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HUNT360 Staff

Late Season Whitetail Gear

Wednesday, November 1st, 2023
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For us whitetail hunters, the most magical time of the year is quickly approaching. By the time you read this, the last week of October, the pre-rut should be kicking in, and within a couple of weeks, it should be the full-blown rut in many regions across the country. If you are prepared, you should have plenty of trail cam images or boots on the ground scouting complete that should have at least an area narrowed down where a nice whitetail buck is living.

Hopefully, this also means you have your treestands or ground blinds in some ideal locations if you are bowhunting whitetails or maybe a good spot picked out on a sidehill overlooking a drainage if you plan on hunting the rifle season. If you are more of the mobile treestand or saddle-hunting type, you likely also have some promising spots picked out. The point I am getting at is unless you are just planning on setting up on fresh deer sign to hang and hunt, much of the work for many successful deer hunters has already been completed, and now it’s just a matter of waiting for the right conditions to hunt.

The weather from now on can be very unpredictable, and while you are waiting for your hunt, right now can be a great time to make sure you have your late-season gear dialed in. Having the right equipment can keep you comfortable on the stand and capable of all-day sits through the rut and right on through the late season.



Kuiu Proximity Insulated Pants

It's not 100% necessary to have a pair of pants purpose-built for whitetail hunting, but these pants by Kuiu are, and they are fantastic; they're feature-rich, supremely warm, and ultra-quiet. Unlike most of Kuiu's gear, the Proximity Pant doesn't have an athletic fit. This means it's built as an actual outer layer in a layering system with room to layer base layers and even down pants underneath when the mercury dips. These pants have a high back to keep those pesky cold winds from sneaking up your back, and the removable suspenders keep your pants up and in place. The full-leg zips make it easy to put them on over extra layers and large boots. Another cool feature is the location of the cargo pockets on the leg. They are placed on the front of the leg instead of the side, so calls or other essentials can easily be accessed while sitting down. Most importantly, they are very warm, wind resistant, and DWR-treated to help shed water. Lastly, they are available 4 colors, Ash, Verde, Vias and Valo.

Kuiu

KUIU Proximity Insulated Pant Ash

Zach B.
Wrote a review
     
The Kuiu Proximity Pants are the perfect late season Whitetail pant. The are superbly warm, great pocketing for treestand sitting and the outer fabric is deadly quiet. Highly recommend them!


OZONICS HR500

More clothing and more gear equals more scent. That's why many hunters believe in products like the Ozonics HR500. This little system has more than once given whitetail hunters that few extra moments needed and has been the demise of more than one whitetail buck. The battery life on the HR500 is much better than previous models, and it's Bluetooth capability allows you to run the unit with a remote, which equals less movement.
Ozonics

HR500

Jeremy W.
Wrote a review
     
My experience with the Ozonics HR500 has been a mix of positives and drawbacks. On the upside, its ozone technology shows promise in reducing scent, though not consistently. The unit is compact, mounts easily, and operates quietly. However, I found the controls a bit complicated to master, and the scent reduction results were not as dramatic as expected, considering the investment. Additionally, there were minor issues with the battery compartment latch. While the HR500 has potential, it falls short of my expectations.

Final Thoughts

So, with the remaining time before your hunt, ensure you have all the gear you need to keep you warm, comfortable, and efficient this coming late season. Yes, quality gear can be expensive, but this gear should last many years. Regarding your warmth and safety, using the buy once, cry once philosophy is never a bad idea. 

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