For an early season, high country Mule deer hunt I personally value versatility in my clothing. You are going to experience everything from cold, stationary glassing in the morning to (hopefully) a long sit over a bedded deer in the direct sunlight.
I use largely Kuiu. I've tried many brands (both hunting and general outdoor/backpacking) but Kuiu just seems to fit my body type best, especially the pants. Everyone is different, runs hotter or colder than the next guy, wants hoods on everything or on only on outer layers and so forth. What works for one won't necessarily be great for the other. Here is a breakdown of what I'd carry, happy to provide more detail where I can if you'd like:
Tops:
Base Layer: I like merino over synthetic personally in the 125 to 150 range for early season. Long sleeve for sun protection. This an area where you can find good value and performance in other brands. I'm actually still searching for the brand I like most, Kuiu is okay. Have tried First lite, Black Ovis, Stone Glacier, Smartwool, and just ordered a Canis merino top to try. All are okay and have pros/cons.
Mid-layer: The Peloton 97 is great for its warmth to weight and super packable. If you run hot you can probably get by with it as your lone mid-layer in early season. The strong fleece stuff I really like and can be added in addition to the 97 or as your stand alone mid-layer. It is more durable and still fairly light but doesn't pack down as well. The Peloton 240 blocks wind well and adds a good amount of insulation but doesn't pack down well. I actually find it to be closer to an outer layer for me combined with a 97 than a mid-layer.
Insulation: For early season I like the hooded Super Down Ultra. It packs down to nothing and adds just enough warmth that time of year. I have heavier down of non-Kuiu brands that I use on colder hunts. If you run cold you might want more than the Ultra for those cold morning glassing sessions.
Outer layer: I personally carry a rain jacket (Chugach) as my outermost layer and wind block for early season. With the lighter mid-layer and insulation (Peloton 97 and Super Down Ultra respectively) I like the added warmth and wind blocking of a rain jacket with added bonus of protection for a down pour. Some guys don't carry rain gear but I justify it by counting on it as part of my insulating system.
Bottoms:
Base Layer: I use either King's camo zip off merino bottoms (can't remember the weight) or Peloton 97 bottoms. The King's are much more comfortable than the Kuiu merino in my opinion. The Kuiu has a velcro strap on the waist that is uncomfortable to me, whereas the King's doesn't and has a more comfy blend.
Pants: I love the Attack Pants but find them too warm for the hotter times of day during early season. If I could use only one pant it would be the Kutana. They are plenty warm when combined with a base layer during colder times of day, but light enough that I don't overheat during warmer times. They are also more durable than the Attacks to me.
Insulation: If you run warm you may not need this layer. I personally carry the Super Down Ultra pants as they pack down to nothing and weigh very little. To me the weight penalty is minimal enough to carry them for extra comfort if I start getting cold glassing. If you run cold and want a more substantial down pant I'd look at Goose Feet Gear. He makes custom pants to your measurements and with your desired amount of down for about the same as the Kuiu Super Down Pro Pants, maybe even a bit less.
There are many good brands and some good values out there so don't feel like all of your stuff has to be Kuiu. I use a lot of it and it's great gear but in places you can find similar performance for less money, particularly in non-hunting specific brands. Happy to go into more detail on Kuiu stuff where I can.
