Is Rain Gear a must have in CO Archery

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WKR
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Location
Sullivan, MO.
Is Rain Gear a must in CO in September Archery season? Been going back and forth on if I should get some or not.
But with never been hunting out there it's hard for me to decide

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I would get some type of rain gear even if it's just a poncho. Out of the 5 years I have gone for archery we had some type of rain 4 of those years. Usually in the afternoons a quick storm would pop up when the temperature started cooling. I forgot my rain gear at camp one time and it sucks to get wet.
 
I would be prepared for all weather possibilities. Below is a picture from the first week of September in Colorado in 2020. I've seen plenty of snow, rain, heat, etc. Sometime you can leave the cold and rain gear in the truck at the trailhead. But, I wouldn't head out to CO without it.
CO 2.jpg
 
Rain gear, a puffy jacket, and puffy pants, dry socks, warm gloves and hat are essential. I won't leave my truck without them during archery season in CO. That picture of the snowy tent is a clear indication of what it's like early season at high altitude. We actually hiked in during that storm in 2020, and if we hadn't had rain gear, warm, dry clothes, and good shelter, we would have been in big trouble. It took a day running the woodstove in the tipi to dry all our gear out, and we both had top of the line rain gear, which still managed to get wet eventually because of the volume of wet snow coming off the trees as we climbed through them. At the absolute bare minimum have a poncho and an emergency bivy in your pack at all times. I've had to sleep out in just my army poncho and the clothes on my back during archery season, when I was younger, and it was a lifesaver having something waterproof, and windproof to protect me.
 
It snowed on me twice in 2020 and once in 2021. I've had snow at least once most years. Riding out a sudden thunderstorm at 10k feet the temperature might drop 20°. If it rains all night, everything is wet in morning. Or you could camp for two weeks without so much as a few drop.

Someone will say how they never carry it and it's never an issue...

I always have a rain jacket at a minimum and usually wear or bring gaiters. Pants are a game time decision.

In my opinion, it would be irresponsible to not take rain gear. Hypothermia can kill you even if it is not that cold.
 
Good info. Thanks fellas

With that said then what rain gear to get.
I like the Sitka gear I have and have been looking st the Thunderhead series or the Dew point. They say the athunderhead is quieter but looks like the Dew point is supposed to be more durable
So now need to figure out which way to go there

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Good info. Thanks fellas

With that said then what rain gear to get.
I like the Sitka gear I have and have been looking st the Thunderhead series or the Dew point. They say the athunderhead is quieter but looks like the Dew point is supposed to be more durable
So now need to figure out which way to go there

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I love my Kuiu Chugach rain gear, its light, packable and quiet. Keeps me dry. Have some Sitka gear, which I'm quite happy with too.
 
A "must" have? I would say no. Most years I never use it at all. Even in 2013 when it rained over 15" that season. It rained so much and so hard at times that I found it easier to just go without. Just make sure you have a change of clothes to change to every day, and/or a way to dry out the others.

Most of the rain we get in September is in shorter afternoon spurts. It's easy enough to find some cover to wait it out. If I wear a rain jacket longer than that and while on the move, I'm going to be soaking wet with sweat anyway so I don't bother.

It was raining in my avatar pic, mostly a constant drizzle. But while breaking that bull down I had a couple downpours that I had to find cover for and wait them out. The next morning I woke up to a downpour and wanted to break camp down. I drank my coffee while I waited for it to subside, but by 9am I figured it wasn't going to stop so just got soaked breaking it down.
 
Also going to Colorado this September. Glad I found this thread. Will definitely be investing in something even if its just packable and light.
 
I always took my jacket. Only took pants in the first year I went.


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I would be prepared for all weather possibilities. Below is a picture from the first week of September in Colorado in 2020. I've seen plenty of snow, rain, heat, etc. Sometime you can leave the cold and rain gear in the truck at the trailhead. But, I wouldn't head out to CO without it.
View attachment 399291
got caught in that same snowsorm! ....one day it was sunny and 70s and the next day it snowed all day ....we were not prepared at all but we made through !
 
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