Hunters: What’s on your deer gear wish list?
My column for Sunday’s Roanoke Times will focus on how we hunters are always looking for the latest and greatest gear to help us kill deer like this beautiful eight-pointer.
But, really, how much does that new gear really help us?
There are a few items that have made a big difference for me. One is my full body safety harness. It’s so comfortable I don’t know it’s there. And, unlike the harnesses that are provided with stands, it doesn’t get tangled.
Many of us drool over the hottest new bows, crossbows and guns. It’s natural. But the truth is, our old stuff usually does just fine.
I do have a wish list. I won’t give it away yet.
But I want to know what the rest of you have on your lists as the season looms. Not only what’s on the list, but why?
Now I’m off to one of my hunting spots to hang a stand and a trailcam!
August 10, 2012 - 4:58 PM
Would love to know what full body safety harness you got thats that comfy ?, ive been thru 3 different ones and returned all 3 because of various reasons, too hard to adjust, uncomfortable, not user friendly ect…….going to join the ranks of crossbow hunters this year, just got a new Parker Enforcer and the Red Hot kit, will alternate between compound and crossbow every other time in the woods now
Joey — It’s a Loggy Bayou. I got it maybe four years ago. $90 or so. I don’t recall seeing that one in catalogs, so I don’t know if it’s even made anymore. But the ones I do see all look similar. I am surprised that your others didn’t work. Keep trying.
As for joining the crossbow ranks, congrats. I made the jump last year and enjoyed hunting with it. Great for ground blinds. I still prefer the vertical bow, but the crossbow has its time and place. I also got to experience first-hand that they are pretty much in line with modern compound bows in terms of performance. 40 yard and in. If anyone is taking shots longer than 40 yards, shame on them.
I’d like a new coat rack for my wall like the one shown in the picture
I don’t really have a list this year because I already bought what was on it. I have a Ruger Redhawk 44 magnum and, this year, I got a quality handgun scope which I have mounted on it. I plan to try handgun hunting this season IF I can get some range time to practice.
On my wish list this year is: For the dude with the stand on the edge of my property to take a vacation this year….I have helped him bag every buck that I have caught on my trail cams…And he is quick to show me his kill
That is what I get for setting up food plots and tending to my deer’s every need during the off season…Come the rut they all cross over my land straight into his cross hairs.. His stand overlooks a fatal funnel right on the edge of my property….That is my wish list for this year….
I wish I had the physical ability to do what I could do 25-30 years ago. If that ability to jet through the mountains and up/down trout streams was restored just for my hunting and fishing adventures, I would gladly trade being 25-30 years older for all other life’s activities.
Hey–who got that photo? Must be a critter magnet of some repute!
My wish list contains the following. To simply be as fortunate as I have in the many years past to get some venison for the freezer. My stash is getting low.
Kevin I second that wish…lost what venison I had left during the power outage and as we all know you just can’t run down to Kroger and replace it. Glad I took the time to can some of it the past two seasons!
As far as gear goes, I can’t think of anything I really need but if I had the extra cash I would just go hog-heaven wild with the new Cabellas catalog I got last week. Plenty of stuff in there a man wants even if he doesn’t necessarily need it!
If I had one wish to be granted though, I would wish and hope that the Lord would grant another guaranteed 30 years or so of the physical and mental capacity to go afield once the seasons rolled up on the calendar. Stephen’s comment was a testimony to what I’m talking about. A friend of mine and I were discussing yesterday how at a certain age you realize that you only get so many springs and falls and there are no guarantees that you’ll be in the shape to enjoy them as you once did. If I could get a guarantee of 25 more seasons with the strength to still use my climber I’d sign up right now. The day that I’ll be forced to hunt exclusively from a ground blind is going to come all too soon.
I’m still in FISHING mode…. I know hunting is getting close but there’s still a lot of great fishing out there to be had as well!!!
Anyway sticking with the blog topic of the day…. I’m not big on acquiring all the latest/greatest gear. I know there’s a lot of neat stuff out there but nothing will bring hunting success like good old fashioned hard work in the form of practicing with your weapons, scouting, prepping stands sites, seeking out food sources, etc.etc.etc. In our “instant gratification” society a lot of people think they can just go out and buy success with gear and skip the work. A good example is a young beginning bow hunter I talked with last year. He had bought these top-of-the-line rage broadheads and spoke of the massive hole they would cut. He acted like if he just stuck the deer anywhere the blade size would surely cause it to bleed out quickly,(he gathered this from some hunting videos apparently). So he didn’t work on his accuracy believing his top-notch equipment would make up for his lack of practice. This hunter with his $1300 archery set up STUCK and LOST 3 deer last season!!!! Another example is hunters I know of who don’t do the work to set up multiple stands for different wind conditions. Instead they attempt to “buy” success with a myriad of sprays, washes, and scent control clothing thinking that will eliminate ALL human odor. Yes, scent control to the best of our ability is very important but nothing will completely hide human odor! Our bodies are scent-bombs that continaully put out odors no matter what.
Dang…. I was up on my soapbox again ! Mark, you know better than to put up these thought-provoking topics that get me started LOL!
Anyway…. my wish list for this hunting season. I simply just need a new pair of good boots for the long mountian hikes. Due to my hunting terrain boots only last about one season and my last pair are completly worn out.
I have a short wish list, but first want to comment on the gear situation. Short of some new miracle, it seems we are just re-inventing the wheel when it comes to gear. Gun manufacterers are coming out with different catridges that really mimick other catridges from years ago. For the average shooter such as myself, it will not change the game. Camoflauge? Some patterns work well in certain areas, match the pattern to your area and hunt till doomsday. Deer calls? With everyone blowing their grunt calls like a duck call, i refrain from using them. But this year there is a special “new” call out that lets you adjust volume and pitch, just like the antique one from 20 years ago that I still have, to beat it all, its made of the same materials. Scent proof/ scent killing sprays? for their money, not a bad tool in your arsenal, but no tool is better than knowing how the wind works in your neck of the woods and positioning stands for the most advantageous winds. Some gadgets that have come along in the last 15 years that I think have helped me be a better hunter… Hanging tree stands, comfortable boots/socks/hunting clothing in general, knowledge of my quarry, trail cameras (to help me make the most of my time off from work by hunting places that have deer to hunt). I think hunters today are too caught up in what a rack scores and having all the new equipment to understand the pursuit and happiness that comes from spending time outdoors. This past weekend, my wife and I, along with our 16 year old son and a few friends hiked 12 miles in the Dolly Sods Wilderness area Saturday, and Sunday hiked Seneca Rocks. The only gadgets we used were good boots and clothing to be comfortable and our god given talents as humans to persist until achievment was reached.
RidgeRunner I hear ya. This weekend I got a reminder that it doesn’t always have to involve hunting and fishing to thoroughly enjoy an outing. Spent Saturday with 12 Boy Scouts and 5 adults hiking to the Meadow at Mt. Rogers were we camped for the night under a beautiful star filled sky and got to watch the meteor shower as a bonus. Then Sunday morning we all got up early and hiked the remaining mile and a half to the summit for some pictures at the rooftop of Virginia before returning to our camp and heading back down the mountain to Highlands State park. I encourage anyone who enjoys hiking the outdoors to make this trip if they can. If you plan it well and the weather on the mountain cooperates with you as it did us (it was beautiful both days) it is a trip worth taking. Between the scenery, the weather, the meteor shower and the wild ponies wandering into camp in the middle of the night it was a trip the Scouts won’t forget and neither will I. What a wonderful place right here in our beloved Commonwealth.
Temps touched the 50′s this morning! Hunting season is right around the corner.
I picked up a new daypack, an Osprey from Backcountry Ski & Sport, not one of the under-designed, overpriced camo ones… I’ve been in the market for one that is light, can carry what I need, hydration compatible, reasonably priced, and has a good frame. I finally decided to pull the trigger on it. Pending trips to hunt out west always make my hunting around here more comfortable.
Also picked up some discount Danners from here: http://www.hitthebreakroom.com/invite/?r=119179 No explanation needed for a good pair of boots.
Well, I must admit I have a gear list in my head all year long, I can scratch this years main item off that list now.
I purchased a new Bear Anarchy bow, and boy is that one sweet arrow flinging machine. Of course I had to have new sights, quiver , rest, you know the whole story- eh em, but honey the stuff on my old bow won’t work on the new one, ha ha!
Now if those darned arrows don’t get here soon, I’m going to go crazy!
Good luck this year guys, with your list, and your hunting.
Great comments by all! Thanks so much.
I just got back from a really quick trip to Virginia Beach during which I connected with my buddies for some final planning and gear purchasing for our upcoming Alaska trip.
One of the guys, Cliff Bruner, is a just-retired Navy SEAL. So, needless to say, he is pretty well equipped for life in the wild. The third member of our party, Kraig Cesar, has enough saltwater fishing tackle to outfit a small fleet. But he doesn’t have mountain gear. So let’s just say his AmEx got a workout!
Oh, Huntersdad, I am envious of your hike to Mount Rogers. That area where you camped is one of Virginia’s special places!
On my list this year…… Nothing that involves money. I wish to take my son Cory hunting for the first time this year. I also want to go hunting with my Uncle Junior and good friend Moe, for I have never been with these guys. Possibly get my wife her first deer this season, she hunts with a bow ( that’s why I married her ) and shoots great. I’m a gear freak, but this year I want to focus more on these things. Plus too, being married now, my money is no longer mine to spend. Ha ha
Mark it was truly worth every step up that mountain. Special doesn’t even start to describe it, if it were a trout stream running through that meadow we camped in I’d swear it was heaven! Some places you go in the great outdoors just make you consider dropping everything, packing your gear and start living off the land…Mt Rogers is one of them. My only regret was we only spent two days there but I’ll surely go back.
Bow, any bow, or crossbow, really want to learn, just cant justify the purchase at this point. Any recommendations for a beginner?
to give you somwhere to visit in Alaska as you asked in the paper
visit Stubbs the FELINE mayor in Talkeetna Alaska
the little town at the base of Mount McKinley !!!!
ENJOY YOUR TRIP !!!!!
A LOYAL READER of the Roanoke Times
kathy
ps. MAYOR STUBBS was in the july 16 2012 edition.
Eric, my recommendations first would be committment. To become a bowhunter, you first have to dedicate yourself to several things. The cost, maybe look into a used bow, buy new arrows and accessories. Practice, practice, practice. I don’t mean get good at 25 yards and go slinging arrows. I mean shoot from all over the yard at different distances/angles, until you are able to walk around your yard, range the target, and accurately hit what you are shooting at. Once you can do this… practice some more. Set your expectations. Don’t expect to kill a monster, you most likely won’t. Expect to pursue and have a great time, You will. Harvest a doe, or several, to learn about actually shooting AT a deer. Don’t be tempted to rush shots or attempt a risky shot because the buck is big. Too many are lost this way. Enjoy the outdoors and your link to one of the oldest forms of hunting known to man.
Eric, would be glad to teach you if you live nearby. I’m a bowhunting freak and hunt with my bow all season long. It’s really fun but can be frustrating at times. Play the wind and get in close. Even if you don’t get a shot, it’s so cool to have a deer at 20 yards and not even know you are there. Bow hunting rocks!!!!
Mark, I’m the one who is envious after reading about your upcoming trip to Alaska…man you have to be stoked about that! You are blessed that your job gives you access to so many knowledgable folks that have been there and know where to go and what to take along with you. After reading from one of your bloggers about how a brown bear forced him into an unscheduled swim in the troutstream I’d put that anti- bear spray at the top of my list…yikes! But that’s part of the adventure that is Alaska I guess. Hope to make it out there one day myself. Good luck to you out there Mark with whatever you’re hunting, and better luck on avoiding what might be hunting you!!! Stay safe.