Sept elk hunt

[Erussell01]

LOL it just hailed in Telluride. When you go to CO, bring everything you own. You just never know.

Sounds lile I'll be packing the bottoms too. Think a guy needs puffy bottoms for mid to late September or nah?

I have a 0 degree chilkoot. That thing is so warm I've never gotten to enjoy it

 

[ElDiablito]

Sounds lile I'll be packing the bottoms too. Think a guy needs puffy bottoms for mid to late September or nah?

I have a 0 degree chilkoot. That thing is so warm I've never gotten to enjoy it

I always have my puffy pants in the truck and make that decision as I hit the trail. Unless it’s summer scouting I generally take them.

 

[taskswap]

Personally I'd draw the line at puffy pants but that's just because I run hot. They're light and versatile. Why not.

To be clear I'm not saying you need all this on every hike. But I'd at least have it all in my truck. You just never know what you're going to get into. Four years ago I was on a scouting trip with my oldest son not far from Kenosha Pass. I think it was mid August. It was 95 in Denver when we left and 82 in the parking lot where we left the car - and that's above 10,000'. It was hot most of the day for the hike, too - I remember taking my shirt off at one point because I was drenched. But about 3pm, a sleet storm moved through for about an hour and the whole area dropped to like 35 and freezing wet with 0 visibility. It doesn't take much of that to get you in trouble.

Colorado is a funny place some times. You can get out there on a hunt and feel like it's a struggle to get more than 5 miles from a road or private land (let alone other hunters). Climb any hilltop even in a wilderness area and you can usually still pick out homes across a valley one way or another. And yet hikers go missing every year - 3 that had been missing for years were just discovered at a backcountry camp site last week. And almost all of these stories starts out "experienced hiker..."

This state was the centerpiece of an Outside article a few years ago about this: https://www.outsideonline.com/2164446/leave-no-trace

It's a great article, very well written IMO.

Not trying to be Scary McGee here, I think this is the best place I've been on this planet so far. But I'd definitely say this is also the place to not worry if others laugh at you for bringing a bit too much on a trip.

 

[trophyhill]

I will have my puffy stuff 2nd half of September

 

[OkiechasingElk]

Hunting Mid-Sept, Southern CO.

Planning on:
Light Merino baselayer Bottoms with Non-Insulated Cabela's Instinct Stalking Pants (Thick but not insulated)
UA Tech T-Shirt, Light Merino baselayer Top, Long-Sleeve Poly Camo Top
Packed Puffy Jacket and Rain Gear Top


Any reason to pack anything else in other than change of underwear and socks?
5-6 day solo backpacking camp

 

[ElDiablito]

Hunting Mid-Sept, Southern CO.

Planning on:
Light Merino baselayer Bottoms with Non-Insulated Cabela's Instinct Stalking Pants (Thick but not insulated)
UA Tech T-Shirt, Light Merino baselayer Top, Long-Sleeve Poly Camo Top
Packed Puffy Jacket and Rain Gear Top


Any reason to pack anything else in other than change of underwear and socks?
5-6 day solo backpacking camp

Depends on where you’re going, how warm your sleeping bag is and what the weather forecast is. I generally take a down vest - and puffy pants and rain pants may be a good idea.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I have been looking at historical average weather for northern Colorado and trying to decide on full rain gear vs just tops. Having never hunted colorado I don't know what to expect. Do you guys run full rain gear or just tops?

I look at the forecast a few days before, you are coming from out of state I assume so I would have both, if it say no moisture I just being a top, but if it like like a lot of rain/ snow I bring both, my rain gear also acts as an outer insulator layer if it’s going to be cold cold

 

[Hnthrdr]

I have been looking at historical average weather for northern Colorado and trying to decide on full rain gear vs just tops. Having never hunted colorado I don't know what to expect. Do you guys run full rain gear or just tops?

Also from what I have seen NoCo will be cold! Already calling for lower than normal temps especially if you are 10k ft or more. Still a ways out but this summer seems to have been cooler than we have had in a while

 

[Gerbdog]

I would leave the puffy and bring the insulated panties

I tried that last year but my cheeks just got way too itchy from the undergrowth. I was 30 yards out from a 400+ bull and blew the stalk cause i had to stop and scratch. Bummer.

Think i'll try wearing pants over my insulated panties this year and see if it helps

 

[Bearsears]

1. Anyone who backpacks in to hunt here in September and doesn't bring a static insulation piece (puffy) and a rain jacket is asking to be a statistic in my opinion. The first time you are in the woods and a rainstorm comes through, wets everything around you, jacks the humidity up, and drops the temps to the 30s you know this is a different environment. Let alone snow.

2. A lot of people have said it here already but have all your stuff in the truck clothing wise and then make a game time decision. Clothing is the last thing Ill leave out to lighten a pack, its survival gear. I do however have multiple weights of tops, puffys, pants etc. This way I dont take more pieces of clothes just the right weights of clothes for conditions. I also get if you are coming out here for the first time, or budget might make that not possible. It took me years to build out a full quiver of clothing to range all conditions.

3. Get a wind layer top. They can be really cheap and really really light. Wear it between your base layer and mid layer on dry cool windy days. Thank me later.

4. As far as rain pants go, If the forecast shows low chance of precip then Ill leave them and only take a set of lightweight gaiters. This is assuming your pants are of a quick drying material.

 

[Laramie]

September... You just never know in the mountains.


That afternoon it got up to 55 and almost all the snow melted...


Plan for rapid and drastic weather changes- it is the norm.

 

[Bearsears]

I have been looking at historical average weather for northern Colorado and trying to decide on full rain gear vs just tops. Having never hunted colorado I don't know what to expect. Do you guys run full rain gear or just tops?

This. Its been a much cooler wetter year than normal this year. Or its been more like when I was a kid really.

 

[Jawmarq]

Always have a puffy and a rainshell or tarp in the pack.

 

[michaelc10]

I always bring the puffy at the altitude we hunt it can easily get into the low 20's early in the morning, I would cut elsewhere if it where me

 

[Bugle_fueled]

Light weight merino and the First Lite Brooks down is what I'll be running. Keep an eye on the weather that week. You can't warm up if that gear isn't in your pack!

 

[Roger17]

I tried that last year but my cheeks just got way too itchy from the undergrowth. I was 30 yards out from a 400+ bull and blew the stalk cause i had to stop and scratch. Bummer.

Think i'll try wearing pants over my insulated panties this year and see if it helps

I just don't know about a guy who would do that. It seems to me putting on pants would be a shortcut that makes hunting too easy and accessible these days. If your willing to resort to pants, I bet you even use mapping software on a phone or a gps. It's obvious you are not training how you hunt. I know it's hot in summer, but you've got to train in those to get the cheeks acclimated to the underbrush. Build some callouses. Oh yeah, about that internet motto of "pics or it didn't happen", you're a stand up guy and everyone trusts you. Please, no pics!

To OP, carry everything you own in the truck, just in case, and pack what you want and are willing/able to carry. I probably take a pound or two more in clothes than some, but I'm comfortable with what I take and that's all that matters.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

 

[Gerbdog]

I just don't know about a guy who would do that. It seems to me putting on pants would be a shortcut that makes hunting too easy and accessible these days. If your willing to resort to pants, I bet you even use mapping software on a phone or a gps. It's obvious you are not training how you hunt. I know it's hot in summer, but you've got to train in those to get the cheeks acclimated to the underbrush. Build some callouses. Oh yeah, about that internet motto of "pics or it didn't happen", you're a stand up guy and everyone trusts you. Please, no pics!

To OP, carry everything you own in the truck, just in case, and pack what you want and are willing/able to carry. I probably take a pound or two more in clothes than some, but I'm comfortable with what I take and that's all that matters.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

All i heard was pics or it didnt happen.....

I do agree here though, load that truck, leave a bunch of it in the truck, and then be thankful when you just happen to need something in it that you didnt really expect to need