In a few weeks, my buddies and I are heading to our old summer camp for a bit of off-season winter hunting. Our version of hunting in the woods, however, has nothing to do with rifles, deer, or ammo …
We like to hunt FLAGS and HUMANS!
Now, this may sound a bit odd, but our idea of a good time is a few days of full-contact Capture the Flag. And a group of grown men are heading to Camp Leelanau for our first-ever Alumni Winter Capture the Flag Weekend.
Yep, it is a game some kids play in the back yard, but at Camp Leelanau we take our Capture the Flag pretty seriously. We build elaborate campsites in the woods with tables, benches and Baker tents … we wear camo to sneak up on our opponents during the day … play into the pitch-black darkness of night … and tackle the crap out of each other in defense of our team’s flag.
While this blog is usually reserved for more conventional outdoor sports, I thought our upcoming Alumni Flag Trip could be a great opportunity to check out some winter camo. Whether you’re hunting in winter for the first time or a semi-pro Capture the Flag athlete, you probably face some of these problems:
- You’re already heavily invested in cold-weather gear that DOES NOT provide good winter camoflague. Even your summer camo will make you stand out like a sore thumb in the winter woods.
- You need something you can just throw over your existing winter outer clothes, rather then buying a whole new coverall or jacket and pants.
- But you need something that’s tough so you can move around in the deep snow … or tackle your 300-lb. buddy before he reaches the flag perimeter.
So, here are a few suggestions:
Huntworth Snow Camo Jacket and Bibs
At just about $30 per piece, you can get both pieces and stay dry and out of sight this winter. These are roomy enough to just throw over your winter coat and pants. One problem I saw from a product review is that they tend to be noisy, so you might need to take extra time to get into place if you are trying to get in under the nose of wary prey. You can check em out at http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/snow-camo-jacket-by-huntworth.aspx?a=299314
Fleece Hood Mask in Snow Camo
King’s Outdoor World has some great Snow Camo hats and gloves. This one is on sale for $14.95. Check ’em out online at http://shop.kingsoutdoorworld.com/Snow-Shadow_c_22.html
TX Hot Grip Fleece Glove in Snow Camo
I would still bring a pair of waterproof gloves, but it would still be great to stow these away in a pocket for that early-morning raid on the other team’s flag site or for after you get all set up in your blind or stand. At $9.95, you can afford to bring a pair to spare. Check ’em out at http://shop.kingsoutdoorworld.com/Snow-Shadow_c_22.html along with a whole range of snow camo products.
For all you veteran Winter Woods Warriors out there, let us know what snow camo and other cold-weather gear works the best for you. As for my Leelanau Alumni buddies, I’ll see you guys out in the woods in a few weeks … you just might not be able to see me coming, though.
Now Get Out There!
Rich Bachus President, Great Outdoors Copywriting