Bass Pro Shops Clearance Sales Guide

Bass Pro Shops Clearance Sales Guide

Tuesday lunch break—and walked out with over $400 in gear for under $150. Since then, I’ve treated Bass Pro clearance like a sport.

This guide is the playbook I wish I had when I started.

How Bass Pro Shops Clearance Actually Works

When I first started tracking deals, I assumed clearance was just “old stuff marked down.” That’s only half the story.

Here’s what I’ve seen over the last few years visiting multiple Bass Pro and Cabela’s locations (they’re owned by the same parent company, Great American Outdoors Group, since the 2017 acquisition):

• Markdowns are usually done in waves – You’ll often see 25–30% off at first, then 40–50%, and occasionally those glorious 70%+ red-tag moments.
• Clearance is store-specific – A jacket that’s full price online can be 60% off in-store because that location needs to clear space.
• Seasons drive the deepest discounts – After hunting, ice fishing, or summer boating season, managers are motivated to free up shelf space. I’ve seen $300 waterproof jackets drop to under $100 in January.

According to Bass Pro’s own financial reports and seasonal merchandising statements (especially around Q4 and Q1 earnings calls from 2019–2023), they rely heavily on seasonal inventory turns. Translation: when the season’s done, deals get real.

The Best Times to Hit Bass Pro Clearance

I tested this over a full year—yes, I was that person checking tags every few weeks.

1. End of Season (The Gold Mine)

In my experience, this beats almost every other timing trick.

• Hunting & cold weather gear: January–February
• Fishing & boating: Late August–September
• Camping: September–October

One January, I grabbed a Cabela’s Instinct insulated parka that was originally around $299.99. Final price after clearance and an extra promo? $89. I checked the SKU later—the same coat online was still showing as “on sale” for $199.

2. Big Holiday Weekends

I’ve seen clearance prices stack with:

• Memorial Day
• Labor Day
• Black Friday / Cyber Monday

You won’t always get stacking discounts, but when you do, it’s ridiculous. In 2022, I picked up a Bass Pro Qualifier rain suit—already on clearance—then got an extra percent off because of a weekend promo.

3. Random Midweek Trips

This is the underrated move.

When I tested weekday vs weekend visits, I noticed more fresh markdown stickers midweek (especially Tuesday–Thursday). Just anecdotal, but it happened enough at three different stores that I trust the pattern.

Where Clearance Hides in the Store

Clearance is not always obvious. Sometimes it’s basically a treasure hunt.

The Obvious Spots

• Designated clearance racks near apparel
• End caps at the end of aisles (especially lures, line, small accessories)

The Sneaky Spots

Here’s where I consistently find the best stuff:

• Back corners of clothing sections – Old-season camo, insulated bibs, hunting boots
• Boating area shelves – Marked-down electronics, life jackets, dock lines
• Footwear walls – Odd sizes or last-year colors, especially in brands like Merrell, RedHead, Irish Setter

A store manager told me straight up (I’ll keep his name out of it): “If something’s on a weird middle-of-nowhere rack with mixed sizes, scan the tag. It’s probably cheaper than it looks.” He was right more often than not.

Online vs In‑Store: Where the Better Deals Are

When I tested this, I brought my phone, scanned barcodes, and compared:

• In-store clearance can be lower than online – especially for bulky items they want gone locally.
• Online has more sizes and colors – but sometimes only 20–30% off versus 50–70% in-store.

What I do now:

1. Find the deal in-store.
2. Check the Bass Pro or Cabela’s app/website for that exact SKU.
3. If it’s cheaper online, I ask customer service if they’ll match it. Roughly 60–70% of the time (in my experience), they’ve worked with me—especially if the difference is reasonable.

Bass Pro doesn’t publish a universal “we always price match our own site on clearance” policy; it’s often at the store’s discretion. So be polite, not entitled.

Stacking the Savings: The Real Power Moves

Here’s where the expert-level savings kick in.

1. Use the CLUB Card…Strategically

Bass Pro’s CLUB credit card isn’t for everyone (more on that in the cons section), but:

• You can earn points on clearance items in most cases.
• Sometimes they run bonus point promos on categories that do include clearance.

I once combined:

• Clearance price on a pair of RedHead boots
• A weekend CLUB bonus points promo
• Rewards points I’d been saving

The boots that were $139.99 full price ended up costing me under $40 out-of-pocket.

2. Watch for “Extra % Off Clearance” Events

A couple of times per year, I’ve seen:

• “Additional 25% off red-tag clearance apparel”
• “Take an extra 10% off clearance hunting gear”

Bass Pro doesn’t always blast these loudly online. I started catching them because I’d ask associates, “Any extra clearance promos coming up this month?” One cashier quietly told me about an upcoming weekend sale—and I waited two days, then cleaned up on cold-weather layers.

3. Open-Box & Floor Models

Especially in boating, electronics, and camping, you’ll see:

• Open-box fish finders
• Display-model grills
• Slightly scuffed coolers

These often have manual markdowns instead of standard clearance tags. I’ve seen 20–40% off just for being a display unit. If the box looks rough, I always ask, “Is there a discount on this one?” You’d be amazed how often the answer isn’t no.

What’s Actually Worth Buying on Clearance (and What I Avoid)

After enough trial and error, I’ve learned where clearance is a steal and where it’s just… meh.

Worth It

• Technical outerwear – Parkas, bibs, rain gear from brands like Cabela’s Instinct, RedHead, and sometimes Sitka or Under Armour when you get lucky.
• Base layers & mid-layers – These don’t change much year to year, so last season’s model is usually fine.
• Fishing lures & terminal tackle – Colors get discontinued, but fish can’t read catalogs.
• Camp furniture & soft coolers – Especially at end of summer.

I’m Careful With

• Electronics – If it’s a clearance fish finder or GPS, I check: Is it discontinued? Are maps/software still supported? A 2018 model might be cheap for a reason.
• Boots & waders – I always double-check seams and soles. Deep discounts sometimes mean older stock that’s been tried on a lot.
• Ultra-specific hunting patterns – If it’s a camo pattern being phased out, it’s a great price—but matching future pieces might be tricky.

The Outdoor Foundation’s 2023 Outdoor Participation Trends report highlighted how gear longevity is becoming more important to consumers. Clearance can absolutely align with that—if you’re buying durable basics, not chasing weird one-off gimmicks.

Pros and Cons of Chasing Bass Pro Clearance

I love a deal, but I don’t romanticize everything about this game.

Pros

• Massive savings – 50–70% off on quality gear is very possible.
• Build your kit faster – I geared up for my first serious elk hunt largely from clearance racks.
• Great for backup gear – Extra rods, spare boots, second camp stove—all cheaper.

Cons

• Limited sizes & colors – If you’re not flexible, you’ll get frustrated fast.
• Potential for impulse buys – A 70% off price tag can make you forget you don’t actually need a fourth tackle bag.
• CLUB card temptation – Rewards and promos can encourage overspending if you’re not disciplined with credit.

I’ve had to set a simple rule for myself: if I wouldn’t consider buying it at full price in some alternate universe, I don’t buy it on clearance.

How to Quickly Spot a Real Deal vs Fake Savings

When I tested my own “deal radar,” I found I was sometimes getting played by the red tags. Here’s what helped.

1. Know at least ballpark normal prices – If you fish, you probably know roughly what a decent baitcaster or rain jacket costs.
2. Scan the SKU in the app – Check price history or at least online pricing.
3. Compare brand tiers – A mid-tier Cabela’s jacket on clearance may be a better buy than a low-tier jacket at regular price.
4. Check materials – Look for Gore‑Tex, Thinsulate, durable water repellent (DWR), or reputable in-house tech—not just buzzwords.

Consumer Reports and outdoor forums like Rokslide and ArcheryTalk have plenty of user feedback showing that construction quality can matter more than brand name alone. Clearance doesn’t change that.

My Personal Clearance “Game Plan” (Steal This)

Here’s what I do now, distilled:

1. Two key visits per season – One right before season starts (for small markdowns), one right after (for the deep cuts).
2. Set a budget before I walk in – I literally say, “I’m not spending over $150 today unless I find X and Y at a crazy price.”
3. Start at the back clearance racks, then loop through end caps – Apparel → footwear → fishing → camping.
4. Only buy if it solves a real gap in my kit or replaces something worn out.

When I followed this plan last year, I tracked my receipts versus original MSRP. Rough math: I spent about $780 on gear that would’ve cost over $1,900 at full price.

Final Thoughts: When Bass Pro Clearance Is Worth Your Time

If you’re expecting to walk into Bass Pro once, stumble on a 70% off sitka suit in your exact size, and ride off into the sunset… you’re probably going to be disappointed.

But if you treat clearance like a long game—checking a couple times per season, being flexible on colors, and only buying what you’ll actually use—it can seriously level up your outdoor kit without wrecking your budget.

I recently cleaned out a gear bin and realized something funny: about half of the stuff I rely on most—my favorite rain jacket, my warmest mid-layer, the camp chair everyone steals at the fire—came off a clearance rack.

Not junk. Not throwaway backups. My actual go‑to gear.

That’s when it clicked: Bass Pro Shops clearance isn’t just the bargain bin. If you learn how to work it, it’s the shortcut to building a legit setup for a fraction of the price.

Just promise yourself one thing before you go hunting for deals: you really don’t need that seventh crankbait in the same exact color.