I was wondering if anyone else would liketo....

[artjr338wm]

.....start a thread listing and evaluating any new gear they used in the 2008 hunting season?

I went elk hunting for three weeks in 2008 and used surprisingly so to myself, quite a few new items of hunting equipment as well as clothing. Most worked well, a few were outstanding to the point I will never hunt without them again, and a few failed compleatly.

So anyone interested?

Arthur.

[mkjstep]

The following reply is not a joke.

I used a new muzzle loader this year. It's made by Savage and it shoots smokeless powder.
I was just a little put off when I muffed my first shot of the year when I forgot where the safety was located.

It did knock the coyote flat that I shot. All in all a good buy. I will use it again.

Michael

[davewolf]

Some of the new stuff I used last year.
1. Under-Armour (sp?) won't be without it, underwear, cap and socks and liner gloves.
2. Always use, hand warmers, the large size. Cut open the bag, shake them and use them. Good for 24-hours and they are!
3. Horton Cross bow--took my first buck with one last year. Might purchase a 10-pt, but the Horton topped with a 4x scope with cross-hairs preformed beyond my expectations. Watched the deer drop!
4. Gander Mountain H2O bibs and jacket--can't be beat for the price! Buy the soft quiet material, still waterproof as anything I've ever used.
5. Turkey seat, love them, strap on a hot seat and sling over your shoulder, allows me the freedom to still-hunt, sit and then still hunt some more.
Disliked
1.Cheap gloves by Rocky, lining pulls out with your hand!
2. Baroski Binoculars--prefer Bushnell, 10x40's camo, waterproof.
3. The knife dilemma. I've tried a lot of knives over the years, and keep going back to Buck. Priced right. Only Case rivaled buck for gutting, skinning, butchering and resharpening.
Much needed:
A good easy to use knife sharpener, most are over-priced and without a lot of practice can't be relied on. I'm stuck using a stone and oil.
Thanks, Arthur,
Have a great day!
Dave

[petev]

dave see the previous thread a couple of months back on knife sharpeners. The Lansky got high marks for a manual sharpener, as did the Magic Chef for an electric counter top sharpener.

[younghunter86]

artjr338wm-

I think it's a great idea. I'll do some thinking and come up with a list this weekend.

[davewolf]

Thanks Arthur:
I'm familiar with both, have used Lansky but not the Magic Chef. Will check it out more thoroughly.
When you get the time, please check out the thread here we chatted on previously, about inlines, powder. Actually forgot the title, but I'm the last poster on it. It's under inlines.
Thanks again,
Have a great day!
Dave

[younghunter86]

These aren't high tech or anything but they are something that I won't go without during late season hunting, or just being around the yard in winter. I'm sure most of you guys have seen something similar but just thought I'd share.

Yaktrax Pro
Once these are put on my boots they don't come off for the rest of the year. I like them that much. You really can't tell they're on and you can wear them pretty much anywhere. For example, they won't catch on the carpet when you forget something in the house. The pictured pair has been used for 2 years and is still going strong.







Military Surplus Spikes
When you really need a lot of traction no matter the conditions these will do it. They don't really work for all around use, and so I have them on a pair of boots that I use for "pulling." If I shoot a deer a long ways from the road, I go back and switch boots. In addition if I every needed to climb a tree I think I could just walk right up the side.

[jims]

You could aerate your lawn with those things.

[davewolf]

Wow, where do you live? I've used the less aggressive ones in the first photo but haven't ever laid eyes on the second pair! Not knocking them just asking!
Have a great day!
Dave

[younghunter86]

I don't live in the arctic but lately we've been getting a lot of snow here in the midwest. We got the "spikes" from an army surplus store that we frequent for less than $10. Once you wear them in deep, crusted snow you will wish you had them a long time ago. The boots that they're pictured on aren't the ones that I use them with. They were just what I had for the picture. They work best on boots that have a typical workboot tread pattern. Something like this...www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=011008boots-search_redir&id=0005217810075a&navCount=1&podId=0005217810075&parentId=cat601928&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true. They do look a little intimidating though... probably wouldn't want to wear them into your house, and I don't recommend driving very far with them on.

[Buckrub]

We had some snow once during hunting season, back in '83 I think it was..............

[younghunter86]

Mar 31, 2009 14:16:11 GMT -5 Buckrub said:

We had some snow once during hunting season, back in '83 I think it was..............

`83 was a good year then. Not to mention I was born!

[mkjstep]

Oh, I forgot to mention in my earlier post about my Themacell. Works as advertised. Will not go out into the woods again without it.

I am not sure if it spooks game. In fairness to the product, I was upwind when the bear came in to the bait site. Don't know if the Scentlok didn't work or the Thermacell locked up the bear.

It really does repel pesky flying insects.

[artjr338wm]

Sorry I took so long to post my list. Tried twice and twice for some reason it erased itself when I tried to post it.

Here goes:

Stuff that worked excellent recommend consider buying to all if needed or considering buying. Used daily or almost daily for three striate weeks while elk hunting. Camped 100% of time while hunting.
<>Topos and hybrid topo/aerial maps from "Mytopo.com" I used Mytopo's hybrid maps and let me tell you they were worth their weight in gold. Will never even consider going hunting out west without them again. I wont go so far as to say with them you can not get lost, but they go one h3ll of a long way in making you feel confident enough to go hunting/scouting/glassing almost wear ever you want in totally unfamiliar land, especially on foot and give you piece of mind you will find your way back again. One thing though I do not think I will bother getting both topo maps and hybrids, as I used the topos little while hunting, I will stick with just getting the hybrids. These hybrids also allow you to picture in your mind a 3-D lay of the land and how you relate to it and also how the elk are relating and using it.

<>Black Diamond spot head lamp. Worked so well will NEVER go back to using a flashlight again for use in complicated night time tasks. Used my BD/Spot to help skin/dbone & quarter 2 bulls at night and my BD/Spot literally turned pitch black night into day. Best part got mine on a Cabelas BB close out for $19.99 normally retails for btwn $43-$49. Was at my local Cabelas and they also had them on C/O again for $19.99 so I bought two more.

<>Blacks Creek Canadian back back. Cost $140 W/S&H. Worked excellently but a tad heavy. What i liked best it had plenty of internal and external compartments to organize and keep gear easily available your likely to use most. Also had a gr8 external S/scope compartment and something like 18 compression straps. I found a set 6x6 elk horns still attached to the skeletal remains so I packed out the horns atchaed to the skull on this pack. Worked excellent in keeping the horns/skull atached nice and tight did not slide around while packing down and side hill for the
three mile walk back yo my camp.

<>Cabelas name brand on close out black 100% synthetic base layer long under were. Forgot exact model name. Paid $9.99 per top and bottom bought 4 sets. Worked as advertised wicked away moisture, absorbed almost zero moisture, line dried lite speed quick, helped keep me warm, but not to warm.

<>Cold Steel Master Hunter carbon V knife. Bought this at NSS about 5-6yrs ago b4 they went nuts price wise. Paid around $40. Used to process two bulls, worked excellent in all respects.

<>Gerber small black plastic sharpener. This one is smaller than a credit card has one ea set of med and fine ceramic sicks in a "V" set up. Worked awesome at keeping a razor sharp knife sharp.

<>No name copy of "Crazy Creek" portable seat for use while spotting. First time I used one, helps you stay comfortable and dry while spotting/glassing for long periods of time.

<>Cabelas brand 100% synthetic wind proof high water resistant mid weight cammo jacket. Normal cost $79.99 bought mine for $39.99. Worked well beyond my highest hopes. Kept me warm(I could not feel any sense the wind was penetrating the jacket) and dry while glassing into near (and Im not exaggerating) Gail force winds from mountain top glassing points. Also stuffed quite well in my pack. It also really does absorb almost no moisture as I did get caught out in a light rain while wearing it and it line dried lite speed quick.

<>Uncle Mikes cartridge carrier that fits over rear of but stock. Had Velcro cover. Worked excellent carrying nine extra rounds for my .338wm. So well that I did not carry any extra ammo with me so it saved me a little weight.

<>Elk Nut elk calling instructional CDs. These CDs worked so well teaching me how to make elk talk, I almost did not list them. These CDs had me making excellent sounding bull and cow elk call in only two sessions of watching. Used what i learned from theses CDs to call in three bulls while bow hunting, just did not get to take one.

<>Hs Strut Ivory palliate plate elk mouth calls. White colored model. This call worked so far beyond my wildest dreams I would have not thought it possible I could make both bull and elk calls of every type with only a few evenings of practice, use with above CDs and my friends kept telling me they thought I was actually a elk when they heard me call while hunting. ITHO, they felt concerned for my safety as I might call in other hunters as well as elk. Best Mouth elk call I ever tried and i tried all i could find.

<>Cabelas Brand Kevlar PVC coated gloves used for skinning/deboning two bull elk. Worked superbly at gripping blood silkened hides while skinning, tried to cut them with brand new razor knife and could not. Offers excellent grip and protection against cuts.

<>Cabelas brand gator. Worked excellent keeping wind out nad warmth in.

<>Stony Point shooting sticks. With these sticks i am confident of shooting to 400yrds if conditions are right for it.

<>Duracell Copper top batteries, both AA & AAA. Worked well excellent life in head lamps, flash lights and radios.

<>PP&J sandwiches as my version of energy bars. Along with my own HM trail mix and water worked as well IMHO as my friends high $$$ OTC energy bars. Tasted excellent as well.

<>Camelbak(sp?) hydration bladder bought at cabelas B/Basement
Will never again use water bottles again for drinking while BP hunting, worked that well and convenient beyond description.

<>Tent Sure tent re sealer. Worked 100% at resealing and stopping some leeks in my 8 man geodes tent.

<>Tent spikes that are actually large 9" long land scaping nails. Go in 1000% easier than the triangle shaped ones, come out 1000% cleaner and 1000% easier to clean. Also are lighter in weight. All around vastly better design.

<>100% synthetic six pocket pants by "Rocky". These are "Rocky's answer IMHO to Cabalas "Microtex" synthetic pants. Bought them on a email special from Sportsman's Guide for $15.99 club member price. Bought six pair. I have one pair of "Microtex" pants and these Rocky copies are even in all respects. Well made reinforced stitching, dry light speed fast, in short excellent pants for the $$$.

As a side note, after my last elk hunt in WY, except for my "Smart Wool" socks, I will never ever wear anything but 100% synthetic clothing while hunting. Cotton just no longer is acceptable with its moisture and scent absorbing bad habits.

<>Fillable plastic tubes for camping. Worked gr8 for making sandwiches so I did not have to wash any utensils after I made my PP&Js.

<>HS underarm deodorant and body wash. Bought lots and lots years ago at 80% off at Wally world still works perfect. Kept my stink way down. Body wash rinsed well with the cool/cold water I had to use to wash and bathe with.

<>Small red and blue plastic inflatable pillows from Campmor. I've got a bad shoulder and hip and need to sleep a certain way or suffer sleepless nights, and these inexpensive compact easily transportable pillows did exactly that.

Stuff that DID NOT WORK:

<>Anti-fogging made by:
Cat Krap, Scope Dope, Parkers, and Bushnell. Applied all while hunting fallowed directions as perfectly as I could glasses and optics still fogged up.

<>Standard grade "Energizer" batteries. Both my hunting partner and my self were 100% dissatisfied with the battery life we got using them. Use date said good till 2012.

I know there is more, but I have to go. Hope this is helpful to someone. Anyone who has questions about anything I listed please just ask.

Arthur.

[boarhog]

Thermacell Skeeter repeller! Works great!! We hunt the Saline River bottoms in S Arkansas Mosquitos and Bull Gnats will make for a miserable day, but the Thermacell works wonders. Within 5 minutes of lighting the thing, pests all but disappear. Works best in a box stand or in a pop-up blind, but we have been amazed how well it works outside of enclosed places. Even with some wind, it seems to help. Will not go hunting, fishing, or camping without it!

[wilmsmeyer]

Artjr338,

Jeepers....glad I don't have to balance your checkbook...or pay that card balance. ;D ;D

[northny]

artjr338wm

thanks for time for posting all the info. the one advice I could share back is on the anti fogger for glass(es). After trying everything on my glasses for downhill skiing, the one thing I found that would work was CatCrap, but only if I frequently reapplied. In a normal sking day, I apply in the morning, then refresh at lunch break. On days where the conditions are worse, I reapply every two hours when we take a break. Not ideal, but beats not being able to see what you are skiing down! The one place where it won't work at all is applying the night before. Far from ideal, but best I have found so far.

[Buckrub]

CatCrap???

Oh, come on!

And.....is there any other kind of skiing other than downhill?

[billc]

This past season I tried Under Armor for the first time. It's spendy, but I'll probably get some more because it's that good.

I agree with Art -- mainly synthetic materials except for leather boots, wool socks and pants, and the only cotton is a bandana.

[ANDY]

Bought a cva Kodiak pro 50cal, never failed to fire and shoots clover leafs at 100yds.

[ozark]

Stream waders needed: I used to do a lot of coonhunting and frequently I needed to wade a stream to reach the treed dogs or simply to hunt the opposite side. My friend and I used black heavy duty garbage bags to simply up over our boots, hold onto and wade. All types of hunters could use soft waders that could be used quickly as pullovers and then folded and put into a pocket. They could be cheap, effective and often used.
Next, (not so important now with cell phones is a self inflating Helium balloon attached to a long fishing line to be released to ride above the forest canapoy so that searchers could quickly find a hunter who was lost, or injured. This device could be packed in a cigarette size package and could save lives.
Ok, when you stop laughing maybe some moderater will delete this. LOL