Choose: High end clothing or high end bow and accessories.

I think the point was one can spend on a RTH (Ready to Hunt) package bow and not suffer in proficiency. These MODERN bows fully setup can be acquired brand new for as little $300. Less if you find one used. Not a fossil you would find in a garage sale for $20. Let's be some what realistic....

 

With only 3 days to fill my shotgun tag, I had to take full advantage of my time. It just so happened that it rained all 3 days, and practically had the farm to myself on all of them. I did sit in a blind some, but also sat in a stand with my C4E rain gear. On Friday of 2nd season I was the only one to hunt the afternoon on our farm. Everyone else was soaked through from the morning before. Late that afternoon the rain stopped and I was there for the deer parade that ensued. While the right buck didn't show up, there was the chance since I was still there.

 

The area you hunt probably does make a difference. Here in MD during November it's usually between 25-50 degrees. I don't need expensive clothes to stay warm, the field and steam fleece set I've had for 8 years and some base layers with good wool socks are plenty. I did however find some UA jackets at ****s this year buy one get one free.

 

This is exactly what I meant in my post,

I think people are thinking of camo patterns and not so much good thermals, boots, merino wool.....etc. I shot my buck last season in jogging pants and a camo T-shirt..........

 

This poll result shocks me. I tell everyone that clothing is far more important than the best bow and accessories. If you can't stay warm and comfortable in the woods for long periods, you're drastically reducing your chances for success.

I'm fortunate enough to not have to choose between the two much, but if I did, I'll buy good clothing first.

If you spend anytime hunting out of state on hunting trips, you'll realize quickly that you don't have a choice about staying in camp or going home if the weather isn't great. You spend a lot of money on the hunt, you have to be in the tree. For me, you can't sacrifice good clothes here.

 

I'm not saying quality gear can't/won't keep you in the field longer. Maybe I have a different definition of "comfortable".

 

One of the things I think might sway this is that you can get good quality clothes on sale more often than high end gear.

 

My vote was entirely based on nasty cold and wet weather. I promise, the nicest newest bow and acc. won't keep you warm and dry. JMO.

 

I think it's weird that you guys think you need high dollar clothes to stay warm and dry.

 

I find it weird/comical that people think they need the latest and greatest bow/sight/rest to kill a deer.

 

I think its weird people think they need rangefinders to kill deer.

 

I have never owned one. I think $200 treestands are more weird.

 

I once killed a deer with a tire iron. No range finder needed. But when you're shooting a 210 fps bow, knowing the exact yardage sure is a lot more helpful than having some over priced piece of camo du jour.


I've been killing deer without a whole lot of trouble with $50-100 worth of camo, a seven year old bow, and a $50.00 sight. I also used a summit hand climber that I backed over with my truck and is held together with tape. :D

I killed my elk and pronghorns wearing the same camo and wearing $30.00 tennis shoes, however I did carry a $550.00 rifle topped with a $900.00 scope. And I got the leupold range finder because my decade old bushnel died. (and I bought the Leupold range finder used because I'm cheap that way)

I was wearing pink and black sneakers from Costco when I killed my Colorado mule deer. $19.00. LOL (they do kind of suck tho')

So, anyhow, I don't really have a dog in this fight. But you asked... I'd rather have top end gear than clothes. Everytime.

 

I didn't need a top end bow to kill deer, but it's what I wanted and since getting it every arrow I have unleashed at a deer has resulted in a dead deer. I've hunted in just about everything you can imagine save the ultra high dollar stuff like Sitka. I'm not some ultimate warrior that's stalking for miles on end in sleet and snow. Hell, I walk about 200-300 yards from my back door to just about any stand I have. There are ways to stay warm, even with cheap camo. Hand, body, and foot warmers will work wonders on keeping you warm. Don't get me wrong, I like the high dollar clothes, but they are just not practical for me. If I ever do a hunt out west, I will probably break down and buy them because there will be advantages for that type of hunting.

 

I use mine to sight in my bow and mark points from my stand before season. I'm not going to risk the extra movement of ranging a deer when its close. But it does help to know your yardages better

 

I think it also depends a lot on the type of hunting you're used to as well. For instance, in PA, its not uncommon to get a first snow in mid October and hunt in the single digits and teens during the peak of the rut. Now, I don't know about anyone else, but I can't imagine walmart clothing or 30 dollar tennis shoes keeping you warm on an all day sit in those conditions. Good thermal layers and wind blocking outer layers are expensive. You definitely get what you pay for here.

For me, a high end bow and high end accessories are mostly luxuries, but definitely not nearly as needed as my clothing.

The flip side is accessories that will last a very long time, an investment so to speak. For example, I'm still rocking a 9 year old Spot Hogg Hunter Hogg it sight. I just upgraded it with the wrapped kit this season and will probably get another 10 years out of it. Can't beat that investment. Same goes for high quality binos.

 

If your saying to simply harvest a deer and not a mature wall hanger I'd pick gear any day of the week. I've killed just as many deer wearing work cloths that I pour concrete and feed cows in as I have with my UA camo. But idk is carhartt high end ha? And if all else falls I still have what Uncle Sam gave me if I want to camo up.

So gear

 

clothing..and not per say the high end stuff we see on TV from the paid hunters, personally I wear nothing but a set of Carhartt Overalls during the cold months with long johns and a pair of blue jeans under, and not Camo patterned either, I also wear a Vest that isn't Camo but is hunter green........so for me clothing is most important, I don't hunt to keep up with the jones (those who get paid and given their equipment) but I also don't have flea market bought equipment lol, but nowhere near the top of the line either

 

While I don't have high end anything... I've been spending more on clothes/boots every year then bows, gear or optics. None of it is high end but is good quality on sale.

It has kept Britney comfortable in the cold weather up here which has kept her wanting to hunt. I've hunted in cold temps with crap clothes/boots most of my life. When your hunting in 0 - 15 below temps, it sucks the fun out of it. Throw in any amount of wind, crappy clothes/boots just makes it more miserable.

The older I get, the more I hate cold so it is clothes over gear for me.

Tim

 

Go with the gear.