Late season advice - gear/tips?

[judders87]

I'm planning on doing my first late season mule deer hunt this year and I feel like I'm solid for what gear I have and plan to bring. Just wondering from other people's experience if there was something you didn't figure out you needed/wanted or didn't need in the late seasons that might've been a game changer. If not gear maybe some type of advice? My experience is really just backpacking during archery elk season. I plan to backpack in for this hunt and have experience backpacking in colder temps.

 

[atmat]

Layer, layer, layer. And it’s nice to have a hot tent to dry clothes and boots.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Puffy pants

 

[judders87]

Puffy pants

Synthetic or down?

 

[WeiserBucks]

Synthetic or down?

Down is what I use and I can't think of a good reason for synthetic.

 

[Eric30]

Foot booties for sleeping, tested them last season and didn't disappoint. https://enlightenedequipment.com/torrid-booties/

 

[WeiserBucks]

Foot booties for sleeping, tested them last season and didn't disappoint. https://enlightenedequipment.com/torrid-booties/

I've got a pair from FF, not needed unless I'm pushing my zero bag way below zero.

 

[24valve]

Some good late-season gear and advice discussion in here:

Thread 'S2H Winter Rifle Course Observations/lessons'

Feb 25, 2025

Shoot2Hunt held a Winter version of the 0-600 Yard Hunting Course last week. Below will follow some of the notable experiences/information.

@Ryan Avery @ztc92 @jzeblaz @longrangelead @24valve



Day 1: We started the afternoon before the official start date with 4x students and 2x teachers. 2x Tikka T3’s, 1x BAT action custom, 1x Tikka M595 Master Sporter. IIRC it was 3° F. Snowed all day.




Four more shooters arrived that night or the next morning.



The first four days it ranged from 3° F to -15°F for the day time...

• Formidilosus
• Replies: 180
• Forum: Firearms

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[Eric30]

I've got a pair from FF, not needed unless I'm pushing my zero bag way below zero.

Makes sense with a zero degree bag. I'm currently running a 15 degree bag and tend to run warm except for my feet that tend to get cold easily.

 

[Muleys32]

Puffy pants and jacket for glassing, gaiters for busting snow and they help hold in warmth in the legs. Added a much larger down puffy this year for those longer glassing sessions in the cold.

 

[270Hunter]

I generally always bring a glassing pad with me anymore regardless of the season, but I definitely always bring a glassing pad for late season hunts where snow/wet conditions will be prevalent. Helps keep you warm and dry when you’re sitting down for those long glassing sessions.