Elk Hunting Gear with Jake

2 September 2026, Jacob Tumolo|Featured

September has one big bugling meaning for our community members - Elk Season. September marks the opener for Elk hunting seasons all over the US. If you were lucky enough to draw a tag in our home state of Pennsylvania (I am UNLUCKY), This year’s archery season begins September 12.
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I assume you were lucky or are planning an elk hunt in the future. If so, you have most likely come to the realization that the gear you will need is quite different from the gear you use to shoot the whitetail doe in the field behind your house. In traditional Jake fashion, we are going to run down a list of products that will improve your odds of success in the field; as well as your comfort in the back country.

Boots

The Beartooth  0g has earned its place as one of the most trusted Western big game hunting boots thanks to its rare mix of stability, durability, and comfort. It still fills a niche for hunters who venture past the trailhead after nearly a decade on the market. They are waterproof yet breathable thanks to its Sympatex™ waterproof membrane and single panel leather upper make this an extremely tough boot. They named the Vibram outsole “Tsavo” which I find entertaining. It’s a boot named after a place a famous pair of Man-Eating lions terrorized railroad workers in colonial Africa. What’s that say about the boot? 
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To me, the Beartooth is going to be an easy choice for early season hunts with predictable weather conditions. Just a good, tough, and reliable boot.
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For the last 40 years, the Nevada GTX has been a staple in Crispi's line of premium boots. 
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This boot features high-tech lining that provides insulation, waterproofing, and extreme abrasion resistance with a comfortable leather outer shell. It came to play on those blistering cold days. These boots also feature Crispi’s C.C.F. frame. To simplify that statement, these boots are super rigid yet extremely comfortable. The A.B.S.S. system protects your ankle from all angles. A rolled ankle on the side of a mountain isn’t a good time, trust me. 
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I prefer a short boot for hunts where I will be hiking extensively – the added flexibility to turn and pivot my foot at the ankle is a big deal in rocky terrain.

Clothing – Base / Mid Layers 

Outer Layer

Glass

Miscellaneous Stuff and Things 

Gun Builds

Elk Hunting Gear with Jake

2 September 2026, Jacob Tumolo|Featured

September has one big bugling meaning for our community members - Elk Season. September marks the opener for Elk hunting seasons all over the US. If you were lucky enough to draw a tag in our home state of Pennsylvania (I am UNLUCKY), This year’s archery season begins September 12.
﻿
I assume you were lucky or are planning an elk hunt in the future. If so, you have most likely come to the realization that the gear you will need is quite different from the gear you use to shoot the whitetail doe in the field behind your house. In traditional Jake fashion, we are going to run down a list of products that will improve your odds of success in the field; as well as your comfort in the back country.

Boots

The Beartooth  0g has earned its place as one of the most trusted Western big game hunting boots thanks to its rare mix of stability, durability, and comfort. It still fills a niche for hunters who venture past the trailhead after nearly a decade on the market. They are waterproof yet breathable thanks to its Sympatex™ waterproof membrane and single panel leather upper make this an extremely tough boot. They named the Vibram outsole “Tsavo” which I find entertaining. It’s a boot named after a place a famous pair of Man-Eating lions terrorized railroad workers in colonial Africa. What’s that say about the boot? 
﻿
To me, the Beartooth is going to be an easy choice for early season hunts with predictable weather conditions. Just a good, tough, and reliable boot.
﻿
For the last 40 years, the Nevada GTX has been a staple in Crispi's line of premium boots. 
﻿
This boot features high-tech lining that provides insulation, waterproofing, and extreme abrasion resistance with a comfortable leather outer shell. It came to play on those blistering cold days. These boots also feature Crispi’s C.C.F. frame. To simplify that statement, these boots are super rigid yet extremely comfortable. The A.B.S.S. system protects your ankle from all angles. A rolled ankle on the side of a mountain isn’t a good time, trust me. 
﻿
I prefer a short boot for hunts where I will be hiking extensively – the added flexibility to turn and pivot my foot at the ankle is a big deal in rocky terrain.

Clothing – Base / Mid Layers 

A merino wool top and bottom are the foundation of your suit of insulating armor. The Chinook top & bottom are designed to keep the soft feel and moisture wicking features of nylon yet keep the insulating and odor resistant properties of wool. In short, the shirt and pants don’t feel thick and heavy, but they keep you warm like they are; and you won’t smell like something died when you strut around camp in your bases and crocs. Your friends will appreciate that.
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I love a good grid fleece. Something like the First Lite ThermaGrid is going to turn pain into paradise if you layer it correctly. For me, this is going in the middle. It isn’t next to skin, but it won’t be an outer unless the weather suddenly warms up. You will need to hide this piece, as your lady will most likely try to steal it if she encounters it... or at least mine did. 
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The Navigator is bridging the Mid / Outer layer line. When it’s 15 degrees outside, wind blowing sideways and snowing, this guy is going to be crucial in keeping the warmth in. Weather changes to 30 degrees and is sunny? No wind? Then I’m peeling off the outer layer and running wild in just the navigator and a merino base. 
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I don’t care how many pairs you stack, leave your crew length Nike socks at home. Cold feet are terrible right? So, are permanently sweaty feet. These All-Season socks are going to help with that. The $28 price tag is worth it and I mean that!

Outer Layer

First Lite's Catalyst pants have kneepads, are waterproof, and come with full length zippers. To simplify this, these pants are for getting up the mountain in 40 degrees, dry weather, and light wind; setting up camp, going to sleep, and then waking up to 5 degrees and 2 feet of snow. These are the Swiss army knife of pants. 
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The Cirque LITE is one of my all-time favorites as it blends between mid/outer layers. For me, it is usually an outer layer as I run pretty hot. The Cirque lite features weather resistant face fabrics on the torso, and grid fleece on the sides for flexibility and breathability. I would wear this piece as my outer for high exertion in 20/30-degree temps with no rain or snow. 
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First Lite's Suppressor jacket is going to do two things, trap heat and block wind. It does those things very well. If you exert yourself while wearing a full 3-piece layering setup and this jacket, you are going to need to dump heat. This is why there are two huge chest vent zippers you can access even while wearing a bino harness. 
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The Grumman is an oven. This piece replaces the Cirque LITE in my lineup and goes under a hardshell like the suppressor from First Lite. If layered correctly, it is going to fry you with warmth shortly after you put it on. It looks good for a night out with the Mrs. as well.

Glass

Wanna be able to check out that meadow from 600 yards an hour after sunset with minimal moonlight? Here ya go: these NL Pure's have a massive field of view, are lightweight, ergonomic, and are the absolute best glass money can buy. These NL Pure's are pure gold in the backcountry.
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Leica’s new Geovid Pros are on the cutting edge of rangefinding binos. This is a tool designed for real use-where performance, reliability, and speed matter. As with big western game hunting, Leica uses premium glass with super high-tech coatings. When you take a set of Geovid Pros into the field, you are stacking chips in your corner.
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The new AT Endura is probably the only full-size spotter I would ever consider carrying it on my back. It is built to be lightweight with performance enhancing. Think Enduro racing, just with jewelry quality optics and a fancy eagle logo.

Miscellaneous Stuff and Things 

This is a tripod, and a light one at that. I don’t always carry one but whenever I don’t take one, I always find myself in situations where I could use one. It’s a very useful little tool when shooting/glassing off it, I've even used it to help hold up a glassing tarp. I’m more likely to leave my spotting scope at home than I am my Tricer BC.
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A zero-degree sleeping bag is rated to keep you alive in 0-degree temps. It’s not always COMFORTABLE, but you’ll be ALIVE. The Chilkoot will keep you alive and moderately comfortable in subzero temps. In the golden 30-degree zone, you are going to be as snug as a bug in a rug. 
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Packs are a very personal thing. You should try them on, do your own research and don’t just buy something because Jake on the EuroOptic website told you too. I like the Krux frame from Stone Glacier. I’ll size up and down on the bag depending on what I’m doing and how long I’ll be doing those things. Like I said, you need to do independent research to see what fills the roles you have. 
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You’ll probably use this the most, hiding out from a snow squall while playing cards in your Chinook Merino bottoms. Don’t cheap out on your tent. If your tent collapses due to snowfall while you’re inside it that’s going to really suck to deal with at 1 a.m. in the dark. This tent has vents for all manners of camp stoves to keep you warm and will fit six people and their gear with relative comfort. Uncle Randy should leave his mimosa set at home. 
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It’s dark outside for at least half the day, so you need a light. It’s going to really suck trying to break down that bull elk in pitch black. It’s going to suck even more trying to figure out if the noise in camp is your buddy looking for a granola bar or Yogi raiding the picnic basket. This SureFire EDC II is essentially a portable sun, pocket flashbang, and a pretty decent hammer in a pinch. You’ll figure out what I mean once you carry one around for a couple weeks. 
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People die in the backcountry every year. This is a dangerous sport, so don’t be a statistic. Don’t blame me when your wife is yelling at you through a satellite for not putting the laundry away before you left.

Gun Builds

This is a compact, lightweight, flat shooting, and hard-hitting premium package setup. The 7MM PRC is a relative newcomer on the stage, but it has already accounted for more trophy animals than you can count. In the Seekins Element you are getting a folding stock, carbon wrapped barrel, and hyper accurate piece of shoulder fired artillery. 
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The K328 is from Kahles, Swarovski’s brother company who spent some time in the sandbox and wears t-shirts with skulls and night vision on it (It’s tactical bro!) Optical details include: first focal plane, MIL Reticle, MIL turrets, and a massive power range combined with the jewelry grade Swarovski glass is a recipe for first round hits. 
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The Dead Air NOMAD OTB is our first offering of “Over the Barrel” suppressors. There is nothing more that I hate than taking a short little rifle and adding 8” to the barrel - effectively making it not compact. I would almost rather be deaf, With the OTB Nomad, I get to keep my hearing without turning my gun into a Roman spear. 
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This rifle build is rugged reliability and has no frills, It’s the easy button for bringing home a wall hanger. 
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Our exclusive RoughTech Superlite comes in at 6.26 pounds, with a 24” premium fluted barrel – that’s a lot of performance per ounce. Tikkas are some of the best shooting factory rifles I have encountered and have aftermarket support rivaling that of a Remington 700. If you dream it, you can build it.
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The NX6 is NightForces new for this year’s hunting dedicated lineup:
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3-18x50? Love it
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Bombproof? Need it 
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100% accurate turret tracking? Gotta have it 
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Fantastic glass? American made? Looks cool on the gram? Where is the downside here?
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Throw it in some Hawkins rings and go crazy – it is that easy.

Are you afraid of bears? It’s okay if you are, I won’t make fun of you (yes, I will!) Bear attacks are on the rise as grizzly bear populations continue to grow in the lower 48. Elk hunters are especially prone to be mauled by Ursus Horribilis (Grizzly Bear). Let’s face it, making cow elk noises in the middle of nowhere is pretty much a dinner bell for Yogi. 
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Revolver vs 10mm is a constant debate for bear defense. Like 9mm vs 45 ACP, I prioritize capacity and shoot-ability over energy (recoil) and projectile size (pain). 10mm is plenty capable and with the right ammunition will punch through the biggest bear’s skull / shoulder. 
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When are we going to use this handgun? Well, it probably won’t be planned or expected. It’ll more than likely be at night, and you will be in your underwear. So, what do we do to prepare for this? We put a light on our gun, and we practice shooting with it under simulated stressful environments. 
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I would select the P320 XTEN Carry comp from Sig Sauer, with a direct mounted Deltapoint Pro, Surefire Turbo, and Hornady’s Backcountry Defense 200gr load. 
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Scenario: It’s 2 a.m. You and your buddy are fast asleep in the tent, his bloody boots are in the sleeping bag with him. Teddy smells this through the tent left carelessly unzipped and has decided to investigate. Bears don’t have thumbs, and they don’t care to discuss geopolitics with your buddy, so investigating turns out to be Teddy grabbing buddy’s bag and dragging him out of the tent. SURPRISE! The bloody meat sack squirms and screams, Teddy is a predator. Predators kill things that squirm and scream. Luckily, you are still in the tent and your 10mm is within arm’s reach, with a light. Good thing you have that red dot, cause Teddy is on top of your friend like a real-life hostage situation. After a lot of loud noises, Buddy is saved and Teddy is going to be a data point for a USF&W study about problem bears. Good thing you practiced with that pistol and didn’t hit buddy instead of the bear! 
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Stay safe out there. 
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- Jake 

Elk Hunting Gear with Jake

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Elk Hunting Gear with Jake

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