Mid-Season Kit Updates

Archery season takes forever to get here, and then it’s gone in a blur. This year I was lucky enough to spend the better part of three weeks in the mountains, glassing for high-country bucks and chasing bugles. I went from rain and snow flurries on 11,000-foot peaks to midday temperatures flirting with triple digits in the high desert. Now, with archery season winding down and mid- and late-season hunts getting underway across the West, it’s time to make a few changes to the gear that’ll get me through the rest of fall.

Bowhunting has plenty of highs and lows. When the wind won’t quit, the rain sets in, and you’re running on a few hours of sleep, staying positive takes a little more work. A good layering system helps me stay out there longer. And the longer I can stay behind the glass or keep working a ridge, the more chances I have to make something happen.

Start with merino. My base layers stay pretty consistent throughout the season: a Chinook Merino Hoodie up top and Chinook Merino Bottoms under my pants. As it gets colder, I usually trade my De Havilland Lite Pants for the De Havilland Pants. The Lites are still my all-time favorites, so if the forecast is calling for temperatures above 30°F, I’ll often stick with them.

Add warmth as the day changes. I wear the Helio Hoodie over my Chinook, just like I did in September. Later in the fall, I add the Cirque Lite Vest and Cirque Lite Jacket. Both give me more ways to adjust as the temperature drops or the wind picks up, without adding much weight. The Cirque Lite Jacket, in particular, has earned its spot as one of my favorite fall layers over the past couple of seasons.

Keep insulation and rain gear close. I carry the Grumman Jacket and Pants for when I need real warmth. The jacket never leaves my pack, early season or late. I call it my “life-saving layer,” and on a cold, windy glassing knob, it’s easy to remember why I brought it. When the weather turns wet, I pull my M5 rain gear over the rest of the system.

I watch the forecast and pack accordingly, but through the late fall, my Grumman Jacket and M5 Jacket always make the cut. The forecast helps me decide what to wear at the trailhead. Those two layers give me options when the day goes differently than expected.

I hope this helps you dial in your own system and stay out a little longer on the hunts you’ve been thinking about all year. Good luck out there and remember: Predators Never Quit!