Hunting Outlet, Clothes on Sale, Deals & Gear Clearance

Both, and that's not a bad thing. Last season's jacket is the same jacket. Camo patterns don't expire. If the waterproofing is intact and the seams are solid, you're getting the same performance at a fraction of the price. Check the DWR coating on anything waterproof before you buy. That's the one thing that degrades in storage.

Boots and base layers first. Bad boots will end your day faster than anything else. A soaked, blistered foot at mile three is a long walk back. Base layers are next because they touch your skin all day. You can get away with a cheaper mid-layer or shell, but don't cheap out on what's keeping your feet dry and your core regulated.

Not if you read the specs. Seams, waterproof rating, boot grip. Those three things matter in the Rockies. October up there doesn't give you a warning before it turns on you.

Honestly, less than you'd think. Deer are colorblind to most of what we obsess over. Loud fabric on a dry fall morning will blow your cover way faster than a slightly wrong pattern ever will. If you're grabbing clearance camo, check the fabric first.

Waterfowl hunting destroys gear fast. You're crawling into blinds, kneeling in mud, getting splashed. Reinforced knees and seat matter. I had a friend show up for an end-of-the-year bluebill hunt on Lake Erie in gear he'd grabbed on clearance the summer before. Waterproofing was shot. He was soaked through by 8 am. Check the DWR coating before you commit, especially on anything that's been sitting in a warehouse.

Size availability first, then whether the boot actually fits your terrain. A heavily insulated boot is a bad deal if you're hunting South Texas in November. The same goes for sole construction. Hard pack, shale, and mud all need different grip. Don't let the price make the call for you.

Boots are worth paying full price for if fit is an issue. You want to try them on, break them in before the season, and know they're right. Everything else, especially jackets, pants, and base layers, is fair game to buy on clearance. The field doesn't care what you paid.