fantastic. A little on the heavy side but the warmest most comfortable wool, or any colder weather hunting clothing I have ever used, and it looks pretty cool.

I got to get some Asbell wool

If I could just stipulate how great the kids are before beating up on them...

Apparently wool is something else they "don't do". My daughter is learning to knit with great gusto, but apparently a natural fiber is never going to be part of the equation.

You can never get that naked up here Ron, the bugs will cover you if you leave your clothes at home.

RON, I'm really beginning to wonder if this was you after seeing the Buffalo outfit?

O.K. The picture didn't show up but it was that famous picture of "Bigfoot"

Keefers, Do you mean this one

Yes..as a previous poster said ..wool is a bit heavy; but I think its virtues outweigh any negatives(no pun intended) Wool is the only material I know of which retains body heat when wwet.In my days as a fireman wool mittens were the only thing I wore as your hands were always wet handling hose in cold weather Wool is quiet and supple when hunting.It is a natural material..nothing greener.

Back in the 50's here in outport Newfoundland most families kept a few sheep for meat and wool. In spring we would shear them with the sscissors then the fleece was soaked in the family tub with sunlight soap. It was the job of us boys to stomp it clean with ourfeet.Then the fleece was carded by hand and spun into yarn by our grandmother.Finally the yarn was knitted into socks,caps mittens etc.Most everything except underwear.

Yes;.I've had a little hands on experience with wool. ..Baaa!

Ron, Yes sir that's the one LOL...I always knew after watching all those BigFoot shows that those fella's are just chasing good old Ron LaClair through the woods...

Like ole Jeremiah Johnson, Ron! Very nice.

Ron - the Buffalo coat is a new one I have not seen yet. Your gear and photos always amaze and I have said for years you need to create an album book of great pics for all to enjoy. I think the buck in the snowy canoe needs to be the cover!!

Can we get some details on the Buff coat? Where does one get such a great garment? How much does it weigh? I would want to try it on but I am afraid even the sleeves would be touching the ground on my short stature.

Good stuff guys - keep the pics coming.

This is a 0.50cent Woolrich jacket picked up at St. Vinnies. Pants are Euro military wool I bought 3 pair for $9.99 - sometimes it pays to be the short dude that fits in pants no one else wants.

I love Goodwill. Yesterday I picked up this wool blend shirt for $1.99...it had a half price sticker on it. It's wool and nylon, with a thin nylon liner. Will be great for early season chilly mornings and evenings. They also had two Pendleton 100% wool plaid shirts in medium...that won't fit me. Those were $3.99 each.

Lots of wool stuff starting to show up at the local store, so I guess folks are rooting out closets for yard sales. Goodwill gets most of the clothing residue from those ventures.

George I wear medium. Any chance I could have you snag them for me?

I sent you a PM Nick. They are lightweight wool, not heavy.

When those buckskins get worn out and it's time for a new pair....here's what you do with the old ones.

Looks like I have to start hitting the resale shops!

My wife makes almost all my hunting cloth's now days. She even made the little man's hat.

Oak Walker, that picture of you and the little man is priceless. That's what it is all about. Keep up the good work. Jim :)

Agree with Jim. Great photo.

Thanks guys. It has been one of my greatest blessing, to share the outdoors with my two sons.

Nice pic oak walker.

First elk I shot with a bow, I was wearing green wool army surplus pants and a light blue and gray plaid wool shirt. It had rained and the woods were wonderfully silent. I was walking back to my camp after scouting/hunting a drainage I planned to be in first light,

Swear to God I was thinking that I needed to invest in some decent name-brand camo when I noticed a good size cedar tree whipping around. First thought was a bear was climbing the tree. But then, I nice set of antlers lifted up off the base of the tree and a decent bull elk turned and started walking toward me.

He was on a little finger ridge about seven yards from the finger ridge I was on. He never saw me and as he stepped forward I put a grizzly-tipped POC through both lungs. When I butchered him I found that it had taken just the very top off his heart.

He took one step and fell over and rolled down into a ravine.

Sorry -- no photo -- never anyone with me to shoot one. But maybe the words will paint a picture for you. Bottome line, quiet and now movement is as good as the best camo.

I usually wear plaid shirts when hunting.

Nice, Bowhawk.

beautiful deer Bowhawk. Nice pictures as well.

Would like to see some more pics of bow, w/ quiver and yellow arrows. Very Nice Bowhawk!!

Nice elk Harleywriter...I can see it from your story.

Wow, nice buck bowhawk

tttt

Picture of my son this last archery season.

Asbell wool.

I have found some really great Pendleton wool shirts at salvation army for a buck a piece. My favorites are a made in Mexico Pendleton with leather elbow pads and a washable saint johns bay plaid.

Some the best fitting wool shirts I have were size xl that someone washed on hot and shrunk down to bastardized medium.

I love traditional hunting for the fact of getting out in wool, leather and fur. I hunt a lot with my stickbow and black powder and like to be completely comfortable. I also search goodwills for clothes, great place to find wool. People get expensive wool for Christmas and they hate it so off to goodwill it goes! Here's a hint. If you have an awesome beautiful weekend this time of year people are spring cleaning, the following couple of weeks are awesome to hit goodwill as they put the winter gear on the shelves and racks!

New set of Elk skins, got to get them colored up and broke in

New set of Elk skins, got to get them colored up and broke in

Wool blankets make great clothing! Coats, shirts, leggings and breechclout.

In warm weather I wear Army fatigues I got back in 68 when a couple of us were ordered to clean out an old supply building that hadn't been touched since WW2. Took several field jackets and a pile of fatigues. Those are the olive drab and real soft cotton, not the stiff stuff today. When it gets cold, wool. The only camo I own is a KOM trappers shirt I wear under an Asbell pullover. Wool bibs and wool union suits. My brother wears wooltimate and swears by it when he sits in cold weather. When tracking, I use a day pack so I can shed layers. Where I have always ground hunted, I don't think camo amounts to much plus most good heavy wool is not offered in camo. Plaid is just as good in my opinion. I like to make a fire and boil up a tea when I hunt so synthetics are a no-no near a small fire.

In cold weather I have an Asbell pull over, quilted synthetic and wool sweater under that. Also First light merino wool pants in ASAT.. not real trad. Warm weather I have a Pendleton wool shirt that is great. I call it "Pine tree pattern... it like they made it to match the trunks in my country.

I love my wool clothes. I've got more than I will ever need, especially where I live. But.... I can't stop buying it, wool. Especially when a good deal shows up. My wife took me to the woolrich store in Woolrich, PA. a few years back while we were visiting her folks. I almost went crazy in there. My favorites are the older wool plaids from the 80's or thereabout.

Wow, great thread. Love those big whitetails pictured along side the wool garb.

Here's a heavy wool sweater that I like a lot. Made in Scotland, and got it for $19.00 on Ebay. Sweaters are about as quiet as you can get, the wool absorbs light and you can roll em up and pack em in a day pack easily.

Nothing like a wool shirt on a cold damp day. When it's dry I don't care, but some weather begs for a 'real' shirt.

Wool socks are not a luxury, they're a staple, as George Stout points out. Couple years back, hottest wettest day of the year, shot a 3D course. Shorts and tee soaked and slimy. Feet in wool socks and leather boots, very comfortable.

3 favorites, all from e-bay at bargain prices

Dont look through many threads anymore but this is one good one here. Warm & friendly as a fireside taletellin. Real lightbulb epiphany especially for some of the younger guys!

Pretty hard to beat Asbell wool. My whole family hunts in Asbell pullovers in evening stand brown. I also like wool bibs. LLBean insulated wool bibs are very warm. Combine them with a wool union suit, and I can hunt hare in -20 temps easily.

Go back to the picture of Fred Bear, take note of the jacket he has on.

It depends on the environment.

I wear wool for two reasons...it's warm and quiet. A traditional "look" has never been my goal.

I have two Johnson (Vermont) hunting coats that I sometimes wear while hunting in the rain. Not necessarily plaid, mine are solid patterns, one green and one red. Nothing against plaid tho., just don't have that pattern for hunting clothes and not in the market to buy anything new except maybe ASAT camo. Have worn plaid wool of flannel shirts hunting on warmer days.

Leathercutter, Fred was a business owner, and it made sense to use what he sold with his name on it. If you read Bows on the Little Delta, you will see that Fred started selling camo around 1959 so he always wore one of the "Bear" jackets when hunting on video or in an ad. It isn't there for warmth as he has a wool shirt underneath. Fred was first and foremost a business man and knew what the potential customers would probably like. Admen did a great job in selling camo as necessary in bowhunting.

For anyone on the slimmer side who is looking for some good, heavy wool in camo… I have a Filson double-Mack in their woven-in camo (that they don't make anymore) which is available on the swap and trade thread. It's a size 38, but the Alaska card, which is way to roomy for me. Just sayin...

But arguably the best of both worlds ;)

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