so your heading out west on a mountain lion hunt. you have chosen your outfitter and got your licenses, now what? now you need to plan on what to bring.
we won’t get into weapons in this article but any good solid caliber will do. I personally choose a
lever-action 30-30. works every time.
when heading out into the woods after a lion. you need to be prepared for many different weather conditions and temperatures. depending on the location of the hunts you could be dealing with sunny dry and temps in the ’40-50s. or 3ft of wind blowing snow with the high never reaching zero in the day. you need to talk to your outfitter and get a good feel for typical weather conditions. but you also need to know yourself and prepare accordingly. if you're coming from south Florida to hunt the rocky mountain west in January the cold is going to hit you much harder than the outfitter that hasn’t seen temps above freezing for two months.
if you are coming out to hunt with graylight outfitters. on your winter lion hunt. you can plan on hunting and following the hounds by cutting tracks out of the truck. cruising around in a side-by-side buggy. or hunting the more remote country by horseback.
here is our suggested list of clothing items to bring for a comfortable and enjoyable trip.
boots: pair of good waterproof hiking boots that are insulated. (pack boots are a great option)
good quality wool socks.
good quality thermals.
good layering system, temperatures can fluctuate a lot throughout the day, and you need to be able to regulate your temperature when driving riding, or walking.
gloves: heavy wool gloves and also some good quality mittens.
good winter hat with ear flaps.
ski type mask that covers your face. ( I wear these when traveling in the buggy and it’s great).
a good oversized coat that is easy to take on and off.
and also well-insulated coveralls that zip on the side that can also be taken on and off with ease.
good fitting day pack.
some good optics, we regularly find some great bucks and bulls you’ll want a good look at.
camera.
sunscreen.
sunglasses. (the snow can be hard on your eyes)
plus any other personal items you’ve found to work for you personally and that you need
