Preferred Product List for High Ridge Outfitters Whitetail Hunt
If you have any questions about any of our gear recommendations please give me a call Greg Ray
918 407 2586 or email greg@outdoor-connection.com
Footwear
The first category that we would like discuss is footwear. Proper footwear can make or break a hunt. Cold, wet feet make it uncomfortable to sit all day. Sore, blistered feet make it difficult to quietly sneak or quickly get into position for the shot.
Pac Boots
Our recommendation for pack boots is the Kenetrek Northern Pac Boot. This boot is built to withstand any rugged terrain you will encounter, is built well enough to walk comfortably in, and will keep your feet warm in the coldest of temperatures. Now, an item that can make a world of difference when wearing leather boots is a good gaiter system. We use and recommend the Kenetrek gaiters.
Kentrek Website:
http://www.kenetrek.com/prodinfo.asp?number=KE-0428-6K
Retail: $190.00 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $171.00
Kenetrek Website:
http://www.kenetrek.com/products.asp?dept=13
Retail: $49.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $44.99
Camp Shoes
The Muck SUV hiker is our choice for a quality camp shoe that will keep you warm and dry walking around camp. These hikers easily slip on and off and are built well enough that you could wear them out in the field. They are also lightweight and easy to pack.
Muck Website:
http://www.muckbootcompany.com/products/SHS-MOBU
Retail: $79.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $71.99 MOBU Camo
Socks
As important as your boots are, your socks are equally important. The right socks will help regulate foot temperature and keep your feet warm even when damp. We strongly recommend a layering system similar to what we recommend for your clothing. A good next to skin sock that wicks moisture is critical to this system working properly. For this layer we use and recommend the Danner Thermolite sock. It is antimicrobial throughout its construction so it will minimize odor development. Your next layer should be one of two socks: A midweight merino wool sock or a heavyweight merino wool sock. Merino wool will keep you warm even when wet and will not begin to smell after days of heavy use. We have two recommendations on a heavyweight sock. One is the Danner Merino Wool Frontier Extreme. The other is the Filson Heavyweight Merino Wool Sock. Always remember – it never hurts to have an extra pair or two in case you get wet!
Danner Thermolite:
Retail: $9.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive price: $7.99
Danner Frontier Extreme:
Retail: $18.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive price: $14.99
Filson Heavyweight:
Retail: $24.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive price: $22.99
Danner Website:
http://www.danner.com/category/accessories/socks.do
Filson Website:
http://www.filson.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2092582&cp=2069836.2065000.2075119
Clothing
The next product grouping that we’d like to work on is clothing. Layering is the key to allowing a quality clothing “system” work. Each layer plays its own part.
Next to Skin Layer
The first part of the system is the clothing that you will wear next to your skin. We have had tremendous success with 100% merino wool long underwear. It is the ultimate material for moisture wicking, insulation, and scent elimination. There are a lot of synthetic products on the market, most of which we have tested and been disappointed with. They are great for a day or two but just don’t remain scent free like wool. Our recommendation is a product made by Minus 33. We recommend the expedition weight for your hunt. They make the tops in crew neck http://minus33.com/minus33ls.htm, turtle neck http://minus33.com/minus33tneck.htm, or in ¼ zip http://minus33.com/minus33ziptops.htm.
Retail: $49.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $44.99.
Bottoms are cut one way. Again, the expedition weight is what we recommend for your hunt. http://www.minus33.com/minus33bottoms.htm
Retail: $49.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $44.99
It would not be a bad idea to have an extra pair of Minus 33 so you can double up if it is cold!
Insulation Layer
The insulation layer is meant to be worn over the next to skin layer and under and outer layer. The sole purpose of this layer is to provide thermal insulation for your body. Remember, it is very important to keep the core of your body warm. This is what will allow you to withstand long sits on cold days. For the core insulation layer we recommend either the Sitka Kelvin vest or the Browning AddHeat vest. The Sitka vest is filled with a primaloft, a lightweight, packable insulating material. The nice thing about primaloft is that even if it gets wet it will continue to insulate – something that down will not do. The Browning AddHeat vest contains a battery powered heat pack that runs with a remote control that you keep in your pocket. The technology in this vest is amazing as you don’t even know you have a heat pack in it when you are wearing it.
Sitka Website:
http://www.sitkagear.com/Product.aspx?cat=278
Retail: $149.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $134.99
Browning Website:
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/clothing/detail.asp?value=024A&cat_id=305&type_id=769
Retail: $79.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $71.99
Battery Pack and Remote Control:
Retail: $79.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $71.99
The next part of your insulation layer should be an insulated jacket. For this layer we use and recommend Sitka Kelvin Jacket. This jacket has the same properties as the vest and will be a great insulating layer to use on this hunt.
Sitka Website:
http://www.sitkagear.com/Product.aspx?cat=239
Retail: $199.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $179.99
The next layer could be an outer layer on warmer days or will work great as an additional insulating layer on very cold days. The product we recommend for this is Browning Hi-Lands Wool bib and parka with windcutter technology.
Browning Website:
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/clothing/detail.asp?value=022A&cat_id=306&type_id=279
Bib Retail: $134.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $121.49
Parka Retail: $149.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $134.99
Outer Layer
This is undoubtedly the key to allowing your clothing system to work when the weather gets bad. This outer layer should be built to withstand the elements while allowing the next to skin and insulation layer to work. For this layer we recommend the Heater Body Suit. You can view this product at http://www.heaterbodysuit.com/. This layer wouldn’t be worn until you get to your stand or blind. Once you are inside this suit you should be able to withstand 30 to 40 degrees below zero for a full 10 to 12 hours.
Retail: $324.95 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $292.45
Gloves and Hats
When it gets cold a stocking hat is handy to keep your head and ears warm. If you don’t have one of these let us know and we’ll send one of those to you as well.
We also recommend a balaclava type of head covering to protect from wind and weather. We use the Avery Yukon hood. This is a hood that is meant to be worn over a hat. This is extremely useful because you will not have to take anything off to put in on and it can be pulled down and worn around the neck if not needed on the head. Using it this way will no doubt maximize your “hunting” time!
Avery Website: http://averyoutdoors.com/apparel.html.
Retail: $17.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $16.19
Gloves can be a little tricky. Big and bulky will keep you warm but make it difficult to make the shot when you need to. Too thin and your fingers will freeze. Most hunters still wear one pair of gloves at a time. We have had a lot of luck layering our gloves like our clothing. On the cooler mornings and days it will be helpful to wear a thin glove inside a heavier insulating glove. We wear the Under Armour liner glove under a heavy insulating glove. This liner glove does wonders to wick moisture away from your skin to keep your hands feeling dry and warm no matter what. This also allows us to quickly “shed” a heavier glove to handle a weapon with ease for the shot of a lifetime. A good heavyweight glove is the Under Armour Coldgear Glove – this glove performs as well as any water resistant glove we have seen.
Under Armour Website: http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/mens/sports/hunting/accessories/gloves.
Retail on the Under Armour Camo Liner Glove: $21.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $19.99
Retail on the Under Armour Coldgear Glove: $59.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $53.99
Optics, Pack, and Accessories
Optics
A high quality set of binoculars that we recommend are made by Leupold. The Golden Ring 10×42HD’s provide a crisp, clear picture in the lowest of light conditions. They are also built to stand up to everything you will ever throw at them and backed by Leupold’s Lifetime Warranty. You can view these at http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/binoculars/.
Retail: $799.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $719.99
It is always a good idea to carry your binoculars on a bino system. If you don’t know what this is you can view it at http://www.crookedhorn.com/cms/shop.html?page=shop.browse&category_id=12&vmcchk=1.
The bino system will keep your binoculars at your chest and ready for whenever you may need them. They will also eliminate a lot of the weight you would feel while carrying binoculars with a standard neck strap. The bino system is an inexpensive way to make a huge difference on your hunt.
Retail: $24.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $22.49
Rangefinder
When the moment of truth arrives a rangefinder will eliminate any doubt as to how far that deer is from you. A couple of things to think about: 1. A laser rangefinder will work far better than one that needs a reflective surface to obtain a distance reading – especially at long distances. 2. A rangefinder with a scan feature will allow you to quickly scan an area or follow a moving animal. This is especially helpful when trying to give distance readings to a hunting partner.
Our number one recommendation for a rangefinder to take on this trip is the Leupold RX1000. You can view this rangefinder at http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/rangefinders/rx-1000-compact-rangefinders/rx-1000-compact-digital-laser-rangefinder/.
Retail: $399.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $359.99
Pack
Eberlestock’s packs are at the top of their class in build, fit, and functionality. A day pack will be adequate for this hunt. The X1 made by Eberlestock is our recommendation. You will be able to carry everything you need for an all day sit in this pack while not being too bulky or heavy. A hydration system is never a bad idea for those all day sits.
Eberlestock Website: http://www.eberlestock.com/introducing_the_x__project.htm
Retail: $169.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $152.99
Hydration System Retail: $19.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price $17.99
Accessories
All too often, it is the little things that make the difference on a hunt like this. Our goal is to make sure that you are aware of all the accessories, tricks, and tips that we have learned though years of hunting around the world!
Gun Case
It is important that your weapon arrives at your destination in the same condition it was when you took your last few shots at the range. There is nothing worse than being on a hunt like this and questioning whether or not you gun is still sighted in. We recommend the Pelican 1750 Weapons case. We use Pelican cases for protecting a variety of goods; cameras, gps devices, spotting scopes, licenses. They are waterproof, crushproof, have pressure release valves, are airline approved, and come in a variety of sizes and colors. You can view this case at http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1750.
Retail: $299.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $269.99
Shooting Sticks
The first accessory recommendation is something something that we’ve identified as being important on our whitetail hunts throughout Canada – a set of shooting sticks. Our recommendation is the Vanguard B-62 bi-pod. This pod extends up to 62”, has a 360 degree rotating head, weighs less than 1.5lbs., and is built to stand up to everything you will put it through. In addition, it has removable rubber tips that expose a carbide tip so you can use it as a walking stick or to set up for a shot on slick ground. You can view this pod at http://www.vanguardworld.com/gfa/product3.php?sort3=177.
Retail: $49.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $44.99
Scent Control
Cleanliness and scent control are important when spending many days out in the field, especially when deer hunting as their senses are very keen. Here are a few items that have been useful to us on our hunts.
It is a good idea to carry some unscented deodorant. Robinson Outdoors makes a great product. http://www.scentblocker.com/osc/product_info.php?products_id=79&osCsid=968eae3bc880f8c9eb757b83127d34cf&cPath=22_52. This will cost you $5.39.
Body Bath Towels are very useful when you don’t have time to clean up or have just finished cleaning a moose. http://www.scentblocker.com/osc/product_info.php?cPath=22_50&products_id=230&osCsid=968eae3bc880f8c9eb757b83127d34cf. These are $6.29.
Personally, we carry the Dead Down Wind Scent Prevent Kit http://www.deaddownwind.com/store/product/scentprevent-kit-1020.cfm. This kit makes it possible to cover everything scent related. This kit costs $40.49.
Light
A good flashlight is a must on any hunt you are doing. Our recommended brand is Sure Fire. Their lights stand up to everything and are extremely bright. The light we would use for this hunt is the 6P black. It has an all aluminum frame with a bright, 80 lumen, LED lamp for long life. You can view this light at http://www.surefire.com/6P-Led. You will not find a brighter, more durable light for the money.
Retail: $79.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $71.99
Dry Bags
We exclusively use and sell SealLine bags. They make a variety of bags for many different situations. We encourage you to take a look at this page http://cascadedesigns.com/SealLine to see what may work for you individual situation.
To give you some starting points:
We use the 70L boundary pack http://cascadedesigns.com/sealline/packs-and-duffles/boundary-pack/product when we need to pack large amounts of clothing or other items and keep them 100% dry. The comfortable backpack straps make this easy to carry around. This is more of a traveling type of pack.
Retail: $84.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $76.49
We use the Storm Sacks http://cascadedesigns.com/sealline/dry-bags/storm-sack/product for keeping little important items protected from the elements. Extra pair of socks, extra shirt, extra gloves, matches, and food are all items you would put in this style of sack. These sacks are better suited to keep the items that cannot get wet absolutely dry when in the field. They’re light enough and small enough that you will easily carry them in your Eberlestock packs.
Retail: $9.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $8.99
Again, these would be the two most useful packs to you based on our experience. The larger boundary pack is ideal for traveling in boats, small planes, or anything where your gear could be exposed to the elements. The smaller Storm Sacks are perfect for all those little things that can’t get wet. A couple of these wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. If you see more that may fit your individual needs they are available as well.
Compass/First Aid
No matter what you are doing outdoors it is smart to carry a compass with you. We use the Brunton compasses http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=92. Your price on this specific one is $17.99. It is not only great for navigation but also handy in case of an emergency with the mirror on it.
Knife
If you are planning on helping your guide prepare an animal should you have success you will need the proper cutlery. A gutting and skinning knife would be the most useful to you. Our recommendation is the Browning Micarta Big Game knife. You can view this knife at http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/knives/detail.asp?value=049G&cat_id=322&type_id=642.
Retail: $109.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $98.99
A knife sharpener is absolutely necessary as you are sure to dull your blades through the gutting, skinning, and caping process. We urge you to use one that has two grits, coarse and fine, so that you can fix a badly damaged edge. A DMT diamond stone works great for this and will pack lightly and easily. You can view this sharpener at http://www.dmtsharp.com/products/diafold.htm. Your price is $26.99.
Gutting gloves are a must have – they will keep you clean and dry through the whole process. Shoulder length gloves worn underneath and wrist length surgical glove work the best. A pack with both sets in it is $1.79. We would carry at least two sets with.
Orange tracking tape is handy for several reasons. Most commonly it is used for following a blood trail. It can also be used to mark certain points for reference. For instance, if you shoot an animal and begin the process of looking for a trail in thick cover it is often helpful to look back at where you shot from. With some orange trail tape on a tree there will be no question as to where you started from. One 150 foot roll will cost you $2.24.
Anytime you are hunting it is a great idea to carry a lens pen with you so that you can clean and clear your optics. This is never more true than on a hunt like this as you will rely heavily on your optics to spot Mule Deer. Believe me, it is very frustrating when you’re in a situation where you are fully prepared to make the shot of a lifetime and not able to get the animal in your scope because it is dirty or foggy. A Leupold lens pen will cost you $8.99.
It is our hope that you find the information we provided to be useful. Once you have had a chance to look this over and do some research of your own we would be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please remember, there are many choices in the categories we have discussed. The aforementioned products are our recommendations based on the joint effort of Streiff Sporting Goods and our customers, Outdoor Connection agents and clients who have been to this destination, and our supporting manufacturers.
