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It wasn’t until the Age of Antiquity that people started to hunt for fun and competition. Before that, people used to hunt for one obvious reason only – survival. During the Middle Ages, members of royal families would indulge in hunting not only to show off their skills but also have important discussions over it. During the Renaissance period in France, hunting with hounds became a lifestyle choice for many, which lead to hunting becoming a privilege for the second time. This also made France put laws and regulations regarding where and when people could hunt.
Today, hunting is more than just a sport or a way to spend quality time with friends – it is also a great way to help the environment too. Hunting is a great way to manage wildlife population nowadays which is done with the help of certain hunting regulations being put in place. Hunting is essentially conservation. But no person can be a successful in this without proper hunting apparel. That being said, one of the most important aspects is choosing the right pants.
What to Consider
Fabrics
Hunting trousers can be made of different fabrics which can be beneficial in some situations and disadvantageous in others. Polyester, for example is a very durable material and it will make for a tough pair of hunting pants. But this fabric isn’t that good when it comes to breathability. Fleece is where breathability is at but you are not getting as much protection form the elements or durable pants. This is where high-end hunting pants excel as they have a blend of fabrics that allow protection from the elements, breathability and durable pants for hunting.
Scent Blocking
When hunting game animals, especially deer, it’s important to block your scent from reaching them. A pair of hunting trousers can tackle this too with the help of chemical coatings. Pants that don’t offer scent control can be washed with an odour-masking/ eliminating detergent. Those that do have scent control will have either moderate or high-tech scent control. Pants with moderate scent control are sprayed with scent-blocking chemicals on the outside whilst high-tech scent control pants have minuscule filaments between layers of fabric. These filaments help trap the odour.
Waterproofness & Water resistance
Waterproof and water-resistant pants differ regarding what they offer. Waterproof pants for hunting will keep your legs dry even if you are exposed to heavy downpour or any other wet conditions. A water-resistant garment, on the other hand, will only keep your legs dry form a shower or drizzle but just for a certain time period. Waterproof pants are usually a high-end garment while water-resistant pants are more of an off-the-shelf garment.
Types
There are usually going to be three types of hunting trousers to chose from, lowland, highland and cold weather pants. Let’s start with the obvious, cold weather pants. These are going to be waterproof and have the best insulation too whilst also being reinforced on the seat of the knee. Although they are heavier then both lowland and highland pants, cold weather pants are still going to be comfortable and resist snags and tears too.
Lowland pants are typically used in windy areas and can be both thick or thin. Lowland pants can be 100% waterproof but they are not as tough as cold weather pants since their purpose is to keep you warm and dry. Highland pants are more durable and tougher than lowland pants but not as protective from the elements as cold weather pants. They come reinforced with knee pads and are still a comfortable pair which allows you to crawl, stretch and scramble as much as you want without worrying about tearing a whole in them.
Camo
Camo helps you blend in with your surroundings. Camouflage works best when the outline of your body is not as apparent which is why you want the pattern to match the colour of the vegetation. Whilst the pattern itself is important to a certain level, it is still not as important as the colours it uses. The colour of the camo will depend on the hunting season and area. For example, densely wooded areas usually require grey, tan or brown camo so it blends in with branches. In a different season where the leaves haven’t fallen down yet, you’ll have to take into consideration their colour too. Make sure your camo is matching the most dominant tone in the area you’ll be hunting in.
What Colors Should You Not Wear When Hunting?
If you are going to hunt for predators, make sure to avoid dark colours and blue hues as they will make you stand out a lot. Light and subtle colours will help you conceal your appearance when hunting coyotes for instance. Knowing how game animals see and smell can help you adjust properly every time you go hunting.
Pockets
A sanitary pocket is also a convenient feature which allows you to carry things such as toilet paper without having to remove an entire jumpsuit just to get to it. Having enough pockets to carry gear that you use frequently such as a knife, flashlight or a multi tool is a big plus too. This will not only help get rid of bags but it will make things more convenient since you’ll have essentials within arm’s reach.