Sitka Mountain Gear? Does anyone recommend it for Coues hunting

[CouesSlayer77]

Im looking to get a new jacket for hunting in Az (elk, deer, javalina, bear) but Ive grown out of most of my jackets and am in need of a new one. I really like Sitka! I know the pricing is ridiculous but I can handle anything under 350:) any suggestions? Thanks for your help!

[Coues79]

Im looking to get a new jacket for hunting in Az (elk, deer, javalina, bear) but Ive grown out of most of my jackets and am in need of a new one. I really like Sitka! I know the pricing is ridiculous but I can handle anything under 350:) any suggestions? Thanks for your help!

 

The only thing I have of sitka brand are some gloves and a Beanie. I really like them both. High quality, snug fit and warm. I just can't for the life of me justify spending so much on their clothing line. I'd rather have other hunting goodies but that's of course IMO.

 

I'm sure it'd be a good jacket for hunting Coues Deer. You might consider the time of year you'll generally be hunting in. For myself, I find that the jacket comes off after about 100 yds of climbing the mountain. If im hunting any of the early hunts i typically wont even carry a jacket, just wear long sleeves. The use of my jackets are while I'm glassing of which I prefer a lightweight less bulky jacket, especially when I have to strap it up on my pack when I'm done glassing.

[CouesSlayer77]

I'm with you on not wanting to drop that much money on a single jacket! But I really need one that I can use for hiking to keep me warm on the colder day up in 3a/3c. Also alot of glassing we do is a quite a hike. I also need a another pair of boots but I don't know what I want. Same situation as the jacket but obviously it's boot not clothing.

[elkhunter]

Under armor makes some good clothing for hunting, keeps you cool while hiking and warm while glassing and much cheaper than sitka, check it out

[Chef]

Take a look at KUIU.

They make high quality stuff and you buy direct, therefore pay less.

[Viper]

I purchased some Russel APXg2 stuff last spring. It is similar to the lighter Sitka gear but half the cost...at full retail. I bought mine from Linton Outdoors when it was all on sale. If you can wait until spring, you can get it for 1/2 to 1/3 of retail. I used it on my turkey hunt, elk hunt, and the jacket on my deer hunt. It performs quite well for most AZ hunting. Sportsman's has quite a selection now, if you want to put your hands on it.

As far as boots, I bought the Meindle Perfykt hiker from Cabelas....most comfortable, supportive boots I've ever worn, for a resonable cost. The Perfykt hunter might be better as they are a high-top.

[CouesSlayer77]

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys! The under armor is a great idea I didn't think of that! As far as boots go I have about a 120 dollars to spend is that enough to get those meindelles? Thanks again! Y'all are a huge help

[cmc]

I have torn up both my Sitka Assent and Sitka Mountain pants and would not recommend them for down south coues country or anywhere with cat claw or there is a lot of locust bush growing. They will get torn up pretty quick. I was quite displeased with how much they cost to little abuse they could take. I think Sitka R&D team need to hunt in AZ coues country for a year to develop a product that will stand up to the abuse. I will say that on my archery spring bear hunt in 34A the Assent pants in 100deg heat were nice and kept me cooler than any other pant I had. I just had to avoid any bush that had a sticker on it. I will also say that 6 days packed in at 13,000ft in Colorado the Mountain pants were awesome. Then again that's what they were designed for, not the deserts of Arizona.

 

I have UA vests and 1/4 zips and really like them. My one complaint is they put pockets on the vest but not on the 1/4 zip. Sitting on top of a ridge in Colorado I was cussing them out with freezing hands both this year and last. That too and because I have yet to find a decent glove for bow hunting. I keep going back to my $4 military wool liner gloves from Miller Surplus.

 

So I'm still in search for a pant that can take on AZ country, not cost an arm and a leg, quiet for archery, tough enough for blazing through trails, works in warm to hot but can take it for sitting there before sun up at 5am on a cold Nov. hunt. For the moment I'll use my Sitka on pack in hunts or archery hunting and keep using double knee Carharts for anything for rifle or scouting to help keep the Sitka alive as long as I can.

 

I haven't heard how well Kuiu is holding up on catclaw and locust bush. If anyone can speak to a years worth of hunts on those pants in the catclaw I'd like to know.

 

cmc

[cmc]

I forgot to add I have a 90% jacket and love it. It is the only Sitka product that has held up for me even in the rough country. The pit zips are very handy. I thought stupid at first but I tend to use them a lot now. I have a UA jacket that's heavier than the 90% and break it out when it's really cold. I also try to match the camo to the country so that UA jacket only sees the woods and not much down south.

 

Regarding the boots subject - I wear Zamberlan 965's which are awesome. Sturdy enough when I lug in a 50lb pack around but lightweight and flexible enough for when I put on archery stalks in the mountains. I've been in some bad weather on some pack in trips with multiple days of soaking storms. My feet never got wet from the weather. My feat sweat a lot and the goretex/leather combo on the Zamberlans is awesome letting them breath. I do own a pair of Cabelas Meindle Fit IQ's but found them to be too much for putting on stalks and trying to be quiet or allowing me to flex my foot enough sneaking around in the rocks and woods. I found the lower Zamberlan boot gave me both items I needed for packing in and stalking. I wear the Meindles for rifle hunts or scouting. Again saving my favorite boots for the hunts. I use to wear Danner 452's but my last pair of them led me to believe that Danner 'isn't making them like they use to'. Reading about others experiences of the same boot seems to confirm my suspicion.

[CouesSlayer77]

I have torn up both my Sitka Assent and Sitka Mountain pants and would not recommend them for down south coues country or anywhere with cat claw or there is a lot of locust bush growing. They will get torn up pretty quick. I was quite displeased with how much they cost to little abuse they could take. I think Sitka R&D team need to hunt in AZ coues country for a year to develop a product that will stand up to the abuse. I will say that on my archery spring bear hunt in 34A the Assent pants in 100deg heat were nice and kept me cooler than any other pant I had. I just had to avoid any bush that had a sticker on it. I will also say that 6 days packed in at 13,000ft in Colorado the Mountain pants were awesome. Then again that's what they were designed for, not the deserts of Arizona.

 

I have UA vests and 1/4 zips and really like them. My one complaint is they put pockets on the vest but not on the 1/4 zip. Sitting on top of a ridge in Colorado I was cussing them out with freezing hands both this year and last. That too and because I have yet to find a decent glove for bow hunting. I keep going back to my $4 military wool liner gloves from Miller Surplus.

 

So I'm still in search for a pant that can take on AZ country, not cost an arm and a leg, quiet for archery, tough enough for blazing through trails, works in warm to hot but can take it for sitting there before sun up at 5am on a cold Nov. hunt. For the moment I'll use my Sitka on pack in hunts or archery hunting and keep using double knee Carharts for anything for rifle or scouting to help keep the Sitka alive as long as I can.

 

I haven't heard how well Kuiu is holding up on catclaw and locust bush. If anyone can speak to a years worth of hunts on those pants in the catclaw I'd like to know.

 

cmc

 

Thanks a bunch for the info, that helped alot!! Do you think it's possible to get forum goin on here and show Sitka that they need to do what you suggested? I have heard high talk about the kuiu guide jacket but it's camo is like the old army camo for the military. I don't think it was designed to be a hiking jacket more for sitting on hills glassing. The open country line from cabelas has done me wonders down south in thick stickers and they have several choices of pant. Just a suggestion. Have you heard anything of the kryptek brand? I think Sitka needs to design a stronger over shirt. Like one of the button up collared shirt with the chest pockets. With a thick stronger breathable material for hiking around through the stickers.

[elkster9]

+1 on what CMC stated. I own a whole lineup of Sitka Gear, its GREAT for most western state hunting, just not southern Arizona due to the unique vegetation that exists.

[CouesFanatic]

I wear the Carhart camo pants in the southern country along with the whole line up of Sitka or KUIU upper body gear. Buy the KUIU Jacket. Its an awesome coat.

[coues7]

Has anyone used the KUIU backpacks? I'm considering picking one up and dumping my heavy a$$ Eberlestock.

[rcdinaz]

I am really liking the KUIU stuff as well.

 

I used the pack this year and it is solid, very light with the carbon fiber frame. I still have the Eberlestock but for long hikes and over nighters I use the KUIU now.

[Coues Sniper]

Another vote for Kuiu. Better than Sitka in my experience and cheaper.

But CouesSlayer, I have a Sitka Jetstream jacket I would be willing to part with if you are interested. It has only been worn once on a 30 min quad ride. It's a great jacket, I just need the $ this time of year and I obviously don't wear it much. It's in perfect condition. Size is XL, but I normally wear a large. I can send pics if you're interested.