I heard a guy say the other day the majority of your hunting money should go towards tags and time off.
The thing with gear is we can play with it more than we can hunt, so often spend on things you dont need.
So in that line of thinking, what hunting gear do you think is the biggest waste of money? What trad gear do you think is unnecessary?
Only real necessity is a bow you shoot well, arrows that shoot well from that bow and a scary sharp arrowhead that works well with those arrows. Everything else is maybe not useless but not necessary. :thumbsup:
"Scent Killer" :laughing:
A very good friend of mine used to be a K-9 cop, before he retired.
Many times I helped him with "Hudson's" training. The first time I put the "big sleeve" on, was a real eye opener!!
My arm was black&blue for 3 weeks!!! :help:
I'd often help him with "tracking" and drug detection training..... The subject of "Scent Killer" spay came up??
A wager was made, and a bottle purchased....
We drove (in seperate vehicles) to a section of state land we had not trained in before. I had a 1 hour head start.
The training "Op" was a car stop/abandoned vehicle. I parked my truck, sprayed myself down, and headed into the woods. After about a half hour, and about a 2 mile trail, I found a hiding spot in the corner of a stone wall fence.
I sat down tight in the corner to wait... Maybe 10-15 minutes later, Hudson had me "cornered" :o
Those expensive insert/collar systems that are many times more expensive than a dozen shafts- a waste of $$.
Take the time to assemble those carbon shafts correctly and those systems are not necessary.
.
High dollar broadheads that cost three times what Zwickeys or ace do. They don't die any deader. You're friend is a smart fella. The biggest key to killing lots of stuff is hunting a lot.
High $ brand name logo camo
Deno
Mine is Bows. If I had any sense I'd stick with one bow and spend the money I'd normally bought a new bow with on Tags and fuel to hunt. I have to agree with the scent products. I watched a video similar to what woodchucker described. The police dog went directly to the person every time no matter how hard they tried to mask his scent .
Quote from: Pat B on January 01, 2022, 11:57:18 AM
Only real necessity is a bow you shoot well, arrows that shoot well from that bow and a scary sharp arrowhead that works well with those arrows. Everything else is maybe not useless but not necessary. :thumbsup:
License as well
Just to name a few:
- Scent killer or scent control products in general, regardless of the species
- Except when hunting birds, camo. Breaking up the outline is important but designer brand this and that makes no difference what so ever
- Trail cameras...pft
- high end coolers for weekend and day trips
- wind indicators...have you ever noticed that you can FEEL the wind and see the leaves/grass move? Ever heard of cattails or milkweed fluff?
- Cheap, ineffective binoculars...just wait and save, you'll be happy you did
- disposable blade knives...get yourself a quality fixed blade, make memories, and hand it down to your kin when your too old to hunt
- leases in areas with quality public land available...just learn to hunt and spend more money on time off work
- ...I could go on
Quote from: Pat B on January 01, 2022, 11:57:18 AM
Only real necessity is a bow you shoot well, arrows that shoot well from that bow and a scary sharp arrowhead that works well with those arrows. Everything else is maybe not useless but not necessary. :thumbsup:
Well put.
One mans trash is another mans treasure.
Quote from: Deno on January 01, 2022, 01:59:55 PM
High $ brand name logo camo
I dunno...I have a pair of Sitka pants [before Hairston sold the company] and a traverse [I think it was called ] stretchy sweat shirt from back in 2006 the year I hunted Australia.......and I still wear them about 10 times a year on hunts. A couple snags....and a campfire ember hole or two...but otherwise I can't kill them.
I've had good luck with the Sitka and Kuiu gear I own- quality built.
The only piece of clothing I own thats older is a Carhardt jacket...thats going on 30 yrs plus.
>
I agree that most of what I have is unnecessary, but I like a full toy box. Calls and scents have never been especially effective for me. I have more bows than I can use. But jackets and head coverings are my total downfall. If I see it, I "need" it. I own a few knives as well. The one item I have tons of but have never been satisfied with is a really good flashlight that doesn't require a bank loan. My night vision is not the best, so I need a strong, wide beam. I'm still searching for it. However, as much as I don't need all this stuff, I will continue to accumulate it.
Quote from: beendare on January 01, 2022, 07:03:44 PM
Quote from: Deno on January 01, 2022, 01:59:55 PM
High $ brand name logo camo
I dunno...I have a pair of Sitka pants [before Hairston sold the company] and a traverse [I think it was called ] stretchy sweat shirt from back in 2006 the year I hunted Australia.......and I still wear them about 10 times a year on hunts. A couple snags....and a campfire ember hole or two...but otherwise I can't kill them.
I've had good luck with the Sitka and Kuiu gear I own- quality built.
The only piece of clothing I own thats older is a Carhardt jacket...thats going on 30 yrs plus.
>
Thing about Sitka gear isn't the "brand camo". The camo pattern ain't squat. But the quality of the gear and the warmth it gives without bulk is what sold me.
Though I bought mine second hand.
When I start applying this to the rest of my life I might get better at applying it to my hunting gear.
I do find that the older I get the less stuff I need to hunt.
Quote from: GCook on January 01, 2022, 10:55:28 PM
Quote from: beendare on January 01, 2022, 07:03:44 PM
Quote from: Deno on January 01, 2022, 01:59:55 PM
High $ brand name logo camo
I dunno...I have a pair of Sitka pants [before Hairston sold the company] and a traverse [I think it was called ] stretchy sweat shirt from back in 2006 the year I hunted Australia.......and I still wear them about 10 times a year on hunts. A couple snags....and a campfire ember hole or two...but otherwise I can't kill them.
I've had good luck with the Sitka and Kuiu gear I own- quality built.
The only piece of clothing I own thats older is a Carhardt jacket...thats going on 30 yrs plus.
>
Thing about Sitka gear isn't the "brand camo". The camo pattern ain't squat. But the quality of the gear and the warmth it gives without bulk is what sold me.
Though I bought mine second hand.
Agreed. Its great stuff for mountain hunts and hunts where you are active.
If a guy pays attention, you can buy this stuff on sale from 25%-40% off.
I'm a bit of a gear hound as hunting is my passion...so this is probably not the right topic for me- grin. ( though I am trying to simplify)
.
When I started bow hunting I wore my olive green "Key" coveralls, back in the 60's. I've likely spent thousands on "pretty" camo clothing, and can't say it's done anything to help me get game. I have to say "hunting" clothing is the biggest waste of money there is. :deadhorse:
We all probably know a gear junky or two. They have 15 tree stands enough designer camo to wear a different outfit everyday and are constantly looking for the next thing the give them an edge. I also know a lot of old school bowhunters that have hunted with the same bows for 15 plus years using wood arrows and have maybe one or two camo shirts. It's not even a contest between the two. The guys spending all their time buying useless junk have not put in enough time to learn to hunt. They maybe kill A deer every year or so. They are ever optimistic lol next year will always be better.
Anything scent related or anything that claims to make game animals not see you is useless garbage. The list is long and varied ie. Scentloc,Ozonics,UV soaps, HECs suits etcNot to mention the crazy prices of some broadheads. You can tell someone doesn't shoot at animals much when each broadhead costs 40$ dollars each lol. When you get 15-20 shots at deer and hogs a year not to mention Turkeys your gonna lose some arrows. And if you've killed more than 2 animals you'll see a special super duper broadhead is not needed. I'd say one of the craziest things going is the broadheads( no names, to save the easily offended) that are exactly the same size and shape of a broadhead that has been around for 40 years, yet the new ones cost 50 plus each? What possible reason could there be for that lol.
Probably not as fun but, how much more hunting could one do if he didn't have 5-10+ high end custom bows?
I know a lot of guys think scent control is hogwash but I shot a nice 10 in Missouri who came straight up the draw my scent was blowing down.
I don't believe he just missed it. Maybe he was just so caught up in looking for doe he wasn't as on guard.
I also hunted every weekend I wanted to this year in two states. I can afford to hunt others but can't convince myself I have the freezer space or need another shoulder mount.
If you're older like me, but not old yet, and have made a good living, paid yourself out of debt and can afford extra, why not?
There are plenty of guys who don't have the luxuries I have. I'm am so grateful that God has given me opportunity, ability, drive and strength to be successful in my career and now business but also in friendships.
I'm fortunate to own many ladder stands, tree stands, tripod stands, shell blinds and land in two states.
Most of the gear is bought on clearance at years end. The land by watching and being ready when opportunity presents. The blind platforms I actually designed and are now manufactured by and aluminum company.
All this on the salary of an industrial mechanic/welder/pipefitter/electrician. I worked 60 plus hour weeks my whole life. Bought two bass boats on winnings fishing weekend and week night tournaments. Money and time I had fun at but see as a waste now. But back then . . .
We only get one go around in life. We all do the best we can.
In hunting some have more opportunities than others. Live in better hunting areas. Some are more effective than others. Some more lucky than others.
But having a thread belittling others choices and approaches seems pretty petty to me.
I have and use many things mentioned in the posts above that are considered a waste, if not unnecessary. I don't regret my clothing (highly functional and comfortable KUIU), bows, arrows, or even my multiple stands (a couple still in boxes).
I believe in keeping clean and being aware of scent movement instead of alleged commercial scent control and clothing products. Maybe I'm missing the boat on Ozontics? Who knows what might have winded me that I never knew about? I have one very good and thoughtful friend who swears by those machines.
I've wasted some money on high-end ladder stands, too big, unwieldy, and expensive (the last two I bought).
By and large however, I have few regrets about gear I've accumulated. None have been so much that I've sacrificed hunting opportunity. I will admit, contrary to some of the posts above, the jury is still out with me on a set of Swarovski binoculars I bought a couple of years ago. In my 52 years of bowhunting I haven't been much of an eyeglass user. I spent $2,000 on those Swaros and haven't taken them to the woods more than 2-3 times. I hunt such tight cover with limited viewing range, I haven't realized the utility yet. I know, I should make them part of my everyday gear and learn to love em. :goldtooth:
Quote from: GCook on January 02, 2022, 01:45:41 PM
I know a lot of guys think scent control is hogwash but I shot a nice 10 in Missouri who came straight up the draw my scent was blowing down.
I don't believe he just missed it. Maybe he was just so caught up in looking for doe he wasn't as on guard.
I also hunted every weekend I wanted to this year in two states. I can afford to hunt others but can't convince myself I have the freezer space or need another shoulder mount.
If you're older like me, but not old yet, and have made a good living, paid yourself out of debt and can afford extra, why not?
There are plenty of guys who don't have the luxuries I have. I'm am so grateful that God has given me opportunity, ability, drive and strength to be successful in my career and now business but also in friendships.
I'm fortunate to own many ladder stands, tree stands, tripod stands, shell blinds and land in two states.
Most of the gear is bought on clearance at years end. The land by watching and being ready when opportunity presents. The blind platforms I actually designed and are now manufactured by and aluminum company.
All this on the salary of an industrial mechanic/welder/pipefitter/electrician. I worked 60 plus hour weeks my whole life. Bought two bass boats on winnings fishing weekend and week night tournaments. Money and time I had fun at but see as a waste now. But back then . . .
We only get one go around in life. We all do the best we can.
In hunting some have more opportunities than others. Live in better hunting areas. Some are more effective than others. Some more lucky than others.
But having a thread belittling others choices and approaches seems pretty petty to me.
It's great you can afford all that, congrats.
But this thread isn't belittling anyone's choices, it's just sharing thoughts on what they consider necessary or not, we all have our opinions and different situations where we may or may not need a certain item or not. In my case it's multiple bows, do I need 4 bows ? No, any of my bows would do everything just fine. The others are just something to change up and tinker with . So as far as wasted money ? As far as being necessary, I'd say yes. Camo clothing, hunting turkeys without a blind I'm sure it's a great help but I rarely hunt turkeys so for me it's probably wasted money. Scent control ? I keep as clean as I can, wash my clothes in Unscented UV killer detergent and store them in a tub away from my other clothes, but that's it and that honestly probably doesn't make that much difference . So for me the sprays and such are wasted money. That doesn't belittle anyone else, I just don't choose to use it myself, and if I'm handicapping myself, that's my choice
It's been said and seconded, but I have to add my thoughts. I generally agree on camo and wear a lot of plaids, but to me one clear exception: Sitka pants. After three years of elk hunting in Colorado and having pants legs soaking wet for most of the day,
I bought a pair of their mountain pants (? Not sure of the name). They were great ! I wear them all the time when hunting. Very comfortable very tough pants.
I think finding camo and gear that works for you in the area where you are at makes it useful. I've been a bit of a gear junkie in the past as well, but I have found that many times with some clothing if you pay attention to the material you can find the exact same thing at wal-mart or another place for a fraction of the cost compared to some name brand stuff. However, there are many things where spending money on quality stuff pays off in the long run.
I agree that I have never had much luck with scent killer sprays, I've just always played the wind, but who knows maybe I have missed out. But I do use the scent killer deodorant, I've found it works well.
My biggest problem is when I really like something I gotta have 2. Idk why but it's a sickness. Lol. I have doubles of almost everything except knives which I have a ridiculous collection of. I need help!!!!! Lol.
Maybe you're right Dave. I see that point in some of the posts.
Don't some of us just LOVE to buy gear??? Who hasn't been guilty of that? The truth is as has been stated within posts in this thread with regards to bowhunting tackle. The most important is practice, Practice, PRACTICE ... that is, once you have tackle basics that work consistently well for You. :saywhat:
You guys got started in the 60's will remember the old adage, "Who dies with the most toys wins". I'm from the 60's.
Quote from: Sam McMichael on January 10, 2022, 09:06:54 PM
You guys got started in the 60's will remember the old adage, "Who dies with the most toys wins". I'm from the 60's.
And watch out for the bowhunter with one bow. :dunno: :laugh:
I probably have too many knives. The clothing I have the most of gets used the most. Have four bows I use the most. Two really. Have several pairs of camo pants in a pattern I like so I'll have it for years. Have a good pair of semi-compact binos that I use.
Really depends where ,when ,and how I hunt. I take what I feel is necessary for hunting and safety . Is T/P unnecessary yes but nice to have if you need it .Flashlight ,compass and knife same thing .
I have wasted a lot of money on extra tags that became useless. Everything I could use for something.
I think most of us have the weak moments of buying stuff in the off season when we dream our hunting days and we think to improve our arsenals. During the hunting season it's rare that we have spare time..
We do this for fun so nothing that you enjoy buying and owning is really a waste. In my case, there aren't usually any deer around in the places I can hunt so I could save by leaving out the bow and arrows. LOL.
To each there own. I have a couple sets of predator fleece jacket and plants in bought in the early 1990's. Still going strong. I have 3 pairs of predator camo wolfskin pants. They're about 5-10 years old and in great shape. Bought all of them here on classifieds for 1/2 price. Bought a new custom vest last year cause I get cold too easy anymore. I bought 3 longbows in the last 2 years. I wanted them. I'll sell one of them soon. I don't consider any of it wasted. Life's too short for that. Let's go hunting!!
I guess my downfall is buying wool, it was Filson at first, very nice stuff which I believe I could wear for a lifetime and never wear out. I started buying random wool off eBay, I bought heavy merino wool sweaters from thrift shops for never more than $3 each. The Sportsman Guide had East German wool military pans on sale, four pairs for $27 so I bought some. A great friend who lives up north where the thrift shops are full of wool gifted me with a heavy lined Woolrich plaid coat.
I bought an Asble coat, nice but more of a shell than any serious protection from the cold.
I guess my wool obsession has ended, I found the German pants equal to or better than Filson, the $3 thrift shop sweaters better than any commercial "hunting sweaters", and the Woolrich coat which is actually a dress coat to be better than any hunting coat I have I bought from the hunting supplies retailers.
So, when I walk into the woods in an outfit that I may have $10 in I am just as comfortable as when I walked into the woods in my Filson outfit that I had close to $400 in.
Sam.. "Who dies with the most toys wins"....but he's still dead! :laughing:
I agree, Eric. When I first went to Colorado in 2006 I wanted to buy wool but couldn't afford it so I went to on line and found surplus German wool army pants for $9 for 2 pair. They were heavy wool, well made and very comfortable. The only problem was the length. Germans must all be tall and skinny. My wife took up the length and I was good to go. :thumbsup:
The biggest mistake I've made over the years has been buying bows based on their sex appeal instead of asking myself the question, "What am I going to use this bow for, and is it appropriate for that function?" I've got too many bows on my wall that look great but will never be used for hunting because of not wanting to get them scratched, and will never be used for 3D, because the weight is too heavy.
Quote from: Tim Reese on January 02, 2022, 06:53:37 PM
My biggest problem is when I really like something I gotta have 2. Idk why but it's a sickness. Lol. I have doubles of almost everything except knives which I have a ridiculous collection of. I need help!!!!! Lol.
Because 2 is 1 and 1 is none......makes sense to me, do I have this sickness as well ? :laughing:
Quote from: Sam McMichael on January 10, 2022, 09:06:54 PM
You guys got started in the 60's will remember the old adage, "Who dies with the most toys wins". I'm from the 60's.
Way I heard is "he who dies with the most toys is still dead". :biglaugh:
I really ran the gambit with scent control, the whole 9 yards. Washing clothes, storing cloths, spraying cloths, even showering IN camp and putting on said cloths only to have a big boar hog smell a palmetto fron blade I brushed my leg with and tear the heck out of Dodge.
That wasn't the only time I was busted by wind taking all the precautions, but that was when it dawned on me that my time and money spent was worthless and futile. Luckily I never bought into the 'scent lock' scam.
You buy what makes sense to you at the time, and what is available. As you learn, you get better stuff. My problem is that I can't seem to get rid of the old stuff. Too many memories.
I have too many knives, too many bows, and things that I will never use.
Gonna be a yard sale in Hell one day!
Killdeer
You never know what the final tally is until you are dead. That's the only way to know who actually wins. The trick is to delay that final tally as long as possible. I will never win, but I expect to make the Honorable Mention category.
Also, buying a lot of useless stuff as a young guy is part of what helps make "experts" out of old guys.
I would add that much of the choices we make are dependent on the situation we find ourselves in. For example, it's common to believe that a solid pair of boots is very essential to your trip outdoors, but I can solidly state that for most of my hunting season, and where I hunt, a cheap pair of sneakers works better for me. The situation dictates the necessity. What makes the difference is the understanding the value of the decision.
Quote from: Sam McMichael on January 25, 2022, 12:10:36 AM
Also, buying a lot of useless stuff as a young guy is part of what helps make "experts" out of old guys.
Yep, by learning that you don't need worthess stuff to be successful. The "must have" stuff becomes clutter.
You also find out you don't need the "new and improved" because you bought the new and improved 8 years ago and it's still working.
Sooner or later the old adage is true, "less is more". I was fortunate enough to learn that in my late 20s.
Quote from: Blacktail42 on January 25, 2022, 05:24:36 AM
I would add that much of the choices we make are dependent on the situation we find ourselves in. For example, it's common to believe that a solid pair of boots is very essential to your trip outdoors, but I can solidly state that for most of my hunting season, and where I hunt, a cheap pair of sneakers works better for me. The situation dictates the necessity. What makes the difference is the understanding the value of the decision.
Matt Schuster has killed more hogs than most and he hunts in tennis shoes most of the time because of the terrain he hunts the majority of the time....
In this case scenario he is also able to sneak and be quiter stalking..... less is more.
About the only stuff I buy now is knives because I am a knife nut and vintage broadheads I use both and maybe Arrow Master quiver "Thank you Terry Green"
Yep, I remember thinking when I was young I needed every lure in the bass pro shop catalog. :knothead:
Quote from: Sam Spade on January 25, 2022, 03:44:42 PM
Yep, I remember thinking when I was young I needed every lure in the bass pro shop catalog. :knothead:
Sam
I haven't bought anything from the big box sporting goods store in so long they quit sending me catalog and I don't even get emails :knothead:
The problem with todays ASL bows, as produced by the custom builders like Ekin, Berry and others, is that in reality you only need one that you can shoot with ease. The most you would need is one that is lighter weight, just in case you have a stiff muscle on a given day. You will not wear it out, it will shoot just as good ten or twenty years from now as it does today. I am a tough sell, not because of bad work, because of their great skill.
Quote from: Dave Lay on January 01, 2022, 03:21:20 PM
Mine is Bows. If I had any sense I'd stick with one bow and spend the money I'd normally bought a new bow with on Tags and fuel to hunt. I have to agree with the scent products. I watched a video similar to what woodchucker described. The police dog went directly to the person every time no matter how hard they tried to mask his scent .
I'd love to see that same experiment done with the scent loc clothing to shut that argument up as well.
The best way to cover your human scent is to put a plastic bag over your head tie on with two stout rubber bands and spray it with skunk pee.
Quote from: Larry Dean on January 27, 2022, 04:57:12 PM
The best way to cover your human scent is to put a plastic bag over your head tie on with two stout rubber bands and spray it with skunk pee.
The problem with that sad story of the police dog finding the guy is it is an apples to oranges discussion.
The reality is that the deer isn't given your scent the sent to track you. Deer deal with predators everyday. In farm country deer deal with human activity and scent all the time. They understand when that scent is in close enough proximity it presents a danger.
Just on our place someone is there most weekends. Taking care of live stock, mending gates or fences, hunting pigs.
They deal with us all the time.
If our scent were always a critical factor we'd seldom if ever see them. However a deer can tell by scent strength how close that coyote or wolf or human is. Stronger the scent the more reactive they are to a clear and present danger. Not to mention in suburban areas deer eat in people's yards. They have adapted to live around people just like coyotes and fox so if mere human scent were the determining factor to make them avoid a stand then bowhunters would kill fewer.
Scent control and cover products work not by being 100% effective but by diluting that scent enough to keep the deer's response from being immediately panicked.
You don't have to believe but like most things the science is proven and tens of thousands of hunters successfully use the systems every year.
Will it fool all the deer all of the time? Nope. But I've killed a ton of them that were dead down wind of me or came in from dead down wind of me. I've been killing deer with bows for over 3 decades, most years filling all 5 of my Texas tags with a bow. And often a few MLD tags as well. I haven't done it by being incompetent and using a system that hasn't proven itself over those years.
I've never fooled a pig with it though. Almost as paranoid as a turkey.
The other day my kid told me that I hunted like an old man. I asked him what he was talking about and he said, "You dress like you are homeless and you don't carry $^!# with you!" On most levels, he gets it. He just likes to give me $^!#. :saywhat:
Expenses are for Experiences. Once I figured that out I stopped buying a bunch of things I didn't need. Too bad it took 40 years to learn it and another 11 to sort of dial it in!
I have killed dozens of deer down wind of me without the scentlock scam. With a BOW.
Quote from: gregg dudley on February 02, 2022, 11:08:21 PM
The other day my kid told me that I hunted like an old man. I asked him what he was talking about and he said, "You dress like you are homeless and you don't carry $^!# with you!" On most levels, he gets it. He just likes to give me $^!#. :saywhat:
Expenses are for Experiences. Once I figured that out I stopped by a bunch of things I didn't need. Too bad it took 40 years to learn it and another 11 to sort of dial it in!
🤣 That's funny because I had that same conversation this year. I was dropping off a hunter at his stand then gonna head to mine. This was his first afternoon of the hunt. He asked where my pack was. I said what pack? He replied, the one with all your gear. I said my bow and quiver were on the cart, my glove hooked on the bow, what other gear did I need?
He said the same thing about old guys.😂
I killed plenty of deer before scent lock and never let up since it was invented. Yep, never bought into that scam, but sure get a kick out of those that try and justify it. :biglaugh: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :biglaugh:
Wash camo in baking soda. Wash myself with Scent-Away. Rub some Ash Juniper/Cedar brush on my boots. Keep the breeze in my nose. Seems to work.
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2:
I smoke cigars before, during and after the hunt... just ask the TX boys... dead javies can't talk.
Wash this wash that....
... blah blah blahhh
We have a saying in Texas Mr. Green.
Something about blind hogs, acorns.😄
But yeah, wind direction always trumps scent control. But that takes another interesting direction because the smoking of clothes is an old trick and is effective. I too have known smokers who smoked on stand and had success. Even bowhunting. There is definitely something to that situation I don't completely understand. If it covers the human scent sometimes or the scent of it is a curiosity attractant or . . .
Not worth starting smoking to experiment the phenomenon but there is definitely a connection.
Where to begin? Yep, a bonafide gear junkie here, and also susceptible to the "1 is none, & 2 is 1" mindset. You name it, I probably got it. Started hunting w. trad bows back in '92...Now the herd is up to 13- 4 customs, & the rest bought used thru various classifieds. In my defense, they all get used, although sometimes a few years apart based on the urge I get in Mar/April of each year when I start thinking about what I want to hunt with.
High $ camo? Guilty as charged, but here's my excuse- 4 yrs ago I weighed 120 lb more than I do now, so once the weight came off, I decided to reward myself with new hunting wear. Addicted to First Lite, because I'm a Merino wool freak, and at least for me, that stuff keeps me warm (which was never a problem for me when I was heavy, but now between the lighter weight & the years that have gone by, well, darn it, I get COLD!
Knives? Been collecting them since age 15 or so... (I'm 59 now..) we don't need to go there...
Treestand- I have one. Blind-I have 1. Tree saddles- I have 2. Binocs- I have 2. Packs? Let's just say more than 2...
We won't even mention the gun collection...
My biggest fear? If I go first, my wife will sell this stuff for what i told her I paid for it! :scared:
Yeah, I've had it bad for a while...
Cook... a cigar is a windicator. :thumbsup:
Hmm. Something I hadn't considered.
I prefer a higher grade corn cob pipe,(better stem), with a nice latakia blend tobacco. I have seen my smoke go up hill with the wind, and then come down in the valley to my left up wind of me. One thing about smoke and deer, the smoke does not seem to bother them at times. I suppose it depends how much of your own scent is traveling with that smoke.
Don't have a lot of fancy gear. Weeded down from a high of 9 Bows to a Bear TD (left & right) and a Kempf Lil Gizzly.
I am a sucker for plaid tho. Also sad now that I've shrunk from a large to medium in the last 6 months. Going to be a big "Yard Sale" at our next trad shoot.
Well Sh!& that didn't work just bought two new turkey decoys and a pot call not sure if I needed them but I wanted them. :o
Rain gear for Florida's archery season. 88 degrees and 88% humidity and I'm usually soaked from sweating anyway. If we get a light rain it'll cool me off some. Heavy rain I stay home. Rain gear would just make me sweat more in it.