This weekend the fam and I went out and were watching some wildlife. Everyone had their own binocs. My wife was using some nice Vortex Vipers. Then she grabbed my 8.5x42 EL Swarovskis. She immediately said, "oh wow, these are nice. They cost a lot more than the other ones didn't they?" She is, by no means, a hunter or regular user of binoculars but the difference is so stunning that she noticed instantly. I think that, within each person's budget, the cost is easily justified. Buy the best you can.
Several good tips here. One that hasn't been mentioned and an extremely important one to me is physical fitness. I go to the gym at least three days a week more the closer to hunting season. I know you don't need to be in shape really at all to walk to a stand and sit here in Oklahoma but it damn sure helps. The ability to get away from the roads and crowds is essential out west. Makes hunts even easy hunts around here more enjoyable.
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That's true. I'm not overweight, but it will really wear me out walking around getting things ready or even in the dead of winter. And then if you gotta drag a dear out on foot it really takes some energy
There are some really nice carts out there.
Don't buy cheap. If you do, you will understand why some give them a bad rap.
Can't agree more. Had to drag a doe about 100 yards last year and it about killed me, 5-10 yards..huff huff huff, repeat. I picked up my routine this year and now try to work out 4-5 days a week, even if I only have time for 20 min on the airdyne I do it. After not having a bow last year and deciding to not miss out on hunting time this year I now have a nice bow. Talk about feeling weak, at 70 lb draw I could only shoot it a couple of times and practice was over. I have a nice rowing machine that was seldom used so I blew off the dust and started working out on that every other day. Wow, what a difference, with that and practice I can now shoot all I want without issue working on form and accuracy.
I also got very lucky this year and drew a Elk cow tag for Wichita Mountains, so I'll be adding some more exercises before January. Filling my pack with 70 lbs or so and hiking a couple miles several time a week. I'll also be adding a 300 Win Mag to my arsenal for the hunt. Have a feeling it's going to be a good year.
I also got very lucky this year and drew a Elk cow tag for Wichita Mountains, so I'll be adding some more exercises before January. Filling my pack with 70 lbs or so and hiking a couple miles several time a week. I'll also be adding a 300 Win Mag to my arsenal for the hunt. Have a feeling it's going to be a good year.
As to the bow, don't feel like you have to have it set to 70lb. I have 60-70lb limbs on mine but have it set to 63 as cold mornings where you haven't moved in hours will decrease your ability to draw smoothly as your muscles are stiff. A lesser draw weight that you can pull smoothly and hold longer will pay dividends.
After all the practice and exercise it seems just right to me now, and I have no issue drawing in any positions, sitting, on knee, etc. I really love the bow, I lucked into a Mathews Switchback XT at a great price and in good shape. I can't wait to get out there and apply all the practice to real world hunting.
Once you get one with a bow, you'll be lucky to want to gun hunt at all. The rush is incredible!
Probably a little early but this thread prompted me to find "The Master Hunt List" and started going through it, migrated some stuff in the right direction, and I've lost 19 pounds toward my goal of fifty.
I'm lost without a good shoulder bag to carry my odds & ends when I'm hunting.
Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek
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