What you DON'T need to be successful
 

I get so tired of seeingnew bow hunters getting hung up on things, gadgets, theories, tales, etc that are absolutely NOT necessary and they waste their time, energy, and brain matter that could be better directed at the important things that ARE necessary to be successful.

Here is my list:

scent lock
cover scents
mock scrapes
carbon arrows
decoys
"the can"
$500+ bows with all of their goofy bells and whistles
trail cams
mechanical broadheads
calls that are anything besides a basic doe bleat or buck grunt
rangefinders
game finders
GPS
bait


Anyone think of any others?

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

Well since I use a couple of the things you say are a waste I'll plead the fifth.

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

I guess I shouldn't say a waste but they seem to be the topics of posts that so many new hunters focus on when they should focus on the basics and fundamentals that will get them close to deer. Scouting, studying, stand placement, deer behavior, and game retrieval.

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

isnt the can a basic doe bleat?

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

I agree, a new bowhunter should get the basics down before all the "latest and greatest" as they can mess you up some

BUT, one of the reasons I enjoy bowhunting is all of the neat new gadgets that come out each year that are fun to try. I usually buy a couple each year just for curiosity. Most are gimicks, but a few end up being great, from your list, the can, carbon arrows, trail cams, andrange finders are great.

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

[align=left] scent lock-I disagree and it is spelled Scent-Lok

cover scents - I agree, I like to have zero order.

mock scrapes -I shot a 130 class 8 point over a Mock Scrape

carbon arrows -A big disgreement, they are now just as heavy/straight as aluinum now and stiffer.

decoys-Never Tried them

"the can" -I have called deer in with it, but no big boys.

$500+ bows with all of their goofy bells and whistles -Well shoot one then make this statement. There is a world of difference between low-end/Mid-end and high-end bows.

trail cams -Great scounting tool I only use my after the season to see who made it.

mechanical broadheads-I agree, but I know people who love'em

calls that are anything besides a basic doe bleat or buck grunt-Agree and I try to use calling as a last resort, like the can which is a doe bleat.

rangefinders-Who needs to know how far they shoot?

game finders-100% agree

GPS-I disagree I love mind!

bait-not a fan, but to each his own

There is my 2 cents, just what I do.
[/align]

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

I see what your are saying wolfen. You can have all the extra gadgets and toys but if you dont do things right you will not kill deer consistantly. Time in the woods hunting deer is the best teacher.

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

I should have added this, very sold point. While Gadets make hunting fun. This is number 1. Why I sit here with 2 in the freezer, because I put my time in and did the basics.

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

Well for most newhunters like my self please do not push them away from gps, it could really save a human life. i found it very easy to get lost the other day and thank god i kept come and used my brain went out and brought a gps today. anything that can save or help some one is not a stupid or senceless thing to have.

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

Someone has to say it...

A piece of laminated wood they call a stick bow, recurve or long bow that cost twice as much as those fancy $500 bowswith all the bells and whistles.[8D][8D][8D][8D]

ALSO.... someone telling me what I don't need.[8D][8D][8D][8D]

I'm guilty of having a $500 Plus bow and a range finder.:D;)

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

I have bow hunted for ten years and up untill this year i never used sights, and i still dont use a release, the only reason i even bought sights is because i had my bow restrung over the summer and they put a peep in for free, so i dropped 30 bucks and bought a set of tru glos, last year i started using carbon arrows, and i like them , i get better speed and penetration now. i stay loyal to the muzzy broadhead i dont like the mechanical junk. scent lok... i am a believer, and i plan on buying a trailcam shortly after season, and i always carry a grunt tube you can keep the rest of the junk, no amount of money will make you a better hunter.

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

I highlighted the items I use in bold. I enjoy using this stuff as well as other things. Such as a digital camera, a compass, wind checker, rattling horns, mechanical release, binoculars, scent killer spray etc etc....[/align][/align]Is there something wrong with enjoying the use of misc gear?[/align][/align]scent lock
cover scents
mock scrapes
carbon arrows
decoys
"the can"
$500+ bows with all of their goofy bells and whistles
trail cams
mechanical broadheads
calls that are anything besides a basic doe bleat or buck grunt
rangefinders
game finders
GPS
bait
[/align]

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

don like scent lok
or carbons any primos products
cover scent dont knowy u dont like them but

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

Poppycock!!!

You don't need a nice truck when any transportation will do!

You don't need a big fancy house when people live in boxes!

There's lots of things we don't need..including this stupid list!

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

The list for what you do need is shorter:D:D:D:D:D

Mainly:
1. Self Motivation
2. Wiilingness/ability to learn
3. Ability to keep your mouth shut and listen to folks that know more than you.

With that being said,;) I know exactly what you mean, which is the distraction caused by many of these gadgets can cause a person to loose focus on the things that really matter. Scouting. Stand location. Concealment. Play the wind (scent-lok or not). Mental preparedness.

Do these things, keep your eyes open and learn. Know your limitations but always strive for improvement.

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

This whole thread is Perception vs. Reality. Wants vs. Needs.

Opinionated to say the least. But it's a message board...so to each his own.

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

I get what he's saying. He's not knocking anything he listed , he's just making a valid point.
For a new archer coming into this blind folded , he/she will be bombarded with a list of "must have's" of gadgetry and expensive equipment , when all they need is basic equipment , andthe knowlege to use the equipment.The most important knowlege they'll need is the understanding of the hunt itself and how to effectively pursue and outsmart theanimal their hunting.

For a beginning deerhunter , I believe $20 spent on a bookabout thehabbits of whitetail deer , including feeding , bedding , and mating habbits , and everything in between is a better investment than $800 worth of equipment and gadgetry.

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

One can't help but wonder how people were able to hunt and feed themselves with bows and arrows in the days before they had invented money. ;):D

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

"One can't help but wonder how people were able to hunt and feed themselves with bows and arrows in the days before they had invented money. ;):D"

Valid point.....but I think "I'm" the guy the original poster may be talking about.

I bought my first bow, this year. I bought one of theose....$500+ contraptions (Switchback)...because I heard good things about them from people I trust....and because they have a great brand recognition. I figured if I got into it and didn't like it....I'd come closer to recovering some of my money if I brought brand name. Now....the rest of the story...

scent lock - well...yeah...I own a jacket. The "orignal" bow hunters had their own form of scent-lok. they put mud over their bodies before going to stalk their prey. Did they know they were practicing scent control? Good question. Maybe it was a ritual?? No question it worked, though, huh??

cover scents - I spray my boots when I leave the truck. Guilty.

mock scrapes - Nope...but I don't discount things I know nothing about.


carbon arrows - Again...I use these on advice of a friend who guides elk hunts (archery only) in Colorado. Call me naive.

decoys - Nope. Again...I know nothing about the use of such, but DON'T discount it.

"the can" - People I KNOW are good deer hunters use them. I might, too. Again...guilty.

$500+ bows with all of their goofy bells and whistles - Like I said...my switchback is the only bow I've ever shot. I'm no Roy Clark, either....but I've been playing the guitar for MANY years...and I own a damned nice dreadnought, too (MArtin D-28). I like to have nice "tools" to utilize.

trail cams - Again...I don'town one....but I can't help but be curious as to what's feeding on my newly acquiredunting land I've yet to be able to get to.

mechanical broadheads - Nope. Again I went on the advice of people I trust that said there's plenty of good broadheads out there....and they simply chose fixed.

calls that are anything besides a basic doe bleat or buck grunt - I don't use calls....YET. I'd like to know what experience the originalposter has with anything other than the ones on this list, though. People seem to REALLY have issues with things they don't understand. Think about it.

rangefinders - Well...I know how far I'm accurate to. I know when I get in my stand....that I look around to see how far certain lndmarks are from me (downed log; tree; path). I feel like it's the ethical thing for me to pass on shots beyond those landmarks. Call me stupid :).

game finders - I don't even know what this is. So YEAH!! Gamefinders suck! lol

GPS - I lived on the coast for a few years...and I know of REAL LIFE instances where GPS units have saved lives. If you don'tunderstand them or can't afford one....leave it to others.

bait - Well...it's legal in my state. I "personally" don't find much sport in shooting deer with rifles, muzzle loaders; shotguns ....or in running dogs to kill them....but all of these practices are legal in MANY areas. Who am I to "judge". I just have an opinion.

I'm also smart enough to know that my opinion don't mean SQUAT to anyone else.

Have a successful, ethical hunting season.

Jeff

RE: What you DON'T need to be successful
 

What about 4 wheelers?
I would never made it to a few of my spots without that "gadget" & my GPS.:D
Use whatever floats your boat & makes the hunt more enjoyable for U.IMO.