This is a poll to see where the average Bowhunter stands on this if forced to choose. You must choose between having top of the line clothing; boots, baselayers, insulating layers, shell, etc... Or Top of the line bow and all accessories including rangefinders, optics, sight, rest, arrows... etc. Which ever you choose, the other you would have to use run of the mill gear. Nothing expensive, nothing high tech. Neither scenario dictates what type of treestands you can use. Which and why?
I would also choose the high end bow and accessories...I've seen plenty of deer killed with a quality bow, arrow, and broadhead combination....but I've never seen fancy clothes put one on the ground...my opinion would probably differ if I hunted in a more extreme climate tho.
Id go clothing. Being comfortable on stand is going to kill more deer than the newest best gadjet. I have a 2009 bow currently and don't feel the need to upgrade. But I've upgraded clothing and stands, anything that makes me quiet and comfortable is key in my style of hunting.
I have some pretty nice Prois hunting clothes but honestly, my 'go-to' hunting clothes are the cheap NatGear jackets and pants MidwayUSA sells. While chasing elk around the last two days, the battery died on my Leupold rangefinder so I borrowed my hubby's Nikon. I quickly gave it back. There isn't anything 'wrong' with the Nikon... but it does almost suck compared to the leupold. LOL
I would choose the gear. I mainly hunt whitetails from a treestand so my clothing isn't as important as if I were backpack hunting in the mountains. Also I use the bow and other gear yearound instead of just hunting season.
Top of the line bow and all accessories. Cloths not run of the mill but not the top of the line. Middle priced good performers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I hunt a lot of public land and have noticed a trend. Polling this forum to see if the results are the same as I notice in the field.
If treestand is not included in either than I'm picking clothes without a doubt. I usually have both but if I still was using let's say an 07' Allegiance with 10 year old accessories it wouldn't be any measurable disadvantage in terms of trophies on the wall or meat in the freezer. I can absolutely say there has been more than one buck (my #1 and #3) that a superior camo pattern helped me kill. I've also been able to hunt and be comfortable on days others wouldn't because I had the right clothes.
Clothing is much more important to my overall success in the woods as compared to a top notch bow and gear. Heck tonight hunted with a ten year old bow and aluminum arrows bc main bow is having issues with the string. That set up would have killed any deer just as dead as compared to any other bow.
Clothing for me. I couldn't always afford to by high end bows. I've killed just as many deer with a $300 package bow as high end $1500 bow. Can't kill the deer from the couch. I find it alarming the number of guys that I see buy new bows every year that won't spend a nickel on clothing. I have a friend that does laundry every night cause he has one set of hunting cloths... I just laugh when he tells me he isn't ready to go because he hasn't done his laundry.... My goal is to be comfortable as possible as its hard enough to put those hours in the stand day in and day out.
