Well, I did it! I finally had my first day of hunting. In northeast Ohio, the temperature can change greatly from 5 a.m. until after noon. I know I didn’t want to be cold, but most importantly I did not want to sweat. Yes, I sweat, there is no “glistening” on this body.
The weatherman predicted 52 degrees overnight and a high of 75 degrees. There was going to have to be some fancy layering to make that 20 degree difference work for me. Luckily, I had a set of camouflage hunting gear that I was planning to wear on a hog hunt in North Carolina that was canceled. This would be perfect for the warm afternoon.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Cerino
On the morning of the hunt I headed out the door at 5, hoping I had made the right choice in my clothing.
I wore my RedHead Stalker Lite II Camo pants ($29.99-$34.99) in Realtree APG. These were perfect since the person I hunted with was very fussy about clothing making noise. The button cargo pockets held my phone on one side and a box of ammo on the other. The front pockets were also deep enough to hold other items I had without worrying about them falling out. Since the fabric was so lightweight, I was a bit concerned that the pants would be shredded when I walked through a patch of blackberry bushes. Upon inspection, when I got home I only found 2 snags, and they were hardly noticeable.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Cerino
On top I wore a RedHead Stalker Lite II Camo long sleeve t-shirt ($19.99-$24.99) in Realtree APG. The fit was great. The sleeves were long enough to even pull over my hands and they never rode up. I was slightly anxious about the fabric being 100-percent polyester, since I am weird about the clothing I wear being itchy. This shirt couldn’t have been any softer or more comfortable (unless somehow it could massage your shoulders as you are wearing it). Since it was cold in the morning I wore a second layer on top: a RedHead Stalker Lite II Camo long sleeve button down shirt ($29.99-$34.99), also in Realtree APG. Again, not a sound when I moved and the sleeves were more than long enough, with two buttons that made a perfect fit on the wrist. I wore the extra layer in the morning and when I was sitting in the barn since there was a slight breeze. When it came time to walk the field in the afternoon sun, I tied it around my waist and never had to worry about the heat. The RedHead brand can be purchased from Bass Pro Shops.
So, how did my hunt go? I shot a very first woodchuck at 275 yards, using a Savage model 12 LRTV with 204 40 grain plastic tip Hornady bullets. Not bad for a first hunt!
Photo courtesy of Michelle Cerino
Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and GTM Original. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino
Congratz on first hunt. i remember my first hunt many years ago.
I am hoping to hunt whitetail deer this Fall. Maybe some squirrel before then!
Congratulations Michelle on your first hunt! Also a great article! It is entertaining and informative! I admire your courage 🙂 Keep up the good work. I look forward to following your progress.
I went squirrel hunting in the cooler weather but still only had my Stalker Lite to wear. I added a few layers on top and underneath the pants wore 2 thin pairs of gotchies (long underwear to the non-polish readers). I was still quite comfortable with the added layers but I do know this won’t work for whitetail deer in Ohio. For that I will have another review.