Bowhunting gear has evolved dramatically during the past 50 years. Simply stated, this isn’t the stuff dad and grandpa wore back in the day. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that Mel Johnson’s popular red and black flannel, teamed with average ol’ work pants, didn’t look awfully deadly as he poised with his monstrous and still yet to be beaten Pope & Young typical World Record whitetail. It’s just as a gear junkie and constantly testing what’s new, I prefer gear that is designed to hunt and rigor the beatings from extreme abuse afield.

Sitka Gear, one of the leaders in hunting apparel offers high-tech FABRICS and designs that culminate in gear designed to hunt. Since it’s birth, Sitka has addressed the demands from hardcore hunters and through trial and error, tweaking, changing, and always improving, introduced a system designed to outfit you 365 days a year. From bone-aching freezing temps to blistering days under the sun, Sitka Gear offers a systematic offering of apparel and gear engineered to perform in a variety of conditions through a specific moisture management system, which relies on a base layer foundation. Base layers transfer moisture away from your skin, helping you stay warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. This is essential, whether you’re dogging bulls up steep ridges in the Cascades or climbing a tree with your climber after a mile hike in.

Backpacks, gaitors, belts, hats and gloves compliment Sitka's full line of apparel.

Sitka’s goal is to introduce to the hunting industry a system of clothing that incorporates the latest high-performance fabrics with a mountaineering design philosophy. This system is based on a layering system and revolves around base, insulation and outerwear, with a key focus: Moisture Management. Their mission statement says, “A paradigm shift…to engineer gear that is an extension of the outdoor experience and not simply a barrier between the user and the environment. By utilizing only the most advanced fabrics and construction technologies, Sitka will always design gear that is engineered to work together as complete systems, excelling in performance, function, and protection.”

Sitka Layering Scenario. Click image for more info.

Every fall I put Sitka Gear to the test in the field. From backpacks to rain gear, gloves to base layers, and bibs to jackets, I’ve utilized Sitka Gear while chasing elk in 90-degree temps as well as manning chilly treestands during late November with snow and wind hammering my face all day. I can honestly say Sitka Gear is designed for me. I’m not a small guy and unfortunately have received a fairly humiliating nickname as sweaty. What can I say, I’m healthy! My point is: No matter what the temperature or the activity, I know that by utilizing a layer system, heat management is better executed and I don’t end up feeling like I just got out of the shower. Featuring a number of activity-enhancing features, Sitka Gear products are constructed for specific conditions and performance — say articulated knees in their 90% Pants and a grueling Mountain Goat hunt in the rocky mountains of Alaska where mobility and durability are paramount. Or down insulation, which is available in the Incinerator Jacket and perfect for late-season whitetail hunts when snow, rain and wind take their toll.

Dustin Roe pictured left with his first Mountain Goat

Sitka pro staffer Jody Cyr is all smiles after a successful Oregon elk hunt.

Beyond fabrics, layering and construction, in recent years, Sitka partnered with W.L. Gore (Gore-Tex) and introduced GORE OPTIFADE Concealment. In 2009, Optifade Open Country was created, which is designed for the Western backcountry hunter. Addressing the whitetail hunter and specifically treestand hunters, Optifade Forest was introduced in 2010. Optifade Forest features a pattern configured for hunting elevated angles. Designed around animal vision and not human eyesight, both Optifade camo patterns tout being the Science of Nothing, a concept that differs from mimicry camouflage and by breaking up the human outline using macro and micro patterns, make us appear like nothing in games’ eyes.

Optifade — Science of Nothing. Click image for more information.

Can you find the hunter?

How about now?

Optifade Forest. Macro and micro patterns help break up the human outline to deceive sharp-sensed game.

Optifade Forest

Last year I was able to field test the new Optifade Forest and I’m not lying when I say, I did not get busted one single time last year. That includes bucks, does and fawns. In fact, there were multiple incidents where I literally had deer staring right at me, scent checking with their noses up, and for one reason or another never did spook. One little guy was no more than six yards away and on a sidehill that put him almost at eye level, and he never knew I was even there. It was as if he was staring right through me. By the end of the season my tally ended at 14 bucks, six Pope & Young Shooters, plenty of does and fawns, and all without getting spotted.

Most recently Sitka launched the Sitka System Builder. This online application is designed to take the guesswork out of choosing the right layering system for hunters in any given condition. Simply start at the top and check the boxes that apply. “Proper layering is the key to staying comfortable, and ultimately staying on the stand longer. We developed the Sitka System Builder to help customers choose the appropriate layers based on their individual hunting situation.” stated Sitka Founder Jonathan Hart.

Sitka's layering system can be utilized 365 days a year.

The Sitka System Builder allows consumers to control and change a number of variables, including their Optifade camo choice, game they pursue, season, and for Open Country, the type of terrain they are hunting in. The builder will then identify the proper gear to maximize your comfort, and ultimately your hunting experience. To experience Sitka’s System Builder click on the image below.

Click on image for link to Sitka's System Builder

It’s nice to know when you hit the woods your apparel is as ready to hunt as you are. I know my bags are packed and finally September is here. The following are a few of my favorite Sitka products that I’m going to be using elk hunting during the next couple weeks.

Traverse Zip T — Open Country

Ascent Pant — Optifade Forest

Sitka's Flash 20 features 2,000 cubic inches, detachable rainfly, suspension back, bow holder, padded spotting scope pockets and more.

For more information on Sitka Gear products go to www.sitkagear.com or call 877-748-5247.

Make sure to check out Petersen’s BOWHUNTING’s October edition, which is our 2010 Whitetail Issue. This special issue hits newsstands Sept. 7 and is jam-packed with information designed to get you ready for a successful fall hunting seasons.

Some of the highlights of the 2010 Whitetail Issue include:

* Field Editor Bill Winke’s Top 10 Rut Tactics

* Treestand Placement Strategies from North America’s Top Whitetail Outfitters

* An insightful feature on locating and hunting mature, big-woods bucks

* Still-Hunting Strategies

* A Report on the Varied Rut Timing Across the South

* A Breakdown of the Year’s Best New Camouflage Patterns

* And Much More!

Make sure to look for Petersen’s BOWHUNTING on your local newsstands and pick up your copy before they’re gone.

Well, it’s time for the latest installment in my ongoing series of trail camera updates, and as you can see from the photo above, we’ve identified another good buck in our hunting area. This one was captured by my buddy Keith at the family farm, which is a few miles from my home. This will be Keith’s first year bowhunting, and he’s already got his name on this one! He’s got a lot to learn about how hard bowhunting can be, but I hope he pulls it off. This would be a dandy first buck with the bow. If nothing else, I am glad to see Keith’s enthusiasm for archery and bowhunting. It’s been a lot of fun running trail cams with him this summer and seeing him become a good shot with his Mission Eliminator bow. I don’t have much doubt that he’s more than capable of making a good shot. Now, all we need is for this guy to show up under his tree…

In addition to the big 8-pointer, who is just outside the ears (you can see that clearly in some of Keith’s other shots), there are a number of young bucks, does and fawns working the farm. Plenty of standing corn and soybeans right now makes it difficult to tell exactly what kind of deer activity we’ll have come November, but at this point, it looks fairly encouraging. Here are a few other shots from this week:

One more thing I wanted to note is the new trail camera I got recently from Wildgame Innovations. Actually, they sent me two new cameras, but so far, I’ve only gotten to use one of them. It’s the IR3d, and it’s a slick little unit. Basically, this is a trail camera for dummies, because you can’t program it. You just put in the batteries and an SD card, mount it to the tree and turn it on. The settings can’t change. It takes 3 MP still photos 24 hours a day, with a one-minute delay between shots. It takes color photos during the day and black-and-white photos at night using the 18 high-intensity LEDs. The entire, compact unit is weatherproof and covered in Realtree camo. I really like this camera. The only thing I wish you could change is making it takes multiple photos every time it’s triggered instead of just one. However, for what is is, I am fairly impressed.

Get ready for elk season with some top-notch hunting and calling advice from Will Primos. Join Will and Associate Editor Daniel Beraldo on the latest episode of Petersen’s BOWHUNTING Radio!

Listen to the FREE podcast HERE.

Bowhunters Wax Up....season starts Saturday, Sept. 28

4x4 stud with eye guards/browtines. My Dream Buck!!!!!

My bowhunting buddies Jared, Miah, Zach, Brad, Graham, Eric, JW, Isaac and Mike (there’s more and I’m sorry if I left you out!) back home are all geared up and have set plans to hit the woods, and roads this weekend!! After all, a good redneck stalk always starts in a vehicle (sorry fellas’). Miah and Eric are both on the board for 2010 having both tagged nice coastal bruins last week. Congrats men!!! And I can’t help but mentioning but at 30 and 60 yards you were in bow range!!

morning after long hike during the night in 2009

Central Oregon’s High Cascade region is a hotspot for elk and deer general archery season tag holders. Its diverse landscape features high desert regions with a good mix of timber, rivers and lakes, sage flats, and towering mountains. Closer to the eastern slope of the cascades you’ll find large stands of old pines, firs, a few aspen stands, and a landscape littered with mountain lakes. Elk, deer, bear, cougar and the numerous species of small game run nomadic-like lake to lake.

Deep Timber and Thick Country

These features don’t make filling a tag a slam dunk. Central Oregon draws a huge number of hunters throughout the West. Logging roads and skid trails provides access to a lot of country and hunters take advantage of this. Roads literally dissect this country east to west. Not only will you experience a good number of bowhunters pounding roads, you’ll also find a fair amount of rifle hunters scouting for their upcoming October firearms hunts, as well as mushroom pickers looking to fill buckets with the prized Matsutake mushroom. Plus, after experiencing a fairly light winter, which can affect the overall water table, hunting can be tough.

view of the valley and range to the Northwest

The watering holes deer and elk prefer to use, which are few and far between and considered a gold mine when found, are nothing but bare trenches of pummus dirt after a year with no snow and rain. The water is simply gone. Bowhunters rely on these types of setups for consistent success. In high desert regions similar to central Oregon, a secret brimming spring can provide constant action, but as summer’s pounding rays combined with an arid environment take their toll, these sure magnets vanish. Therefore scouting must be taken seriously. Otherwise hunts are basically nothing more than a crapshoot.

Dry temps equals fire danger in Central Oregon. Scouting is key to consistent success.

Perched over waterholes bowhunters can find success. However in dry years you better have a Plan B.

To offset this situation the use of attractants has become a big player in helping patterning game and ultimately contributing to the success of Oregon bowhunters. Admit it or not, baiting deer and elk in Oregon is legal and when honey-hole water sites dry up, using salt licks, minerals and apples are all used to lure wandering game into stands or blinds. I should add there are some people in Oregon that find baiting deer and elk a tactic better left unused as it creates an area that draws in too much game and creates a zone where diseases can spread. I don’t know all the details about this but I do know hunters in this area experience a fairly low success rate when it comes to bowhunting elk and deer. And even when you do build such sites it’s no guarantee you’ll be eating venison. Trust me! I know from experience. Such tactics give the Central Oregon Bowhunter options and they need them. Simply put, it can be tough country to hunt.

Pine trees are perfect for climbing treestands, which is the stand choice for my friends and I. Pictured is Gorilla's Greyback Elite climber.

My good buddy Jeremiah (Miah) has relied on a number of waterholes throughout the years, however, after visiting all of his dried up “holes” this year, he decided to go to Plan B and build a mineral site. After years of driving backroads, Miah knew of an area that held deer and a good number of bucks. So at the end of July he picked a spot where he had noticed deer and elk passing through, walked in a ways and using an ordinary salt block, minerals and a pellet-type attractant, he built his site.

These sites can be gangbuster throughout the summer, luring in all types of wandering animals. Concentrate on these areas heavily during the first two weeks of the season. As hunter traffic increases, camps are set and pressure rises, deer and elk hit the underground and become much less visible during daylight hours. So what can provide tremendous action during the summer months and early archery season, can also dry up and become visited less. So hunt them early and hunt them hard. And needless to say, wind direction is critical. If the wind isn’t ideal take a day off, burn some boot leather and try your luck spotting and stalking.

The following images are animals Miah has officially put on his hit list. Come Saturday I know where he’ll be at! Good luck to you Miah and good luck to all you Oregonians this weekend hitting the woods. I wish I was there with you all!

NOTE: Some of the times and dates are wrong. I apologize.

Good buck captured during day

Good 4x4 with browtine starting

nice 3x4 during daylight!!!

3x4 with a partner

Watcha looking at?

#1 bruiser on Miah's hit list

Mr. Tall — Great 3x3 hitting it during the day

He's back! Good to see he's still in the area

I call this guy Mr. Stickers!! Matching stickers on his G2s and another on his right G3

Mr. Stickers has a friend

Look at that mass!!

Miah's #1 on hit list....My Dream Buck!!!!!

And again!!!!

They found each other! Two bruisers running side by side.

Nice to see ya Stickers!

She looks like one mean cow!

Get ready to Nock and Roll with BOWHUNTING contributor John Dudley! Dudley’s brand new bowhunting program, dubbed Nock On, will debut in early 2011 on The Sportsman Channel. Check out these teasers below and make sure to tune into Nock On in January. Congratulations John on what is sure to be a great new show!

Here’s what John has to say about the new show and what “Nock On” is all about:

I feel like I’m one of the few people who have a broad crossover since I’m a competitive shooter, a writer, a coach and a serious hunter. That is a strong background that I am fortunate to have, and I love every one of those different areas of the sport. “Nock On” is a brand new project that is unlike any other show out there. The general idea was to create a show that captures the life of the dedicated archer (like my family’s life). We have a year-round commitment to every aspect of the sport and over the next few seasons this show will bring out all the elements of the dedicated archer. It obviously showcases a lot of great hunts, but it also has helpful tips for shooting and being better in the field, as well as plenty of funny moments. I’m all about having fun with archery and regardless of how serious I try to be, having fun is what my personality is all about. I have dedicated my life to archery and it has been so rewarding. My speaking and writing is how I give back to this sport. I don’t keep any secrets and instead offer everything I learn and try to be transparent with the ups and downs of my shooting and hunting experiences. If only one person is more successful from something I have written or because of something they heard me say, then I’m happy!

“Nock On” is about capturing those moments of intensity in the field or on the shooting line. The logo says it all and it represents my generation of archers! The X crowd – the new breed of archers that are diehard, passionate “lifers” to the sport. The guys that want to get better and practice year-round, stay in shape and hunt everywhere they can and keep their families in the game, too. The concept for this show was a no-brainer for Hoyt to get behind because it represents the kind of people that make Hoyt the company it is. Soon there will be a Website and formal announcement for “Nock On TV” and everything about it. The logo is a perfect reflection of what “Nock On” is all about. It is the coolest logo in archery right now and I can’t wait until I can finally go out in public with my hat on! Every archer – regardless of whether you are a hunter, 3D shooter, target archer or Olympic recurve shooter – will enjoy this logo. It really captures who we are! Right now we’re in the final stages of solidifying the U.S. network where it will be released in 2011. For the Canada premier, it will happen on October 3rd at 1:30 p.m. I am REALLY, REALLY, pumped for people to see this because it isn’t like anything out there. Everyone who has seen a secret sneak peek has wanted to see the next show right away, but they are in a vault!