Thanks guys. I think I'll look into the Muck Pursuit Snake boots. Have found good and bad reviews on them. Rated for 45 to 90 degrees.
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Game Changing Equipment
- Thread starter IkemanTX
- Start date
Thanks guys. I think I'll look into the Muck Pursuit Snake boots. Have found good and bad reviews on them. Rated for 45 to 90 degrees.
Great idea for a thread!
First and most obvious is the saddle. There are many reasons why it is so important to me, but the most important is that I can have as many tree's ready to go as I am willing to prep. While you could do this with a hang on, the saddle makes each hunt much easier.
Next I would have to say is GPS. I use my GPS way more for scouting than actually hunting, but it gives me the ability to go way back to specific spots and the confidence to know I can get myself out of there without too much trouble. I find it also helps me learn the lay of the land much better while I am out there. This is a huge difference from when I was young and would wander around the woods and occasionally get turned around for a while.
The ropeman1/ kong duck ascenders. I was very hesitant to switch to a rope style tether, I even built my own version of the trophyline tree strap. That style of tether was so important because it allowed for mini adjustments for comfort. I hate prussiks so it wasn't until we found the ropeman that I made the switch to a rope tether and I'll never look back.
First and most obvious is the saddle. There are many reasons why it is so important to me, but the most important is that I can have as many tree's ready to go as I am willing to prep. While you could do this with a hang on, the saddle makes each hunt much easier.
Next I would have to say is GPS. I use my GPS way more for scouting than actually hunting, but it gives me the ability to go way back to specific spots and the confidence to know I can get myself out of there without too much trouble. I find it also helps me learn the lay of the land much better while I am out there. This is a huge difference from when I was young and would wander around the woods and occasionally get turned around for a while.
The ropeman1/ kong duck ascenders. I was very hesitant to switch to a rope style tether, I even built my own version of the trophyline tree strap. That style of tether was so important because it allowed for mini adjustments for comfort. I hate prussiks so it wasn't until we found the ropeman that I made the switch to a rope tether and I'll never look back.
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- Sep 19, 2014
- Messages
- 3,939
The spikes and rappelling gear are def game changers for me!
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wow, I don't even know where to start. I was a western on foot hunter when I was young so when I moved to the midwest, tree stands, specifically climbing tree stands were my first game changer. My first was a tree lounge and I put myself in debt to pay for it. At the time I was still a student in college and that was real money. I bought every addition and accessory and weighed a ton. It was noisy as all getout, but I couldn't believe how much better hunting was out of that stand than being on foot.
The tree lounge progressed into a lone wolf and then eventually to my myriad of saddles. The saddle being the ultimate treestand.
The next game changer for me was the first day I went bow hunting. I remember sitting in the tree that day and watching 15 different deer throughout the day that wouldn't quite come into range and then the one that finally did. I remember thinking to my self, this is awesome. Its warm, and if I were rifle hunting, I would have shot the first deer that came out and my hunt would be over. I would have never been able to watch all this nature. I was instantly hooked.
Along the technology line, I have to say a gps and laser rangefinder are my two favorite pieces. I love being able to record waypoints and info in the gps so I can go back days if not years later. It is especially handy when combined with aerial views either on my phone or birdseye from garmin.
The rangefinder has become my second most trusted piece of equipment behind the gps. I often take long range shots when rifle hunting out west and being able to know exact yardage has been a game changer that lets me take those longer shots with confidence.
I see another game changer in my future with my new hammock. The idea of not having to sleep on the hard ground has me very excited. We will see how this summer and fall go.
The tree lounge progressed into a lone wolf and then eventually to my myriad of saddles. The saddle being the ultimate treestand.
The next game changer for me was the first day I went bow hunting. I remember sitting in the tree that day and watching 15 different deer throughout the day that wouldn't quite come into range and then the one that finally did. I remember thinking to my self, this is awesome. Its warm, and if I were rifle hunting, I would have shot the first deer that came out and my hunt would be over. I would have never been able to watch all this nature. I was instantly hooked.
Along the technology line, I have to say a gps and laser rangefinder are my two favorite pieces. I love being able to record waypoints and info in the gps so I can go back days if not years later. It is especially handy when combined with aerial views either on my phone or birdseye from garmin.
The rangefinder has become my second most trusted piece of equipment behind the gps. I often take long range shots when rifle hunting out west and being able to know exact yardage has been a game changer that lets me take those longer shots with confidence.
I see another game changer in my future with my new hammock. The idea of not having to sleep on the hard ground has me very excited. We will see how this summer and fall go.
This is such a great thread...so many things I could list. I'll narrow it down to my top 3.
1. Saddle - this includes the platform and spurs. It revolutionized how I think about hunting. There is no bigger game changer for me. Before saddle hunting, the actual treestand was immaterial - it didn't add or take away from my hunt. The only thing that mattered was did I see/kill deer. Now, even if I don't see/kill a deer, I still consider the hunt a success because I have so much fun with my Saddle. The saddle adds value to each hunt in a way that a treestand never could. That's a true game changer.
2. Kayak - this gives me TONS of confidence because I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that A. I'm hunting spots other hunters can't/won't, B. I'm not blowing everything out of the woods by walking to my spot, and C. I can always keep the wind and the element of surprise in my favor. Plus it's so much fun.
3. Thermacell - it's such a small thing, but without it, I wouldn't have been hunting for most of the season here in GA. The bugs were sooooooo bad. Like nothing I've ever experienced.
1. Saddle - this includes the platform and spurs. It revolutionized how I think about hunting. There is no bigger game changer for me. Before saddle hunting, the actual treestand was immaterial - it didn't add or take away from my hunt. The only thing that mattered was did I see/kill deer. Now, even if I don't see/kill a deer, I still consider the hunt a success because I have so much fun with my Saddle. The saddle adds value to each hunt in a way that a treestand never could. That's a true game changer.
2. Kayak - this gives me TONS of confidence because I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that A. I'm hunting spots other hunters can't/won't, B. I'm not blowing everything out of the woods by walking to my spot, and C. I can always keep the wind and the element of surprise in my favor. Plus it's so much fun.
3. Thermacell - it's such a small thing, but without it, I wouldn't have been hunting for most of the season here in GA. The bugs were sooooooo bad. Like nothing I've ever experienced.
IkemanTX
Well-Known Member
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- Oct 16, 2015
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- 3,501
It depends... if I'm in the little kayak pictured above, I will be carrying a blow up raft to put the pope and young in... (wishful thinking?)
I sometimes use a small bass boat to access spots, or might double up in a larger kayak with a hunting buddy, and both of those will hold a deer just fine on their own.
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ricky racer
Well-Known Member
The game changer for me was going from a modern compound bow to a longbow and recurve. When I was young in the sport 40 some years ago, bow hunting was a difficult undertaking. When I started bow hunting, I didn't even know anyone that hunted with a bow. Everything I learned was either by trial and error or from some info in the few publications available at the time. It was tough connecting with a buck but the difficulty added greatly to the satisfaction when successful, knowing that I was hunting the hard way.
Over the years as equipment got better and my knowledge base increased the difficulty decreased and along with that, the satisfaction also decreased. The early years when I was an immature bow hunter, everything was about making "success" easier. I tried all of the gadgets available, faster, flatter shooting bows, higher let offs, you name it, thinking it would make me a better, more successful deer hunter. Little did I know that making things easier removed the fulfillment afforded me by choosing to take a good buck in the most challenging way possible. All of the gadgets didn't make me a better hunter. I found the best way to become a better hunter was to, in fact, become a better hunter. Making things more difficult, like they were back in the early days when I was learning by leaps and bounds, seemed to be one avenue, for me anyway, to become a better hunter and I feel it has.
Learning to adjust my hunting situations to accommodate the more limited range I now have with the stick bow has taken a long learning curve, longer than you might believe. I could me a lot sloppier hunter when I could easily shoot a 40 yard radius from my stand. I've learned more about air currents and how scent flows and how to set up to not get winded since I now also hunt at lower heights due to my equipment selection. Hunting lower requires a different setup as well to try to remain unseen and requires a learning curve as well. Sometimes I think that if I ever went back to hunting with a compound bow or heaven forbid a crossbow, it would be like shooting fish in a barrel. Maybe I'm wrong but I know I am a much better hunter now then I was when I first switched over to traditional equipment. I'm back loving it....
Over the years as equipment got better and my knowledge base increased the difficulty decreased and along with that, the satisfaction also decreased. The early years when I was an immature bow hunter, everything was about making "success" easier. I tried all of the gadgets available, faster, flatter shooting bows, higher let offs, you name it, thinking it would make me a better, more successful deer hunter. Little did I know that making things easier removed the fulfillment afforded me by choosing to take a good buck in the most challenging way possible. All of the gadgets didn't make me a better hunter. I found the best way to become a better hunter was to, in fact, become a better hunter. Making things more difficult, like they were back in the early days when I was learning by leaps and bounds, seemed to be one avenue, for me anyway, to become a better hunter and I feel it has.
Learning to adjust my hunting situations to accommodate the more limited range I now have with the stick bow has taken a long learning curve, longer than you might believe. I could me a lot sloppier hunter when I could easily shoot a 40 yard radius from my stand. I've learned more about air currents and how scent flows and how to set up to not get winded since I now also hunt at lower heights due to my equipment selection. Hunting lower requires a different setup as well to try to remain unseen and requires a learning curve as well. Sometimes I think that if I ever went back to hunting with a compound bow or heaven forbid a crossbow, it would be like shooting fish in a barrel. Maybe I'm wrong but I know I am a much better hunter now then I was when I first switched over to traditional equipment. I'm back loving it....
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Ontariofarmer
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- Dec 25, 2015
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- 5,254
How are you using the hand climber to climb and what does it weigh
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Heres a video... not mine..
It weighs less then 5 lbs
You can purchase an xop strike force by itself for $84.99 pretty much the same as the lone wolf... http://www.xopoutdoors.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=49&idcategory=3
That's pretty legit. I have one I will try out.
d_rek
Well-Known Member
Hand climber looks cool, but kind of limited in which trees you can hunt. Still looks like a great tool to have on standby.
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deleted_user01
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- Nov 12, 2016
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- 623
A few things for me and 2017....
1) treesaddle and sit/drag (modded).
This will cut down soon much weight to
Carry in and allow me to go farther in
Public land.
2)John Eber hart's videos. ... so much
Information condensed from a lifetime of hunting public land trophies
And how to vs pics of farm killed animals. Most of us
Have the knowledge and experience hunting but John
And Chris put the pieces of the puzzle in order to better
Perspective of applying it to real simple techniques.
3) Saddlehunter.com
Nice to have found a forum site of knowledgeable members who are polite and helpful.....I pray this does not change to the likes of other sites I no longer visit.
1) treesaddle and sit/drag (modded).
This will cut down soon much weight to
Carry in and allow me to go farther in
Public land.
2)John Eber hart's videos. ... so much
Information condensed from a lifetime of hunting public land trophies
And how to vs pics of farm killed animals. Most of us
Have the knowledge and experience hunting but John
And Chris put the pieces of the puzzle in order to better
Perspective of applying it to real simple techniques.
3) Saddlehunter.com
Nice to have found a forum site of knowledgeable members who are polite and helpful.....I pray this does not change to the likes of other sites I no longer visit.
Red will never let things get out of hand here... he's a huge part of why the forum is the way it is... he doesn't tolerate drama... he's knowledgeable, and very generous with sharing that knowlege...
I also agree with John, and Chris's books and videos... I havnt been able to apply his techniques yet because I got them after hunting season, but john's a brilliant hunter, and am exited to apply things I'm learning in his books...
Ontariofarmer
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- Dec 25, 2015
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- 5,254
Aero hunter Ernies platform
Saddlehunter.com
Aiders and muddy pro sticks
A kind wife who lets me blow our budget.
John Eberharts resources
A fat bike for sore knees to ride close to hunting spots
I often find it hard to decide what new game changers to adapt. So many on this site
There are many innovative hunters here
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Saddlehunter.com
Aiders and muddy pro sticks
A kind wife who lets me blow our budget.
John Eberharts resources
A fat bike for sore knees to ride close to hunting spots
I often find it hard to decide what new game changers to adapt. So many on this site
There are many innovative hunters here
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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d_rek
Well-Known Member
Can't believe I didn't think of Johns book. You're absolutely right though: all the gear in the world won't make you a better hunter. But Johns and Chris' books just might! Sometimes the best gear isn't in your pack it's at home on a bookshelf!
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