The first day of the Idaho spring turkey season started out at 22 degrees, I had the Hardscrabble Jacket, vest, pants, Deadfall Gloves and the Kaibab Merino Top and bottom. It was a short hike to the top of the ridge so my body temperature wasn't at it's highest. I heard a gobble and he was close so I hunkered down for the game of chess under a cedar tree. He finally came into the clearing and never even knew i was there. I eased my shotgun up and BOOM...I missed, I rushed the shot. So I Sat in disbelief not knowing how I missed and all the hard work came down to me choking.
Pine Thicket Comes Alive
The 2nd started off much like the first day well before daylight putting on my Skre gear getting ready for the day ahead. We slipped in through the cedar and maples to a meadow that usually had birds in it well before daylight. We placed the decoys where they would be visible from the in coming turkeys, as the sun rose we heard the nearby pine thicket come alive with a few gobblers and it was game On! One of the gobblers was fired up and came closer after about 5 minutes of calling. I waited for him to get behind the only cedar tree in the clearing and raised my shotgun. He came around the tree in full strut coming right in to the decoys. I was sitting under a cedar tree shaking with excitement as he closed the distance. He made it to about 34 yards and I could handle it anymore. As I pulled the trigger the big Tom dropped and started to flop, the Skre gear helped me blend in great and I bagged my 2nd gobbler ever with an 8.5 inch beard and beautiful feathers.
Sitting in Frost without Feeling Damp
I was sitting in frost for the first hour of the first morning and i never felt damp, the frost then turned into dew in the morning sun and I was still bone dry. The material of the hardscrabble pants and jacket is very nice it does not collect burs like other camo does and is very quiet. The deadfall gloves were great and they kept my hands nice and warm. They also have the best dexterity I've ever had in a glove that isn't paper thin. These gloves are very easy to shoot with and make any movements with calls. The kaibab wool top and bottom kept the chill off amazingly. This stuff is the most comfortable base layer I've ever worn its warm and doesn't bunch up, I've hiked for hours In it and so far I have not disliked anything about them yet.