2011 hunting gear review

savagelh

savagelh

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
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Location
Saskatoon Saskatchewan
As this years seasons come to a close, I thought I should start a thread about the new gear that everyone tried out for the first time this year and what your initial impressions were. Lets give honest opinions about the good and the bad.

Stuff I used this year:

-Sierra pro-hunter 150 gr .308 bullets. I've used these year after year and deer after deer. They're accurate, they hit hard and they don't cost $1 a piece.

-Spyderco Paramilitary 2. So far this is my favorite hunting knife. No more need for a gut hook. This blade opens them up like a zipper. Field dressed and skinned a buck and doe and will still shave arm hair.

- Leatherman wave. I've used one for many seasons and I won't go afield without it. This and a sturdy folder are all anyone really needs for game dressing requirements. The saw is great for splitting ribe cages and the scissors are awesome for notching tags. They also offer some piece of mind as a survival knife.

- Bowtech Assassin. Awesome bow. Didn't kill anything with it but it is fast and compact. Glad I bought this one.

- Nockturnal lighted nocks. They work everytime but they raise my poi over 8 inches so I opted not to use them.

- North Face Hedgehog hiking boots. I was very impressed with these. I put on a lot of foot miles this year and never had to worry about sore feet. Only thing I didn't like is they do fill up with leaves and such.

So what is everyone elses favorite or not so favorite pieces of equipment this year?
 
Custom rifle and scope combination - $2000
Load development - $200
Budget for travel, licences and processing - $500
One shot and hunting season is over - PRICELE$$
 
I used one of those portable blinds this year for the first time.I had stopped hunting almost due to the cold out west and my many injuries but this made it possible for me to keep a bit warmer and out of the wind. I wore lots and was able to sit for a hours or two with out having to give up and move to get warm again.
 
85gr Barnes TSX did a very nice job on a whitetail at 190 yards.

My son's girlfriend got her first deer with it out of a youth model Savage I bought her. the youth model savage is a bit rough, terrible trigger( I didn't really have time to see about adjusting it), the clip is terrible, but it shoots decent.
 
Sitka gear - not impressed. Bought the Timberline pants anD the Jetstream jacket. Does not block any wind, does not keep out even the lightest bit of moisture. Worst part was the seems tearing open. That was after a light walk along up a forestry road. No rough use. That was disappointing. Brought it all back.

On to the good stuff:

Bought a pair of Sako 85s. The Finnlight in 270WSM and the Bavarian in 375 H&H. Great shooters. Comfortable in the shoulder. Really pleased with the Finnlight's performance. Love the set trigger on the Bavarian. Want one installed on the Finnlight. 10/10 X2

New pair of Berghaus Yeti gaiters. Awesome piece of kit. Nice, snug fit around the rand of my boots. Feet stayed very dry. 10/10

Condor soft shell. Not a bad piece of kit. Tried ordering a different brand of soft shell, but it was constantly on back order. Decided to take a chance on the Sub-$100 jacket and was pleasantly surprised. So far it seems quite well made. Not a lightweight, but comfortable and weatherproof. 8/10

Snugpak Sleeka jacket. Had to buy another as my Handler misappropriated the one in my pack. Warm, light, and extremely compressible for the pack. 10/10

Snugpak Merlin. Awesome lightweight sleeping bag. Not much wiggle room, but very warm for its size. 9/10

Quake Contour rifle sling. These things really grip the shoulder, no sliding like leather for the long walks up the mountain. A bit noisy but not too bad. 8/10

Badlands Monster Fanny. Another excellent piece of kit. 10/10

Badlands Super Day pack. Not bad, but too heavy for what I want. Quality is good, just the wrong pack for me. Should have bought the Badlands Sacrifice to better suit my preferences.
 
Turns out Hunter's Specialties is popular with me this year! Just a coincidence that most of the items below were made by them.

Hunter's Specialties Butt Out Tool - awesome tool that really works well. Just remember: two full turns and don't be shy about it. $10

Hunter's Specialties 4:1 Game Hoist - Outstanding tool for hanging deer from the ceiling. A 4:1 reduction in weight means a lot less work getting him onto the atv and up in the garage afterward. Smooth pulleys, easy to use. $35

Hunter's Specialties windproof treestand umbrella - total junk. Not windproof, bent rods. Junk. $25

Hunter's Specialties camo burlap - junk. Camo fades after 2 weeks of being outside. Spend 1/4 the money by picking up regular burlap from your local hardware store. $16 for 12'

Rage 125gr crossbow broadheads - unbelievable. Bought 3 and they've all been used this year (one of them twice) to take one black bear, one coyote and two deer.
 
Put an Ameristep doghouse blind through its paces.

1) Not waterproof but okay for wet weather use by keeping me reasonably dry.
2) Seems durable. No rips, zipper problems,or seam failures
3) Like the window arrangement
4) Bit cramped with 2 hunters but great for 1
5) I shot two deer from it at 167 yards and 45 yards so can't complain.

I rate 8/10

Savage MLII muzzle loader. Not a new toy but this gun simply rocks as a muzzle loader. It has filled tags for 10 years in a row and with 300 gr XTP's for shots under 200 yards ( preferably under 150 yards) it hammers the deer better than my rifles.

10/10

Leupold 600 range finder should have the name changed to leupold 300 range finder.

5/10
 
Hunter's Specialties Butt Out Tool - awesome tool that really works well. Just remember: two full turns and don't be shy about it. $10


Ha Ha I thought about one of these butt it's just one more thing that I would carry and not use. Plus I wouldn't want to have to clean it.
 
Bought a deer liscense and I haven't been out deer hunting yet :(. That's the only hunting gear I bought this year
 
savagelh said:
Hunter's Specialties Butt Out Tool - awesome tool that really works well. Just remember: two full turns and don't be shy about it. $10


Ha Ha I thought about one of these butt it's just one more thing that I would carry and not use. Plus I wouldn't want to have to clean it.
Click to expand...

You know you wanna lick it clean....LMAO....

I don't have one... that's what a huntin' knife is for.. no need fro squeamishness
 
Rocky hunting boots absolute total CRAP !!!! Wet feet and they make you jump through hoops to return.
Prospector boots 10/10 awesome boots. Warm and dry.
 
Rocky realtree gloves... teh thin ones.. crap... it rained and they dyed my hands balck as well as everything else I touched while they wre wet... toque, face, etc....

Butler creek all black sling with black shoulder pad... awesome... comfy and well designed... very quiet

Wildview x75 trail cam... crap... when game moves at all it is blurry.... slow trigger...
 
X2 on the Rocky boots being crap, mine leaked within the first couple uses and no amount of treatment gets them to repel water.


Bought a hang on stand from Sportsman's Guide, the guide gear deluxe and a 20' climbing stick.
Seems decent so far and under $100 for both.

Also bought the scent containment tent thing for treestands from sportsman's guide, not sure on this one. I bought it for weather protection more than scent control but the fabric is noisy, I don't think the roof will survive the first snowfall and it's a PITA to setup.

Got a Simmons rangefinder from cabelas for $100. It's really a Bushnell, optics are a bit dark but it ranges 300 no problem and often much further. Takes 9v battery too unlike the flat batteries some use. Happy with it for the money.
 
Cranky Pants said:
X2 on the Rocky boots being crap, mine leaked within the first couple uses and no amount of treatment gets them to repel water.


Bought a hang on stand from Sportsman's Guide, the guide gear deluxe and a 20' climbing stick.
Seems decent so far and under $100 for both.

Also bought the scent containment tent thing for treestands from sportsman's guide, not sure on this one. I bought it for weather protection more than scent control but the fabric is noisy, I don't think the roof will survive the first snowfall and it's a PITA to setup.

Got a Simmons rangefinder from cabelas for $100. It's really a Bushnell, optics are a bit dark but it ranges 300 no problem and often much further. Takes 9v battery too unlike the flat batteries some use. Happy with it for the money.
Click to expand...

Looking for a cheap rangefinder for yotes.... 300 and under... you think that simmons would do the trick?.... have been eying it...
 
-Primos Truth trail camera $120. This is my first tc. good enough for me.
-Helly hansen impertec rain suit $200 did't have a chance to try it out in a downpour but it was working fine in moderate rain and snow and it's quiet
-victorinox hunter $39 very good buy
-timney trigger for my savage rifle $110 money spent well
-motorolla talkabout two way radio with hands free mic and earbud $100 the mic come with the radio and it's junk


Jozsef
 
Chris Reeve Nyala fixed blade knife- one of the best skinning knives I've used and I have a bunch...

Cabelas Guidewear Gore-Tex- best GoreTex raingear to date, though pricey. One step down from true rain gear like the Helly Hansen stuff.

Sitka Celsius jacket and Stormfront pant- junk, overpriced, undersized, noisy,cold....the "open country" camo pattern looks awesome, the only positive I can find. Their ball cap is great however, especially for warm weather. Plastic in peak instead of cardboard is what every hat should have. Retains shape after getting soaked.

Muck Wetland boot- great all around, warmer than traditional rubbers and feet don't sweat as much. Roll down uppers is a handy feature.

Kimber 84M- I've found my new favorite rifle. Can't find a fault yet with this one. Yes, it's accurate. :)
 
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Sako 85 Hunter:
Damn good, well made and accurate. Bought from Bashaw Sports (http://www.bashawsports.com/) and took moose and deer with it this year. Oil finish was light when it came and a couple of hunts on the wet coast washed a noticeable amount of the stock finish off so...

Shaftol clear oil finish for rifle stocks: Bought from a fellow in Vancouver BC (http://www.bitsofpieces.com/schaftol.html). Good stuff, if you have an oiled stock it's a good product.

Teva Revo boots: (http://www.teva.com/productdetails.aspx?g=m&productID=4104&model=Riva Leather Mid eVent) Good boots for my dogs. I originally seen them in Hawaii and thought they were a very well made boot for the money. Turned out that there was a store close to where I was working when I came back that had them on sale. Bought em and love them! Light, reasonably well made and quiet (soft rubber compound). Probably wont last more than a few years, but a great boot.

There's more crap that I bought that I will add if this thread keeps going...
 
Bigfoot B2 Full Body decoys............despite all the rumors and comments about how they shine too much, are a different plastic and won't be as tough as the original Bigfoot's etc, etc, etc.........I put the 2 dozen I bought through every hunt we had this fall and I did not baby or bag them. I just threw them on the floor of the trailer, bed of the pickup, on the muddy ground etc. They are just as TOUGH as the originals, stand up better in wind owing to the original size base and the 15% smaller bodies and they take up alot less room in the trailer or truck. As for the "shine" I heard about, never experienced any and the birds never flared from them. I will have 3 dozen more in my inventory for next season.

Dakota Floater Canada's..........worth every cent I spent on the 6 pack I purchased to try them out. They look amazing once set out. Geese seemed to prefer them over my GHG Life Size Series Canada's to sit with once they set down. Swam over to the Dakotas 85% of the time.

Browning Maxus MODB, 3.5", 26" Barrel..........by far as advertised "THE" softest shooting autoloader I have ever owned and the nicest Browning auto I have ever owned/shot. This gun is a winner. Put it through some serious rigorous testing, left it dirty on purpose, got it wet and let it freeze on purpose etc, etc and it never failed to fire or function flawlessly even once. Fired 2 3/4" and 3" ammo through it all fall. Never did try any 3.5" but I doubt I would have issues with 3.5's after seeing how well it performed with everything else.
 
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