Trip planning · Updated 2026-05-28
The full gear list by weapon class and season month. The packing email we send every guest two weeks before their hunt — minus the brand names so you can buy what fits your wallet.
The short answer
Pack a layered system built for the specific weapon class and season month of your hunt. September archery needs lighter layers and quiet outerwear; November rifle 3rd and 4th need 300-weight merino, insulated boots rated to 0°F, blaze orange, and insulated overpants for glassing sits. The conditions table below maps every Colorado elk weapon-season to expected temperatures and layer weights.
Conditions table
Find your weapon class + month and use the right column as your packing baseline. Then build the category lists below around that.
| Weapon · Month | Temps | Top layer | Base layer | Outerwear | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Archery September | 35–75°F (dawn to mid-day) | Soft-shell pants + 200-weight merino long-sleeve | 150-weight merino base + light merino briefs | Light puffy + packable rain shell | Layering is everything — strip and add through the morning thermal flip. |
Muzzleloader Mid-September | 28–68°F | Heavier soft-shell + 250-weight merino | 200-weight merino base | Mid-weight puffy + rain shell | First snow possible above 9,500 ft. Bring gloves you can shoot in. |
Rifle 1st Mid-October | 20–55°F | Insulated soft-shell + merino mid-layer | 250-weight merino base top + bottom | Heavy puffy + waterproof shell | Aspen has dropped. Wind picks up on the bench in afternoon. |
Rifle 2nd Late October | 15–50°F | Insulated soft-shell + heavier merino mid-layer | 250-weight merino base top + bottom + neck gaiter | Heavy puffy + waterproof shell + insulated overpants for glassing | Most common rifle season we book. Pack for first-light cold. |
Rifle 3rd Mid-November | 5–40°F | Heavy insulated soft-shell + heavyweight merino mid-layer | 300-weight merino base top + bottom + heavy neck gaiter | Heavyweight puffy + waterproof shell + insulated overpants + chemical hand warmers | Real cold. Snow likely. Bring boots rated to 0°F and insulated socks. |
Rifle 4th Late November | 0–35°F | Insulated outer pant + heavyweight merino + soft-shell over | Two-layer merino bottom (300-weight + light second layer) | Down + insulated shell + balaclava + heavy boot covers | Late-snow tracking. Layer for stand sits in 5°F wind. |
The full list
Plan for 20°F overnight lows during October rifle hunts and 0–5°F during November rifle 3rd and 4th. Daytime highs typically run 25–35°F warmer than overnight lows. September archery is much milder — 35°F mornings to 75°F afternoons.
Colorado law requires hunters in rifle seasons to wear at least 500 square inches of solid blaze orange or fluorescent pink — typically a vest plus a hat suffices. Archery and muzzleloader hunters do not have the requirement. Bring blaze regardless if you're hunting near a rifle season.
Yes. Bring binoculars in the 8×42 or 10×42 class — they're the single most-used tool of any hunt. The guide carries a spotting scope, but having your own glass for personal use during long glassing sessions is materially better than passing one back and forth.
Broken-in hunting boots with at least an 8-inch upper, rated for the temperatures of your season. For September archery, a mid-weight boot like the Crispi Wyoming or Kenetrek Hardscrabble works. For November rifle 3rd or 4th, you need an insulated boot rated to 0°F like the Kenetrek Mountain Extreme 1000 or Schnee's Beartooth.
Insulated boot covers for the long November glassing sits. Even with good cold-rated boots, sitting motionless for two hours in 10°F wind turns your feet into wood. Cheap nylon shells or fleece-lined covers that pull on over the boot solve it.
We don't rent personal hunting gear — too much variation in fit and sizing to rent reliably. We do provide the camp essentials (transport vehicles, ATVs, horses, processing facility, lodging, meals). For everything in the lists above, bring it or buy it before you arrive.
Plan your week
Got gear questions?
If you’re unsure whether a specific piece of gear is right for your hunt, call us. Two-hour conversation about boots and base layers is included with every booking, free of charge.
From the journal
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