What new gear did you try this year and how did it work

Dropped three deer, all on the spot with my (new this spring) Sako 85 SS 7mm-08 topped with a Leupold VX3 3.5 -10 x 40 scope, loaded with a worked up load using 120 gr.TTSX and Varget. Bullets worked as advertised! Just started reloading this late spring and I'm happy with all the equipment I ended up buying so far, including my chronograph. Worked up practice and hunting rounds for both my 'go to' rifles (about 400 rounds in total so far,,,all fired off except a few hunting rounds). I feel pretty confident with my reloading abilities so far,,,,in that I haven't blown myself up yet!

Never did get to use my Black Diamond Storm head lamp because all five deer I was in on this season were all morning deer,,,unlike last year when the majority were just before dark and I had to deal with a lousy head light. It'll be there for next year!

Second year using my Havlon piranha replaceable blade knife. Those things are awesome! Did the gutless method on all deer this year and definitely got better and faster completing the task, compared to the previous two years of doing it because those knives are so sharp. Got some collapsable hiking poles to help carry out heavy loads in my pack. They really help with your stability when trying to cross clear cuts with logs strewn all the way across them or going down steep slopes.
 
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Picked up a Mathews halon 6 70lb earlier in the year, I was not successful in my hunt but I love this bow, so quiet, the valley is smooth, unlike some of the reviews I've read the wall seems solid and the 85% let off is something I can hold all day. I'm really looking forward to harvesting something with it, but for now it's nice bow to shoot and practice with
 
New Howa Alpine in 308.

Nice lite carry gun. Like the stock. Great trigger.

Consensus seemed that I start with Lapua brass and Varget.
Bullets used were hornady 165g IB's and nosler 165g AB's
Accuracy was good enough, lots of time off season to improve it.
 
WhelanLad said:
havolon pirahnas are awesome, I need to source new blades!
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If you live in the USA or Canada you can order directly from Havalon. Since you don't, you can try Amazon or perhaps phoning them to see if they will ship to Australia. The best prices I have found are factory direct, even though they are in US dollars. :/ I just picked up some of their gut hook / saw combo pack, and some #70A and #22XT to try. They have the blunted tip which will likely help me not stab myself. I also put a butchering glove on my Amazon wish list for the same reason.
 
Tenpoint Titan extreme crossbow . Tenpoint prolite bolts and thunderheads. Quite impressed with the accuracy.
Weatherby vanguard s-2 .30/06 and 100 Lapua brass. Broke the rifle in at the range with factory crappy winchesters. Very promising , can't wait to start load development.
4 maxxis zillas for my quad. Really like them.
 
Got my new Sig Kilo2000 about a month before hunting season. Didn't get much time to try it out but what I did see looked promising. Took it out hunting and WOW!!! Was able to range deer every try out to 1050 yards. Even ranged a coyote at 1215 yards on an overcast morning. It's better than I expected for sure. Every time I step out on the deck with it I range a cabin down the valley. Gives the exact same reading every time 2452.6 yards.
 
New things I tried this year:
A new hat, gortex Alaskan Sombrero from Cabelas. It is awesome, it kept my glasses dry, stayed on my head and I didn't get water down the back of my neck.
A deep freeze (deer hunting in the Charlottes), this was a game changer!
A two wheeled game cart.
These were all great additions.
 
I forgot a couple things
Hoyt gamemaster2 recurve-quickly becoming my favorite bow and method of hunting, got my bear with it.

Magnus stinger 2 blade- worked just fine. No frills. Came sharp and spun straight

Tilley hat-very impressed with this for the money.
 
I bought a couple of cases of the new Kent Bismuth in 12 & 20 gauge( #5's 2 3/4" for both). Works great, very happy with the performance with both gauges. Will be buying more!!
 
I got a tipi outfitters tipi tent its a 4 season hot tent way lighter and not as bulky as a Canvas wall tent I spent years setting up and tearing down bush camps for Mineral expiration camps the tipi tent is way better
Made in Kamloops BC the outfitter tipi tent sleeps 8 on the floor with out a wood stove or 4 cots stove and your hunting gear in the tent plus still room for folding chairs in frunt of the stove
The alpine tipi tent is 30 lb which is quite good fore a big base camp
I highly recommend tipi tent I like it so much I will get a small ultralight tipi tent from seek outdoors with titanium wood stove for hunting up in the Mountains in the New Years

http://tipitent.com/outfitter_tipi.htm

 
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carverk said:
I got a tipi outfitters tipi tent its a 4 season hot tent way lighter and not as bulky as a Canvas wall tent I spent years setting up and tearing down bush camps for Mineral expiration camps the tipi tent is way better
Made in Kamloops BC the outfitter tipi tent sleeps 8 on the floor with out a wood stove or 4 cots stove and your hunting gear in the tent plus still room for folding chairs in frunt of the stove
The alpine tipi tent is 30 lb which is quite good fore a big base camp
I highly recommend tipi tent I like it so much I will get a small ultralight tipi tent from seek outdoors with titanium wood stove for hunting up in the Mountains in the New Years

http://tipitent.com/outfitter_tipi.htm

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I'm a happy owner of a Outfitter Tipitent, for 3-4 years now. Excellent product for the money and weight, but unless something has changed since me and my buddy purchased ours, they aren't Canadian made. Just another Canadian company selling a Chinese made product.
 
LittleBoyLefty said:
I'm a happy owner of a Outfitter Tipitent, for 3-4 years now. Excellent product for the money and weight, but unless something has changed since me and my buddy purchased ours, they aren't Canadian made. Just another Canadian company selling a Chinese made product.
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Made in China that is a shame I thout thay wear made in Canada
If it wasn't such a pain dealing with poles ,bulk and setup I would have went for a canvis teepee
 
carverk said:
Made in China that is a shame I thout thay wear made in Canada
If it wasn't such a pain dealing with poles ,bulk and setup I would have went for a canvis teepee
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Yes, it is too bad. They definitely play up the 'Canadian company' angle. I'd pay more for a Made in Canada TipiTent. Still, a decent product for the price.
 
New gear: I needed a pair of chest waders and couldn't afford $400 for quality ones. So one of the divers I work with gave me his old dry suit. I cut off the top of it, sewed on four buttons, and used a pair of hockey suspenders as straps.

Seriously, a super comfortable pair of chest waders, although the boots don't grip well in mud. Total cost: under $5 for the straps at Value Village.

Also bought a Mojo Dove for $15 on clearance, tried it on ducks (lots of guys use them for teal). Worked OK, but I think it flared black ducks. But then, what doesn't scare them off?
 
MusicianShooter said:
Good shot placement at that distance? Curious
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I was a bit low (like high lung shots) and the round went through the center of the heart. The deer ran a 50m diameter circle and dropped dead close to where it was when I shot. The distance was taken with a rangefinder from where the deer fell to the exact spot I shot from so 235yards could be out 10 either way. I also feel that there are 3 exceptionally accurate SKS's in our house. I shot a 1 5/8'' group at 100 yards with those Barnaul HP's resting over a round bale (no bags). Prone I've shot at 4'' metal circles at 300yards and hit about 1/5 shots with lots of near misses. I've got a very tight dust cover on my rifle (no wiggle at all) that has a standard weaver base screwed onto it and a 4x32 Simmons scope.
 
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