Elk/muley chasing gear for Missoula

[Iowabowhunter]

I have been researching camo for quite some time, from patterns to fabrics/cost/availability etc etc for chasing after elk and muleys out in Missoula. I love my ASAT 3D Leafy suit for whitetail hunting, but it is rather noisy going thru brush etc. Great for treestand or natural ground blind hunting however! I am trying to decide between the ASAT Elite Ultimate with First Lite as a base layer, the Kryptek Highlander jacket and pants, or a system based on KUIU. I rode the Realtree and Scent-Lok train for too long before I did my own research and critical thinking. The system I am interested in at the moment doesn't involve gear for when its raining, thats later on down the road for me. I do not prefer Sitka gear due to the price, and I'm not fond of the camo pattern, nor am I interested in wool as an outer layer for this style of hunting. What do you guys and gals use if I may ask? I have put this question on other sites and have gotten less than desirable recommendations, any help will be appreciated, unfortunately I cannot try for myself the KUIU or ASAT clothing due to them not being sold nearby or in stores at all. Thanks for all your help!

[huntnmuleys]

i think your overthinking this man.  i wear bits many differnet kinds of stuff, camo, flat colors, plaid, whatever.  of course if your backpacking ya gotta be more picky.  i like rivers west for that, it doenst breathe but is warm, quiet enough in to sneak, and not heavy.  base camp style hunting, i dont even worry about it, just pretty  much take what i have. my last 2 bulls, i was in khaki pants and flat colored shirts.

[Tutanka]

Yep, x2

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

Keep it cheap and keep it quiet. Elk key a lot more on movement than stationary objects. Remember that archery season is usually hot in Montana. I like a very lightweight shirt and pants that I can wear over cargo shorts/tee shirt if it will be hot. Otherwise I just wear the same stuff over pants and a long sleeve shirt.
Plaid will work just fine in the right color but will probably be too warm during archery. I would hunt elk in grey or tan bibs and not be worried about getting busted.

[motorhead7963]

I personally wouldn't get too caught up in the CAMO thing, your gear is far more important than what you are wearing. I personally have shot more Elk just wearing jeans and a flannel jacket, pay attention to the wind so you don't get busted.

[eflanders]

As others have said its not the pattern, elk don't see much better than cattle.  They do smell extremely well and they will see you move so those are your primary defense cues.  The. Big thing is to layer your clothes for warmth and for when you get too warm.  Weather changes are quick and frequent so you should worry about how to stay dry, warm and cool.

[wahoo]

I use Russell gear because it was given to me , some old desert storm because it was given to me some silk base line that I bought and some old wool flannel shirts . Keep it simple . I have hunted in jeans and everything else. It can be hot and cold sound like an old record . Dress in layers and hunt the wind and you will be fine

[stalkin4elk]

What the others said.We got lots of elk in jeans and old work shirts before any big labels came along. We were downwind and still. Dark pants look like elk legs and a tan carhart top is an elk when the elk are looking for an elk when calling if you are in some light cover.Don't get suckered by retailers.

[Tracks]

Layers help-
A given day of bow hunting in MT starts off cool/cold, then you start hiking straight up hill in the dark and sweat your @$$ off, then you sit in the cold for a bit and freeze, then the sun comes up and its hot, then the sun goes down and you are cold again... When I lived there, I had no complaints about Cabela's microtex pants, a lightweight long-sleeved shirt (mine was that sage brush looking camo pattern and that seemed okay in SW MT, I'm part color blind, but gray- and brown-based tones seem appropriate for the woods there to my eye), a lightweight fleece pullover, and a lightweight packable rain jacket and a small synthetic down jacket in my pack just in case.

It can be downright cold late in the archery season, so more layers are obviously necessary then, but the above combo served me well for most Septembers anyway.

[TURKEYFOOTGIRL]

I've worn micro Tex clothes for the last few years with a fleece pullover in the pack for cold times.  I tuck a wool cap in my cargo pocket just in case it gets cool but hunt mostly in a ball cap.  Color camo  not that important.

[Steve Clandinin]

I've used Predator greens and browns for years and Asbell wool in lighter shades,not expensive ,but very efficient.Can't see spending thousands on items that I honestly don't think will work better than I already have.Have bellied many times within 5-10 yards of huge mulies.Don't get caught in the Hype.

[Huh]

It will be hot and dry and you won't be used to climbing the mountains, so I would suggest studying up on what hikers wear and buy earth tones.  Shops like REI, backcountry.com, etc will get you going in the right direction for cheap.  Camo is not that big of a deal.  Kuiu is great, first lite makes good stuff, but perhaps the cheapest is core4element bought off of camofire.  Anyway, up to you, but layering with synthetics is the way to go.  Expect up to 40 degree temp swings daily and prepare for 30 to 90.  Don't forget you will be moving, so it doesn't actually take that much clothing, it isn't a midwest treestand is all I am saying.  If this is a front country hunt (i.e. returning to the truck everyday) it really doesn't make that much of a difference what you wear.

[Rick Richard]

I believe too the synthetic outerwear is better since they transfer moisture efficiently and dry very quick.  There is some good stuff out there than can be obtained at a reaonable cost such as the big flea bays and Camofire as mentioned earlier.