Taylor Blanchette British Columbia, Canada
Taylor Blanchette British Columbia, Canada
Late Season Saskatchewan Whitetail
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1I have hunted whitetails in my home province of Saskatchewan for the past 14 years, through the countless frigid all day sits, to the miles of hiking though fresh snow searching for large buck tracks. hunting the frigid late season in Saskatchewan for rutting bucks presents hunters with a unique set of challenges and I hope this gear list helps prepare you for the challenge. Location: Saskatchewan | Pursuit: Whitetail | Season: Late Season Rifle
May contain sponsored links*Optics
I've used this list of optics on all my hunts it covers all of my glassing needs and has never failed me in the field. The style of whitetail hunting I do varies from tight quarter still hunting in thick timber to glassing across wide valley river bottoms for cruising bucks and my optics choices have to be adaptable to either situation.
Maven B.2 9x45 Binoculars
Exceptional low light performance and value, the 9x magnification and large field of view come in handy when glassing in close quarter brush.
Marsupial Gear Enclosed Binocular Pack
Marsupial gear enclosed bino harness with rangefinder pouch and small accessory pouch is the best bino harness I've tried. The enclosed version keeps snow off your binos.
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Swarovski ATS 65mm Spotting Scope
Exceptional glass in a durable lightweight package, I don't always carry a spotter when whitetail hunting but I will always have it in the truck in case I need to judge a buck off the road or if I'm doing an all-day sit over a wide river valley.
Sig Sauer KILO2000 Rangefinder
Budget rangefinder that works exceptionally well. This rangefinder had been discontinued but Sig offers a wide variety of other rangefinder options.
S1 SPOTTING SCOPE ADAPTER-S1
A new product but one that will be my staple digiscoping option.
Backpacks & Gear
Kuiu Pro Hunting Pack Kit 3600
I love this pack for day trips, I can fit whatever extra layers I need while still being light and comfortable.
Knives
Kifaru Logo Tyto Knife
My backup knife that is always in my bino harness.
Hydration
GSI Outdoors - Microlite Water Bottle, Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel, Flip Lid
A lightweight Nalgene alternative that will keep hot fluid warm all day so it doesn't freeze on you.
Lights
PETZL, e+LITE Emergency Headlamp
My backup headlamp that is in my bino harness.
Streamlight MicroStream Flashlight
This stays in my Kill Kit.
Safety & First Aid
Garmin InReach Mini
This comes with me on all outdoor adventures and I think it should be a part of any hunter kit.
BIC Lighter
I wrap them with duct tape.
Leukotape
I use this for blisters.
Game Bags
These bags function well and are durable but I will be upgrading to a lighter option to save weight.
Calls
Buck Roar II Grunt Call
This is my favorite buck grunt call it remains loud when you need it without distorting the pitch and tone.
RUTTIN' BUCK RATTLING BAG
Rattling in bucks during the cold days of the rut is an awesome tactic and many of my bucks have come charging in looking for a fight.Scent Eliminators
I don't get to caught up in scent killing products but I think it doesn't hurt to start your day as scent-free as possible.
Trail Cameras
Dark Ops HD Pro X
Takes high quality pictures and stays reliable even in the coldest conditions.
PEAX SISSY STIX - Backcountry Z
I only use these if snow is really deep and I'm using snow shoes.
MSR Evo Ascent Snow shoes
These come out when we have an exceptionally snowy year in Saskatchewan and I'm still hunting following big buck tracks.
Kuiu Glassing Pad
A glassing pad is a vital piece of gear when sitting in the snow waiting for cruising deer or when rattling in bucks.
Food & Nutrition
When hiking or sitting in frigid temperatures you need to continually eat to fuel your internal furnace. I pack healthy, nutrient dense snacks I can eat steadily through out the day to keep warm.
Supplements
Snacks & Bars
Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee
Gotta have my coffee.
Clothing
Late season Whitetail hunts in Saskatchewan involve long days in the coldest of temperatures. It's imperative to have proper clothing to keep you in the field and to keep you safe from the biting cold.
Baselayers
I believe merino is the best choice for late season next to skin base layer.
Insulation/ Midlayers
Sitka Men's Celsius Midi Insulated Hunting Jacket
A warm and quiet jacket that can be worn as an outer layer or insulating layer in extreme cold.
Kuiu Peleton 97 Fleece Zip-T Hoodie
The highest warmth-to-weight ratio normally worn over a merino base layer.
Kuiu Peleton 240 Full Zip Hoodie
A versatile and warm piece that I bring on every hunt.
Arcteryx Cerium LT Down Vest
This vest is crazy warm and light. I believe a down vest is a key piece in an extreme weather layering system.
Outerwear
Kuiu Kenai Hooded Jacket
This jacket is warm, light, and quiet enough to wear stalking through the whitetail woods.
Cabela's Blaze Pro Guide II Vest for Men
A warm and quiet vest with tons of intelligent pockets and built-in hand warmer muffs. This is my go-to blaze vest in the late season.
SITKA Gear Ballistic Vest
I wear this vest when the weather isn't as cold or if I'm going light and fast.
Pants
Sitka Timberline Pant
My favorite late-season pants when I'm active in cold temperatures.
Naturehike White Goose Down Zippered Pants
These are budget down pants off of Amazon that are extremely warm and light weight. I always wear my Kuiu Yukon rain pants over top and I've had no issues with them so far.
Sitka Men's Insulated Fanatic Bib
These bibs are seriously warm and are only meant for long stationary sits on the coldest days, these are too warm to walk in and normally have to be packed in and put on once you get to your location.
Rain Gear
Kuiu Yukon Rain Pants
These are worn over the top of my down pants to protect them from tears as well as proving wind and water protection.
Footwear
Hoffmans Double Insulated Guide Pac Boots
My go-to late season boot while still hunting or hiking.
LaCrosse Men's Alphaburly Pro 18" 1600G Hunting Boots
My boot of choice when sitting stationary in the coldest of days or when little walking is required.
Smartwool PhD Ski Medium Sock
These ski-specific socks are thicker and warmer and go higher up to your knee providing more warmth and comfort with tall boots.
Accessories
When hunting the frigid days in late November in Saskatchewan, you will be in a constant battle trying to keep your hands, ears, and toes warm.
Gloves
SITKA Gear Traverse Glove
Worn as a liner glove.
First Lite Grizzly Mitts
A heavy duty mitt with maximum warmth and minimal dexterity.
Sitka Incinerator Muff
Always have this with me, it is one of my favorite pieces of late season gear.
Headwear
SITKA Gear Fleece Neck Gator
Super warm soft brush fleece to keep your face warm on the coldest days.
Kuiu Ultra Merino 145 Neck Gaiter
Comes with me on every hunt, super versatile and lightweight
Firearms
Tikka T3 Superlite .270 Win
The classic .270 win is my preferred dear hunting caliber.
Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40mm
My favorite all around hunting scope, providing an ideal zoom range in a lightweight compact package.
Leupold Aluminum Flip Up Scope Caps
Expensive but worth it, I put them on all my Leupold scopes, only scope cap that doesn't break in the cold.
Taylor Blanchette British Columbia, Canada
*NOTE: The links to purchase certain products I recommend in this gear list may result in me being paid a small commission. I appreciate your support!