New Era of EQUIPMENT when is the start of the end?

[boyne bowhunter]

There's oftentimes a very calculated reason people go simple. Lord knows I've bought into about every gimmick there is to public land hunting. Climb high! Be meticulous with scent control! Use a lightweight stand! Use a saddle! No metal and nothing can make noise ever! No using a flashlight! Pour over the maps! Outhunt the other hunters! Go deep! Hunt like a beast!™

Those are all distractions and false gods. The ugly truth is you're either hunting where deer are and killing, or you're not. There's a reason hunting celebrities use whatever goofy gear they can get paid to use. When you're hunting where the critters are you can use any attractant, call, scents, or other silliness and be successful. But that takes money and/or time to achieve, and it's a lot easier to read a forum and buy some stuff on your lunch break than it is to find an area to hunt that makes you look like a better hunter than you are. I've burnt a lot of gas and a lot of boot leather to get to the point where I can shoot deer every weekend if that's what I want to do. Lord help me if those areas dry up because I'm not sure I have the drive to find more of them! But that effort has produced a tremendous ROI.

It's not the gear, and it's not the space between your ears. It's just the ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. That's 80% of it. Head knowledge is 80% of whatever is left over, and gear is the remainder. I'm not a good hunter. I just quit trying to pretend I was one and turned the games difficulty setting down to "easy." The indians had it right. You gotta move on to better hunting grounds sometimes instead of trying to make it work. That's some post-agriculture mindset bs right there.

I agree with you to a major extent however, I do think its important to point out that deer densities are not created equal across the country. I have no experience hunting in Alabama but I can say here in Michigan you can go out on just about any piece of public land and have a reasonable expectation of killing a deer. Now if you want to kill a mature deer, that's another story. Now do gimmicks and gadgets help get that done . . .not much in my experience. You do need to put some effort in to be successful and I do think it helps to be elevated . . . although not necessary.

Maybe its a relationship to the size of the available parcels or actual numbers of deer. I can't speak to that but there appears to me, after listening to some of you experienced southern hunter's advice, and comparing it to my own experiences in the north that there does appear to be some difference in relative opportunity counts. For the record I don't hunt AG land, mostly upland hardwoods and that's the basis for the majority of my experience.

 

[2Sloe]

I'm with Nutterbuster, I want a 10 pound climber that is functional and comfortable. Take my Summit Viper and make it out of titanium and I'll pay $600 for it but they'd probably want $1500.

$1500? Well with what I just spent to saddle hunt, what’s a few hundred dollars more....but for that, it has too be as comfortable as my Viper!

 

[MattMan81]

I'm old enough to remember when all this "innovation" was going on with the tree stands a lot of you have grown up taking for. In the late 70's/early 80's commercial tree stands were hard to come by. About the only one I remember from those days was the Baker treestand which everyone at the time even agreed was a scary dangerous stand. Most everyone who hunted from a tree did so using some sort of a DIY solution.

In the early 80's a few companies including Loc-on and API really started the whole idea of a commercially available tree stand. The whole development of saddle hunting really mirrors those days of tree stand development. Lots of little manufacturers with a wide range of quality and price points.

TMA was started by the major players back then in the name of safety. In reality it was probably more of a means to gain a controlling interest in the tree stand boom.

View attachment 45145

Interesting that of these five companies I believe only 2 are still in business. . . .

When I started hunting in the 90s. I only recalled the "rich" guys had tree stands. Other than some make shift platforms you saw around. We hunted from a folding chair or a bucket. Then you could buy cheaper hang ons. Then climbers, then ladder stands, now saddles. But what's funny is some of you guys have been doing this all along. "Country when country wasent cool".
Pop up blinds use to be reasonable. Now decent ones have gone up, and you can get those super expensive fiberglass ones.
The middle ground for all sporting goods stuff is gone. It's either top of the line expensive, or cheap use a few times and breaks junk.

 

[Nutterbuster]

I agree with you to a major extent however, I do think its important to point out that deer densities are not created equal across the country. I have no experience hunting in Alabama but I can say here in Michigan you can go out on just about any piece of public land and have a reasonable expectation of killing a deer. Now if you want to kill a mature deer, that's another story. Now do gimmicks and gadgets help get that done . . .not much in my experience. You do need to put some effort in to be successful and I do think it helps to be elevated . . . although not necessary.

Maybe its a relationship to the size of the available parcels or actual numbers of deer. I can't speak to that but there appears to me, after listening to some of you experienced southern hunter's advice, and comparing it to my own experiences in the north that there does appear to be some difference in relative opportunity counts. For the record I don't hunt AG land, mostly upland hardwoods and that's the basis for the majority of my experience.

Deer densities are definitely not equal everywhere. That's the point I'm trying to make. We have big woods here too without good densities. And we have areas with great density. I'm willing to bet a nickel there's somewhere near you with good density relative to the surrounding area.

 

[rhagenw]

Deer densities are definitely not equal everywhere. That's the point I'm trying to make. We have big woods here too without good densities. And we have areas with great density. I'm willing to bet a nickel there's somewhere near you with good density relative to the surrounding area.

scout, scout, scout, hunt...ain’t no tracks and ain’t no deer

 

[Robert loper]

scout, scout, scout, hunt...ain’t no tracks and ain’t no deer

Scout all year. Scout in season, scout post season, hunt the way thats works fir you in your areas. Dont be a dummy like me and get sucked into youtube influencers gimmicks and tactics. Not saying they all wrong but they are hunting 100’s of days. Find the seasonal food and they wont be far.

 

[Plebe]

I agree with you to a major extent however, I do think its important to point out that deer densities are not created equal across the country. I have no experience hunting in Alabama but I can say here in Michigan you can go out on just about any piece of public land and have a reasonable expectation of killing a deer. Now if you want to kill a mature deer, that's another story. Now do gimmicks and gadgets help get that done . . .not much in my experience. You do need to put some effort in to be successful and I do think it helps to be elevated . . . although not necessary.

Maybe its a relationship to the size of the available parcels or actual numbers of deer. I can't speak to that but there appears to me, after listening to some of you experienced southern hunter's advice, and comparing it to my own experiences in the north that there does appear to be some difference in relative opportunity counts. For the record I don't hunt AG land, mostly upland hardwoods and that's the basis for the majority of my experience.

Bergmann and AG have their parts to play.

Even the Benoits migrated to hunting primarily in Canada. Big Bucks in NH, ME, VT, NY had everything to gain from that.

In the South, conditions support a larger population and limits are accordingly more relaxed, making trophy hunting difficult as well.

Hunting methods, deer densities, land accessibility....we act like its the same because there is a P&Y and B&C measurement, a standard, but it isn't so.

In some areas $500 boots could be as important as a $2000 box blind. Legs just call it different, but similarly fun nonetheless.

 

[SEPA@73]

Only one year into saddle hunting (38 years archery) and I'm going to transition from sticks to 1 sticking. My buddies think im goofy. Most of them never heard of a saddle. Its really cool to pop up in a tree you never hunted and have deer cruise past even on private land. Half my sits I still use existing ladder sticks and pop my platform on a tree.
Searching threads and watching youtube got me prepared. So thanks to all of you and keep producing new content! Almost time to spend some cash on my 1 stick set up!

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[2Sloe]

Only one year into saddle hunting (38 years archery) and I'm going to transition from sticks to 1 sticking. My buddies think im goofy. Most of them never heard of a saddle. Its really cool to pop up in a tree you never hunted and have deer cruise past even on private land. Half my sits I still use existing ladder sticks and pop my platform on a tree.
Searching threads and watching youtube got me prepared. So thanks to all of you and keep producing new content! Almost time to spend some cash on my 1 stick set up!

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

Suggest you do it soon or you won’t get it before the season opens.....still waiting.

 

[boyne bowhunter]

Deer densities are definitely not equal everywhere. That's the point I'm trying to make. We have big woods here too without good densities. And we have areas with great density. I'm willing to bet a nickel there's somewhere near you with good density relative to the surrounding area.

Definitely, there are spots with higher densities but you can pretty easily "kill deer" even in the lower density areas. The trick for me here is to find areas where there are mature bucks available. The public parcels are not huge and are pretty easily accessed with a road pretty much every square mile. Years of shooting only (and any) antlered deer meant that very few public land bucks ever achieved the coveted title of mature. Times are changing with some areas that have been granted antler point restrictions and, in general a lot of young hunters are embracing the "let them grow" idea (for the record I certainly wasn't one of those guys in my earlier years ) and we're starting to get some better bucks. You still need to work for them but that's what the game is all about for me anyway at this point in my hunting career.

I give a lot of credit for the change in attitudes from the ideals actively pushed by the much maligned professional outdoor hunting shows and youtube influencers. As much as I hate the constant advertisements and pushing of gadgets and gimmicks I do think some of the messages being pushed are worthwhile. Most of these "influencers" are at least pushing an ethical and conservation minded message to young hunters, at least publicly and that is a good thing in my opinion.

This may be a good discussion to start another thread on. I feel like I'm sidetracking the original intent of Robert's thread here. Apologies Robert.

 

[boyne bowhunter]

Only one year into saddle hunting (38 years archery) and I'm going to transition from sticks to 1 sticking. My buddies think im goofy. Most of them never heard of a saddle. Its really cool to pop up in a tree you never hunted and have deer cruise past even on private land. Half my sits I still use existing ladder sticks and pop my platform on a tree.
Searching threads and watching youtube got me prepared. So thanks to all of you and keep producing new content! Almost time to spend some cash on my 1 stick set up!

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

My buddies think I'm goofy too. Funny thing is I can remember when I started hunting from a climber, they thought I was goofy then too. "What, you're gonna carry that thing in everytime you hunt????" Now they're all hunting from climbers. Its only a matter of time before they see the light.

 

[Cajunyankee]

Kestrel or latitude classic is all the comfort I’ll ever need in a saddle. Buckle improvements is all I can see for improving them.
Getting up the tree with less gear can still be tweaked.
The new era that will hit by storm will be hunting by the truck gear with all the yahoo’s 2 miles plus deep stomping around with their ultra light systems. I’m thinking carbon fiber icechest with big wheels and electric motor that you can use to pack out your deboned deer and hold little debbies and drinks. With a seat mounted on top for ground hunting and floatable so you can sit on top and paddle across the bayous. Maybe even a trolling motor than runs off the same battery as the wheels. Ultra light lithium batteries with a 5 day charge of course. Solar optional. I’m thinking like an electric atv but the body is an icechest. The seat pole could be hydraulic and telescopic to at least 20ft. Has to use ultra light oil. Has to have a hyped up cool name for social media like The Icer, or The Meat Wagon. Heated or air conditioned seats is a must.

MTT-136 – MTT Technology

mtt136.com

 

[Topdog]

It’s basically impossible to ever get a consensus on deer hunting tactics involving hunters from coast to coast, I have hunted Idaho, Montana, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, Upstate Ny, Kenora Ontario (where the Benoit’s hunt Plebe), and probably someplace else I am forgetting, one thing is for sure with deer hunting there is never an exact answer with tactics, locations, equipment, etc., never will be, one of the big reasons I love it! I think we are all die hards to be talking equipment and strategies in March, season is coming one day at a time LOL.

 

[Gator]

When I started hunting in the 90s. I only recalled the "rich" guys had tree stands. Other than some make shift platforms you saw around. We hunted from a folding chair or a bucket. Then you could buy cheaper hang ons. Then climbers, then ladder stands, now saddles. But what's funny is some of you guys have been doing this all along. "Country when country wasent cool".
Pop up blinds use to be reasonable. Now decent ones have gone up, and you can get those super expensive fiberglass ones.
The middle ground for all sporting goods stuff is gone. It's either top of the line expensive, or cheap use a few times and breaks junk.

In 1990, we hunted out of 2x4 wooden built ladder stands. First climber I ever tried to use, the bottom fell out from under me and left me dangling...luckily I was a limber 15 year old and just jumped down...

 

[HuumanCreed]

I still believe that saddle hunting offer a valuable bridge style that help get more people into the woods. Nothing wrong with gimmicks or good hooks that get people interested. The one that found their calling stay, others either figure its not for them or find their own style. Our role in the community is to give them good advices on how to properly use the equipment for the most enjoyable hunting experience. As consumers we dictate the trend that manufactures are going towards too.

But saddles are not the best INTRO into hunting IMHO. Kids (and adults) need easier hunting experience and success rate so they can see the possibility. The first deer I field dress wasnt my own, and the first animal I hunted were squirrels with a .22. Most common mistake are people expecting saddles to be 'game changer' and expecting instant success when switching to saddles. At the end of the day it still only 1/10 of the hunting process I think. I myself am not a shame to say that I have not successfully harvest a deer from a saddle, hoping to next season but I'm not under the illusion that just because I got a saddle, my whole system/style improved dramatically. I'm still a very green hunter.

 

[Robert loper]

I still believe that saddle hunting offer a valuable bridge style that help get more people into the woods. Nothing wrong with gimmicks or good hooks that get people interested. The one that found their calling stay, others either figure its not for them or find their own style. Our role in the community is to give them good advices on how to properly use the equipment for the most enjoyable hunting experience. As consumers we dictate the trend that manufactures are going towards too.

But saddles are not the best INTRO into hunting IMHO. Kids (and adults) need easier hunting experience and success rate so they can see the possibility. The first deer I field dress wasnt my own, and the first animal I hunted were squirrels with a .22. Most common mistake are people expecting saddles to be 'game changer' and expecting instant success when switching to saddles. At the end of the day it still only 1/10 of the hunting process I think. I myself am not a shame to say that I have not successfully harvest a deer from a saddle, hoping to next season but I'm not under the illusion that just because I got a saddle, my whole system/style improved dramatically. I'm still a very green hunter.

Couldnt have said it any better.
i think the big influencers and marketing is the problem of what you speak of. You need this to kill this is truly the problem.
its a shame even guyswho swore that they would never say or push that kind of marketing is falling into it.
its an era of followings and popularity.
Seems to me everyone needs to follow someone. It is the trend. Trends now actually run the world. Social media brainwashes us to think this.
When in the end game its all about financial gain.
if the latest god of whitetails is using this product then it must guarantee success lmao.
i drank that cool aid for few years and was quickly woken up by some really great regular guys.
I now try to when reading, watching, or judging content. See where or what the content is pushing or selling.
if they are are they actually legit? Will it work or help in my areas.

 

[BuffaloBill]

Couldnt have said it any better.
i think the big influencers and marketing is the problem of what you speak of. You need this to kill this is truly the problem.
its a shame even guyswho swore that they would never say or push that kind of marketing is falling into it.
its an era of followings and popularity.
Seems to me everyone needs to follow someone. It is the trend. Trends now actually run the world. Social media brainwashes us to think this.
When in the end game its all about financial gain.
if the latest god of whitetails is using this product then it must guarantee success lmao.
i drank that cool aid for few years and was quickly woken up by some really great regular guys.
I now try to when reading, watching, or judging content. See where or what the content is pushing or selling.
if they are are they actually legit? Will it work or help in my areas.

Yeah I've noticed every YouTuber seems to jump on the latest trend i.e. saddles, one sticking, heavy arrows. People need to realize that some of those YouTubers are trying to pump up their views for monetization reasons and don't have any original content of their own. Last season it seemed like every channel had a video on heavy arrows/high FOC. I'm sure there will be some trend this Summer. I'm secretly hoping THP will revert back to climbers just to see what happens.

 

[Noonespecial]

Saddle hunting definitely has made me a better hunter and makes me want to hunt more for several reasons. I used to do my post season scouting then have to wait until preseason to go back and set stands. Then if those spots didn’t produce either tear them down and go somewhere else or use the climber. Either way I was making way too much noise and spreading scent into areas I wanted to hunt during the season. Also I don’t care what anyone says carrying a treestand in and out of the woods makes noise and seems to always get hung up in brush...a royal pain in the rear. Did it for 30 years! Now I can preset as many trees that I want with either screw in steps where the land owner allows or strap on steps for state ground. Being able to carry everything in a small back pack and just my bow is soooo nice. Hunting was getting to be a hassle with treestands and I was getting fed up. I’ll say this again, I’m so glad people took a chance and brought this back to hunting. Shot four bucks two P&Y and two doe in the last two years while saddle hunting. The next piece of equipment that will drastically help is a climbing platform. Having a climbing system and platform all in one that ways 3 or 4 pounds (a 1/4 of the weight and size of the lightest climber) that can strap on a small backpack will be awesome. Fingers crossed.

 

[tailgunner]

there is mor to come. just not every one has the resources to produce their ideas.manufactureres just arnt trying .theyare fine with cloneing the same stuff.it pays well.can we get a little lighter maybe ,more streamline for shure.faster for shure .quieter for shure.purdyer yep.just need some new thinkers on the chess board.there are ten other ways to do this it just hasnt been brought to the table yet.

 

[tailgunner]