Decisions, decisions...
 

So I need help spending money again, guys.

I'm trying to decide between buying four new stands, a Double Bull Matrix, or a Cuddeback.

I currently own two stands, I'd like to have more.

I currently own an Ameristep Doghouse blind, I haven't figured out how to fold the damn thing back up since I bought it. (I bought it for my birthday two years ago. :D[&:])

I do not own a trail cam.

I plan on buying the stands and the blind at some point between now and this fall. The trail camera is something I would like to have, but don't necessarily need. Considering they're all roughly the same price, I'm having trouble deciding which to buy.

What would you do?

RE: Decisions, decisions...
 

Since you already plan on getting the stands and the blind, I would get the camera, then you will have all them.

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i agree with this guy ^^^^^^^^^

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Tough choice....I could make it easier on you though.....I have a Matrix I could let go for $250....plus a little shipping....

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I have the same blind, and the same problem, but I got it from a buddy of my dad for $20 after he picked it up for cheaper at wally mart, through club dicount and clearance price. Any how, I'd get two more stands, instead of the 4 you mentionsed, and the trail camera.As far as the blind goes, you could either firgure out how theAmeristep goes back together, or safe up and get theDB later on.

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That doghouse is a riot! You wouldn't believe how easily it folds up.....ONCE you figure it out....

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My arms are too long for the Doghouse anyhow. I can't draw in it without my elbow hitting the back of the blind. Pain in the butt, thats for sure.

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That was exactly my problem w/ it.....If you draw corner to corner it helps, but not entirely. I had to leave the front window open....

The Matrix is FAR, FAR, FAR better....

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Id go with the camera.

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there are instructions right on the carry bag of the doghouse blinds... its a puzzle with out the instructions

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Honestly I know it isnt the cool thing but I really still just cant justify the cost of a DB blind. I have my ameristep brickhouse and it is LIGHTYEARS ahead of the doghouse. I have abused mine for a full year now and really make no effort to take care of it in any way and it keeps working flawlessly. It has shoot through windows is a hub style like the DB, keeps the rain off me, is black inside, and even with my 30.5" draw length and a 11" stabilizer I have plenty of room to draw in it any way I want even with another guy in it. For $100, I would get a brickhouse blind and spend the rest on stands. The cameras are cool to take inventory of the deer herd but dont influence where I hunt really........its just cool to see whats out there where I hunt. I would get a brickhouse and spend the rest on those $30 lock on stands from Dicks sporting goods I posted about earlier this year. I cant imagine hunting with only 2 stands, I have 11 stands now on my property of 130 acres and around 15 stands on the other property of 160 acres..........without the stands I would have to disturb everything every time I wanted to hunt. I have 2x climbers that I love but they are noisy and I love to hunt close to bedding areas so its tough to do that without disturbing everything with a climber. Its also nice to be able to have stands that you know haven't been disturbed or hunted for a year or two.........you can't do that without having lots of them.

Hope this helps.

~Matt

RE: Decisions, decisions...
 

cant have enough stands!!;)
Dan

RE: Decisions, decisions...
 

Dan, as you know I have a young daughter. So around here I have to really follow a budget. I bought a Yukon TracksDominator blind from sportsmans guide a couple years ago. I too had problems drawing in a doghouse. At 6'2" I have a long wingspan. TheDominator has plenty of room and folding it is not too hard after scratching your head once or twice. Give it a look. Then think about what you will get the most value out of. What do you think will get loaded in the truck and used the most?

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Don't forget to let us know what you decide.

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Guys! I'm tryin to make a sale here!! Talk up the Double Bull now......:D:D:D

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The way i see it, there is no point in getting new stand and a blind if your not sure where to set them up at, get the camera, then the others

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I think what I'm going to do is buy two stands and the blind from Mobow.

I'll buy another two stands (maybe more)later this summer, probably along with a Cuddeback.

The camera, I doubt, would really have any bearing as to where I hang my stands. I would just be using it to get a feel for what I've got walking around on my property.

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I tried the blind thing a couple of times. I can't stand sitting in there. Buy the stands and tell mobo no no. :D

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Me? Get the stands. Having pics would be nice, but I prefer letting the sign tell me whats around and where.

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Camera's are cool, but they don't kill deer. I have the smaller outhouse blind for turkeys (shotgun) and once you figure out the spin move to fold em you'll wonder why you couldn't do it before!

Get more stands, I own 5 and plan to get two more this year but I'm going to upgrade from the real cheapo's for all day comfort.

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if it were me(and my camera wouldnt get stolen) id buy the camera now..get it out there...see whats left out there before the antlers shed...you said your buying everything between now and the season...whats more stands and another blind gunna help you NOW?? hold your shed down to the ground...good dust collectors..other than that i think the camera is the best choice right now. though i love to scout and you still gotta scout even with a camera id love to have one...here it wouldnt last a day in the woods..

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LOL, My wife folds one of those things up, and has it on her back in 15 seconds!! The neighbors baught a couple dog houses this year, and the first time thay used them, brung them over cramed in the back of the truck and said thay were all wore out trying to get them back in the pack, and asked my wife to show them how to do it. She did it so fast the first 2 times, I was laughing so hard I was crying, at the blank looks on their face's. She had to show them 3 times befor thay caught on!!!

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I've got a DB Matrix......but if I didn't turkey hunt I wouldn't own it. I have ZERO confidence out of it for deer hunting (Mostly because I can't leave it up for a long time....and I think the dee aren't used to it).

I LOVE the times I can get in my lock-ons quickly and quietly. It's an awesome feeling to walk to the stand with a bow ONLY. I likely utilized a climber 40+ times, this past season.

It's just me.....but I'd go with more stands.

Jeff

RE: Decisions, decisions...
 

Stands......stands......stands If crap happened and you couldn't buy the other stuff later, you'd be glad you bought the stands. The camera you can do without just fine. The double bull to me is very over priced and again not needed. You can make ground blinds without a tent. But, you can't hunt safely and effectively from a tree without a stand. Multiple stands allow you to play the wind better and ever take along a friend if you feel like it. You won't end up over hunting a stand either. Cameras are gimmicks we can do without just fine.Stands .....stands......stands

RE: Decisions, decisions...
 

I say treestands just because we can always use more areas to hunt.

* You already have a blind (even though it isn't the one you want)
* The trailcam will show you whats running around, but won'tshoot a deer foryou when the wind is wrong.

That is why I say treestand...gives you more options to HARVEST a deer when the wind isn't in your favor (assuming you have enough land/locations to put the stands.

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The stands would even give you more options to KILL a few too.;)

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I have all of the equiptment that you are talking about, including a cuddeback. The camera came last. I bought in order of my priorities, stands first, 5 LW hang ons,3 loc-ons and a double bull. I haven't used the camera yet this year, but I've used all of the stands and blind (a lot).

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I didn't read through all the posts but here it goes. Sorry if I am repeating someone else.


Buy a cheaper camera and maybe 2 new stands.

And buy a ground blind if you have enough left over.

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The Cuddebacks are nice and take nice pics, I'll agree.

But you probably just want a camera, just to see what deer are there and when they come to certain areas. A cheaper camera will give you this info.

Besides if it gets stolen, you won't be out as much money.

Getting just 2 new stands, thiswill add to your arsenal and help you out morethan if you didn't get any standsand bought the Cuddeback.

This is what I would do.

RE: Decisions, decisions...
 

I agree. Although the higher end cameras tend to take better pictures and may have faster trigger speeds, lower end cameras do the job just fine. I bought a Wildview Extreme 2 2.1mp from Gander Mountain for about $110 with batteries and a 128mb SD card. Takes pictures just fine and has worked well for me. I would say get more stands first...if there's money left over, then get a lower end camera. The cuddeback is nice...but not necessary.

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Do you really need a camera? I don't think so.

Buy some stands.

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What did you get?

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Hey Wash,
Werent you just getting mad at me and Martin for asking questions like these.

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Oh man, are you serious? :eek:

You can't see the difference between starting a dozen new polls in a short period of time and my single thread asking one question?

Are you honestly this dense?

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I wound up getting the Matrix from Mobow and then blew the rest on dates. :D;)

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Thats the 5th one I have seen tonight!

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Well can't blame you at your age but............dates will get you nothing but trouble. :D Congrats on the DB blind.

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Trouble is my middle name. ;)

I've got the last in a line of dates scheduled for Monday afternoon/evening. After that, no worries. :D

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You're supposed to be saving your money for the trip to the June get together. Stay away from the dates, unless they pay!;)

RE: Decisions, decisions...
 

I know, I know...

You know how it is though, sometimes they can just be so dang irresistable.