Budget novice clothing tips

[mammoth200]

As a beginner stalker, I've only just started getting gear together, but I can make some basic recommendations. I have managed to find some absolute bargains on Vinted, picked up a woodland camo Deerhunter jacket with plenty of usable life left in it for something like £40. Mountain warehouse have been brilliant as well, a camo fleece for £7 in the sale, and light, breathable t-shirts for £10 each in a nice dark green.

I fortunately already had a very good pair of Solomon walking boots which I've found to be perfect for stalking, but also invested in a decent set of Percussion wellies, which are the first pair of wellies I've owner that don't give me incredible blisters.

The trousers I use I've had for a while already, and whilst they aren't strictly stalking gear, they do a decent enough job of blending in, aren't noisy, and aren't horrendously expensive to boot - Revolution Race GP Trousers (£79 I think). Added bonus, the cuffs have a boot hook, which is good at keeping the critters out, but always protect yourself from tics with repellent, as others mention.

Lastly, my stalking mentor said to me it really doesn't matter what you're wearing, you could be dressed in hi-vis orange from head to foot, and still have a perfectly fine job stalking if you're stood still enough!

 

[JTO]

I would say DON'T wear wellingtons, too noisy, unless you have calves that fill them out.

 

[Cyres]

If you going to splash out on gloves then get a pair of Mac Wets Climatic.
For summer I have a pair from Hikmicro v good and we're free.
D

 

[GBR66]

Decathlon, is cheap and good quality. As said, go for non rustle material. They have green gloves for about a tenner.
I have got fingerless mittens of eBay so you can use the trigger finger.
I have also used Trespass and go outdoors.
You do not need expensive. £350 for a pair of boots is great if you can afford it. I use work boots. Long as they are comfortable and waterproof helps.

Beat me to it! Decathlon kit is great and cheap. Trousers with reinforced knees, sock, thick cotton shirt, face masks, gloves, etc, etc.

 

[VSS]

With stalking, it seems to me that you're either in the right place at the right time, or you're not in the right place at the right time.
The only thing that's going to influence that (other than pure chance) is understanding the behaviour of the particular species of deed you're targeting, not what you're wearing.
I spent my first couple of seasons stalking not even seeing deer, even though I knew they were there. Gradually though, I sussed out their patterns of behaviour, where they were most likely to be at different times of day, what they preferred to feed on at different times of year, where they were most likely to be either just before or just after rain, how their behaviour was influenced by high winds, etc etc, and my success rate started to improve dramatically. I didn't change my clothes.

 

[bulric]

Altberg's from armysurplus

 

[Mike1979]

With stalking, it seems to me that you're either in the right place at the right time, or you're not in the right place at the right time.
The only thing that's going to influence that (other than pure chance) is understanding the behaviour of the particular species of deed you're targeting, not what you're wearing.
I spent my first couple of seasons stalking not even seeing deer, even though I knew they were there. Gradually though, I sussed out their patterns of behaviour, where they were most likely to be at different times of day, what they preferred to feed on at different times of year, where they were most likely to be either just before or just after rain, how their behaviour was influenced by high winds, etc etc, and my success rate started to improve dramatically. I didn't change my clothes.

Tim makes a very good point and ultimately you dont need to be dressed head to toe in Harkila gear to shoot a deer. Most of the time I go out stalking I reckon my clothing is cheaper then my cheap rangefinder

The key is dress for the weather and your budget

 

[8x57]

As said: a browse in a surplus shop will sort you out.

The other really good place to look is Decathlon.

I was once a huge fan of Decathlon but unfortunately Decathlon aren't as good as they once were. Their prices have gone up and their quality has definitely gone down.
Their website is now awkward to navigate and the shooting related stock in their shops is nowhere near as extensive as it once was, not even in their French shops.
On a recent trip to Orleans, where they previously had a complete store just for hunting and equestrian sports plus another store just up the road for other sports, it's all now incorporated in one store and the hunting equipment occupies just a few shelves in the back corner of the new store.

 

[VSS]

I was once a huge fan of Decathlon but unfortunately Decathlon aren't as good as they once were. Their prices have gone up and their quality has definitely gone down.
Their website is now awkward to navigate and the shooting related stock in their shops is nowhere near as extensive as it once was, not even in their French shops.
On a recent trip to Orleans, where they previously had a complete store just for hunting and equestrian sports plus another store just up the road for other sports, it's all now incorporated in one store and the hunting equipment occupies just a few shelves in the back corner of the new store.

That's a shame.
I have had really good stalking trousers from Decathlon in the past.
I'll just have to make them last!

 

[8x57]

Yes VSS it is sad, I've had some real great kit from Decathlon in the past, and much of it has been good quality and hard wearing for very little money.

 

[The Grouse]

Percussion are worth a look in place of Decathlon, available from New Forest Clothing and I imagine others. Been wearing some of the trousers for a few years now and still holding up well.

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

Bit of advice I was given from an old professional Hunter was...put your hunting clothes on and walk across the living room and if you can hear anything then change it until silent.
Hope this is helpful

 

[VSS]

Bit of advice I was given from an old professional Hunter was...put your hunting clothes on and walk across the living room and if you can hear anything then change it until silent.
Hope this is helpful

Funny thing is, if you put chainsaw gear on and start noisily cutting trees the deer will just stand in full view and watch you.
The moment you start sneaking about in silent clothes they're gone!

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

Very true lol

 

[welshwarrior]

Good boots and clothing in subdued colours to suit the weather

 

[geoshot]

Clothing doesn't really matter, if it's comfortable and keeps you dry & warm that's about all you need.
If it's drab "hunting" clothing that is of course all for the better
Better still if it has good secure pockets for vital bits of kit
To back up what @VSS said though, I'm a proper tackle tart and have all sorts of kit, but I have successfully stalked a couple of deer when wearing a bright orange goretex hiking jacket, a hi-viz tabard over that and a bright yellow berghaus cap on my head. I did that for a bet just to prove to a sceptic that fieldcraft mattered more important than clothing.
Deer on some ground I shoot on will ignore, or at leasst not react to folk dressed like a typical rambler or dog-walker - but get out the vehicle wearing camo and start sneaking about, they're off
Oh, and as said already, get the best boots that you can as you'll be covering ground and standing around a lot too, you'll need comfortable boots - but that's a personal choice, what suits me might not suit you
Good luck

 

[paulbshooting]

Deerhunter rogaland stretch trousers
Ridgeline tempest jacket
Both online from £50
Layer up with merino base layer and mid layer for winter
Lowa boots or similar

 

[Mike1979]

Funny thing is, if you put chainsaw gear on and start noisily cutting trees the deer will just stand in full view and watch you.
The moment you start sneaking about in silent clothes they're gone!

Are you suggesting we go around in chainsaw gear to improve our chances?

That would do wonders for weight loss....chainsaw gear + shooting kit ...sweaty

 

[VSS]

Are you suggesting we go around in chainsaw gear to improve our chances?

That would do wonders for weight loss....chainsaw gear + shooting kit ...sweaty

I think it only works when the chainsaw is actually running

 

[wytonpjs]

With stalking, it seems to me that you're either in the right place at the right time, or you're not in the right place at the right time.

So, so true