By: Dale Hartsook

Prepare for your back country hunting trip with Alpine Hunter.

Wanted to share a “Great Day of Hunting” with you. Yesterday, my friend Dave and I went up into mountain goat country in search of a goat with my name on it. We found two! The trip took us up into our “Cabinet Mountains”, this country absolutely rivals Glacier National Park for it’s beauty. The morning started out with a million stars and about 25 degrees, it looked like it was going to be a clear day. We hit the trail head about first light and jumped over the hill and got to where we were going to start our first glassing in about 45 minutes and yes indeed, it was going to be a clear day. After glassing this area with nothing spotted, we hiked another couple of miles and set up for more glassing. No goats,,,,but it didn’t matter, the panoramic we were looking at made the trip worth while, goat or no goat.

We then hunting around the mountain to Cliff lake, this was the spot I was most interested in as I’ve watched goats in this area on an earlier scouting trip. We got around the lake and a little above it and set up to glass. Still no goats, but scenery that was spectacular. I wanted to hike up a little higher where I thought we would have a better vantage point to watch and glass, so up we went. We gave it about an hour and decided to continue on around the mountain to a spring I found on a scouting trip. We had to backtrack down the mountain to where we had just been so we would be on the same level as the spring. As we were working our way down, I spotted a goat about 150 yards away, he walked out and was standing on the rock that Dave and I had been glassing from. I had packed in a bow and Dave was carrying my 300 mag, I was going to fill my tag one way or the other. Dave stayed put and I took off with my bow to see if I could close the distance. I had my Rangefinder so I could range distance for the rifle. I  closed  the distance between us to 75 yards, then ranged him again at 50 yards. He was in no hurry, it seemed he enjoyed just looking at all that beauty as much as Dave and I had. I took a picture of him and then dropped down low and tried to get close enough for a safe bow shot. When I eased up to range him again, he was standing broad side at 30 yards. He then turned his head in my direction and I got a good look at his horns. They were only over his ears about two to three inches, an adult Billy will have a good four or more inches over the top of his four inch ears. But there he was, broad side and now looking away, he was mine for the taking. I took his picture again and moved in another five or six yards, drew my bow back and said under my breath, “Bang, Your Dead”! He never knew I was there,,,,,It was great!

I got back to Dave without being detected and Dave, who had been watching all this unfold was all smiles. We talked about it for awhile, looked down on the goat and said goodbye. We moved around the mountain to the spring, set up and glassed for an hour and just took in the beauty. We both decided that we should head back to Cliff Lake to finish the day, there’s always good goat traffic there. As we got close to where I stalked the goat Dave said, maybe the goat had some friends below him we didn’t see. We were coming out into the open from some small trees, trying to peek over the edge to see if there were anything below us. I glanced back up at the mountain to my right and froze. There was a goat up in the cliffs, with the sun on him, what a picture. Out came the spotting scope so we could get a good look. The body was big, but we couldn’t get a good look at the horns. Finally it swung it’s head so we could see, it looked like a nanny, the horns were not any bigger than the first goat, but the body was a lot bigger. I ranged her at 201 yards, my 300 shoot’s two inches high at 100 yards, dead on at 300 yards. Off came the pack, I put it on a nice pile of rocks that I could use for a rest. I got down behind my rifle, put the cross hairs on it’s shoulder and said out loud, “Bang, your Dead’!

Dave and I sat back, had a sandwich, drank some water and just enjoyed watching that goat up on the cliff and being glad we were there. I want to fill my tag and you can bet I’ll be back up there real soon trying to do just that. But in many ways I feel my tag is filled, it was truly one of the best days of hunting I can remember. The day was perfect, blue sky’s and white clouds, temps in the 50′s, unbelivable country and a close friend to share it with. You can’t ask for more than that.

Ron Thomas

Some people thrive on going light. If that’s you, this is your hunting pack. Built with enough room for the well-practiced backcountry bivy hunter, the Sitka Bivy 30 balances features, weight and carrying capacity to meet your needs.

See the Sitka Bivy 30 and the rest of the Sitka Gear 2010 lineup of hunting clothing and packs at AlpineHunter.com.

Sitka Bivy 30

The Sitka Downpour Series combines the concealment of the new Gore Optifade Forest Camouflage with the waterproof capabilities of GORE-TEX PacLite fabric.  Full articulation through the arms, seat, and legs provides an athletic fit for a full range of motion, minimally restricted climbing, and uninhibited shooting of your bow, rifle or muzzleloader.  A built in hood and minimal pockets keep weight down and critical functionality at the forefront.  The material face is even lightly brushed to reduce noise.

Be sure to check out the Sitka Downpour line of clothing from AlpineHunter.com.

Sitka Downpour

The Sitka Stratus Series combines the concealment of the new Gore Optifade Forest Camouflage with the wind chill fighting capabilities of Windstopper fabric.  Full articulation through the arms, seat, and legs provides an athletic fit for a full range of motion, minimally restricted climbing, and uninhibited shooting of your bow, rifle or muzzleloader.  Features abound like a fully featured hood with separate stand up collar on the Sitka Stratus Jacket, hand / chest and thigh pockets located in convenient locations, fully articulated knee and seat system on the Sitka Stratus Bibs, and a DWR treatment to resist light showers and snow.  The material face is even lightly brushed to reduce noise.

Be sure to check out the Sitka Stratus line of clothing from AlpineHunter.com.

Sitka Stratus

Note: Even knowing our momentum is not enough.  When discussing penetration the physical characteristics of the arrows and broadheads come in to play as well but that’s another story.

Consider this…

The kinetic energy formula is: “ke = 1/2 Mass times Velocity squared” or “ke = 1/2 m • v²”

Since the velocity is squared, relatively small increases in speed bump your ke quickly.  That seems to make a logical case in favor of lightweight, fast arrows right?

Here’s the problem.  During flight and especially during penetration, velocity sheds its energy twice as fast as momentum does.  Light fast arrows lose energy much faster than slow heavy arrows.  That’s because heavier slower arrows have more momentum.

The momentum formula is: “Momentum = mass time’s velocity” or “p = (m * v)”

Note: Most people measure kinetic energy at the bow, but for a more relevant number we should measure at the point of impact shouldn’t we?

Another problem is that, upon impact, the faster the object striking another is moving, the more the object being struck resists.  In other words, the animal’s tissues will actually resist the penetration of a fast moving projectile more than a slower moving projectile.  End result?  It’s easier to penetrate animals with slower moving heavy arrows than with faster lightweight arrows.

Heavy slower moving arrows lose less energy in flight and during penetration than lightweight fast arrows.  This is because of inertia. (…an object in motion tends to remain in motion.)  Think of a golf ball and a ping-pong ball.  They’re both about the same size but even if the ping-pong ball is launched twice as fast as the golf ball, the ping-pong ball does not have the weight to keep it in motion.  It loses its energy much faster than the slower moving but heavier golf ball. Even at only ten feet away, which would you rather be hit with, a ping-pong ball moving at 300 feet per second or a gold ball moving at 150 feet per second?

When you first launch the ping-pong ball, because the formula is slanted in favor of speed, it may very well have a higher kinetic energy rating.  The golf ball however retains its energy because of its higher momentum factor and is able to deliver down range where it’s needed most.

Try this simple test: Take two lightweight (300-400 grains) arrows; on one, install an 80 grain field point or, to prove a point, no point at all.  Throw that arrow as far as you can.  Now take the other arrow and install a 315 grain field point.  Throw that arrow as far as you can.  What happened?  The lighter arrow, especially if you used no tip at all, wiggled and wagged, was very unstable, and didn’t travel nearly as far as the more stable, heavier tipped arrow.  Hmmmmmm…

Now, to really make a point, throw one of our GrizzlyStiks with a 315 grain field point on it.  Quite a difference!  That’s the power of momentum.  That’s the power of the GrizzlyStik.

Article provided by Alaska Bowhunting Supply. Manufacturer of GrizzlyStik Broadheads and GrizzlyStik Arrows. See the full line of Alaska Bowhunting Supply products at AlpineHunter.com.

The Sitka Incinerator Series combines the concealment of the new Optifade Forest Camouflage with the insulating power of down and the waterproof capabilities of a GORE-TEX shell.  Full articulation through the arms, seat, and legs provides an athletic fit for a full range of motion, minimally restricted climbing, and uninhibited shooting of your bow, rifle or muzzleloader.  Features abound like internal cuffs, a RIRI waterproof front zipper, drop-away hood design, chest and hand pockets, and even a grunt tube slot.  The material face is even lightly brushed to reduce noise. Sitka Incinerator will be available in a mid length jacket and full bibs ensuring the utmost in protection form the elements.

Be sure to check out the Sitka Incinerator line of clothing from AlpineHunter.com.

Sitka Gear Sizing: what size will fit me?

Sitka Gear is designed with an athletic fit; neither compression nor loose fitting. Each layer within the hunting clothing system is intended to build on those beneath it to ensure maximum mobility and range of motion while not being cumbersome or inhibiting. The following fitting suggestions will hopefully add some insight into getting the best fit from your Sitka Gear clothing.

With Sitka Gear clothes having a slimmer fit, the following suggestions (and exceptions) have worked well for a large portion of our customers:

1. If you are on the low end of a size range, you should be OK with purchasing that size.

2. If you are on the high end of a size range, you should move up one size larger.

3. If you have particularly wide shoulders or are barrel chested, you should move up one size larger for jackets. This is very important if suggestion 1 applies to you, and to a lesser degree if suggestion 2 applies to you.

4. When sizing for pants, customers should take actual waist measurements vs. relying on jean sizing. It is quite common for jean companies to mark pant sizes smaller than they actually are. Once you have an accurate measurement, suggestions 1 and 2 still tend to work more often than not.

5. Additional layers for colder temperatures should be accounted for when choosing a size for Sitka Gear Jackets and Pants serving as outer layers. As an example, if you were to layer a Sitka Core Base Layer, a Sitka Traverse Base Layer and a Sitka Vest under a Sitka Coldfront Jacket and Pants, the first four sizing suggestions will be quite effective. If you are planning on layering additional layers such as a Sitka Kelvin Jacket and Pants underneath (or other high loft insulating layer) at certain times of the year due to extreme weather conditions, the customer should consider moving up one size larger for the Coldfront Jacket and Pants to accommodate the loft of the additional layer. This will ensure maximum warmth, while maintaining range of motion and mobility. This holds true even for forthcoming Sitka Gear 2010 products such as the Sitka Incinerator Jackets and Bibs.

6. Sitka Hats and Sitka Gloves? When in doubt, move up one size. Most have a slim fit. Essentially suggestion 1 & 2 coming into play again.

As always, if customers have questions they are welcome to call or email us to discuss Sitka Gear Sizing for their specific hunting gear needs.

Sitka Sizing Chart:

Size Range:          small          medium          large           X large
Chest:                 36” – 38”    39” – 41”    42” – 45”    46” – 49”
Sleeve:                     33”               34”           35” – 36”      35 1/2”
Waist:                 28” – 30”    31” – 33”    34” – 37”    38” – 41”
Inseam – reg         31”                 31”                 32”                32”
Inseam – tall         32”                33”                 34”                34”

Size Range:          2X large       3x large
Chest:                   50” – 53”    54” – 57”
Sleeve:                       36”             36 1/2”
Waist:                   42” – 45”    46” – 49”
Inseam – reg           32”                32”
Inseam – tall           34”                34”

Glove:                                     Medium         Large           X-Large
Circumference                  8“ – 8.5”         9“ – 9.5”      9.5“ – 10”
Length                                  7.5” – 8”         8.5” – 9”       9” – 9.5”

Hats:                            Medium/Large         Large/X-Large
Standard hat size               7 1/2                        7 7/8

Check out AlpineHunter.com for the entire line of Sitka Gear 2010 products.

AlpineHunter.com is a new division within High Mountain Outfitters LLC.  This new hunting gear store will focus on the needs of the professional guide and dedicated alpine hunter that spend their time in the high country in pursuit of big game.  Alpine Hunter offers products from Sitka Gear, Kenetrek Boots, Havalon Piranta Knives, Integral Designs, Rab Mountaineering and Outdoor Gear, Darn Tough Socks, Fenix Lights and many more quality hunting gear brands.  We are currently updating the site with all of the 2010 gear.  Please check back often to see all of the new and exciting products for your outdoor adventures.