RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

WOW this is amazing........I love my ground blind I have been able to get closer to more deer than he has probably ever seen. Last year for exampleI had a doe walk right up to the blind anddamned near walk right in with me. Now who ever says blinds dont work hasnt tried or they are just jealous for thoes who can get them to work the way they are supposed to work.

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

I couldnt bash anyone for what they like. If it works for you, and you like it, use it.

The debate about archery equipment is probably the most heated debates on Earth.;)


The only thing Ill make fun of is the hunter who has to have camo, all the bells and whistles, that goes to an outfitter who sets them up in an elevated condo blind with a rifle. I live in the middle of outfitting country, here in North West Texas, and I see these guys come in the stores with the high dollare camo and everything else they could buy at Cabalos, just to set in a highrise blind with heaters. You could set in these blinds with cronic gas and a fan blowing and a deer would never see or smellyou, yet they have to be all camoed out. I guess its like the guys I see at Harley ralleys who have to have all the Harley leather and clothes, simply to set in a parking lot and drink beer while looking at their bikes. I guess some grownups like to play dress up. I can only laugh. :D:D:D

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

burniegoeasily

I will give you some guys go overboard. And i bet most guys and gals on here would to. but for must of us on here i believe thats not true we may buy a new idea every year or so but we are not like you described

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

Please dont get me wrong. I know most everyone here is not guilty of it. If you bow hunt, you are a little more dedicated than that. I was just poking fun at the weekend warrior. Everyone knows the kind, dont practice, simpy buy the equipment and pay an outfitter to set them up over a feeder in a cushy blind. The guys that dont shot their gun except to practice the day before the hunt.The lawyer type thatare not really hunters, but like to play like one every other year. My post was meant more of a joke than anything literal ;)

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

Camoflaged underwear :)

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

What? You've never hunted in your skivys? :D

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

With respect to the comments on my initial post, note that I did not suggest the things that I mentioned were worthless; only that they may be overrated and, in some cases, (carbon clothing is a case in point: I fully expect that something with more lasting effectiveness will replace them), a fad. On the other hand, I have found the thoughtful responses instructive and, in some cases, changed my opinion.

Rangefinder: It is clear that at least some hunters consider this a necessity. While $200 or more seems a great deal of money to judge 0-30 yards, I may feel differently if I misjudge and miss (or worse, wound) an animal.

Parallel limb bow: I did not say that this design was useless; only that it may be overrated. How can I say this without ever shooting a parallel limb bow? Because I honestly don't consider the "hand shock" or "draw smoothness" of my 02 Hoyt to be a significant problem. I may well opt for a parallel limb bow when the time comes to replace the one I have now and I expect that I will enjoy the improved performance. I am only suggesting that the difference cannot be so dramatic that I must have one NOW when these factors are not that significant on my present bow.

Besides, plenty of people purchase new Reflex Highlandersfor roughly half the price of a parallel limb bow and are entirely satisfied with theolder design.

Ground blinds: Clearly there are some situations that are suitable for ground blinds (as I indicated in my first post). However, I suggest that the "fad" aspect of ground blinds are the number of manufacturers with the varieties offered. Most hunters are unlikely to own three or more ground blinds like they often own multiple tree stands: once most of the hunters have purchased one ground blind to use on those occasions that call for it, the market will be satisfied and the available selection will decrease to a handful of choices.

Further, I predict that for most ground blind users the novelty will wear off andthey will go back to predominantly tree stands and natural blinds unless there is some special circumstance that prevents them from doing so.

Still, I am always willing to learn. Favor me with your wisdom and I will benefit from it.

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

Nicely said, BowHntrRick...a very gracious post. Hopefully, we all come here to learn something new. ;) Best to you,

Red

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

I like this talk about fads. I don’t think I’ve been bowhunting long enough to know a fad when I see it. But I must say that I do believe in carbon. Last year, late in the season, I had a group of 6 does sneak up on me from behind on wet leaves (from previous day’s rain) while I was intent on a buck emerging from some thick cover below me. The does were coming from uphill and downwind and I was only 8 feet up in a stand. Most of them were within 15 yards of me for at least two minutes without scenting me. I was wearing a carbon suite and had generously sprayed myself and my equipment with no-scent. I’m a believer!

I don’t think I’d use a blind until I get old and achey. Until then I’ll just use fallen trees and brush as my cover when I hunt from the ground.

I’m not fanatic about camo, but I like duller camo later in the season and greener camo early in the season.

I could probably use a rangefinder. I pace off 10 and 20 yard markers when I cut my shooting lanes a month before season begins, and use those as a mental compass (as in the architect’s tool, not the magnetic kind) to mentally draw two circles around my stand. I think I get pretty close with that method. But there are times when I’m not in a stand that I imagine it would be handy to have a rangefinder. Question: From my understanding, bow range is supposed to be horizontal distance, so do rangefinders adjust for stand altitude or is it just a point-to-point measurement?

I used Code Blue estrous doe pee once, late last season and had a buck snorting behind me (out of range), wanting to get at the “doe” long after the does that were with him fled, having sensed me, so I think at least some of the scent stuff works some of the time.

I’ve never tried a lot of the other stuff people have mentioned, and I hesitate to critique something I haven’t tried. I view some of this stuff like accessories in a car. Some people want all the bells and whistles and some people don’t have much use for them. Some stuff that may be bells and whistles for some people are a necessity for others or for certain situations (such as hunting in extreme cold, etc.).

I say let people have their gadget fetishes if they want to spend the money on them. Eventually, the fads will sort themselves out and fall by the wayside, and some of them that are useful enough will become mainstays and will probably become more affordable as time goes by.

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

That invention came to fruition with Davidmil in mind, I think... [8D]

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

took this one today. I used the range finder, and it told me 48 yards, may have been 47 by the time I let fly. Knowing the exact distance is what put my tag on her!

I can usually judge range pretty good, but at longer ranges, KNOWING the exact range is the difference between success and failure! Not all of us sit in tree stands where you can only shoot 20 yards;)

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

Congrats, Howler..:)..knowing the exact distance undoubtedly gave you some extra confidence. That alone makes it worth the price. Continued good luck.

Red

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

Great post howler, and even greater pic! :)A big congratulations to you, sir!

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

You're correct in the assertion about horizontal distance, and it's what causes a lot of bowhunters to shoot high. Although there are a few rangefinders starting to hit the market that claim to be able to adjust for this, I haven't heard too many great things about them at this point.

You could shoot a few known objects while you were still on the ground, but I find it much simpler to just pick out a tree I want to range and follow its trunk up to the level of my treestand, which is usually 20 feet or so. I then range that tree at that horizontal distance, much as you suggested. That gives me the real distance I should shoot for.

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

While I agree with some of the things listed being not very effective, I don't agree that we should put the label of 'fad' on some of them.

I love my ground blind and have taken turkey and deer from one.

As far as fads go... hold on to your black and white TVs guys, this color TV fad is gonna be over any day now. ;)

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

I'm surprised no one said "UV Killer."

I see that as being a real money waster. I'm surprised it made any money at all, but the advertising campaign worked and people bought it. I actually had one of the salemen still try to sell me this stuff even after I told him that I washed all my hunting clothes in baking soda only! I rarely get picked off.

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

Now hold on thar..... I don't own any camo undies and don't plan on buying any. Things are hard enough to find somedays without hiding them under camo.

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

many guys are like me and use a climber at times thats the only/first time in need that range finder to get the true range on the longer shoots. IF the reason behind this was to give the "weekenders" a hard time Why the parella limbs comment

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

I don't know if tis item will sell enough to become a fad or not but it is definately the most useless gadget I have ever seen. The deer'eere. It's like a taper reamer, you stick it in a deers butt and twist it a few times then pull it out and the intestines are cut loose and stay attatched to this thing so you can tie them off. I'm not kidding.

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i would agree on that

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(not directed at Greg, just general)

What causes hunters to shoot high is bad form, dropping the bow arm instead of bending at the waist. The difference in ranges from the ground compared to the tree is less than 2 yards and usually less than one at shorter distances. Worst case scenerio, range the deer and shoot for one less yard, most bows don't know the difference in an inch of point of impact.

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

Sooooooooooooo true IMHO. They do work, but no better or worse than anything else out there.

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

While I agree with you on most of your comments, the ground blind and range finder are valuable assets in my aresenal.

I hunt on public land and the woods are often crowded with hunters. The property is surrounded by prairie and savana hence NO TREES. Beyond that is crop land. I'll set the blind up near some brushes and get the first crack at any deer returning to the woods.

I wont speak to the bow, since I hae never tried a parrallel limb. I have never tried scent lock either because it is too much money. About camo, I think that anything that will break up your outline it helpfull. I sometimes use "waterfowl" camo because it is rain proof.

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

This is a veryentertaining thread. THe only major disagreements I have are the parrellal limbs and range finder.

Out here in the west, our shots range quite a bit in distance. This season I got a bull elk at 52 yards. My estimate was that the elk was 40 yards away. If I did not have my range finder, I would have missed the elk or even worse, just wounded the bull.

RE: Latest overrated fad?
 

Some people have tooo much energy in there fingertips.

Buy what makes you happy. Or just buy...hurry up and buy....
....