There's been some talk about gimmic products lately

So, if you took just the bare essentials hunting ( bow and arrows and a stand) how would you do compared to how you do now? Are there products that REALLY make a difference to you? Think back to prior successful hunts. Would things have changed without those other items? one more question. If you had to use only items available 25 years ago how would you fare?

 

The same.. it's really all I take anyway.

Except now I take my phone to play chess on.. and my digital camera to take photos of my awesome-ness in the woods.

Well.. I do use a rangefinder too these days.. but not out of necessity.. out of convenience.

 

I'd miss my lightweight climber, my bowtech and the range finder is kind of nice.

But heck, I could kill deer with just a rock if I needed to.

 

My favorite piece is my grunt call. I'd be totally sad if I couldn't have that.

 

I would do ok without any of the new technology. If I could keep any one thing it would have to be my climber. Love it.

 

Well lets face it......We would all do fine w/out any high tech gadgets. It's easy to think retrospectively and wonder how we got along w/out something, but we did.

Of all the equipment, though, the 2 I think that have made a real difference are my fibre optic sight and rangefinder. Ya'll remember the metal pins, painted different colors? Oh yeah, those were hot.....

 

Bare essentials.... I think I would be just as well off. I don't see how my accessories are truly going to sway a deer into doing what I want. With that said, I would be lost without my bino's. I am constantly looking around with my binos....to the point where it hurts my eyes and makes me nautious. The woods are pretty darn thick around here and bino's make a huge differance when trying to spot deer before they are right on top of you.

 

Take all of it, but please do not take my grunt. I have not been in the woods without one in many years.

 

My GPS is becoming my best friend. I take him almost everywhere I go, except the shower.

 

What do you consider bare essentials?

 

All i have ever taken in with me is my bow, scents, scent killer, stands are always in the woods well before bow season starts. I dont buy too many of the gimmicks.

 

Steve... for me, bare essentials would be a bow, arrows, broadheads, and my release. Grunt calls, new camo, scent killer, rangefinders, binos, ect... they may help, but the deer aren't going to come into range because I have an awsome rangefinder or some sweet bino's.

 

I got to have my Calls! Besides the improvements on Bows,Arrows.Sights everything is about the same as 25 years ago.
The things I like today not available or improved from 25 years ago.
Light wght portable stands
Climbing sticks
Camo patterns
Cold weather clothing
Insulated rubber boots
Different style packs

 

When I'm in Colorado, my GPS is an absolute necessity. It gives me the freedom to explore canyons and strike off in aimless directions, ending miles from camp secure in the knowledge I can get back safely.

In the deer woods? My grunt tube is the one thing I can't live without besides the essentials.

 

I would probably fare okay. I use a rangefinder because I am not 100% confident in my ability to determine yardages consistently, I'm only abuot 75-80% (I feel so inadequate ) I also take my phone in the woods to keep up with the time and see how my brother and dad are doin while hunting. Other than those two technological pieces of convience, everything else I carry just makes life easier

 

25 years ago, I went on my first non-gun hunt. It was a wild boar hunt in Germany w/local nationals. We all had crossbows and when I saw the size of that boar, I felt we were under-armed. I still go to the woods with minimum:
1. Bow
2. Arrows
3. Pull string
4. Camou
5. Antlers (during appropriate times)
6. Grunt call/doe bleat

Before the hunt, I take out a range finder and mark different trees at varying distances.

I figure, the more you take out, the more you have to screw up a hunt.

 

I guess i would like to keep my phone with me haha, playing Brick breaker really makes the boring hours of the hunt go by. If i had to give something away, it would be my binos

things i have now.
1. bow/ arrows
2.camo
3.release
4.binos
5.multi-tool
6.cell phone.
All of which i have on my belt, besides binos. I dont even take a pack out to the woods.

 

gotta have my Thermacell!

 

If you could just muffle your farts, on call (no pun intended), you would be golden!

 

I seem to shed more and more crap each year and try and rely on my ability verses "magic pixie dust"...

I do however love the GPS, Climber and CamelBak for big woods tracking!