2013/2014 Fall Days Afield!

[The Reverend Floater]

How do you keep it from stinking really bad?

That's the deal...high-grade merino doesn't stink like other shit. I've worn the same socks and undies on trips for four days with literally zero funk. And it's way more versatile in terms of temperature. Dig it.

[gretch6364]

Yeah....I could see it being good for hiking, but I am not sold for hunting elk. Obviously, you have to use the wind, but when there is no weather or consistent breeze, everything freaking swirls in the afternoon. This is the case most of the time hunting in September in CO. Blue skies and swirling wind. Makes me nervous...

I currently hunt in the Cabela's Hunt Tech mesh shirts and pants. Last year they made them with a two button collar, which I don't see anymore on their site...I really like it. Has anti-microbal material, is really quiet...I mean really really quiet. It dries really fast and is super cool. If I am sitting in the evening, I will put on my camo fleece I carry in my pack. For pants, quick drying, silent, and breathable are the most important characteristics for me. I wear micro fiber gore-tex gators, which are also pretty quiet, but no matter what, my pants usually end up soaked above the knee by 6 am from the dew and high brush. These pants are usually fully dried by mid morning. Maybe I am missing out, but I have not found anything better....but I am certainly open to trying something better...

Reverend:

How fast does the wool stuff dry and is it as cool as mesh? I want to feel naked when I am hunting...at least for the first 3 or 4 weeks of archery. By the time it gets colder, the muzzleloaders have freaked out all the elk and shut them up with their contant buggling...fuckers. I

Here is Reverends link if you missed it on pg2:

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13770149332028

[Daywalker]

Just eavesdropping on this thread and saw the question about no stink runners lube... Body Glide is scent free (as long as you don't get the warming one) as far as I can tell and works real well for antichafe. Not sure if it is serious hunter scent free but I've never noticed it.

[gretch6364]

Awesome Daywalker...thanks for the advice. I never had a problem from hiking or other sports activities, but running last minute caused some issues that I have not been able to get to go away and don't want problems for hunting season.

[The Reverend Floater]

Reverend:

How fast does the wool stuff dry and is it as cool as mesh? I want to feel naked when I am hunting...at least for the first 3 or 4 weeks of archery. By the time it gets colder, the muzzleloaders have freaked out all the elk and shut them up with their contant buggling...fuckers. I

Here is Reverends link if you missed it on pg2:

Merino wool dries a hell of a lot faster than most synthetics. True story: Last year I got stuck in November storm at about 9K feet with a shitty bivvy tent. Neither my friend nor I had outerwear; only head to toe First Lite base layers and mid weight gear (this was before I worked for them). We decided to tough it out as we had seen a really nice buck, and so help me God, I never got cold. During the storm I was soaked to the point of feeling like I had 20lbs extra weight but was perfectly warm in spite of the 35 degree sleet. The storm wore off and I was dry within about 40 minutes. The real mind bender is that it performs equally well in 90 degree pronghorn temps...one system is all you need. The performance of the product over my last four years was the biggest reason I left Smith for this job.

The only downside to Merino is simply the fact that you have wash/dry it a bit carefully. Cold water and hang it to dry is the best recipe as it shrinks in a hot dryer just like any wool.

Disclaimer: I know this post is spammy as fuck and it makes no difference to me if you guys buy our shit or not, though I'd love you to try it.

[gretch6364]

I don't think anyone in this thread would get too upset about you talking about your product. The hunting community is pretty small and I think it is awesome that a mag is in the industry.

I bought a shirt, underwear, and some socks from First Lite and will report back how they do after my 4 day hunt the first weekend.

Hiking in our drop camp this weekend, hopefully we see as many hunters in our valley this year as we did last...one. The entire season. Next weekend, it will be on...I am really excited. The moon phases are lining up perfect for the first 2 weeks of archery to be really hot. Last year was our first in the new area and I feel that we hunted it wrong in the mornings. Still had lots of chances and had bulls around us...just couldn't make it happen.

Anyone have any experience hunting elk near old burn areas? They seem to love feeding in the dark on the edges, but we struggled with getting them to even step in to the open in shooting light. Except for a couple cows. Last year we were on a small ridge with a bull down the hill to our left in super thick shit. We were behind some large boulders trying to call him in. He just layed there and bugled back at us. Then the weather changed a little and it started getting dark. The wind howled and some of the trees starting cracking...one fell. We booked it downhill toward camp and as soon as we were below him, that fucker bolted to our position and started just screaming...he was coming right at us...but it was dark by then...toast.

I am really excited. I fucking love hunting elk. I got a buck tag for our unit for archery as well...just incase. Saw a couple real nice mullies in the valley bottom last year.

[flyandski365]

A little of last years' stoke from some guys I know out in NM. This is what I'm going for in terms of flight style, though my landscape is much different.

Go to 2:30 to see lightening strike. Some other good flights in there as well.

[gretch6364]

Nice video....thanks for sharing.

Been going through my pack list and weights, etc. Pretty sure I am looking at just under 35lbs for a 3 to 4 night trip, including the weight of my bow/arrows. I have a hunting partner, so we can share the weight of some items. I am hoping I can get to 31lbs, then add two nalgenes of water. Met last night and discussed strategies, etc. We might go over one more ridge from where we hunted last year, but it is another 2 miles in...but the farther back, the better...right?

[flyandski365]

I think I say this every year but hot damn am I jealous of you elk hunters. The whole process is so much different and more involved than the deer hunting I do in the southeast. And dat backstrap...

I'll be eagerly awaiting TR's here for sure. Just hoping I can get a good hawking season going so I can contribute to this epic thread.

[gretch6364]

Yeah...the process is usually fun and exciting, but it also is a lot of work. Scouting, planning, packing, shopping.

This year my partner and I purchased a good chunk of new gear to be able to carry camp in one day, and out the next. The issue is we have a 3rd guy that is hunting 2 weekends with us in the middle of the season and he doesn't have all the gear required to hunt 5 miles back.

We just talked, and are thinking this weekend we will hike some of the luxury items and provisional stuff to the camp 2.5 miles in, then next weekend, hike to that camp on Friday, hunt out of it Saturday morning, then go to the next valley with the lighter spike camp through Monday afternoon, back to drop camp, and out early Tuesday morning.

Of course, I hope we are have an elk down Saturday morning and never make it to the spike camp till the following weekend ;-)

[The Reverend Floater]

Gretch, you might try the old mountaineering three piles trick and see what it yields:

Stuff you would really like to have.
Stuff you think you neeed.
Stuff you know you need.

Take the third pile and that's what you bring.

[The Reverend Floater]

Might as well get some pics up. Glassing for goats and a nice morning in the Idahizzzzz.

[Conundrum]

Truck is packed for a muley/whitetail scout weekend. Have to get through a lunch meeting and then peacing out for a few days. It's a place I've never been too so could be really good judging by google earth and it's one of the few places that hasn't been on fire recently, or it might suck. Packed light to get in a few miles and away from the ATVs.

[Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo]

Season starts in juts about 10 days but with a bachelor party coming up and my anniversary on 9/7 I probably won't be able to check in on these guys again until 9/13.

Watched this nannie at maybe 60 yards for a while one day.


But these big boys are what we came for. Found them the next morning at 80 yards but I walked up on them in this maze of cliffs on a ridge before I realized they were there. They weren't interested in my company and split before I could get the scope and camera out. Sorry for the washout, vignetting, etc, I'm still figuring out the iphone digiscope setup.





Good luck fellas, here's to full freezers this winter.

[gretch6364]

Gretch, you might try the old mountaineering three piles trick and see what it yields:

Stuff you would really like to have.
Stuff you think you neeed.
Stuff you know you need.

Take the third pile and that's what you bring.

Thanks...and sweet pics everyone. I like the ASAT camo and the billies.

That is good advice. I think I am taking some stuff that I think I might need and want into the drop camp this weekend, then only the stuff I know I need to the spike camp first Saturday. I did some loading and weighing this morning, and I was at 22.5Lbs without food, water, toilletries, and my fleece and raincoat. I am pretty sure I can get to 30lbs without water for a three day hunt. What weight pack are most guys carrying? I feel like getting to 30Lbs with my bow would be awesome.

Gor my First Lite gear today. Super fast service and it all looks really great. Quick question Reverend...I am 5'11" 175lbs with pretty thick thighs. I bough the large underwear. Should they fit more like a compression short or a little loose? They are pretty good around the thighs, but maybe a little loose on my balls and ass. If they are to be tighter, what is the turn around time like on returns? I would need some mediums by next Thursday. Thanks!

[The Reverend Floater]

I would keep them, Gretch. After you wash them (cold or luke warm water) and air-dry them, they will be slightly tighter. As long as the waste fits you, you should be fine. However, if you want to exchange them, I can make sure they get done in time.

[gretch6364]

I will keep them...I figured they would tighten up a little. The waste is good. I am at a 33 to 34 for anyone else wondering how they fit. Is it weird that the boxers are the piece of gear I am most excited about for this season? All that hiking in the heat really does a number on me in cotton boxers.

[The Reverend Floater]

Ziiiiiiiip!

Went hunting with my boss and FL founder north of town. Bossman zipped this goat at 78 yards, killing it instantly. Unreal.

Game on, kids. Game fucking on.

[bushman]

Excellent time for salary negotiations.

[The Reverend Floater]

It's 12:07am. I have to be awake in 4 hours and change for ELK/MULEY OPENER and I don't have a prayer of falling asleep, even though I have worse odds of even shooting an arrow. Bonus: Grouse season opens tomorrow, which means I'll be hiking the dog tomorrow evening with the scatter gun.

Quite possibly, almost certainly, my favorite day of the whole year. And yes, pics to follow...

[stompinlines]

Boner fucking city, Rev.
Good porn.
94 in the midwaste today.

[hatchgreenchile]

Got the pack together for muley opener tomorrow. Arrows have been flying real straight.

Mrs is coming in to camp Sunday AM - Monday night just to cook and read. Warm meals when I can back? Can't beat it.

[The Reverend Floater]

Pretty good day. Saw three bulls this morning, including one that was the biggest bull I've ever seen in person. He was too far to reach this morning but I will find him again. Zipped a grouse with the bow, though, which is always a good time.

Went out this evening for a very quick walk with the bearded dog and he quickly pointed two more single grouse. So all in all, three grouse in the bag and three bulls sighted makes for a pretty solid start to fall!

[stompinlines]

Real quick Chuck Norris.
How ya zip these big tittied grouse?
Your dogs hang real tight?

[The Reverend Floater]

Real quick Chuck Norris.
How ya zip these big tittied grouse?
Your dogs hang real tight?

Sorry...should have clarified. First one was while I was elk hunting. He just sat there as grouse do, while I shot a broadhead right through him. He didn't even flinch. Just fell over with a hole in him.

The other two were with my pointing dog and scatter gun just down the canyon from my house. My zone is littered with those little bastards on opener.