While this is written from a woman’s perspective, any person can follow this gear list and substitute the appropriate items. I’ve intentionally made this very specific because I noticed that most lists out there are pretty vague, and gear can really help or hurt your experience. Do not mistake that for “gear will be the reason you’re successful or unsuccessful.” I can’t stand when people blame their gear for everything. Without proper preparation, including your physical ability and a positive mindset, it doesn’t matter what’s included in this list.

Even though September has come and gone for the 2019 season, I seem to be getting a flood of questions regarding my gear choices for spot and stalk archery elk hunting. I’ve been elk hunting for 5 years, spending anywhere from 7-21 consecutive days in the field each time. I typically layer up with a mix of the following pieces!

It was 2015 when i finally left the state of Texas to experience western hunting for the first time. More specifically, I went on my first elk hunt and came home with a trophy bull. Before I left for that hunt, I specifically asked my archery shop what I needed to change about my arrow setup, and I only did that because my cousin had researched this topic on multiple hunting forums, and every one of them insisted on taking a heavy arrow. I had been shooting a lighter arrow up until that point (Ted Nugent pink/zebra arrows to be exact). After getting a full passthrough, not once but TWICE on my bull (with only a 25.5” draw length and 50 lb draw weight), I started to understand the importance of switching up that setup. Back home I rarely had passthroughs on deer with the lighter setup, which still worked well, but I was extremely impressed with the performance of my 400+ grain arrow on my elk. He didn’t even know what hit him on the first shot.

Originally I was planning to make this blog ALL of my favorite clothing items for hunting year round, then realized how overwhelming that’d be. It’d make a lot more sense to break it up by season, so with turkey season almost in full swing, I’ll focus on a few of my must haves for chasing those beautiful birds! I really tried to keep cost in mind because it’s easy to want EVERYTHING (trust me, I know), rather than think about needs. While the product links often offer the items in multiple camo patterns, I’d suggest getting everything in RidgeReaper Forest. It’s their greener pattern and works incredible for spring and early season fall hunts.