The Best Late-Season Hunting Gear: Recos from the Pros

So, what do you need for a late fall or early winter hunt? While some items might overlap with your mid-season gear, we have some tried-and-true recommendations to help you stay warm when the temps drop so you can stay out in your stand longer and bring home a winter buck.

In this guide, our experts will cover:

Base Layer and Cold-Weather Clothing

Must-Have Tools and Accessories

What John Dudley Wears for a Cold Hunt

How to Use Your HuntWise Gear Discount

Best Base Layers for Cold Weather Hunting (and Other Clothing)

Simply put, you have to stay warm when hunting in colder weather. Grabbing your opening day clothes will not likely cut it if you plan to head out early and sit for the day in your blind or stand. And, heading home after only a short time out because you're too cold won't likely lead to a buck to take home with you. 

Our experts recommend dressing in layers. You'll still warm up (and potentially sweat) during the day as you hike out to your chosen tree and set up your stand or saddle. So, being able to remove or add clothing (and scent control measures) throughout the day is crucial.

Check out what we believe are the best base layers and warmest hunting gear, including additional layers you'll want to consider for a late-season hunt.

Sitka Core Merino 120 LS Crew: Sitka's lightest Merino baselayer is the ideal way to build your clothing layers for cold temps. This crucial piece of gear can be something you use for early, mid-, and late-season hunts, either on its own for warmer temps or as your first layer as the season gets colder.
Sitka Fanatic Bib: This is what you need to go over your base layers. This bib combines superior warmth (while staying quiet). Deer won't hear you coming while you stay toasty warm, waiting for them to come your way.
Sitka Fanatic Vest: It's warm and quiet and won't hinder your mobility when hiking to your stand or twisting around the tree in your saddle for that perfect shot.
Sitka Fanatic Windstopper Beanie: Don't forget your head, where heat is most likely to escape your body. This beanie from Sitka is warm and (again) quiet to keep you warm and stealthy on your hunt.

These are just a few must-haves for a warm hunt during the late season. To see more of our expert recommendations, check out the video below from our own Quinn Badder.  

Must-Have Tools and Accessories

You don't want to head out for a late-season hunt without these picks for tools and accessories to make your hunt more comfortable, efficient, and successful.

Woodhaven Intimidator Grunt Call: This call helps you create a wide range of grunts without taking too much of your breath away to operate it! You can even produce a snort wheeze to reach nearby bucks.
Hothands Variety Pack: While the weather might be cold, your hands can't be when it's time to get off that perfect shot. Keep your fingers nice and warm with the Hothands Variety Pack!
Gerber Exo-Mod Saw: You never know when you'll need to cut a branch out of the way for a clean shot. With a snap-together sheath and lightweight design, this saw can cut what you need without weighing down your pack.
Scentlok OZ Radial Nano: Keep your smells to yourself, even when wearing a lot of layers to keep warm. This ozone unit is compact and quiet for on-the-go scent control during a hunt.
Eberlestock Recon Modular Bino Pack: Looking for a pack with plenty of mods? This bino pack is what you need. Scale it up or down based on what you need with you in the field. You'll have plenty of pockets for your binos, your phone for quick access to HuntWise, and more.

We have more tool and accessory recommendations to help you have the best late-season hunt ever! Check out our Late-Season Gear Progam picks with Nate Huizenga in the video below.

What Does a HuntWise Pro Wear for Late-Season Hunting Clothes?

We asked John Dudley, one of our HuntWise Pros, what his go-to gear is when heading out for a late-season hunt.

If you want to wear what he wears, check out his recommendations in the video below. From tops to bottoms, boots, and more, dress like Dudley before heading out into the cold!

Don't Miss Out on HuntWise Gear Discounts

What's the best way to get discount hunting equipment? With HuntWise!

HuntWise subscribers can save significantly on gear items from the partners in our gear program! As a Pro and Elite subscriber, you can apply discounts on many gear items from our partners, including some of these late-season picks.

To use your discount codes:

1. Log into your HuntWise account. If you're not already a Pro or Elite subscriber, take a few seconds to upgrade your subscription — it's worth it!
2. Click "Shop."
3. Find the brand that matches the gear you have your eye on — then copy the discount code. (Note: each brand has a different code).
4. Then, click the product links above or listed in the YouTube descriptions when watching the HuntWise gear videos we shared today.
5. At checkout, apply the code that matches your product!

We're not messing around with these discounts. You can save up to 40% on some of these items. So, don't let this perk go to waste!

Stay Warm and Bring Home a Buck With the Best Late-Season Hunting Gear and HuntWise

A late-season hunt could be your best hunt of the year — but you have to be prepared for cold and changes in animal behavior to land that perfect shot.

With the gear we've mentioned today, you're better prepared for a long sit in cold temperatures. You also have the gear to help you sneak quietly into your stand, hide your scent, and keep all of your gear "at the ready" with packs, ropes, and more.

We hope you give some of this gear a try and use your discounts! There's no reason to pay more for the best hunting gear when you can get it for less, and we're here to help you do that through our Gear Program and your subscriber discount. We use and love the gear shared today, so we can proudly promote it to help hunters improve their late-season success.

If you don't have HuntWise yet, now's a great time to download it and try it free for a week! Choose a Pro or Elite subscription to take advantage of deep gear discounts.