• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

What gear upgrade (if any) will put more deer in my freezer?

I've read arrows a few times. I like that answer and would probably get new high quality arrows. Also get your bow tuned and new strings if need be. I always find myself shooting more after getting my bow worked on. For me, the biggest impact I've had with improved accuracy is a good arrow. Invest on nice base layers if you haven't already.
 
I've likely spent over 15000 the last 3 years alone on gear... Most of it if I'm honest with myself I didn't really need, but want. But spending alot on cloths made a huge difference. I distinctly remember a late season sit. It was 10 degrees out with below 0 25 mph winds blasting me in the tree. And I sat there giddy I was so warm in my Sitka Fanatic. A nice rain suit makes a big difference too.
 
I noticed nobody mentioned gong down this road. Take your money, go get your bow checked and tuned by an expert and get your form and draw length and all that checked out. Then get some arrows tuned and built to that bow and some nice broad heads.

The boots are great. The clothing is great. But if you and your weapon and ammo aren’t in tune, everything else is a luxury for sitting in the woods as a day hiker.
 
Zero has a valid point. However if you are sure your setup(s) are good to go, I will echo what some others have said. Spend the extra $$ to get on a lease or club. Gets you on better ground (some times). I used to always kill a couple deer every season on public, but once I got on leases those numbers climbed pretty decent.
 
Put the money in someone’s hands you trust. Tell them that if you don’t kill X number of deer this year(whatever number is “put one more in the freezer for you), they get to keep it. If you do, they give it back to you.

simple.

now you have skin in the game - the strongest correlation with increased odds of success that you can do anything about.
 
SEVA_Bowhunter said:
Zero has a valid point. However if you are sure your setup(s) are good to go, I will echo what some others have said. Spend the extra $$ to get on a lease or club. Gets you on better ground (some times). I used to always kill a couple deer every season on public, but once I got on leases those numbers climbed pretty decent.
Click to expand...
To double down on that. Find a club that boarders public. Maybe having that access to the back side of a public area may help as well. Much like the boat. Get your self were less people hunt should increase your chances.
 
Come to the light, the JX3 tree saddle light..............
Don't be afraid, you will sit from dark to dark very comfortably, be able to snooze when you want, no dreaded hip pinch, no back aches, you can shoot 360° around the tree.
No platform required, only a ROS, no sore feet, no knee pads required, no sore knees, built in pack frame for carrying all your needs. Buy once, cry once.
Come to the light, the JX3 light...........
 
Higher net worth has not correlated with more deer killed for me as I've progressed through the Game of Life. Not that I've played it very well for a high score...

Shopping for gear and hunting for deer are two different hobbies. I enjoy both of them but prefer hunting. Being good at one does not make you good at the other. I know good hunters who suck at gear acquisition and use cotton clothes and Summit climbers because that's what Walmart sells. I know guys who have the best of everything, read all the forums, and listen to all the podcasts who don't kill deer. And I know some who are good at buying gear and good at killing deer. I've never noticed that they had more fun or did noticeably better than their poorer-equipped equals though.

If you have a weapon and a truck and some clothes and your licenses, you're ready to hunt. If you have a compass and a flashlight and a backpack you're ready to hunt hard.

Paying for a guided or unguided hunt on a good piece of property is the best way to convert cash into "deer I killed." Buying tags and gas is the 2nd best way for most people. If you already have access to prime habitat, spend the money however it pleases you. Buy the fancy clothes or the saddle gear or UV inhibitors or scent sprays or mock scrape branches.

But the sooner you can break out of the line of thinking that tells you hunting is pay-to-play, the better; unless you are ok with and have the budget for outfitter hunting. Public land or working-class lease hunting is all about who can find deer consistently.

TLDR, buy what makes you happy. It most likely won't affect your hunting.
 
I'd say, if you have a reliable rifle and bow, buy good ammo.

And in terms of the bow, spend money tinkering with a good arrow setup. It is ALWAYS a hot topic here but dialing in my arrows has really improved my confidence. And of course I shoot my bow(s). The more arrows you have and the more ammo you have, the more you should practice. The more practice you have, the more deadly you'll be when it counts. This is one of the few ways that extra money translates into a higher likelihood of a successful (ETHICAL) hunt. Once you have a higher degree of confidence with your weapons, you'll also likely have confidence in and knowledge of your limitations as a shooter.
 
kyler1945 said:
Put the money in someone’s hands you trust. Tell them that if you don’t kill X number of deer this year(whatever number is “put one more in the freezer for you), they get to keep it. If you do, they give it back to you.

simple.

now you have skin in the game - the strongest correlation with increased odds of success that you can do anything about.
Click to expand...
I’ll do this plus enter the deer hunting contest on saddle hunter.
 
I joked with the earlier post but honestly the best way to put more meat in the freezer is having the right mindset and the drive to gut it out no matter how bleak or dismal it may seem at the moment. I know it sounds corny but keeping a positive attitude along with a "will not quit" mindset will yield more opportunities than any gear you buy.
 
slonstdy said:
I joked with the earlier post but honestly the best way to put more meat in the freezer is having the right mindset and the drive to gut it out no matter how bleak or dismal it may seem at the moment. I know it sounds corny but keeping a positive attitude along with a "will not quit" mindset will yield more opportunities than any gear you buy.
Click to expand...
I think slonstdy is onto it right there. I have passed dozens of deer because I was too lazy or disorganized for the real work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top