Wapiti Ballot Sitka Gear List.

Gear selection for this hunt is often debated .....Fiordland has been described as having forest like the Amazon, but on mountains.  With a famously wet and cold envirnonment and the hunts are typically 7-10 days you need gear options, but you also need to count grams as you are carrying it. Plus Sandflies!

Here are some key items from Sitka Gear to consider.

Base Layers.....think some to hunt in and some to sleep in.  A lightweight and a medium or heavy weight base for hunting in and a medium for sleeping in.  A couple of pairs of long johns, one for hunting, one for sleeping - think Merino or Heavyweight.  Here are the key options - Base Layers

General Clothing......our famous Mountain Pants are a great option for trousers paired with brushed Thunderhead Gaiters. A soft-shell jacket gives weather protection from wind and damp, but is much more breathable, comfortable and quiet to hunt in than a fully waterproof jacke - consider the lightweight Mountain Jacket or the warmer Jetstream Jacket.

Insulation....at times you will need extra insulation over and above your base layers.  Standard Down is useless when wet so go for Primaloft or Water-Resistant Down as the fill.   The new Kelvin Down Hoody is wrapped with windstopper for weather protection as well as wamth, or combine a lighter Kelvin Active Jacket and a Kelvin Lite Vest to give you a bunch of layering options.

Waterproof Layers........It is a wet, cold and tough environment so don't skimp here.  Our Stormfront & Kodiak Jackets are 3 layer Goretex, plus quick drying.  If you are on the tops, then you will need over trou.  In the valleys where the wind is less some guys choose to have wet legs rather than wear over trou and the Kodiak is an excellent jacket choice for this scenario.

Pack System......... we haven't covered sleeping, cooking or even hunting & safety gear but it all needs to carried in......often in excess of 20-25kg.  The new Mountain Hauler at just 3kgs can fit 100 litres of gear and is rated to carry up to 65kgs of weight (you wouldn't want to carry that far!).  Add a gun sling to securely stow your rifle, dry bags to keep your sleep gear and spare clothes dry.  Plus, have a look at the Mountain Approach Pack as a light and packable option for short trips from base camp.

Accessories...........dont forget your head and face....choose some options to give you warmth, concealement and sandfly protection - check the options here.  Warm gloves will be needed too - check the options here.

Please drop us a line with any questions, we are more than happy to create a personal recomendation once we know a little more about you and your hunting.  (We are also happy to work out a special deal for you if you are after a bit of gear....)