Gear List

With all the hunting gear out there, it is tough to know if you are getting the best for your dollar. I have tried or seen just about everything over the years and I have learned that you usually get what you pay for. On an Alaskan hunt you are investing a lot of time and money, so don't skimp on your gear. I have the quality products that I use and where you can find them listed below. I have also found a great tool for hunters when it comes to top-of-the-line clothing and gear: www.captivatemoutdoors.com

They are a full service website that provides hunters with personal service on gear selection, sizing, and creates a complete "system" for each individual hunter. It is a great service with an easy 1-stop shop for everything, and prices are at or below MSRP's. Your outdoor adventure will be safer and much more enjoyable if you have the right equipment and clothing.

RAIN GEAR- Sitka Stormfront. I just got a set this fall and it worked GREAT! I used this stuff all the time: To cut the wind, to stay warm when I stop and glass, and of course when it rained. It is very light, packable, and BREATHES!! Yes, rain gear that breathes. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

BOOTS- I have been using Lathrop and Sons Custom Boot Systems. They custom build the foot bed of the finest boots specifically for your foot. These boots are designed for sheep hunting and all mountain hunting, but they are also my boot of choice in the Midwest. They are so comfortable. I used my first pair of these for 3 sheep hunts and never wore them once to break them in and never got a blister. I use their "Trapper Top" boots. I guided a hunter who had the Trapper Top boots and also a pair of "Mountain Light" boots to use as a pair of camp shoes and as a second pair of boots if he got the first pair wet. He was very happy with both of them.

OUTER JACKET- This year I am using Sitka's Jetstream. It is windproof with a hood. I would get it a size larger than normal so you can fit plenty of layers under it if it gets cold when glassing or if you get stuck on the mountain. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

INSULATING JACKET- A Kelvin jacket is very light and contains synthetic insulation. This should be in your pack everyday. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

PANTS- 1 pair of Ascent pants and 1 pair of Mountain pants or Gila wool pants. I do like to have a spare pair of pants, so I use 1 light pair and 1 medium. These will work great. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

VEST- I like a fleece wind stopper vest. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

FLEECE SWEATER- I like this with out any waterproofing or wind stopper and in a heavier fleece or polyester. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

T-SHIRTS- 2 are plenty. They should be light polyester. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

LONG SLEEVE THERMAL- Firstlites' Llano is the BEST. It is very warm and is long in the sleeve and has thumb holes so your wrists are cover in the cold. You will be amazed at how much warmer you will be with these. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

LONG UNDERWEAR BOTTOMS- 1 pair of Firstlite's Allegheny, which are a med/heavy wool and VERY warm, and 1 pair of ultra light long under wear, I like Traverse bottom. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

UNDERWEAR- Don't bring your tighty-whities! I like Red Deserts, they are a no scratch wool, very warm, comfortable, and breathable. I also like to have an extra light polyester pair in case the weather gets warm.
www.captivatemoutdoors.com

HATS- 1 baseball and 1 stocking. Any baseball cap will work and I like a HEAVY fleece hat. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

NECK GAITER or BALACLAVA- 1 or the other will be enough. Wind River from Firstlie is a good balaclava or a heavy fleece neck gaiter. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

GAITERS- These are nice for sheep hunts and spring bear hunts in the snow. They will keep your feet dry through wet brush and on those small streams that are just over your boots. OR or Sitka are good. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

GLOVES- I like rag wool or HEAVY fleece. I use 1 light and 1 heavy for a sheep hunt. If you are on a caribou, bear, or moose hunt also bring a heavy Gore Tex pair with long gauntlets to cover your wrists. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

SOCKS- 4-5 pair. I don't like sock liners, but some guys do. I have found that only 1 pair at a time works best. Get 3 light pair and 2 heavy. Fleece synthetics or SmartWool is good. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

SLEEPING BAG- Montbell is great and is inexpensive. Many to choose from and very light weight search for the best one for the type that will work best for your hunt. Down is very warm, but synthetics may work better if you will be spiked out in the snow or in very wet areas. A water proof stuff sack is a must. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

SLEEPING PAD- I just got a Thermarest NEO-AIR and it rocks! It is light and over 2 inches thick. This is a must! Cabelas

GUN CASE- This is an important one. You don't want to get to your destination and have your case or your weapon damaged. Airlines will destroy your cheap plastic or fiberglass cases. I have seen it MANY times. This is a no brainer. Get a steel one. Then take out the insulation and pack your clothes around your rifle. This will make it easy to travel with only 2 bags on the airlines. Cabelas

RIFLE- I won't get into Brands here, but I recommend a hunter bring a rifle he is comfortable with. a .243 is a minimum for sheep and caribou, .300 for moose and grizzly, and .338 for brown bear. I recommend spending more money on your scope than your rifle. A 1-4X scope is perfect for bears, a 3-9X is good for anything else. Stainless barrels and synthetic stocks are a good idea for Alaska's harsh conditions. Bipods aren't necessary unless you are a long range shooter, as usually a rest is easy to find.

AMMUNITION- No more than 40 rounds. I like Barnes Triple shock for moose and bear, the heavier the bullet the better. Caribou and sheep aren't as critical, Nosler Partitions are good. But there are certainly many others that will work well. Cabelas

OPTICS- There are several good ones. Buy the best you can afford. I like Leica. Zeiss, Swarovski, Leupold are also good. A hunter should for sure bring a pair of 8-10 power binoculars. Your guide should have a good spotting scope and rangefinder, but ask your outfitter, as if you have these, you may wish to bring them. Cabelas has all the good brands.

TREKKING POLES- Leki Makalu is good. Two of these are must for a sheep hunt, but you won't need them for any other type of hunt.

PACK- I would recommend a Mystery Ranch. The are very flexible, durable, yet still have an internal frame for added comfort. Mike at Captivatem Outdoors will help you find the model that will work best for you. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

CAMP SHOES- A pair of tennis shoes, or a 2nd light pair of boots as I mentioned above are nice to relax and keep your feet dry in camp. Crocs are also light weight and comfortable.

HIP BOOTS- LaCrosse ankle fits are the best. These won't be needed for sheep hunt, but will for a caribou, moose, and possibly bear. Check with your outfitter. Cabela's

GLACIER SOX- Sourdough slippers are great for bear hunts and sheep hunts where you don't need regular hip boots. They are light weight nylon hip boots that you slip on over your boots for quick creek crossings. www.captivatemoutdoors.com

WATER BOTTLE- This should be at least 32 OZ. I like to also have a 20 OZ. for long climbs where water is scarce. Most water in sheep country is good to drink, but contact your outfitter about filtering water bottles. Katadyn is a good brand.

HEADLAMP- Mammut is very good. Petzl is good and cheaper. Spare batteries and bulbs really aren't needed as long as they are new when you start the hunt.

CAMERA- A waterproof digital camera is a good idea. I use a Pentax. Otter Box makes a good protective and waterproof case. I use a Canon Vixia 40 video camera and carry it on my hip with a Kata Macro case that attaches to my belt. If you want to get pictures and video, your camera has to be EASILY accessible if you want to get good shots.

KNIFE- Bring a Leatherman type tool, and maybe 1 small skinning knife.

PERSONAL KIT- Leave your cologne and deodorant (unless it is odor free) at base camp, or your guide will get nervous. Bring any medications, a toothbrush, small toothpaste, and floss and anything you NEED. A small first aid kit is a good idea, with aspirin, ibuprofen, moleskin, and other foot care products being very important. Your guide will probably have all this, but don’t rely on him for everything.

MISCELLANEOUS ACCESSORIES- Spare batteries for cameras, a small roll of duct tape and/or electric tape, a needle and thread (I use dental floss), a lens cleaning cloth or tool for optics, sunglasses, lip balm, sunscreen, ear plugs (your guide may snore and you will need your sleep), a watch, 2 medium water proof bags or stuff sacks to put all your clothes in, small bottle of your spirit of choice is always nice after a successful hunt, journal and pen, "Emergen-C" energy drink mix is great for backpack hunts (find it at Walmart), a small pack of bathroom wipes are nice to have, a leather belt case for extra ammo(don't put it on your pack belt in case you leave your pack for the final stalk), a book to read for weather days, a SMALL bottle of hand sanitizer.

Most people bring way too much gear, and if you are traveling by small aircraft too much gear creates a safety risk, so get the best you can afford and you will be happy you did. The above mentioned list will be PLENTY for a 10 day hunt, as that is what I use for up to 75 days each year.

Good Hunting,

Billy Molls