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A Grail Hunting Jacket from the ’80s Returns with an Authentic Reissue

The iconic hunting jacket-turned-vintage-camouflage gem is back for its 40th anniversary, and it looks every bit as thoughtful as the original.

Person wearing a brown and green camouflage jacket and matching cap with a drawstring neck gaiter in a forest.Mossy Oak
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By Ben Bowers

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Growing up in Louisiana in the ’80s and ’90s, camouflage hunting gear was a common sight. Mossy Oak patterns, in particular, on jackets and vests in the late fall and spring, were as much a part of the landscape as the purple and gold of LSU gear.

But it wasn’t until I stumbled across Mike Idell’s excellent product deep-dive on his Substack General Sports Club (which any hunting or outdoorsman fan should absolutely subscribe to), published early in 2025, that I finally connected the dots on one particular garment and fell down a product backstory rabbit hole of my own.

Welcome to Reference Points: A series about the products that changed the standard — and never really stopped influencing it. Discover more here.

Idell’s post traced the full history of a true American hunting icon and modern-day cult favorite— a jacket he smartly dubbed “the Vintage Rolex of Camouflage.”

The comparison stuck because it was accurate: vintage examples command steep price premiums over their original MSRP on eBay (in some cases going for $1,000 or more) when they surface at all, and the people who own them rarely let go.

Now, the modern version of that icon is officially back, released as part of the brand’s 40th-anniversary collection.

A icon built for turkey hunting

Person in full camouflage gear and face covering sitting against a tree holding a shotgun in a wooded area.
The Bottomland pattern is essentially a brown colored version of the original Mossy Oak pattern, which was sketched originally from a handful of dirt, sticks and leaves and has proven itself for decades as an excellent pattern for blending into the base of trees.
Mossy Oak

As Idell’s piece outlined, like many Mossy Oak classics, the legend of this jacket all starts with Bottomland, which began as simply a brown colored version of the camouflage pattern that Mossy Oak founder Toxey Haas created in 1986 by quite literally grabbing a handful of dirt, sticks, and leaves and having it painted into a repeating pattern.

Haas’s goal wasn’t streetwear fame.

This video highlights Mossy Oak founder Toxey Haas explaining the origins of what is now one of the most famous hunting camouflage patterns in America, a.k.a. Bottomland.

He was a devoted wild turkey hunter in Mississippi who wanted to disappear in the woods, and nothing on the market was getting the job done. So he made his own.

Four decades later, the Bottomland pattern remains essentially unchanged from that original design, and it’s developed a cult following that extends well beyond the hunting community. When Mossy Oak drops limited Bottomland products today, the response looks less like a gear launch and more like a Supreme drop circa 2006.

The jacket at the center of all this reverence is officially known as the Deluxe Woods Coat — product number 0001 in Mossy Oak’s original catalog.

Camouflage-patterned jacket with brown corduroy collar and multiple front pockets.
The reborn Mossy Oak Woodsman Deluxe Jacket is a faithful reproduction of the 80s cult-favorite hunting jacket that’s now available for a relatively accessible $180.
Mossy Oak

It was designed as a purpose-built turkey hunting coat, and every detail reflects that mission. The interior features a game bag at the waist, a clever alternative to the external game pockets found on traditional British hunting coats from brands like Barbour.

Above the game bag sits a dedicated pocket designed to hold a cushion pad, providing some comfort during long sits against a tree trunk while waiting for a gobbler to respond to your calls. The coat’s cotton canvas construction is heavy-duty and ages beautifully, and the oversized pockets and tough buttons are built for the field.

But perhaps the detail most responsible for elevating this jacket beyond pure utility is its corduroy collar – a seemingly small style-focused touch that gave the coat an air of refinement few other pieces of American-made hunting gear could match.

An anniversary gift to fans

Close-up of a camouflage fabric pocket on beige material with a black textured object partially inside.
The modern version of the Woodsman also features the same internal pocket located in the mid-back of the jacket, which is designed to hold a small pad for some extra comfort during long stints of sitting up against tree trunks.
Mossy Oak

Now, as part of Mossy Oak’s 40th anniversary celebration, the Deluxe Woods Coat is back this spring, reborn as the Woodsman Deluxe Coat.

The new version stays faithful to what made the original special, built from durable 9-ounce pre-shrunk cotton twill, garment-washed for softness, and featuring the signature corduroy collar, snap-closure chest pockets, a hidden inner chest pocket, and button-front closure.

It’s also available in both the iconic Original Bottomland pattern and the Full Foliage pattern.

Brown corduroy collar on a camouflage-patterned jacket with a beige inner lining and a green label.
The inclusion of a corduroy collar akin to classic British hunting coats is one of the reasons why this particular hunting jacket has transcended hunting camps.
Mossy Oak

Like any faithful reissue of a collectible item, the new version will never carry quite the same weight as a weathered original pulled from a turkey hunter’s closet.

But for the many fans who have long admired the OG versions from afar, this 40th anniversary edition represents something significant: access to a near-exact replica of a genuinely iconic piece of American outdoor heritage, available directly from Mossy Oak for just $180.

Pricing and availability

Close-up of a brown and beige camouflage fabric with a button and a stitched buttonhole.Mossy Oak

The Mossy Oak Woodsman Deluxe Coat is available now for $180 directly from the Mossy Oak Store in two patterns: Original Bottomland and Full Foliage.

Sizes range from Small to 3X. Given the fervor surrounding Mossy Oak’s limited-edition anniversary releases, we don’t expect this stock to last long.

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.

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