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Gear you liked/disliked 2022

So which call(s) do you like?

Right now, the most reliable as been an old HS True Talker...because it's wood, seems to avoid freezing. I also have a Away Bowgrunter call that's nice and doesn't freeze because it's an inhale call...it's just not very loud.
 
Right now, the most reliable as been an old HS True Talker...because it's wood, seems to avoid freezing. I also have a Away Bowgrunter call that's nice and doesn't freeze because it's an inhale call...it's just not very loud.

On the extinguisher the claim is you can run the fawn - buck slide up and down and it will unfreeze/unstick it. I am assuming you tried that and it didnt work?

I have an extinguisher or 2 somewhere. I have a few primos ones they all duck out or peg. Also have a rush custom call. It sounds good but not very loud. Best call I found was the nor Easter calls. Expensive but sound great.
 
Liked. In random order
1. 2nd year using beast stand and full length sticks, this combo will continue be my main archery set up
2. Cable aiders, most stable aider I've used.
3. Kestrel...shame they don't make this saddle.
4. Pre-set scout/ros conjunction this is will be how I rifle hunt.
5. Treehopper drill. Would use 100 percent of the time if I could.
6. Treehopper pruner...always have it on me
7. Cheap 4 legged stool...killed tons of critters off of this bad boy. Might upgrade to BTR and carry it 100 percent of the time
8. Badlands superday.
Dislikes
1. Multi step aiders, not giving up because I would like to try 1 sticking eventually...
2. Using a saddle in a treestand, using a HSS
3. Cam buckles, when you have 5 or 6...that adds weight going to try amsteel daisy chain tied in to a truckers hitch
3. Heavy muck boots that are to tight around my calves....dealing with that the past 7 seasons time for new
4. Hunting out of my commuter car...time to get another pickup
 
3. Kestrel...shame they don't make this saddle.
Preach. I have an OG kestrel that AH sewed to the same specs as the original Flex, minus the actual flex pleating. They upgraded the bridge, all the stitching and configuration too, it was a unicorn until I told some ppl and AH did the same for them lol. Sike, they probably just told me that to make me feel cool. I think their newer saddles are less for-me these days. Their CuServ is top notch though.
 
Things I loved:
1) Tethrd one sticks gen 3. Never reached for my beast sticks this year.
2) Tactisaddle Nomad...Can't really explain it. It's very comfortable...always reached for it over my Latitude. I'm going to reach out to John this winter to see about some mods to it...as I really dislike the leg straps(I don't like leg straps in general), and for next year I'll be installing an Cruzr amsteel bridge on it. I'm also going to see if he'll sew another piece of webbing on the inside of the waist strap so I can slide in a rope to go buckleless.
3)KUIU Pro Suspension, frame, and 1850 pro bag. Second year using it, love it.
4) Steamboat sharpening block. Used the same knife to gut, skin, quarter, bone out 6 deer this year, with just a simple touchup after each deer. It never leaves my kitchen counter.

Things I hated:
1)Gumleaf rubber boots. Saxon's, fit ok, but damn do they offer no support on my top stick platform, and for some reason, whenever the sun hits them, I get whiffs of burnt rubber. If I'm smelling that, the deer must be as well. Also, my feet got substantially colder than my Lacrosse Aeroheads. Good for walking, stationary, not so good.
2)Extinguisher deer call. Froze up on me.
3) Quaker boy Brawler call...also froze up on me and made a weird high pitch hum.
4) Kong Duck....I just simply hate all mechanical ascenders. Much prefer distel hitch with a 3d printed tender. So much cleaner and much easier to use one handed, especially on the lineman's rope.
What sharpener from steamboat do you have?
 
I will play…

Going into this season I planned on deciding if I wanted to saddle hunt or treestand hunt. Stick with one or the other. I have spent about 60% of my sits in a treestand.

My conclusion? I think both belong in the stable. Ease of setup goes to the saddle for me. Hanging a treestand just takes more work no if ands or buts about it. For hunts that will be around 3 to 4 hours I would probably grab the saddle. However, I have been really concentrating on keeping still this year. I find it much harder and it takes active thought to stay still in a saddle. I find myself swaying subconsciously in a saddle. The treestand I find more comfortable especially for longer sits. I can be statue still without any thought. I also find it easier to get shots off and prefer the open view. But, grabbing my one sticking stick and my saddle is just so much less bulk. I also find myself hunting higher in the saddle to try and mitigate my movement being noticed as much as possible. I have been one sticking till I run out of tree.

Products I liked:

1) Lone Wolf Custom Gear fix platform. I criticized it early before trying it cuz I hated the ambush. But the fix is the most solid platform on the market by a good margin. No other platform I have tried feels welded to the tree like that. I could not get the platform to kickout in my testing. Even with lots of side pressure. That’s being said there is a little bit of a learning curve to get it to set properly. But once you figured it out. It’s awesome!

2) Lone Wolf Custom Gear .75 treestand. Another item I wasn’t going to purchase but they screwed up the price and I had a 10% off code so I ordered it. Glad I did. Amazing treestand. They corrected the issue they had with sharp edges. The whole stand is exceptionally smooth it looks CNC no waterjet marks. IMO it’s just perfect.

3) Dare I say this…. Tethrd ONE sticks Gen3 - 1lb, doublestep sticks haven’t had a single issue. Love them.

4) Wild Line Rope Lineman belt. The 5mm rope is scary at first… but it’s so compact and the WLR hitch is simply amazing. 1 handed operation. Works flawlessly…

5) Kuiu guide pants and jacket comfortable just awesome. Bought another set for everyday wear in ash.

6) Kuiu attack pants bought a pair then bought 2 more. Love them…

Products most disappointed in:

1) Topping the list is the Beast stand. I tried to love this stand because the weight/size ratio. But I bent 3 of them. 1 the front middle of the platform and 2 seat leveling brackets. As crappy as that was I figured I would just be really careful with it. No more toe camming whatever. But tried hanging it in some crooked thin trees in the swamp and it would not set. It wanted to align with the tree I needed it to offset and it just wouldn’t do it. Also I found the platform very squeaky with some boots. Deemed this sucker a Turd finally and I am done with it.

2) Tactacam Reveal cell cameras. Back when it was just Gen1 cams the picture quality was excellent. Those cameras had a narrow trigger window though. Then the revealx came out and they went down the crapper. Now regular pics it sends are so pixelated you cant even tell it’s a deer half the time. Then they scam you to pay extra for HD pics. I hate them. Pieces of crap.

3) Out On A Limb Big Bob. When this thing was delivered I was excited to try it. I pulled it out of the box and it was the poorest craftsmanship I have every seen on any product I received from them. It looked hacked together. Poor looking welds etc…. I put in on the tree and cammed the top over and it ovalized the mounting holes for the top. Obviously a design defect they fixed after this. But they charged me shipping both directions for a defective TURD. Probably the last item I purchase from them.

4) Lone Wolf Custom Gear double step sticks. Yep I tried to like them again. Yep they still suck just as bad.
What did you not like about the Ambush?
 
Gear I liked. Yes I’m gonna sound like a fan girl of “bandwagon” brands.

LWCG.5 I love this thing. The combo of how it carry’s sticks and it eliminates the need for a pack. Which then makes me carry less stuff. I love it. I’m using it with a saddle.

Cruzr xc season 2- this thing finally did it for me. 12-13 hour sit and I was comfortable all day. I like it so much it’s hard for me to want to buy another saddle even to just try.

Sitka clothing/higher quality clothes. Not saying the brand itself is what makes the difference but higher quality hunting clothing is worth it. I always find it used or on sale which helps.


Dislike. Pull up ropes. I’m using paracord and it just always ends up ticking me off. Really wish I could find a perfect solution to this.

buy some 1” super thin webbing strap for the pull up chord. You can make loops or tie or use a caribeaner or whatever. Can pull up everything at once. Super strong and absoluteLy won’t tangle very Easily. If you wad it up with some sort of method it just doesn’t tangle.
 
Liked:
Nock On Silverback. Just makes you work on execution.
Sitka Stratus pants and jacket. Very versatile.
Overwatch Transformer. Very comfortable.
Exomountain packs. I just love how simple and durable they are.
Nopes:
Benchmade Altitude. Possibly the worst knife I have ever owned.
G5 montec. I tried to sharpen one for a buddy. That thing won’t cut melted butter.
Wild Edge Steps. Too much work to make them stay on a tree.
Montec Are trash
 
Only thing I really changed up this year was I went to a Cruzer XC saddle. Been the most comfortable saddle I’ve tried so far. Actually, can’t see a soft saddle getting anymore comfortable so the little voice that’s kept me trying new saddles for the last five years has been silenced. :)
 
I brought a lot of stuff this year. Too much.

Biggest surprise: Kuiu merino zip off bottoms. Wow. A) you don’t want to take em off they are that comfortable. B) Pants dropped, zipped off, pants up. Easy peasy.

Surprise dislike: dynaglide bow rope. It’s very uncomfortable. I only use it when I 1 stick.
 
2 tried and true classics that I could not live without at this point:
1. EWO 12 inch one stick with scout platform has enabled me to hike in so light and get into basically any tree I however high or low I want
2. Hickory creek mini xbow (6 deer have fallen to it this year, 12 deer over the last 3 seasons) has just been deadly and so reliable.

New gear that I also will not be able to live without:
1. CVA scout converted to smokeless muzzleloader- 3 deer down with it so far, all either DRT or pass throughs with massive blood trails that make it easy to find deer 30 or so yards later. This upgrade came after losing several deer to no blood trails during previous muzzleloader seasons.

Gear I am not as excited about this year:
1. Cell cams- used to love these and rely on the intel a little too much. still running some of them but not as many, but still doing a lot more in season scouting and it has paid off this year.
 
I only added 2 new items this season and I'm pretty happy with them...replaced the old halo with the tidewe rangefinder with red display and I really like that thing....but the case it came with I really didn't like at all....nomad has a molle rangefinder pouch that is sweet. Detectable lanyard and a magnet to hold it closed and second magnet to hold it open. I've always used a grenade pouch for my rangefinder and that nomad pouch is soooo much better
 
This is my first year bow and saddle hunting so all it seems like I’m doing is buying gear.

Gear I like:
1. Outdoors Made Agile saddle. There’s no metal on it, which I like. It’s super lightweight and packable.
2. Genesis 3 D gear strap with hooks and bow hanger. Amazing piece of gear. I love it.
3. Tethrd predator pack with spanker pack attached. I don’t travel far to hunt and this pack system has enough storage for short day hunts. I love this system
4. Hot Shot bibs/cold weather jacket. I hunt in MI so I need something for the snow. This set works great and keeps me warm. It’s not fancy at all, but it works and was affordable.
5. Tidwe range finder, rubber boots and bino harness. I know it’s made in China and I don’t care. Their prices are good and allowed me to get this gear and not go with out.

Things I didn’t like:
1. Tidewe hunting backpack. To big and heavy for my purposes.
2.XOP platform. This is mixed for me. To heavy to carry around, but will be used next year for a preset. So, I don’t like it for mobile hunting but do like it for preset.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
What I liked
1) Bow Spider - I bought 2 pucks. attached it to my gear strap for the tree and one is around my passenger seat in my truck and no matter how hard I try there is no dropping my bow when it’s connected.
2) Crispi Lapponia’s hiking boots - the most comfortable pair of boots I have ever used.
3) Kuiu merino shirt hoodie pants I just can’t say enough about the feel and wearability these things have
4) Badlands Carbon Ox pack

As for dislike I can’t say I really have any as of now.
 
Disliked:
Trophyline platow. Much to my disappointment. I thought it’d check all the boxes but the more I used it the more it pissed me off. For my use the main compartments are too large and floppy and just collapse, the molle webbing on the waist belt is too tight and the shoulder straps just kept getting tangled up.
Scentlok Saddlehunter suit. Man was I stoked for this. Got it and immediately hated it. Main body of jacket fits weird, like it bunches up at the sides. Pants were uncomfortable.
Liked:
Game Plan Gear Leech. Put a couple mods on it and it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for all these years. Easily holds my stick and outer layer with only the essentials in main compartment. Wished I’d gone this route years ago.
Scentlok hydrotherm v2. Excellence in a suit. Bibs are a perfect fit and have just the right amount of insulation to keep warm but not stupid warm with stretchy sides so you can throw a layer on under it. Matching jacket is perfection. Both pieces are water and wind proof, jacket has removable hood and longish sleeves.
Garmin Xero. Scored a deal on one. This has made shooting fun for me again and not a chore. Just range the target, center the pin and let fly.
 
I got a longer front stabilizer and a back bar to try this year. I really like it. Helps me hold my bow steadier to keep my pin on the target.
Tethrd skeletors were also a great purchase for me. Lighter and more packable than the full length hawk sticks I was using. I also really like the outward angle of the steps. Gives you alot of boot room to stand on while attaching your next stick.
Pro USA mod I made for my mission platform instead of the stock cam strap. It gets super tight to the tree and I don't have the buckle to bang into everything
 
Like:
- Using my ugly DIY Klemz for one sticking. VersaStrap and Cleat Hitch is my favorite attachment method as of now.
- HuntWorth clothing. seem very well made and quiet.
- Got to use a buddy's Mathews V3 27 for the season and is selling it for him at end of season. Its really sweet and I like it a lot, but it was not such an improvement over my Creed that I would of kept it. I was tempted many times as I use it, but fund were better spent elsewhere. But I highly recommend it. Got my first archery deer from it, great memory.
- Full Size Drey Dryad. LOVE it, will be main method from now on.
- My army issued Bates winter boot. LOVE it, comfortable. I had to use it early season once because my main one was still wet from the rain, feet was warm but not uncomfortable at all.

Dis-like:
- 8mm rope for anything climbing related. Just too small, make climbing SRT or rappelling harder, also ascenders does not catch the rope as well. Canyon IV for life.
- My minimalistic Eberlestock Bandit for anything over 1/2 a mile. Its great for scouting or spot that you can go back to car for cart, but going in deep, dragging sucks and going gutless from now on, getting a frame even if you have to carry the whole deer GOT to be easier, especially up and down hill.
- Preset paracord. I realizes I'm just 1-2 minute slower one sticking than using SRT with preset. But having a preset limit me to the tree instead of opening the whole area to me. I'm pretty sure I ruined a spot because it took me 15 minutes to FIND the tree and my scent was all over the area.
- Bino Harness/chess rig/etc. Just not for me, I want to be as unencumbered as possible in the tree.

Not applicable or on the fence:
Thermocell - STILL UNUSED
Iron Will Vented - Seem really loud compared to my solid broadheads, but deer didn't seem to care. Destroyed a doe's spine cleanly, but they rust if you spit on them.
 
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