Have we taken light weight too far?

[BCHunter]

If you want real light weight take a foam pad and sit down in the woods. Had six deer at 20 yards stomping at my turkey decoy a couple days ago. Being 20 ft up is just more fun sometimes.

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[Ontariofarmer]

If you want real light weight take a foam pad and sit down in the woods. Had six deer at 20 yards stomping at my turkey decoy a couple days ago. Being 20 ft up is just more fun sometimes.

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An option for the 80 year old -ground sitting.
Deer appear in turkey season. Turkeys appear in deer season. They know what season it is . My experience too
And we need to try turkey decoys for deer

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[BCHunter]

I think I should bring my turkey decoy and calls this fall. With the foam pad I'm up to 2lbs? Maybe it will trick them. If I get a turkey to come in... I'm good with that too.

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[MCDM]

I think every guy on here could always and strive to be better. It may not always be the case to buy lighter gear. This forum attracts the gear nuts (me) and then the awesome DIYers. Thats just the nature of it because saddle hunting has literally a million components that can be alter or transformed per the individual and their needs/wants. Lets face it I remember my days lugging my climber for miles and miles. It was passion and shear gut that drove me. Now i still have the passion but i can pick and choose where i go. I can move effortlessly being lighter and I don’t need much gut. Lol something i should try to shrink as well but its my wifes fault too damn of a good cook lol

 

[swampsnyper]

As mentioned, lighter is good but less bulk and more packability is better.

 

[elk yinzer]

No gear is going to make you a better hunter, but it can make you more comfortable, aid in staying out longer, etc.

I am all for advances in lightweight gear and I'll gladly throw some cash at something I think is going to cut significant weight without a reduction in function. There's a happy medium though, have to consider the diminishing returns just for an incremental cut in weight. Also have to consider bulk (volume). In my opinion sticks/climbing methods are the prime example of that. The lightest stick design possible is going to be bulkier than a folding stick, but I like folding sticks because they pack more streamlined. I could cut more bulk and weight by going to other methods, but I don't like the function of those. So you have to weigh other factors too...

A well-balanced, compact pack is going to have a lower perceived weight than a lighter pack that isn't balanced properly.

I also recognize, which you alluded to, there are situations where you don't need to go lightweight. I'll never sell my 20 lb Summit Climber. That thing is comfortable as heck and I know it like the back of my hand. It's my fastest climbing method, dead silent, and most comfortable in extreme cold and wet weather. It's not comfortable for a 2 mile hike or busting brush, but walking a half mile down a logging road with it is a cakewalk. You don't need a driver from 75 yards out. Learn your gear and know when to pull the right club out of the bag.

 

[EricS]

That was the reason why I made this post is going lighter really mean better? Or is it A habit to buy something new when you can just work with what you have. I get it to each their own but I think the question is a good one to ask is lighter, faster ,bigger ,Smaller, More compact worth the money?or could we invest that money into something that would make us a better hunter?Thanks for the comments guys just trying to get the ball rolling.I have just recently found myself in this trap and would like to invest more time and money In boots on the ground. Thx for you thoughts.

Nothing beats time. Some of us have more than others. Some of the guys on here just absolutely enjoy trying new stuff. Once we get the bills paid and supper on the table you should be able to enjoy what’s left. So if I was Considering saddle hunting and couldn’t get to areas I wanted to hunt because I would have to drag a climber through nasty thickets would a saddle make me a better hunter. I would think so. It doesn’t have to be a 15oz saddle but if I was in the market for a new saddle I would consider a lighter version if it offered comparable comfort and safety.

I have yet to purchase a hooyman limb saw but it’s on my watch list. Do I think that it alone will make me a better hunter? Absolutely not. Do I think that going scouting and being able to easily carry an ultralight saddle, climbing system, limb saw, gps or smart phone will help me be a better hunter. I do. Being able to go in quickly and quietly and find a spot and then having everything with me to climb the tree and setup. Getting that view from above and deciding what needs to be trimmed and cutting it back. Not having to go back to a spot and do all of that after scouting is priceless. The less trips I have to make into an area the better. It’s not one item that I think can make anyone a better hunter but a system that makes the most of the time they have in the woods.

 

[Scoutman]

On average 10% of hunters take 90% of the game. So if lighter,stronger, advanced gear can get me or anyone else near that goal, along with woodsmanship, hard work and sometimes just stupid luck, I'm in. I have less hunting days in front of me than behind me now but if someone has the drive and will to succeed, there has never been a better time than now equipment wise.

 

[Stickem]

I like the fact that not only being light weight gets me further in the woods it also adds to my stealth. By having less bulk it cuts down on my noise made going in. Not to mention it also is easier on a aging body. At almost 40 I have lots of aches and pains a lot more often. I have also lost weight, roughly 30 lbs. and I work out daily. Since I’ve gotten my Kestrel I can tell a huge difference between in and my summit that i used to use.

And through the summer I will continue to try and shave as much weight off my system as I can without sacrificing safety.


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[Joshua2236]

As mentioned, lighter is good but less bulk and more packability is better.

I 100 percent agree. I would like to go with the wild edge steps instead of the lone wolf sticks I have, less bulk, but just can’t make the switch wish there was someone near me that I could try them out.

 

[g2outdoors]

All of this really comes down to personal preference. There is no "right answer" to any gear choice. It all boils down to your hunting style, your location, your budget, and your desires.

If you hunt the back 40 out of the same stands that your grandpa showed you when you were a kid, and that gives you the hunt you want. FANTASTIC! GREAT! MARVELOUS! Keep doing it and introduce your friends and family to it so they can get hooked on hunting as well!

If you love your Summit (I'll probably never sell my 22lb API Grand Slam either) and it fits your hunting style, WOOHOO! Good on you! Keep it up.

There is no right answer. Whatever works for you and makes you happy. That's how you should hunt.

Guys that are fanatical about hunting and pursuing mature bucks are always going to be looking for an edge. A tactical edge, a strategic edge, a location edge, a gear edge. There's nothing wrong with that either. When I was building out my ultralight backpacking kit, I spent a lot of money on making my gear just a little bit lighter. Who cares? It was my money, I earned it by working hard, it didn't cause my kids to miss a meal, and it was fun.

 

[IkemanTX]

I just think a lot of people (including me) focus to much on what’s the lightest and the latest and greatest instead on working on our craft of becoming a better hunter. I think time spent on my bow or scouting or site preparation would be time better spent.

I spend just as much time on those items as well, but every ounce of gear I don’t carry is another ounce of water I have.

Another thing to consider is that sometimes, bulk is more the issue than weight. This is another place where saddlehunting shines.




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[Nutterbuster]

It has absolutely gone too far. It is unsportsmanlike to use all the space-age technology ya'll have to help kill a silly ole deer. Real hunters use boomerangs, and role in road kill to mask their scent.

Send me your sissy-girl equipment and i will offer it as a sacrifice to the Lord of the Hunt.

 

[Tapeworm]

Boomerangs are cheating

I jumped on a nice buck in a swamp and killed it with my pocket knife

It flat wore me out tho trying to hang on

I showed up last day of muzz with a rifle so had to just scout instead for next morning was opening gun.

Always check inside ur gun case before leaving the house

A muzz would have been waaaaaay easier


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[Nutterbuster]

@Tapeworm, metallurgy is an unholy art, and totally unbefitting for the noble hunter. If God had intended for us to use knives, he would have made them grow on trees ripe for the picking. My boomerang was chewed into shape for me by an obliging beaver, whom I promptly murdered with the finished project in order to properly blood it.

Such is the custom taught to us by our elders.

 

[Tapeworm]

@Tapeworm, metallurgy is an unholy art, and totally unbefitting for the noble hunter. If God had intended for us to use knives, he would have made them grow on trees ripe for the picking. My boomerang was chewed into shape for me by an obliging beaver, whom I promptly murdered with the finished project in order to properly blood it.

Such is the custom taught to us by our elders.

I couldn’t get it in a headlock to choke it. Bad idea to jump on it but if u can touch it I figured i might as well grab it.

Once I fully committed there was no turning back. Go big or go home. I had full bear hug & would have used a flint knife if I had one.





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[Nutterbuster]

I couldn’t get it in a headlock to choke it. Bad idea to jump on it but if u can touch it I figured i might as well grab it.

Once I fully committed there was no turning back. Go big or go home. I had full bear hug & would have used a flint knife if I had one.





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That's awesome. I'd actually watch that video.

 

[Vtbow]

That's awesome. I'd actually watch that video.

I"ve been laughing for 5 minutes reading these last several posts...people keep walking by my office and wondering what the hell is so funny about the puzzle images I'm editting for the website....

 

[Tapeworm]

I chased a doe thru thick sawgrass and marsh in same exact spot.

To thick to get bow up to shoot but I could keep up pretty good & get close

I hung bow up on a sapling and stayed in pursuit but couldn’t get close enough to grab it

A spear would’ve be perfect

I ought to buy one and commit to a full on cave man style hunt




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[Tapeworm]

That's awesome. I'd actually watch that video.

a Go Pro on my hat would be a cool shot view


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