Must-Have Gear For Late Season Whitetail

SPONSORED CONTENT

The biggest obstacle every mid- to late- season whitetail hunter faces is the cold. Add in wind and precipitation and you’ll quickly realize how poor-quality hunting clothing can easily cost an empty freezer at the end of a season. Choosing the right gear for the whitetail season is just as, if not more important, than the price tag on your bow or the glass sitting atop your rifle.

If you haven’t come across Sitka before, they’re a manufacturer of high-end hunting clothing and gear with game-specific camouflage patterns designed to give you the best possible advantage out in the field. The Whitetail Elevated II product line, as the name suggests, is designed for whitetail hunting from an elevated position. The game-focused design of this line doesn’t just end at what Sitka refers to as the “concealment pattern” — most of the gear within this line is designed to be as silent as possible and many of the pieces are optimized for bowhunters. Fortunately, the folks at EuroOptic have provided us with some insight into their favorite Sitka gear options for deer season.

Sitka Whitetail Elevated II Core Lightweight Hoody

The top choice for a base layer top is the Sitka Whitetail Elevated II Core Lightweight Hoody, this lightweight piece lends itself well for layering but can also function as a standalone hoody for early season hunts. The hoody is made from a comfortable and stretchy material that allows for a full range of motion and wicks moisture – this is a feature that you’ll appreciate after working up a sweat on your way to the stand.

The Core Lightweight Hoody uses Polygiene fabric technology to eliminate odors caused by sweat, allowing you to wear the hoody several times before having to worry about washing it. The Core Lightweight Hoody also has several other key features that make this a valuable piece in any system, including an integrated facemask, thumb loops and a rangefinder-sized chest pocket.

 

 

Sitka Whitetail Elevated II Stratus Pant

When it comes to pants in Sitka’s Whitetail line, look no further than the Stratus Pant, a lightweight bottom shell that provides the protection and warmth you need while mitigating the amount of noise generated by the fabric brushing against trees, bushes or other gear.

The Stratus Pant incorporates three layers of material, the inner layer is a warm but breathable micro-gridded fleece and the outer layer is a soft and silent micro fleece. Sandwiched between those two layers is a layer of GORE-TEX INFINIUM with WINDSTOPPER technology, making it 100-percent windproof to keep you in the stand longer on those blustery days.

The Stratus pant has many features that prove how committed Sitka is to providing hunters with the best possible gear. Notably, the large cargo pockets are positioned on the thigh of each leg to allow for easy access from a sitting position. Going further, all snap buttons on the pant are enhanced to minimize the amount of noise that is generated when opening pockets to gain access to essential gear. The fit of the Stratus Pant does allow for layering making these pants a solid option for mid- through late-season hunts.

 

 

Sitka Whitetail Elevated II Fanatic Jacket

Consistently one of the most loved and bestselling pieces of Sitka Gear, the Fanatic Jacket is designed with bowhunters in mind and is packed with features to back it up. The look of the Fanatic Jacket (and most of the gear within the Fanatic series) is vastly different from most hunting apparel. The outside layer of the Fanatic is made from high-loft Berber fleece that is virtually silent and highly insulating. For further comfort and warmth, the Fanatic Jacket is outfitted with a layer of 100-percent windproof and ultra-quiet GORE-TEX INFININUM with WINDSTOPPER technology and PrimaLoft Silver Hi-Loft Ultra insulation.

The construction of the Fanatic Jacket uses body-mapping technology to ensure that no bulk from the jacket impacts a bowhunter’s ability to effectively draw their bow when the moment’s right.

One of the most coveted features of the Sitka Fanatic Jacket is the Constant-Connect Sitka Safety Harness Port that allows you remain connected to your stand harness while adding or subtracting layers. Additionally, the Fanatic Jacket features methodically designed pockets for stowing your gear and keeping your hands warm. The innovative diagonal-zip design allows for a pass-through hand muff lined in Berber fleece. New for 2019, Sitka is offering a Lefty Fanatic Jacket so no bowhunter is left uncomfortable up in the stand.

 

 

Stika Whitetail Elevated II Incinerator Bib

The Sitka Whitetail Elevated II Incinerator Bib is worthy of its name because these are the warmest bibs in the Sitka product line. As with all of the Sitka Whitetail gear we’ve mentioned so far, the Incinerator Bib is designed to be best at what it claims to do — and that’s keep you warm in some of the nastiest weather Mother Nature can throw at you.

The outer face of the jacket is made from GORE-TEX’s waterproof and windproof material while the interior layers of the bib are insulated with 40-percent PrimaLoft Silver Insulation and 60%-percent Water Resistant Duck Down. The lower sections of the pant legs do not feature the same insulation found in the rest of bib allowing for the bib to be easily placed over or tucked into heavy hunting boots. The multiple sets of pockets found on Sitka Incinerator Bibs clearly shows the attention to detail that went into designing the bibs with each set easily accessed when in the stand. Fully detachable zippers make pulling these 100-percent Waterproof sleeping bags (I mean bibs) on and off effortlessly.

 

 

Sitka Whitetail Elevated II Fanatic Beanie

One of the most essential pieces of gear for any late season whitetail hunt is a proper hat, and not all winter headwear is created equal for this purpose. The Sitka Whitetail Elevated II Fanatic Beanie stands out with features and design elements that you’ll find incredibly useful while sitting in the stand.

There is a four-way stretch band over the ears that dramatically increases your ability to hear what’s going on around you. The outside layer of the Fanatic Beanie is the same high-loft Berber fleece found on several other pieces in the Whitetail Fanatic series. Additionally, the Beanie features a layer of GORE-TEX INFINIM with WINDSTOPPER technology to completely eliminate the frigid effects of the winter wind.

And for those women whitetail hunters out there, Sitka makes a women’s version of this warm hat with a small opening in the rear that allows the wearer to pull a pony-tail through so the hat can fit comfortably at the base of the neck.