John Dudley's Early Season Bow Hunting Clothing and Gear Picks

Early-season pursuits call for Sitka’s lightest Merino baselayer. This super-comfy crew features an ultra-light merino wool blend that regulates temperature to help you stay comfortable in any condition or activity level, plus it’s naturally odor-resistant to suppress your scent.

And with ArmorSpun merino wool, it’s durable enough to last for many seasons.

• ArmorSpun merino wool blend for exceptional comfort and durability
• Regulates temperatures to keep you comfy on the move
• Odor-resistant for maximum scent control

Better than your average base layer, the Core Lightweight Hoodie is the prototype on which all SITKA systems are built. High-performance polyester construction moves moisture during periods of high aerobic activity while drying quickly during idle time.

Best of all: It’s super comfy.

• Comfy, high-performance polyester
• Moisture-wicking to keep you comfortable and dry
• Perfect amount of stretch for a great fit.

Stealth is imperative if you plan on getting close to deer and other big game. The Intercept Hoodie was designed to deliver top-notch sound, scent, and sight suppression to help you get into bow range undetected. With an ultra-quiet, odor-resistant, ArmorSpun merino wool blend designed to regulate temperature, plus removable elbow pads, the Intercept combines next-level stealth with rugged durability.

• Designed for maximum sound, scent, and sight suppression
• ArmorSpun merino wool for durability
• Removable elbow pads

Stay unseen, unheard, and unscented with the Sitka Intercept Pant. The bonded merino wool-blend lining helps you regulate your body temp while wicking moisture, keeping you comfy and dry through start-and-stop activities.

The pants have a durable nylon face that's tough enough to handle crawling over heavy brush and rocky terrain. They even have removable D3O® pads to provide a little extra knee cushion while you wait for your shot, and the zippered hip vents let you cool off on the move.

• Comfy, moisture-wicking merino wool-blend lining
• Tough nylon face for durability
• Removable D3O® pads for knee protection and comfort
• Sound, scent, and sight depression help you stealth around undetected
• Zippered hip vents for ventilation

A great insulated layer for any system, the Ambient 100 Hooded Jacket features Primaloft Evolve to maximize breathability when you’re on the move and retain warmth once you’re idle. With a durable 20D ripstop nylon face, it can withstand thick brush, and a durable, water-repellent finish protects you from light precipitation. With a full-zip front and handwarmer pockets, this jacket is a must for hunting in cool weather.

• Insulated, breathable, and water-repellent to keep you comfortable and dry
• Durable 20D ripstop nylon fabric to handle thick brush
• Built-in handwarmer pockets

Silence is key when you’re stalking big game. That’s why the Thunderhead Jacket is designed to be as quiet as possible while delivering exceptional water protection and breathability. The Thunderhead’s 3-layer GORE-TEX fabric has an ultra-quiet brushed face to keep you both protected and silent and a brushed backer for against-the-skin comfort.

• Waterproof, breathable fabric
• Three-layer GORE-TEX fabric with ultra-quiet brushed face
• Brushed bracket for against-the-skin comfort

The Dew Point Jacket features three-layer construction and lightweight, waterproof GORE-TEX fabric for excellent protection from nasty weather. The 20D nylon ripstop face has soft GORE® C-Knit® backer technology for breathable comfort and packability, underarm vents for ventilation, micro-taped seams to reduce weight, plus zippered pockets for your small accessories.

• Three-layer, waterproof GORE-TEX® fabric for weather protection
• 20D nylon ripstop face with soft GORE® C-Knit® backer technology for comfort and packability.
• Underarm vents
• Zippered pockets

Sitka’s all-time best-selling jacket for a reason. The Jetstream softshell jacket features WINDSTOPPER® technology by GORE-TEX® labs to protect you from extreme winds through the mid and late season.

A micro-grid interior fleece provides critical warmth, and underarm vents dump heat during periods of intense movement. The fit and finish keep you comfy, and a DWR-treated face fabric helps repel light rain and snow.

• WINDSTOPPER® technology to shield you from strong winds
• Micro-grid interior fleece for warmth and comfort
• Underarm vents to expel heat
• DWR-treated face fabric for water-resistant

The Equinox Turkey Vest combines the comfort and storage of a hunting pack with the movement and organizational needs of a run-and-gun turkey hunt or an early-season deer hunt. With roomy, magnetic-closing pockets for calls and other tools, you’ll have plenty of room for essentials.

Adjustable straps create a secure fit, and a drop-down seat deploys and cinches back up quickly and securely.

• Roomy, magnetic-closing pockets to keep your tools and accessories safe
• Adjustable straps for a secure fit
• Drop-down seat for when you need a break

Say goodbye to bug bites with the Equinox Guard hoodie, which uses bite-reduction fabric, built-in Insect Shield® technology, and limited skin exposure to prevent contact with insects. With ultra-lightweight, moisture-wicking, breathable fabric, you can stay comfy anywhere — especially in hot, muggy conditions.

It also features a breathable mesh facemask and a long tail that tucks into your pants for maximum insect protection.

• Bite-reduction fabric and Insect Shield® technology
• Moisture-wicking, breathable fabric for comfort in any weather
• Breathable mesh facemask

This Nock On LED Hat Clip 2-Pack contains one white and one green bright LED light hat clip. It has a built-in, 15-degree angle tilt, weighs less than one ounce, and easily clips onto any hat brim. Batteries included.

• 25 Lumens
• 5 super bright LEDs with built-in 15-degree angle tilt
• Top mount design, does not obstruct vision
• 118 minutes burn time
• Powered by two (2) CR-2016 batteries (included)

A handy tool for big game hunters, the Mountain Optics Harness features a silent, secure, magnetic, one-handed front flap for binos, plus removable, modular side pockets for rangefinders and other accessories for quick and quiet access. It also features additional elastic pockets for storing calls or win gauges, and the internal lens cloth helps you keep your glass clean.

This harness is rounded out with a brushed polyester face fabric for silent stalking.

• Secure magnetic one-handed front flap for binos
• Removable, modular side pockets
• Brushed polyester face fabric

The most ballistically advanced archery rangefinder available, The RX-FullDraw® 5 uses your bow’s velocity, shot angles, peep height, and arrow weight to calculate accurate distances based on your gear setup, including input velocities as low as 170 feet per second. And thanks to improved flightpath technology, you can choose between two viewing modes that allow you to see possible obstacles from up to 85 yards away.

It also has a setting for low-visibility weather, plus Last Target mode, which helps it punch through fog and moisture to give you an accurate reading.

• 6x magnification
• Last Target mode for precise readings in bad weather
• Broad range of velocity inputs, giving you an accurate reading for your specific gear
• Bright red OLED display
• Super-fast laser engine

The Leupold BX®-4 Pro Guide™ HD Binoculars deliver excellent performance that won’t weigh you down on long hunts. These binos provide the superb brightness, edge-to-edge sharpness, and contrast that guides demand — all while limiting glare. They’re the ultimate binos for seeing clearly in low light.

• Angular field of view – high: 6.2 degrees
• Weight: 1.5lbs.
• Exit pupil – high: 4.2mm
• Close focus distance: 7.5ft.

With simplicity, comfort, and the ability to adjust groups quickly — There’s a reason the Nock 2 Is extremely popular. This release features a custom two-finger design, an auto-closing jaw for quick and easy attachment to your d-loop, and a wrist lanyard.

The finger hole is designed to accommodate use with a light glove. By limiting the number of fingers you use on the release, you reduce the variation in your release angle, forcing repeatable finger pressure to help you improve your consistency down range!

• Custom two-finger design for comfortable grip and repeatable pressure
• Auto-closing jaw for quick, easy attachment to your d-loop
• Improves consistency down range