Hi there, will be hunting white tail in southern Alberta. Have most of what I need but blades and boots. Suggestions? Would like to spend around $175-275 on knife, bone saw $? And an ok, nothing fancy pair of boots. Located in Calgary. Thanks!
First hunting season, recommendations.
- Thread starter Hmatt
- Start date
Never used a bone saw in 40+ years of hunting. A good sturdy blade ( Buck makes solid affordable knives) well sharpened will serve you well. If you need to split the pelvic bone a small hatchet is all I ever used. I avoid any sawing of bone on game as bone dust in the meat tastes horrible. Also, from my understanding is that the prions for CWD resides in the brain and spinal column so I avoid cutting into that.
Best of luck this fall. Hope you tag a bruiser.
Best of luck this fall. Hope you tag a bruiser.
Much appreciate.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
I use one of the Dewalt handles that takes a reciprocating saw blade as a hand saw for field dressing, cheap and easy to clean. Blade is tossed once it gets dull, I use it to split the pelvis and rib cage. My knife is a $4 PC brand paring knife. Have never felt lacking when I gut a deer, less is more most times.
This is the approach I’m trying to take, however I wouldn’t mind a nice knife I’ll use and hand down to my kids one day. Buy once cry once kinda thing.
I'd forget the bone saw. Not really necessary for deer once you learn how to do it. Once the quarters or halves are out, if you want a saw to cut the hooves etc off, any old sterilized recip or hack saw will do. Throw it out when your done, or clean it and use it again.
Whatever knife you buy, I'd recommend carbon steel over stainless (easier to sharpen in the field .. easier to sharpen period actually, less brittle, and easier to re-profile or repair when you chip it). Buck and other department store stuff like Gerber are okay, and despite what you read on blade forums, they WILL actually cut meat and skin animals (lol). Helle, SOG and the like are good too (at the higher end of the department store stuff), but overpriced for what you get. I'd recommend a Roselli (not the UHC, just the regular hunter). It will last you the rest of your life if you take care of it, and it won't break the bank.
For boots, it depends on what kind of hunting you want to do. In a stand you'll want something warm. For stalking, you don't want your feet to sweat, so breathability is better than warmth (when you;re walking you'll stay warm anyway). I use Sorels in the stand in late winter and a decent pair of Irish Setters for stalking/hiking. If you're willing to spend a few bucks more Scarpas, Zamberlans etc. - you said "okay nothing fancy" so I'd look at the Setters.
Whatever knife you buy, I'd recommend carbon steel over stainless (easier to sharpen in the field .. easier to sharpen period actually, less brittle, and easier to re-profile or repair when you chip it). Buck and other department store stuff like Gerber are okay, and despite what you read on blade forums, they WILL actually cut meat and skin animals (lol). Helle, SOG and the like are good too (at the higher end of the department store stuff), but overpriced for what you get. I'd recommend a Roselli (not the UHC, just the regular hunter). It will last you the rest of your life if you take care of it, and it won't break the bank.
For boots, it depends on what kind of hunting you want to do. In a stand you'll want something warm. For stalking, you don't want your feet to sweat, so breathability is better than warmth (when you;re walking you'll stay warm anyway). I use Sorels in the stand in late winter and a decent pair of Irish Setters for stalking/hiking. If you're willing to spend a few bucks more Scarpas, Zamberlans etc. - you said "okay nothing fancy" so I'd look at the Setters.
Thank you for the knife recommendation sir. I’ll be stalking, and setters we’re what I was kind of thinking. I will look at all of them though!
if you want to go the cheap but good knives i will recommend a mora knife and a lambskinner victorinox blade one. for the saw the wyoming take down will work perfectly if ever needed.
look up few threads and you will see what you can have for not that much more money and made in canada ... Big Ugly Man did a great job.
look up few threads and you will see what you can have for not that much more money and made in canada ... Big Ugly Man did a great job.
Those are beautiful, not quite the price I’m willing to spend at the moment. Maybe for my birthday
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Understandable, I have a bunch of good knives that were my dad’s that I break out for skinning, quartering and butchering once I’m home.
I started using the paring knife and surprise surprise it was the best tool for the job, short and quick to maneuver. Holds an edge long and if I loose it it’s easy to replace, it’s now my go to knife for all my field dressing. From small to large game.
+1 for Irish Setters, I’m on year 6 with a pair of Elk Trackers. Zero complaints, might have them resoled next year and pick up a pair with more insulation for when I’m ice fishing. Currently have the 200 gram insulation but can get cold when I’m sitting in the snow/cold for long periods, toasty warm once I’m moving.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Was going to say can do a lot worse than a Mora. They used to be $20, likely more now, but they’re great knives for the task. And a custom from BUM would be a great heirloom piece.
For fine work, I really like the scalpel blades on a good handle, Tyto has given me a few and I still use them. They’re really slick, and dead simple.
I’ll more than likely end up buying a couple of different styles as I’m new to the sport and haven’t found what I “like” yet. I’ve settled on rifle calibre and that’s about it! 6.5x55 now and I’ll probably get a 30-06 for bigger game as I already load .308
Spend your money on the best pair of boots in your budget.You won’t regret it.
Wyoming saw if you want one.
Knives come and go. If you want one to pass on to the next generation I could give you a hundred options but start at Buck or Puma and go up from there.
Wyoming saw if you want one.
Knives come and go. If you want one to pass on to the next generation I could give you a hundred options but start at Buck or Puma and go up from there.
Fisherguy55
Regular
- Location
- SW Ontario
+1 vote for $16 mora, and an upper end leatherman would be my recommendations for knives. One for meat and one for anything else you may need. For boots you need to try them on. I like meindl, keen, anything popular should do you fine.
did you tried Tyto handle with 70a kind blade?
My current setup is:
Cutco Blaze Orange Hunting Knife from Stars Air Ambulance
Zwilling 6" Boning Knife
Victorinox serrated Steak Knives.
I think the Cutco was $100, the Zwilling $30 and the steak knives $6 each.
Knives don't need to be fancy, I skinned and gutted a bunch of deer with a Ruko? folder I bought at Zellers.
Boots for hunting are overrated, unless I'm dealing with some fairly serious topography its either Merrill Mocassins or rubber boots.
Cutco Blaze Orange Hunting Knife from Stars Air Ambulance
Zwilling 6" Boning Knife
Victorinox serrated Steak Knives.
I think the Cutco was $100, the Zwilling $30 and the steak knives $6 each.
Knives don't need to be fancy, I skinned and gutted a bunch of deer with a Ruko? folder I bought at Zellers.
Boots for hunting are overrated, unless I'm dealing with some fairly serious topography its either Merrill Mocassins or rubber boots.
Buy one of the wood handled moras and put the rest in boots, you will be using them far more if you aren't truck hunting
I usually use my mora or opinel folder. Carry two knives and use one for skinning/gutting and one for quartering/ removing rib meat
I usually use my mora or opinel folder. Carry two knives and use one for skinning/gutting and one for quartering/ removing rib meat
Do you carry 2 different blade lengths? If so what do you carry?
Been using a Havalon for quite a few years now (60XT blades but be careful they've got a needle point) and I like it for most of field dressing and skinning. It's what my taxidermist uses as well and he does more skinning in a season than I'll do in my life. Also carry a Kershaw Roughneck hunting knife but that's more for moose and elk. Boots you'll have to try and see what your feet like. I've used cheap Walmart ones, Mucks, and now I have a $700 pair of Kenetreks, time will tell if they were worth it.
