Preparation

Preparation and knowledge is key to any endeavor, and of course the right outfit. A gal must be prepared and fitted properly for her excursions. Now, Goodwill is my shop of choice for camp clothing items on a budget. You find over-sized sweaters, snow pants, vests, jackets that can be soiled without worry. There used to be a sea of camouflage in Goodwill, and now not a stitch. I enjoy Bimart for all of my fishing needs, and I know my father used them for his hunting supplies. So off I went….

Tip #1 Bimart does not have a women’s hunting, clothing section. Do not be discouraged when you have to wear a LG men’s pant to accommodate those lovely hips and thighs ladies!. You will be pleased when your waist is swimming, because then it’s time to accessorize. After all, “frosting yourself” can be fun in camo!. Picking out your camouflage depends on the area that you are hunting; refer to your local guide service for the pattern they recommend .You will need a good belt that will hold your new “hunting-bling” (knife, bone-saw, compass, flashlight…etc) maybe a day pack for bottle of water, protein bars, whistle, rubber gloves ( in case you kill an animal) , survey tape to mark your spot, first aid for yourself…etc ( we’ll get into that at a later date)

Tip #2 Good boots are a must! A good mid calf boot is an item you cannot afford to be cheap with. Danner, Carhart, Wolverine, ….do some research, see what you want out of them and then try some on. I tried a pair and walked around the store shopping for another hour before returning them to the shelf to get an idea on how they feel. Then treat them per manufacturer’s instructions. This doesn’t mean treat them to lunch, this is to weatherproof them, soften them and give YOU extra protection while wearing them.

Tip #3 DO NOT wash your huntin’ gear and use your snuggly, fresh fabric softener. It smells wonderful and feels soft to us ladies, but it is an assault to nature’s nose and all that live there. They will flee in terror from your crisp, fresh linen scent. I washed my new gear with soap, and then did an extra rinse. There are products to purchase and wash your gear in that are considered “scent blockers”. And for those that are bow hunting, you can stuff your clothes in a bag full of grass clippings for a month and spray urine all over them. (It’s special made for that) Personally, I am not at the point that I am ready to bath in “Pee de Deer” or roll in fecal material in order to “bag my game”. I will however, refrain from my bath and body works lotions and body sprays.

More to come....