The Wool-Rich Days: Blog entry #3

When I started working on this website, I had a vision in my head of how I wanted my Deer Camp Stories website to look. Naturally, I wanted to showcase my Deer Camp Stories; comics and my Artwork Gallery. But, one of my goals was to try and capture the spirit of hunting and the "Great Outdoors". I wanted to somehow showcase the thrill and excitement I had as a young boy. Deer Camp Stories website is my tribute to my many years spent in the outdoors hunting and fishing. During many of my earliest memories as a young hunter, I was clad in an old Wool-Rich hunting coat.

My first year of deer hunting began in 1977, I was twelve years old (yes, you can do the math and figure out my age ). My father, ( pictured on left in Wool-rich from head to toe ) took me on my first hunting trip to the mountains of Elk County, Pennsylvania. This was such an exciting event in my life, I felt like I was becoming a man. I remember so vividly my anticipation of bagging a "monster' buck my rookie year. I recall getting ready at 5:30 a.m. that first morning at our hunting camp. I put on multiple layers of warm clothing and thick thermal socks. My weapon of choice was an old 30-30 rifle that had been used by countless hunters over the years. My hunting coat was an old scratchy Wool-Rich coat which had also been passed down from my father, to my three brothers, and then to me. I put on the old coat and went to each member of the camp to wish them "Good Luck". Almost all of our cabin members wore Wool-Rich coats, pants, and even some wool hats. It was the look of the "rugged hunter"! After you put on that super thick coat though, you had to go outside immediately, or you would start to sweat like like crazy!

The red and black patterned Wool-rich we wore back then was unique in it's own rights. It had good features and bad features. The all wool coat was very thick, which made it very heavy. The thick coat was a blessing during those freezing cold days in the woods, it really generated the heat. But the Wool-Rich would cook you on those exceptionally warm days afield after the sun came out. On a rainy day, you definitely needed a raincoat, because the wool material would act like a sponge and suck up the rain that landed on the coat. The coat did not repel water at all. A soaking wet Wool-Rich jacket on a cold rainy day usually ensured a nasty cold.

Most Wool-Rich jackets had a big pouch sewn inside the back, down near the butt. That space could be filled with gloves, shells, extra shirt, thermos, and your lunch. Not a bad idea, but that filled up space made you look fat (or fatter), and was awkward and heavy. If you wanted an item from the back of your coat, you usually had to take your coat off. Easier said than done. But most of all, when you sat down with your hunting coat on, you smashed your lunch. Ask any old hunter that wore these coats, they will attest to eating paper thin sandwiches that were smashed by their derrieres . Still, it looked rugged and was the coat of the "manly" hunter.

Well, its 2018, I can not remember the last time I saw a hunter in the woods or at my hunting camp clad in that traditional red and black Wool-Rich coat. In the early eighties, the Game Commissions made it mandatory that all hunters wear fluorescent orange hats, coats, and vests (safety). The bright orange made hunters more visible in the woods and fields. Sadly, Wool-Rich coats got fazed out.

Currently I wear an Under Armour, camouflage, Scent -Lock, water resistant hunting coat. It was pricey, but I Have to admit, it is nice!

So many of my best memories that I had while hunting, I was wearing that that old wool coat. At one time in our house, when I was a boy, we had five Wool-Rich jackets hanging in our closet. Sadly I think they all eventually were thrown out, to make way for newer breathable coats.

To this day I Still draw a lot of my characters in the old Wool-Rich hunting attire in my Deer Camp Stories; comics.

Today, I would give anything to have my old jacket back. I would love to feel the comfort and discomfort of that old scratchy coat and remember the old "Wool-Rich days".

Humbly submitted for your approval:

Jerry Strennen