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Smallest Gear with the Biggest Impact

Handheld Garmin eTrex GPS
Used Christmas gift cards years ago to get it basically for free. It gave me the confidence to wander around without the fear of getting lost. I marked spots that I could easily find again in the dark. It works with or without cell service and still works well 10+ years later. I started saving rubs, scrapes, and jumped deer in the big woods at camp. I later saved those same coordinates into a Google maps account and started to see patterns in satellite view.

I now know how to use Google offline maps to achieve basically the same thing on my phone, but the eTrex paved the way for me in terms of effective scouting. I don't use it much anymore, but still carry it in my pack on every hunt as a backup.
 
Another vote for the nose button. A second small item is a pair of cheap plastic safety glasses with the built in magnifier readers. Allows me to see normally at distance but still see camera viewfinders and phone while wearing my distance correcting contacts. Fingerless rag wool gloves rounds out my list. Oh, can't forget the cheap foam pad that rides in my turkey vest pouch for additional knee pad.
 
I purchased an item called The Booger, over 25 years ago and it still rides with me on every hunt. It's been worth the $20 for all of the items that I've dropped out of the stand, over the years. :cool: I have a 26' retractable dog leash that I use to pull up my bow and I attach The Booger to it, to retrieve anything I drop. Release, hat, glove, range finder, arrow, etc.
Booger 1.jpg
Booger 3.jpg
 
plush hand towel

great for wiping noise or coughing or sneezing into......double it and push hard over mouth and it muffles great

cheap, light with many uses

can be emergency TP also
 
Initial investment was a bit, but my rangefinder has to be the best bang for the buck. It helps me realize sometimes im good a guessing the range.....sometimes not so much.
 
Rada sharpener was like $10 and is nice for lazy people like me that want sharp knives and broadheads but don’t want to go full Ranch Fairy. I also agree on the caffeine pills. I’m usually rushing out the door for work. I will take half of one before work. Sometimes during the day just for a pick me up. A bottle will last months.
 
The camo wrangler outdoor pants deserve a honorable mention. Cheap, durable, have put up with a few seasons of use with no noticeable wear. Got my first pair 3 seasons ago after an early season spot and stalk hunting in shorts like a real newbie resulted in my first deer and some torn up shins lol. Didn't feel the brambles while I was chasing the deer. Definitely felt them afterwards.
 
thedutchtouch said:
The camo wrangler outdoor pants deserve a honorable mention. Cheap, durable, have put up with a few seasons of use with no noticeable wear. Got my first pair 3 seasons ago after an early season spot and stalk hunting in shorts like a real newbie resulted in my first deer and some torn up shins lol. Didn't feel the brambles while I was chasing the deer. Definitely felt them afterwards.
Click to expand...

Please see the cheap gear thread this is the small gear thread
 
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