FNG hunting Info/Equipment

[smchop]

So I am starting to hunt this year, big game, coyote, etc. No I dont expect to be a raging success, but want to get in some more outdoor activity now that the kids are grown alittle and can get some free time. So I have some first time questions on gear, practice, etc. and would like some input from some of you.
Seems everyone is wrapped from head to toe in camo, is it necessary, or just a prefernce? No offense to those that do, but to camo out and then put on a huge blaze orange vest and hat doesn't make sense to me, I understand the orange is required for safety. So explain it to me please.
What kind of equipment do you take if your going to hike around for the day and (presumably) return to a camp site? Dont get me wrong on this idea but a backpack can be cumbersome, why dont more hunters use a vest (like flyfishing, even a tac vest set up properly), or belt? I dont want to be rambo in the woods kicking in doors and shootin elk, but they seem to make sense, and seems only turkey hunters use them?
Yes I am new to this, and would like some info please, even things I have not asked about, so fire away with comments. I do have a small group of people I will be going with in Oct. and I will be mostly watching, learning, scouting, not so worried about shooting this time around.

Thanks in advance.

[BigBear]

I am not qualified to answer since I don't typically "hunt", but...

I've always wondered about folks being wrapped in camo and stuff. I'm not a hunter but I've been on a couple of trips where we were all in jeans and a coat. They stalked for about 9 hours or so following a herd and finally picked a spot and mark to make the clean kill. There was no blaze orange (Indian reservation so they were not breaking any laws), no camo, no blinds, nor deer feeders, nor tree stands, etc.

If I was just going to hike for a day, I would just take a small backpack of the basics. Those being water, map, firestarter, knife, wire/string, bandages, etc.

Most everything could be left at your base camp (if you're doing backwoods stuff) except for the small backpack and your weapon.

Now, the blaze orange is for safety to humans. So a human doesn't shoot another human. A deer and other animals that we often hunt are color blind so I suspect the ornage is strictly for human on human safety. As far as the camo, it does break up the outline and make it harder for the animals to spot you, especially if they've caught your scent. But I would think that a soid grey 2 foot sqaure would stick out to them in teh midst of all the camo... I don't know! lol.

I don't know why more hunters don't use a vest. I think it's a good idea.

[ronaldrwl]

Some seasons you need a vest, some you don't. But I've always thought it was a little funny waring all the camo accented in safety orange. Turkey season is my favorite.
Don't forget the basic non hunting stuff like compass.... A whistle is good when you need help. Remember the 3 signal rule. 3 whistles or gun shots... means I need help...

[Irving]

They should just make bright orange in camo pattern. Do you have to wear the orange if you are hunting on private property with zero chance of someone else hunting on the same property?

[theGinsue]

Funny, the wearing of orange during hunting was a topic of conversation at work today; including orange camo.

You all need to read this (straight out of the horse mouth, even addresses orange camo):
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/PlanYourHunt/ResourcesTips/Unlawful.htm

As far as wearing lots of camo clothes and then throwing orange over it, I'd say that's for three reasons:
(1) When most people think of hunting clothes, they think of camo so that's what they buy but they wear the orange over it to be in compliance with the law.
(2) The availability of "hunting clothes" at most stores is limited, with a large selection in camo. Folks buy what is available.
(3) Those who bow or turkey hunt use the camo hunting clothes because it's what they need but they don't have the $$ to spend or just don't want to spend the $$ on another wardrobe for muzzleloader or rifle season, so they use the same clothes with the orange draped over it.

Now, during muzzleloader or rifle season, if someone was wearing the orange with their skin painted in camo paint's, that would just be weird!

[smchop]

thanks guys still looking for more info!

[TiGuy]

I'm one of those guys in camo with an orange vest over it (during big game season anyway). My rationale is that I use the same outerwear to hunt elk, deer, turkey, goose, coyote etc.

My camo is lightweight for packing in and out of remote areas, quiet for stalking, BREATHABLE, water resistant and lots of pockets. My vest is my day pack. It holds a camelback and has a game pouch that I use to hold lunch etc.

The only backpack I use, is to carry in my camp, and to hopefully carry out meat.

All the tips so far are good ones. My only other addition is to have something dry to SIT on. I carry one of those cheap, circular bags filled with loose styrofoam from Sportsmans. There's nothing worse than a cold, wet keester.

[theGinsue]

All the tips so far are good ones. My only other addition is to have something dry to SIT on. I carry one of those cheap, circular bags filled with loose styrofoam from Sportsmans. There's nothing worse than a cold, wet keester.

WINNER! Sitting on cold, wet ground just makes you colder and you'll carry that cold feeling with you all day. I used to use the styro bags like you mentioned (they seem to heat as well), but I kept popping seams and spilling the contents so I went with a solid foam pad.

[CapLock]

I like my camel back. Nice day size backpack and has the separate compartment for the water bladder. It's nice to just grab the hose and get a drink without having to pull off your pack and dig around. Also the bladders don't make a shit ton of noise like a water bottle will do. Before the camel pack when I used bottles. I'd drink half the bottle then while hiking all I could hear was water sloshing around. Probably only loud enough for me to hear it but drove me nuts.

Oh and as far as having dry boots. One year we stopped by a guy who had his elk rack already in camp so we talked to him for a while. Drove up the road till it ended. We hiked back in a couple miles and didn't drive by his camp again till way after dark. On the way down we could see he had a fire going and wanted to stop by and shoot the shit again. We pull up into his camp and the first words out of his mouth are...is there a sporting goods store around. Ummm...yea about 35 miles that way in Gunnison, why? This guy put the only pair of shoes he brought on the trip next to the fire to dry them out. Sure enough they were a smoldering pile of goo. He had his rack out and one quarter...and no shoes LOL.
Moral of the story is bring more than one pair of shoes.

[Irving]

I've melted the only good pair of hiking shoes I've ever owned.