Gear that got me through my best season yet.
Hey friends. I hope you all had a good hunting season, and Merry Christmas!
With big game season over I always like to sit back and reflect on the season. There are so many great stories, lessons and adventures that were had that sometimes it feels overwhelming where to start.
I know Christmas just happened and the gift giving season is on the back burner. But, I wanted to share with you the gear that got me through my best season yet. Maybe this will help you next year in finding gear that will help you have a unforgettable hunt. If you have any questions about the gear below please send me an email and I’ll be happy to get back to you.
Now that I am no longer associated with any particular brand it has been fun to test out gear and find what works for me. As a guide and avid hunter I am in the field 300 days out of the year. From scouting and hunting big game, to guiding, to then hunting waterfowl and small game such as rabbits, there are a only a few days I am not outside.
Truth me told, I wore many brands this year - all serving their own purpose. Below are 10 photographs with a short description of how each piece helped elevate my season.
KINGS CAMO WOMEN’S XKG DOWN TRANSITION JACKET
Truth be told, I can’t stop wearing this jacket. It’s fluffy and warm and I wore it every day this season. From the cold archery fall mornings to late season muzzleloader season this jacket was in my pack if not on my body.
Pictured is a size small. Perfect because you can wear layers underneath and without layers it still fits nicely.
DUCKWORTH POWDER HIGH NECK HOODIE
I don’t know what took me so long to discover Duckworth. These are by far the ultimate layers for any condition of weather. This high neck hoodie kept the chill off me during those day with bitter cold winds, and when hiking into the mountains each morning did it’s job keeping me warm but also allowing me to not overheat. This wool needs to be in every outdoorsman’s pack.
DUCKWORTH MAVERICK LONG SLEEVE CREW
Just like the previous two pieces of clothing, I pretty much lived in this one too. For example: Jesse and I spent four days in the backcountry hunting for elk. I never took this shirt off. I hiked and slept in it and when we got back to the truck four days later the shirt didn’t even stink. From warmer to cold weather this layer was the one directly on my skin. It wicked away the sweat and kept me comfortable no matter the conditions.
PACK LITE KIT
Alright friends, this pooping kit is the real deal. This changed my bathroom experience on the mountain for the better. There’s no packing in and packing out of your toilet paper or wet wipes and there is no guilt when you have to bury it. This kit is so lightweight that you don’t even notice it’s there. With just one tsp of water the biodegradable, compressed towelette turns into a soft yet strong wipe that won’t tear when you use it. The small mycelium tablet brings it all together knowing it will help naturally break it all down and bring life back to the earth.
The shovel not only is great for digging your bathroom hole but I also used it multiple times to dig out a fire pit!
HARDSIDE HYDRATION
For those of you who have been following me for a while you have most likely seen me advertise this product before. Hardside Hydration is the ultimate hydration set up for your hunting and backpacking needs. I have been running this system for a couple years now and don’t regret making the switch from the bladder. Why?
Quick and simple refill set up.
Leak proof.
It’s much easier to fill up your msr stove with water for coffee or a meal from a water bottle vs a bladder.
When I have a pack full of meat (as a guide this happens often) I can utilize the entire space of my pack because my water bottle sits on the outside, not on the inside (behind all the meat). This also allows me to stay fully hydrated, and if and when I need to refill my water I can quickly and efficiently.
When the weather turns cold you can use a sleeve for the bottle and the hose to keep from freezing. Personally I make the switch and take the hose out and just use it as a water bottle. Bladders do not have this option.
I know what it takes to have unconditional support from buyers in this industry and the guys over at HS deserve it. They are genuine folks who have shown up for our Venery women’s events time and time again. They have also been a huge support here at WYWC, and I can’t thank them enough.
When I am on a road trip I keep this set up located in front of the passenger seat. By doing this I can stay hydrated while driving safely. All I have to do is grab the straw, sip and there is no mess or steering with my knee while trying to unscrew or screw back on a lid!
Save 10% on your Hardside order using discount code Draya10.
MSR POCKET ROCKET STOVE
I was a Jetboil girl leading up to this past year. The MSR stove takes your cooking experience on the mountain and makes it more customizable. Being able to adjust the intensity of the flame has allowed me to cook warm meals on those bitter cold days. From ramen, to fresh meat to water for coffee this stove has proven to be more versatile than the jetboil.
Having a variety of pots is always a good idea. One for food, one for coffee. The long handle makes for a easy cooking experience and the heating processes is lightning fast.
Personally, I really like how the stove fits in the pot and the small container (not pictured) that holds the stove attachment and lighter to keep it all in one place.
This version does not have the self ignite button on it, but I highly recommend purchasing that version. This offers one less step (having to light your flame with a lighter) and if you don’t have a lighter, or your lighter fluid is out you are still good to go.
MAGNACUT SPEEDGOAT BY MONTANA KNIFE COMPANY
Once again I am blown away by another product. The Magnacut Speedgoat knife proved to hold the best edge among all the other knives out there. This knife was gifted to me and I am officially convinced these are the best knives on the market.
As a guide having a good knife is paramount. Between my clients and myself on average I am breaking down an average of 5-7 animals in a short period of time. Having a knife that can keep up with that amount of work is necessary in my line of work and/or for someone who spends a lot of time in the field.
This season I field dressed three elk, four deer, an antelope and a handful of ducks before I had to sharpen my knife. And, I only cut myself once (as you can see in the photo). When I previously used the Havalon knives I was having to replace a blade halfway through field dressing an elk. This knife takes all of that out of the equation.
This knife is lightweight yet is the perfect size in comparison to some of those smaller knives out there. Not pictured is the sheath that comes with the knife. I keep my knife in my kill kit and don’t have to worry about it slipping out of the sheath as the fit is snug and protected.
RIDGE PATROL 2.O PANT
It’s unfortunate these pants didn’t raise enough money through our two Kickstarter campaigns. As the designer of these pants I am still in awe of their performance. After three years of relentless wear and tear the 2.0 pant are still performing like they did on day one. While we are no longer in business over at Ridge Patrol these pants deserve the credit and I am so proud of my work in designing these.
With that being said I am here to say we need to give more credit and support to the small businesses out there. Give them a chance among the big brands who have already proven themselves. We didn’t succeed in our business because our clothing wasn’t good. We didn’t succeed simply because we couldn’t get enough orders in. Without money coming in and without the capital we simply couldn’t afford to keep going. While this could have come down to having better marketing, I am letting the performance of the clothing speak on this one.
I will be wearing these pants till the day I can no longer use them and I have a feeling that will be for quite some time still.
I am so grateful for my time spent with Ridge Patrol. I learned a lot about business, marketing, gear, social media, about influencers and the different versions of influencers. I met a lot of amazing women and most importantly I learned a lot about myself. Each chapter gives us different experiences and through that we learn many lessons. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
SHE OUTDOOR ENCOUNTER PANT
Let’s give a shoutout to SHE for their Encounter Pant! These pants have become my go to for all warmer weather hunts. Not only do I wear them in the field but they have become my go to for almost all outings. From running to the archery shop to shoot my bow, to upland hunting, to running to the big city for groceries and to guide meetings, these pants are comfortable and make me feel good.
Made with stretchy materials, and convenient pockets on the side. The price tag is affordable and they fit true to size! I wish they made them in more colors and if they did I would own a pair of each color.
The one thing that I would upgrade on these pants is a small side vent to help cool off during those hot days chasing elk and antelope. Other then that these pants are a 9/10!
HANWAG ALVERSTONE LADY GTX BOOT
My new favorite boot! I run this boot from the spring - fall. These are a non-insulated boot. My feet get cold real quick and because they are not insulated I make the switch to the Kenetrek boot come colder weather.
These boots are waterproof, lightweight, breathable and move with my feet. I feel like boots can be hard to find and it can be pricey to figure out which ones fit best with your type of foot. I have a wide toe box, and a smaller foot. This boot is a size 7 which allows a little extra space in the toe box for those steep downhill hunts. I recommend sizing up a half size from what you normally wear. ( I normally wear size 6.5)
The best thing about this boot is they are currently $123.00. At full price they are $410.00. With that being said, these are 100% a $410.00 dollar boot. When I’m traversing a steep rocky hillside I can count on these boots for proper support in the ankles and the performance to get me to where I need to go. I 10/10 recommend!
Kenetrek Women’s Mountain Extreme 400
When I first came out to Montana and started guiding I didn’t realize just how cold it got on the mountain. One evening after a very cold evening sit I was warming my feet by the wood stove in the guide room when another guide pointed out my very purple and blue toes. Frostbite had just started to set in but luckily the wood stove and a bucket of warm water got the blood flowing back into my little baby toes.
My boss very graciously handed me $200 as a early bonus to go into town to get myself a pair of Kenetrek insulated boots. Truth be told I think I have Raynauds, which is bad circulation to extremities. Even at home when I am sitting around my feet are cold. With that being said, for people like me, insulated boots are a must for those colder weather hunts.
Next year I will be upgrading to a higher insulation but will be sticking with Kenetrek. Everything about this boot is perfect for what I do. These boots can keep up with the hundreds of miles and the beating the boot must endure. They fit true to size and have a solid sole with traction that will get you through any terrain.
Thank you for those of you who took the time to read through the reviews. As always I am happy to bring your information that will help elevate your next hunting experience. If you have any questions about the gear above please reach out with those inquiries.
I hope you all have a happy new year and I hope this next year brings you on many epic adventures!
Venery MT is hosting a Women’s Harvest Feast January 10th in Missoula. This feast will be featuring a film with the 2026 events followed by a wild game potluck! If your looking to grow your tribe of women and even more so if you’re looking for courses or camps that bring you education, confidence and community, Venery MT is your place to find that. Click on the link below to learn more about Venery and/or to sign up for the Harvest Fest!