I have been noticing lately that with OnX and HuntStand that I am looking hard at properties I normally wouldn’t even consider. And it hit me that this is all do to my new way of hunting more mobile. Had anyone else noticed this about themselves?
I'd selfishly prefer than none of that stuff was out there. It felt so much more advantageous say 10-15 years ago downloading GEOTIFFs from the USGS seamless server when not every damn hunter had that app in their pocket.I found my best spots, and taken some of my best bucks, using Google Earth back when, and now Onyx.
Its actually a rare hunter that wants to get too far off the grid in reality. I get into places that I am amazed nobody else is there, or has been there.. most hunters in my area use bait, banned or not, and rarely get more than 200 yds off the roads. So even armed with this technology, most daydream more than they act upon the ability to go thereI'd selfishly prefer than none of that stuff was out there. It felt so much more advantageous say 10-15 years ago downloading GEOTIFFs from the USGS seamless server when not every damn hunter had that app in their pocket.
Its actually a rare hunter that wants to get too far off the grid in reality. I get into places that I am amazed nobody else is there, or has been there.. most hunters in my area use bait, banned or not, and rarely get more than 200 yds off the roads. So even armed with this technology, most daydream more than they act upon the ability to go there
Saddle hunting is a game changer. I do look at land differently now.
Exactly!!!I've been hunting super mobile for a few years, this is season 5. I was using a summit open shot prior to my saddle. Even though it was light weight it still made me hold back from deep dives or atleast doing it often. With my saddle rig, I'm not only diving in deep more often I prefer to do it. I also now am not reluctant to quickly change my location or adjust tactics on the fly based on what's happening around me. When I carried a stand in and got setup, I rarely if ever would change spots during that hunt, I would adjust for the next time I went in. Utilizing a saddle provided me flexibility that I honestly would have never exercised with a stand. I wouldn't say I'm minimalist but relatively everything I use to get elevated is in a backpack, so I can hunt from the ground just as easily as from a tree. I'm also not afraid to get into an area I've never been to to scout and maybe setup, I never wanted to do that with a stand because of bulk and the fact I'd be exhausted walking around with no plan.