That time of year where I'm gearing up for whitetail and going over some of the internet packing lists it's getting more and more hilarious.
We understand there are basics and beginners need to know what is best for their initial needs, it's the internet scribes personal do's and don'ts which get amusing.
One list item is "take your game camera" and my usual retort is "you are two months late doing that." Another suggested NOT taking disposable water bottles. Ok, maybe they didn't want to see them disposed in the woods, I've hunted 45 years and seen cubes of beer consumed and left behind for decades. Its up to the hunter, you are either a "leave no trace" kind of person or you dump your trash everywhere. Sadly, one out of ten are the latter.
Another writer suggested taking durable light grippy boots with them IN THEIR BACKPACK because they are so good negotiating terrain. I have no comment.
As for backpacks, you can tell the importance of them by the writer linking every high end brand to a website that can sell it to you. And most were over $200. This year? I'm using a 9.99 pack from a large Box Retailer, it's small, uncomplicated, decent brand, camo, and keeps me from hauling the kitchen sink. Because it has few features, it's extremely light. Most around here hike in less than a mile, sit for hours, hike out for lunch at the truck, return until sundown. I have finally adopted that to reduce weight on my ancient brokedown body, and it also allows me to still hunt in and out with some reason other than random wandering. So, I'm ok with a cheap pack now. And yes, it's too small to carry my boots.
Rangefinders. Nice to have - bowhunters I know pace off their stand and put colored tape up to know the distance. $2.99.
Binoculars? I have, and I haven't. In the day they were neck breakers and straps were thin and cut into you. Now it's lightweight foam in place nocs with neoprene and great lenses. At least they keep you awake trying. Special $100 noc slings are - not. For some pros they make or break the hunt, for me? If I can't see it with the naked eye on stand in the trees, I can't shoot it anyway. I might take the 6x32 Leupolds this year.
Knife sharpener. Ooops, you did what? A sharpener can help if you down game and then run your blade over bone or stone. One the other hand the fastest Ive seen a deer dressed was with a 3" Case Trapper and he was (deliberately) paring callous off his hands afterward. Most of the writers suggest a fixed blade and then, there is the Case guy. We do the best we can.
Many writers suggest a compass - a great tool if you are schooled in its use - but they leave out the MAP you need to do 4X better. And the most ignored item, a good map app to locate you on your cell phone. My state has an app to check in your game, too. I'm getting the idea that the folks writing up the lists aren't hunting so much.
Don't forget the rifle, and some suggest a scope. The funniest was the one who said to make sure you pack your scope rings, too.
As for when, the sage advice that you can hunt deer all year round was interesting, they went on to say you can use any rifle, and the last comment was check your state regulations. Which, as we know, are usually inconsistent, tell you what week you can hunt leaving out the other 51, and if you are allowed to use a rifle at all. What sounded like hunt when you want, we know, becomes "they restricted what? I need to use a what kind of cartridge? I can't hunt with 00 Buck now?"
Nope, not so easy after all. It's pretty entertaining, maybe something you might want to surf while in your stand. Just don't fall out laughing too much.
We understand there are basics and beginners need to know what is best for their initial needs, it's the internet scribes personal do's and don'ts which get amusing.
One list item is "take your game camera" and my usual retort is "you are two months late doing that." Another suggested NOT taking disposable water bottles. Ok, maybe they didn't want to see them disposed in the woods, I've hunted 45 years and seen cubes of beer consumed and left behind for decades. Its up to the hunter, you are either a "leave no trace" kind of person or you dump your trash everywhere. Sadly, one out of ten are the latter.
Another writer suggested taking durable light grippy boots with them IN THEIR BACKPACK because they are so good negotiating terrain. I have no comment.
As for backpacks, you can tell the importance of them by the writer linking every high end brand to a website that can sell it to you. And most were over $200. This year? I'm using a 9.99 pack from a large Box Retailer, it's small, uncomplicated, decent brand, camo, and keeps me from hauling the kitchen sink. Because it has few features, it's extremely light. Most around here hike in less than a mile, sit for hours, hike out for lunch at the truck, return until sundown. I have finally adopted that to reduce weight on my ancient brokedown body, and it also allows me to still hunt in and out with some reason other than random wandering. So, I'm ok with a cheap pack now. And yes, it's too small to carry my boots.
Rangefinders. Nice to have - bowhunters I know pace off their stand and put colored tape up to know the distance. $2.99.
Binoculars? I have, and I haven't. In the day they were neck breakers and straps were thin and cut into you. Now it's lightweight foam in place nocs with neoprene and great lenses. At least they keep you awake trying. Special $100 noc slings are - not. For some pros they make or break the hunt, for me? If I can't see it with the naked eye on stand in the trees, I can't shoot it anyway. I might take the 6x32 Leupolds this year.
Knife sharpener. Ooops, you did what? A sharpener can help if you down game and then run your blade over bone or stone. One the other hand the fastest Ive seen a deer dressed was with a 3" Case Trapper and he was (deliberately) paring callous off his hands afterward. Most of the writers suggest a fixed blade and then, there is the Case guy. We do the best we can.
Many writers suggest a compass - a great tool if you are schooled in its use - but they leave out the MAP you need to do 4X better. And the most ignored item, a good map app to locate you on your cell phone. My state has an app to check in your game, too. I'm getting the idea that the folks writing up the lists aren't hunting so much.
Don't forget the rifle, and some suggest a scope. The funniest was the one who said to make sure you pack your scope rings, too.
As for when, the sage advice that you can hunt deer all year round was interesting, they went on to say you can use any rifle, and the last comment was check your state regulations. Which, as we know, are usually inconsistent, tell you what week you can hunt leaving out the other 51, and if you are allowed to use a rifle at all. What sounded like hunt when you want, we know, becomes "they restricted what? I need to use a what kind of cartridge? I can't hunt with 00 Buck now?"
Nope, not so easy after all. It's pretty entertaining, maybe something you might want to surf while in your stand. Just don't fall out laughing too much.
