I got asked this the other day. I think for me it would have to be my 8x30 CL Companion binoculars, followed closely by my bow.
It made me pause and laugh a little because spending big money on quality binoculars is usually one of the last things hunters invest in. For me, I've hunted well over a decade with cheap binoculars until the wife splurged on some for my birthday. I'm glad she did. It makes all of my adventures more pleasurable and I certainly enjoy them more than I would have another weapon or something. I think the only reason these get used more than my bow is because I also use them when rifle hunting for small game, hiking, scouting, canoeing, and for birdwatching. I pretty much use them every day for something whereas my bow gets used about 5 days a week. This is not my photo but just one I found online...
(http://www.orniwelt.de/images/swarovski-cl-companion-30.jpg)
Mine used to be the thermacell but I don't go hunting anymore if it's very warm. Mine would have to be my diddy bag. I take it everytime I go to the woods. Has my snips and saw, flagging , etc
Boots. Use them constantly. Investing in good boots makes a huge difference.
My binoculars also
My binoculars are defiantly in the top 10 but I would have to say my bowie knife. My grandfather gave it to me when I killed my first deer. It was hand made by a friend of his. Been dragging it around for 30 some years never hunt without it. It has served me well in every hunting situation I've encountered plus a couple "situations" involving some bootleg juke joints. You cant beat a good 14 inch bowie, it will dispatch any large game and sober up a dunk redneck looking for a fight real quick.
QuoteOriginally posted by Dorado:
Boots. Use them constantly. Investing in good boots makes a huge difference.
+1
Wrong place.
Bow, quiver and arrows kind of make the hunt.
Boots extremely important - but I have several different to suit conditions.
One think I always carry is my day pack. It's a surplus neutral gray haversack - I'm not sure what country.
I carry a pint of water, lunch, folding saw, drag and haul lines, spare knife, flashlight & spare battery, bleet call, zip ties, pen, compass, spare bowstring, diamond hone, dressing gloves and organ bags, Butt-out, and a bunch of stuff I'll never use except in a bad situation where I am hurt or spending an overnight.
(https://i.imgur.com/Sew2J9Jl.jpg)
Also my binocs and bow and I never hunt with out my fanny pack full of junk that I might need .
QuoteOriginally posted by John Malone:
My binoculars are defiantly in the top 10 but I would have to say my bowie knife. My grandfather gave it to me when I killed my first deer. It was hand made by a friend of his. Been dragging it around for 30 some years never hunt without it. It has served me well in every hunting situation I've encountered plus a couple "situations" involving some bootleg juke joints. You cant beat a good 14 inch bowie, it will dispatch any large game and sober up a dunk redneck looking for a fight real quick.
Got a picture of it? I bet that knife has stories to tell!
Daypack.
My Swarovski binoculars, I've had them for years and wouldn't go hunting without them
(http://***********.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small21029185.JPG)
"You cant beat a good 14 inch bowie"
X2 Need more pictures on this thread guys :)
:campfire:
Pocket saw. I hunt lots of new areas from the ground and it helps to clear shooting lanes quickly.
Knife it goes with me no matter the season weapon or method of hunting
Long eye's for me as well.
I use my Binoculars on every trip, gun or bow. Like others have said I have different boots, different bows and arrows for different situations, but one pair of binos. Ratchet pruners aren't far behind though.
A good knife.......I have several and most times carry 2-3. Day pack of some sort, have several. My Stieners, 8x30 and the best money I ever spent.
My pocket knife. It goes with me everywhere.
Filson vest would be the first thing I would replace if for some reason I didn't have it anymore.
snake boots! It is almost never cold enough to drive them underground for any great length of time and since stepping on a snake, I don't take any chances. Also, my pocket knife.
Don't laugh - wind puffer to determine wind direction at ALL times.
QuoteOriginally posted by Jack Whitmire Jr:
Don't laugh - wind puffer to determine wind direction at ALL times.
I was actually thinking that one too. Other than My bow and,arrows I would have to say my Tree Spider Safety harness.
Jack, nobody's laughing at all. Many of us carry the wind puffer every time we hunt! Yes, it is indispensable.
A small set of pruners, the green briars around here make them a necessity.
bottle opener.....wine cork
My snake boots. I wear them on every hunt and have for many years. Not only good for snakes but make great chaps for walking thru cactus and briars.
I've gone hunting once without a knife.
Had to field dress the deer with a Bear Razorhead, sans the bleeder blade, which I didn't leave in anyway. I never cut any bone when field dressing so it worked ok.
I don't even squirrel hunt without the knife. I sing and gut them and put in ziplock bags as I take them.
The frequent binocular mentions above cause me to recall a thread here that inspired me to get some serious binocs last year. Spent more for them than for my Blacktail T2 Sitka. Don't get me wrong, they are nice and I'm glad to have em.
I've just never developed the habit of using glass when I bow hunt.
So, the very first morning I took those new binoculars hunting, I spent some time looking a deeper into the woods than I could with the naked eye. After one episode of such looking I lowered the binoculars and looked to the left. A nice Doe was standing at 15 yards (in a grass lane) looking right at me.
Of course it was the fault of the glass, it was operator error. But I thought the irony was deep.
No matter what, when or where I am hunting I always have my binos and merino base layers. And bow of course.
For whitetails I'd say it's a toss up between my treestand and gillie suit.
For elk that would be boots
Mule deer it would be spotting scope
Depends on how and what you hunt. I've found as I age it is my body. If you can't climb those hills it doesn't matter about all the rest.
Finger tabs...
Boots,backpack,bino,knife. Whats in the pack is a story unto itself.
MAP
Day pack...
Years ago, I sold a .22 target pistol and bought a pair of Swarovski 8X30 binos. Ive never regretted it.
I use binoculars all the time- either those or a newer set of Zeiss 8X20. I hate being in the woods without them.
binoculars.
My Danner Boots, Leupold Binocs, and Leatherman Multi-tool.
My common sense. Saved me more then once.
Binos for me.... they make me a better hunter.
"Bowie knife in a bootleg juke joint"
Ha... isn't there an old saying warning against that one?
A pair of Kenetrek Mountain Extremes
My eyes and ears.
Besides the obvious, I picked up a little thing called a Firecel+...rechargeable handwarmer/light/cell phone recharger. Red and white light with SOS blink, phone charger works fine, and the 2 setting handwarmer gets hotter than any chemical pack I've used. It gets used in some form or fashion every time I'm out, and recharges quickly in the truck USB port with ignition on or off. Forgot it once; cussed myself all morning long.
Fanny or lumbar pack. Don't leave home without one. :campfire:
My day pack, it carries everything I need for a hunt, harvest, drag, or whatever else comes up. Also includes survival items in case of an emergency. It goes with me every time I step into the woods!
The eight inch strand of unwaxed dental floss tied to the upper tip of my bow... If you split up the strands (it) works great!
... mike ... :archer2: ...
I'm now in my 60s so my most useful piece of equipment is my game cart. I don't think I could hunt with out it.
That being said I wouldn't need the cart if I didn't have:
My long bows
Gold tips
Woodsman
Tab
Arm guard
Boots
Backpack
Truck
Camper
Excellent wife
GPS
Etc
Besides the obvious bow and knife my lone wolf hand climber. It is with me on every hunt and keeps me mobile. Second would be my small
Fanny pack. The contents change a lot but the pack and stand never change.
My HSS harness.
My Buck Vanguard on my belt.
My boots ....
This is a toss up for me... I'd say, in no particular order, and disregarding the weapon itself: boots, binocs, Kifaru Pack, and 3L water bladder. If I forgot any of those I'd be a very uncomfortable hunter.
I find hunting clothes are pretty important on public land.Especially when it starts to get cooler out.You might get by without them on private though.
Unfortunately, my most USED piece of hunting equipment is my chair...
I did upgrade it this year from a Box-store folding dove stool to a Box-store padded, folding, swivel chair. Lol
QuoteOriginally posted by elkken:
My boots ....
Same for me this year. I've used my boots a lot...unfortunately I've used my knife very little.
My knife
for stand hunting, my safety harness.
for ground hunting, my hammock seat
This past weekend it was a tie. Blaze Orange plastic trowel(safety first) or Huggies Wet Wipes.
Binoculars
Regardless of season, or method, or even just scouting without anything on me besides my EDC items, I habitually wear snake boots. Not even really for the snakes, typically it's because of brush, cactus and stickers that tear up my clothing and what not. The farm I hunt is tore up with goathead stickers in a bad way.
Trail cameras.
I'd like to say boots but I prefer to wear my toe-shoes when it's warm enough & I'm above the rattlesnake elevation line.
The one thing I take and use on every trip, without exception is my headlamp. Either I'm hiking in by it or hiking out by it. Often, it's both. Clothing changes. Hats change. Packs have changed. Knives have changed. Shoes have changed. But the one constant I can think of is the headlamp.
My brain.
After my bow and arrows it would be my safety harness.
The seat of my pants.
Can't say which is the most important equipment but Lord knows it ain't my gutting and skinning knife! Been years since I had a need for such a trivial item as a knife to unzip a critter. :bigsmyl: