Hunting clothing – camo and such
What hunter would want to head out in jeans and a Dale Jr t-shirt? Well all of 'em, of course. But it's not the most effective thing to do, though believe me, it has been done plenty of times.
There is somewhat of a misconception when it comes to what clothing set is absolutely necessary and how much should be spent. The answer will always truly be: What you are comfortable with and believe will be effective. That's it, you don't need a $300 Bone Collector model jacket, you just don't. Would it be nice? Yup. Would it be more effective than 'x'? Maybe. Look, plenty of freezers have been stocked by hunters wearing basic tiger stripe BDU's you can get at any surplus store for $20. Would they have been more successful with newer high-tech gear? Possibly, but I do know that there are plenty of people who head out into the woods with $1k worth of high tech camo gear and come back empty handed.
I chose to hit up a few message boards and listen to the people that have hunted that area for clothing advice. I recommend you do the same, as your chosen hunting grounds may be much different than mine and thus, an entirely different clothing set may be needed. Always seek out seasoned guys for advice and watch for fanboys. The ones you want to listen to usually have short but concise answers as to why they use 'x'. If anybody gets into a heated discussion about say, mossy oak vs realtree, stop listening. As I already said, plenty of game is taken in bargain bin surplus gear, it just doesn't matter that much. Get the pattern you think best matches your environment. I personally think real tree apg is pretty versatile for the South, so that's what I get.
As I asked around about the SC environment I heard pretty much the same thing as Florida - thick bush with small open lanes separating hardwood thickets, mud Mud MUD, hot and humid in summer/fall, mosquitoes, and potentially torrential downpours. This means that for fall hunting I'd need something light with ventilation but serious water resistance. I'd also need long sleeves for no see-um and mosquito protection. I was told it can get cooler at dusk/dawn and can get cold during "winter", so it was a good idea to get something that could cover up cold-weather layers.
Of course I wanted to get the best bang for the buck so I sought out extremely versatile options and this is what I came up with:
Jacket - Bass Pro Shops Red Head Squaltex Rain Jacket Highly reviewed and fairly inexpensive at around $80. The hood is large enough to wear a hat under. I'm thinking of sewing in an elastic strap to fit under the bill of my hat. That way the hood won't flap around in the wind on when on the move in the rain. Make sure you could put it on over a few layers in case it gets cold.
Pants - BPS Squaltex Rain Pants Just as highly reviwed and durable as the jacket and around $70. Its small and light enough to be packable. That way you can wear jeans and put these on when it starts raining.
Shirt - For real warm weather and another layer I found a BPS LS shirt made out of breathable mesh. It is extremely light and does a good job of venting. It was on sale for under $20. Not sure if its on the BPS website but shirts like these are in every big box hunting section. This shirt will be great for hog and small game hunting in Florida.
Boots - (Gander Mountain Fanatic side zip) I had been using regular ol' duty boots for quite a while. They're fine for most trail work, though a bit heavier than necessary. However, they're horrible in mud. It was said many times over that I'd be best getting a good insulated rubber boot. I ended up getting some gift cards to Gander Mtn so I listened to my father who had used the fanatic side zip boots and loved them. At $139 they were middle of the road priced but promised to be a great value and long lasting. My local store had nothing that fit me so I ordered a pair online. When they finally came they felt a bit narrow and pinched. I usually expect this in normal sizes because my feet are pretty wide and usually I can be comfortable after some break in time. Problem, these boots are so sturdy that it's not going to happen. Its a shame because they really seem to be solid. They will go up for trade/sale soon and I will start a boot search only buying something that I can try on first.
*I now recommend you actually try on boots before buying. Your size is not enough to go by considering field boots may not be forgiving.*
Layers - The best layers I have ever found have been Under Armor, period. Whether for warm or cold weather they are always slim and light and non-restrictive. Being moisture wicking helps regulate body temps. They can be pricey but are well worth it. I bought a set of Coldweather pants and a turtle neck. If I need another layer I'll put on a fleece set from walmart I can pick up for $20.
Extras - I like to wear buffs around my neck in the woods, that's about $20. I have a real tree patterned hat, a safety orange vest, and a balaclava as well. They were about $10 a piece.
My total investment is about $410. Given that the boots will possibly be replaced by something more expensive that may go to $450. The important part is that the system is usable in hot, mild, or moderately cold weather and will keep me dry in the rain. Most of the gear is great quality and will be used until passed down to my younger brothers. So I will definitely get my money's worth.
Like I said earlier, none of this is truly necessary. You can do plenty good with surplus stuff or have an epic failure with top of the line scentblocker gear. The point is to find what you will be comfortable with and can expect to work in the brush.