Thinking about ditching the pants....

[Fatcamp]

Amazon.com

Here's another footwear option to take a look at. And you need to bring a boat load of patience. The slower you move the quieter you'll be. Slow beats light weight every day.

It's soooo hard. When you can see the tips of their antlers it's just so hard to move slow.

 

[Shea]

I get buck fever every time.

 

[WCB]

wear pants that aren't so loud #1. I never leave my binos...I would vote a real pair of moccasins over socks. I have had more than one time being able to run after a deer spooked or after I made a shot would have helped keep eyes on or relocate a deer. But running across cactus with socks didn't seem appealing.

Hat stays on. keeps sun out of eyes and is nice when you get stuck in the open for 2 hours waiting for a buck to stand up.

 

[Fatcamp]

wear pants that aren't so loud #1. I never leave my binos...I would vote a real pair of moccasins over socks. I have had more than one time being able to run after a deer spooked or after I made a shot would have helped keep eyes on or relocate a deer. But running across cactus with socks didn't seem appealing.

Hat stays on. keeps sun out of eyes and is nice when you get stuck in the open for 2 hours waiting for a buck to stand up.

Good points. Wool pants suck and I don't wear cotton. All synthetic seems loud

 

[WCB]

Good points. Wool pants suck and I don't wear cotton. All synthetic seems loud

Why don't you wear cotton?

 

[Fatcamp]

Why don't you wear cotton?

None of my outdoor clothes are cotton. A cold event years ago when a beautiful day turned into almost freezing to death convinced me it's not a good choice.

I do have some wool, but this early it is hot.

 

[sndmn11]

I'm 100% certain this is why first lite makes camo boxer briefs.

 

[D S 319]

Ever looked into stalkasins?

 

[Fatcamp]

Amazon.com

Here's another footwear option to take a look at. And you need to bring a boat load of patience. The slower you move the quieter you'll be. Slow beats light weight every day.

Our local Scheels had these so I bought a pair. Found a lanyard for my rangefinder which will reach my shirt pocket. Reread Dwight Schuh chapter on stalking.

Still on the fence about the pants. Worried about the glow from my pale legs lighting up the sky.

 

[5MilesBack]

Good points. Wool pants suck and I don't wear cotton. All synthetic seems loud

Try to find yourself some of the older Cabela's Microtex or Lite version. They are made out of polyester, but are softer than cotton, just as quiet, and dry quickly. These are the only pants I use for hunting. Best I've ever found. I tried some King's Hunter pants and ya.......they're loud.......very plasticky......if that's a word.

 

[Fatcamp]

Try to find yourself some of the older Cabela's Microtex or Lite version. They are made out of polyester, but are softer than cotton, just as quiet, and dry quickly. These are the only pants I use for hunting. Best I've ever found. I tried some King's Hunter pants and ya.......they're loud.......very plasticky......if that's a word.

So are the current version not up to snuff?

 

[5MilesBack]

So are the current version not up to snuff?

Their Microtex lightweight that I tried a couple years ago was more like the new stuff everywhere else. Noisy and fits like skinny jeans.

 

[Fatcamp]

Listened to a South Cox podcast about stalking while mowing. Lots to digest. Rereading all of Dwight Shuh's book now.

Maybe try these bad boys in 4WD.....

 

[WCB]

None of my outdoor clothes are cotton. A cold event years ago when a beautiful day turned into almost freezing to death convinced me it's not a good choice.

I do have some wool, but this early it is hot.

I was assuming you were hunting in S.D. and would just walk back to your truck if weather hit.

No lightweight early season pant is going to be worth anything in the event of cold and rain that would be a health issue IMO.

Besides my Cabelas Silent Weave pants I'd look at the Kuiu attack pants I've used them in HOT weather and weather into the 30s with a light pair of long undies under. The vents are great in warm weather. They also pull double duty and I wear them around town.

 

[Fatcamp]

I was assuming you were hunting in S.D. and would just walk back to your truck if weather hit.

No lightweight early season pant is going to be worth anything in the event of cold and rain that would be a health issue IMO.

Besides my Cabelas Silent Weave pants I'd look at the Kuiu attack pants I've used them in HOT weather and weather into the 30s with a light pair of long undies under. The vents are great in warm weather. They also pull double duty and I wear them around town.

I carry a wool sweater with me. Used it Friday to hunt in the rain and wind. Contrary to popular belief it is possible to be hours from the vehicle in South Dakota, and the weather changes fast. I was soaked through for a long time, would have froze in cotton. Starting my next trip I will carry merino bottoms in my pack as well.

I have heard good things about Attack pants. Maybe light wool pants are the solution.

 

[5MilesBack]

Starting my next trip I will carry merino bottoms in my pack as well.

"As well"? I wear my lightweight merino top and bottom base layers 24/7 when I'm hunting. They excel the most when I'm drenching in sweat.......they keep the sweat away from my skin.....I hate that sweat on me. The problem with cotton is that it gets really heavy when it gets wet, and then mobility is greatly impacted........think sopping wet jeans and a t-shirt. That shirt turns into a straight jacket that's even hard to get off, and hiking out like that for hours gets tough. Ya, cotton is never an option IMO.

 

[Fatcamp]

"As well"? I wear my lightweight merino top and bottom base layers 24/7 when I'm hunting. They excel the most when I'm drenching in sweat.......they keep the sweat away from my skin.....I hate that sweat on me. The problem with cotton is that it gets really heavy when it gets wet, and then mobility is greatly impacted........think sopping wet jeans and a t-shirt. That shirt turns into a straight jacket that's even hard to get off, and hiking out like that for hours gets tough. Ya, cotton is never an option IMO.

Yes. I always carry a merino shirt in my pack. Early in the year it is hot where I hunt. Think blazing sun and 100°. Typically, hiding from the sun is priority.

As the year gets later the more nervous I get about carrying extra layers. Merino is so light, and so warm under a layer of synthetic, that it is always worth the weight. Last Friday was borderline, drenched for hours, but that sweater under my camo long sleeve made all the difference.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

In my experience with a stick bow, where I need to get sub 40 before I'm even thinking about a shot, your decision making during the stalk is the first issue to solve. Going too fast will always kill you. Can you stay disciplined enough to slow down? It's kinda like target panic, honestly.

I've never needed to take pants off, but I'm usually in high country. I have ditched the bino harness at 75 yards, and gone with just the rangefinder around my neck. That helps a lot. Double thick wool socks will make you really think about where you set your feet as well.

 

[Fatcamp]

In my experience with a stick bow, where I need to get sub 40 before I'm even thinking about a shot, your decision making during the stalk is the first issue to solve. Going too fast will always kill you. Can you stay disciplined enough to slow down? It's kinda like target panic, honestly.

I've never needed to take pants off, but I'm usually in high country. I have ditched the bino harness at 75 yards, and gone with just the rangefinder around my neck. That helps a lot. Double thick wool socks will make you really think about where you set your feet as well.

In the end that's what this is about. I just need to slow down once inside that critical zone. My last trip I got close a bunch. Some blew because of wind, but making noise cost me the others. Except for the ones that move just because they moved.

Most of my final stalks will be in dry, shin high grass and cactus. No shoes around prickly pear will slow me down for sure. No pants will quiet down the grass that runs against the legs.

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

Personally if there is cactus around i would keep the boots or some form of protection on for my feet. Deer tend to vacate the area when a hunter is cussing out the 3rd cactus that they stepped on in a 100yd stalk. Socks and cactus dont mix.

I have killed several bucks in the southwest with my bow, in boots.

High country, no cactus, then wool sock it.

As others have mentioned slowing down and looking ahead to pick the quieter route will also help and finally hunting country that is conducive to bow hunting also helps to put things in your favor. (Ex. watch South Cox vids, he is hunting country that is conducive to him getting close.)