What To Wear On Your Elk Hunt

Clothing ~ Quality clothing can make your elk hunt more comfortable, and sometimes be a key to your success when cold weather and storms allow you more time in the field to harvest your trophy bull elk. Lighter colors, and more open camo patterns work best in most situations. Bring layers and remember, high quality will typically get you better performance out of your hunting gear during your elk hunt. 

• Base layers - We'll start with base layers because they will be your first line of comfort and a important piece of clothing in your elk hunting gear bag. Weather conditions can vary drastically during your hunt. Hiking goes hand in hand with elk hunting and you'll need protection from perspiration as cold Montana weather will have you more times than not, over dressed in those early morning hikes to start your day. You'll want a soft thermal layer with excellent moisture wicking properties that keeps you warm and dry as conditions change in both your physical exersion (hiking to standing, or sitting), and changing weather, (warm to cold). Under Armour & Cabelas are two companies that make excellent, high quality base layer clothing that can be a essential part of your elk hunt.

• Jacket - You'll want a insulated, preferably water repellent with a wind stopping barrier outer jacket. Gore Tex is a great choice when choosing a quiality outer jacket that combines several key features into one garment. November can be cold and windy with snow in the forecast, come prepared. Archery elk hunters can get away with lighter garments but still need a quality jacket to fight off a bitter cold wind or a storm that can pop up at any time here in Montana.

• Pants - November hunters will want to bring a good quality insulated pair of pants. Water proof or water repellent is also recommended. Snowy conditions may have you laying or sitting in the snow to make a shot at the end of a stalk, which can make for a very uncomfortable hunt if not prepared. Archery hunters can get away with your normal hunting garments/pants that you wear during a early season bow hunt.

• Boots - Combination elk and deer hunters will want to bring both hiking boots and knee high rubber boots to cover both aspects of the elk and deer hunt. Water resistant or water repellent insulated hiking boots that are broken in before your hunt will be used during your elk hunt. Knee high rubber boots for river crossing while hunting whitetails in the river bottom will be used for your deer hunt. Slightly over sized boots by 1 to 2 sizes to allow for heavier wool socks trapping valuable air pockets of body heat can make a big difference in keeping your feet warm in cold weather hunts. 

• Wool Socks - Bring a few pairs of wool socks. Merino wool is one of the best materials you can buy for warmth while also retaining body heat while wet due to sweating or snowy conditions. 

• Head gear & Gloves - Make sure you bring insulated water proof gloves for rifle elk hunting. Cold, snowy weather and wind can rob heat quickly from wet, under protected hands. Again, the more room you leave inside your glove for pockets to trap warm air, the better insulating value you'll get to keep your hands warm. Don't buy a pair of gloves that are tight and restrict blood flow or does'nt allow warm air to be trapped around your fingers. Archery elk hunters can bring a light pair for hiking in or cold mornings. If you plan to shoot your bow with a semi insulated gloved hand, make sure you shoot at a target first to see if it changes your point of impact or anchor point from your release aid hand. A fleece water proof or insulated beenie or pullover hat will always be a valuable tool in your elk hunting gear bag for both early archery hunts and November rifle hunts. These hats allow excellent heat trapping properties where you loose most of your body heat. They can be essential and convenient at regulating body temperatures by putting on or removing your hat during your elk hunt to adjust to your exersion level without removing layers of clothing. 

Remember you can always bring more clothing than you'll typically wear during your hunt, and we all do it. Select a quality piece of hunting gear for each part of your body as they will work together to form a barrier against the elements and keep you comfortable in the field. To keep your gear bag lighter or over packing your bags, try not to pack multiple articles of clothing that serve the same purpose or protection. Also, you can pack clothing in your bow or gun case for extra articles of clothing without sacrificing valuable gear bag space and avoid over weight bags during your flight. We, as well as most outfitting companies provide laundry services for your convenience. Montana's weather changes quickly and is very unpredictable. Come prepared and it can only enhance your hunting opportunities and overall experience during your elk hunting trip.

Keith Miller - Outfitter/Owner/Guide, Montana Whitetails