While hanging some old photographs in my study, I took notice of some of the iconic outdoor hunting apparel my dad and his hunting companions wore back in the day. The weathered jackets, wool caps, lace-up boots, scarves, and more, were standards of the field and streams in earlier times. I remember walking into my dad’s office many seasons ago and marveled at the timeless pieces that never went out of style. Hunting gear changed over the years, but what they used then would still work today if it was available.
Even the aroma of the clothes was nostalgic, almost romantic. Many would classify them as having a stench, but the earthy tones mixed with soil, leaves, and apple lure scent, created a lasting effect that only meant good times and fond memories.
I remember some of the sporting goods stores, both locally and nationally, that carried the finest hunting apparel made. Hunt & Whitaker, if I correctly recall, was downtown on the corner of Capitol Street and Farish Street. Also, I vaguely recall Whitaker spelled with “2 T’s,” but don’t hold me to that either. Eventually they moved to Jackson Mall and then slowly the business went away. I wandered up and down the aisles with my dad taking in all they offered to the sporting gentleman. Totally captivated, would not come close to describing how awestruck I was by the abundance of sporting gear that I could not wait to wear in the field when I was “big” enough to go to the woods.
Arnold Black also had a sporting good’s store filled with necessities for the woods and waters, but I think he catered more to fishermen. Dang, I wish at my young age I would have paid more attention. My dad worked for Mr. Black on Saturdays when he was in high school. Am I bringing back memories for some of you? But back to the clothes.
Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) was probably the ultimate provider of the finest hunting gear and apparel known to the modern-day sportsman. I would wager many of you would have never suspected this due to what the retailer focuses on now, that being casual wear. Abercrombie was founded in 1892 in New York City by David T. Abercrombie as an outfitter for the elite sportsman. Ezra Fitch, a wealthy lawyer and real estate developer, and devoted Abercrombie customer, bought a significant stake in the business in 1900. In 1904 it was renamed Abercrombie & Fitch. Fitch eventually bought out Abercrombie’s share of the business becoming its sole owner from 1907 to 1928.
The company was known for its expensive shotguns, optics, rifles, and the finest hunting apparel ever offered. A&F outfitted Theodore Roosevelt’s safari and Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s expedition to Antarctica. Sadly, by the 1970s, A&F was struggling to compete with lower priced competitors while trying to maintain its high-end image. In 1976, A&F filed for bankruptcy and closed its New York flagship store in 1977 thus ending probably the finest hunting and fishing supply retailer for the early sportsman. I still recall seeing the catalog on our den table and using it as a Santa’s wish list. I wish I still had that book that I fell asleep with on so many nights. Though the brand survived, you would never know they were the leader in sporting goods offering by what they market today.
Recent chilly weather urged me to begin scrambling for my woolies and winter attire for the woods. At the end of last season, I knew the waistband in my long underwear had been stretched to the point of no return. I have had all spring, summer, and fall, to restock my drawers, no pun intended. It hasn’t slipped my mind either, it’s just that the time slipped away. I don’t know why I wait until the last minute to begin preparation for the upcoming season. Procrastination is usually not one of my vices, but something surely happened. I understand we have been extremely busy after the crop harvest pre-emerging lawns, but I must do better in planning. Do you find yourselves where I am, scrounging the night before season opens looking for gloves, facemasks, knives, and other essentials necessary for success in the swamps? Well, I went all in and ordered some of the finest apparel I know of for the savvy sportsman. I thought I would share with you, some of my favorites.
For years, one of my favorite hunting caps was one from Willow Point. If you booked a hunt with them, at least you were going home with something even if your arrow didn’t find its mark. I remember leaving it in Tucker Miller’s truck one day after a turkey hunt. He made it all the way back to Drew before I realized I didn’t have it. I called him that night and made him overnight it to me. True story. You don’t think there were superstitious beliefs in the good luck that hat brought?
For decades, my favorite deer hunting cap has been a brown corduroy Primos cap. It is now floppy, the bill is ragged, and fits like a dish rag. I can’t find another like it. The way these young folks buy already “worn” threads, I could probably get more for it than I paid for it. It’s not for sale. It will be retired at some point in my den with my dad’s cap. But I did find one that may fit my needs.
I noticed over the past few years, my outfitters in the Midwest wear a cap with a short bill and ear flaps that wrap around from the back of the cap to the bill. I tried one on last year and fell in love with it. Have you ever heard of Stormy Kromer? I should have ordered it earlier, but once again, I never got around to it. In fact, I ordered two. One is called the Rancher and the other is the Mackinaw. They are not adjustable, so I hope I ordered the right size. By the time you read this article, I should have finished my first hunt and head further westward. I’ll let you know how they perform in cold weather. Don’t worry, my weathered Primos cap will make the trip, too.
As previously mentioned, my long underwear is in shambles. Growing up, I wore the white, quilted, variety of some brand of Long Johns. If you’re long in the tooth, you probably wore the same thing. The only brand colder would have been your bare skin. In time, I migrated to the red, Duofold brand. They served well for a lot of years. I didn’t have the one piece with the flap in the back. I’ll let you discern why the one piece had a flap. No, I opted for the two piece. Recently, I ordered some Filson, Merino Wool, long underwear. Again, by the time you read this, I will have put them to the test. They may be too warm for our local climate, but I can let you know that as well. I stayed true to fashion and got the red ones again. Christmas is getting closer by the day, you know.
As you can tell by my column photograph, most writing seasons I have the same yellow shirt on. It’s a Lewis Creek brand that I bought from Jeff Speed at the Mean Mallard so many years ago. The buttonholes need to be tightened up a bit, for through the years, they have expanded, and the shirt often comes unbuttoned. Please don’t draw conclusions that something else may have expanded, and not the holes. I’m doing the best I can do and that has been over 30 years ago. The shirt is still warm, and I have no plans to replace it yet.
I’m probably the only man in the world who goes to Montana in late October without a jacket. I did just that. I do have a weathered Filson jacket that I bought from Will Pace years ago. Alas, I have turned it into a work jacket, and it’s not fit to “go out” in. One of my colleagues in Montana asked where my coat was, and I said I didn’t have one. He chuckled. I repeated, “seriously, I don’t have one.” Now I do have a great hunting jacket, but I am in dire need of a jacket/coat for here. It seems the trend for jackets now are what I call “puffy” coats. You know, they look like the Michelin Man. Everyone I meet has those jackets on.
Stacey and I even looked in Whitefish for just a rugged looking jacket and all they had were the puffy coats too. I hate those things. I just want a rustic jacket like Lil Joe Cartwright wore. Do you remember his iconic green jacket that he wore on every episode? Even my company will provide vests and jackets of the “puffy” kind when we go to meetings, and we all must dress alike. Do you know what I do with these puffballs at the end of the meeting? That’s right, I leave them in my hotel room when I check out. If any of my haberdasher friends know what I’m looking for, give me a shout, desperate may be the word to describe where I am regarding the need for a jacket!
Do these items of clothing bring back fond memories of those wonderful days in the field? Do you remember the catalogs like Sears and Roebuck and A&F? Did you browse through each page like I did, marking the items you liked best? The gear we have today may be far superior in warmth and concealment than what was available in “yesteryear,” but it sure is fun to go back in time and revisit those old photos and remember what it used to be like. Think about picking up some of the “old school” clothes to brave the elements this winter. Just don’t wait until the last minute like I did.
Until next time enjoy our woods and waters and remember, let’s leave it better than we found it.
