What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

What do I need for early season bowhunting. I don't mean the gear, I mean the items you wouldn't think about. I don't want to be up in my treestand and not have something. For instance water. (Saw this on another post) I would have never thought of that.

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

Insect repelant! flying insect that bit! [:'(] "ticks"[:'(] Ect

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

A tag;)

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

In the early season it is light out late so you are hunting late. A big things guys don't consider is what to do with the deer after you shoot it. Most butcher shops are not open late. If you don't butcher it yourself you need to have a plan. A nice cool garage/basement to hang it in, quarter it and put in coolers until you get to the butcher shop. YOu need a plan so you don't loose the meat because of warm weather.

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

what type of insect repellant can you use??? everything I know of can be smelled a mile away.

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

I like no stinkin bugs earth scent. Isnt sticky and does a great job keepin bugs away. Also, take an ice chest with water or somethin in there cause it gets hot. I take a jacket in my backpack cause sometimes it gets cooler when the sun starts to go down, plus, if im wearin short sleeves i want to try and camo up more during prime hours. Other than that, i dont have any special things i take during early season.

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

don't forget your pee bottle!

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

I like to sit for a long time so that some food. apples/ pb&j
I'm also with okiejim gotta pee

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

Yep, I agree with the cooler for the meat. I passed up many deer last year because it was 80 deg here in KY most of the early season, and then never had a shot after the weather cooled. I bought a 148 quart cooler for this season! I also agree that you need bug spray. I like anything with Permithrin that you spray on your clothes (ahead of time) and not your skin. It seems to be odorless after it has dried. Don't let the ticks get you. In Aug-Sept, the newly hatched brown ticks (seed ticks) are waiting in packs for their first feeding. After that, they will hibernate until the next spring I believe. I had 150+ bites on me after one hunt. Not a single bite since using the Permithrin spray.

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

Thermacell if you don't want to use any sprays. Lots and lots of "No scent" sprays. You'll sweat buckets in the early season depending on where you're at. It's a good idea to spray yourself down 3 - 4 times a day if you sit on stand all day. You can't trust the no scent soaps completely in 80 degree+ heat.

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

Hey y'all,
I hunt in the lowcountry of SC which is almost all swamp and open bean fields and bow comes in in August 15 so the heat is still stifling. Last year it was literally 95 degreees going to the stand in the afternoon so scent control was almost impossible. Luckily, at least for the first few hunts, the deer are pretty much clueless. I used lots of "stealth dust" by Knight & Hale as it seems to help with the perspiration. Also one item that I picked up last year that I don't know how I did without all these years is a Shannon's Bugtamer. I can't say enough about it. I can go to the stand in just my t shirt and boxers and the bugs can't touch me. I shot a 7 point in velvet last Aug 15 at 12 yards and he didn't have a clue I was in the world...the bugs actually helped on that one b/c he was so busy shaking his head to get rid of the mosqiotoes ("SC state bird":D) that I was able to draw on him at such close range from only 15 feet up.

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

Don't forget your safty harness, release, to sharpen and bring your knifes, ties for your tags, to empty out at home, I always leave TP in the car, you never know, to brush teeth with baking soda, don't forget to have fun because you'll be back at work before you know it and to never forget that you are not alone.

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

Things I have in my pack...

knife or 2
extra release
small roll of TP
pair of latex gloves
bottle of water
muchies
magazine or book
compass
scent cans (35mm canisters w/ cotton in them)
extra scent
scent killer spray
extra clothing depending on weather
rag to wipe hands/knife on
ect...

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

I wouldn't bring water because then you will have to go to the bathroom. Also if you do it doesn't matter if you go in a bottle the deer can not tell the difference between humane urine or deer urine.

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

i disagree with thenuge15. i ALWAYS carry water. it only makes sense to carry it during the hottest part of the season.


but i do agree with him on this. ;)

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

For where you live ZAK, I'd definitely say a couple of bottles of water and either insect repellant or get a Shannon's Bug Tamer, at least the top.

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

plenty of water.........first aid kit and survival kit.....extra flashlight pee bottle.........a small bottle of scent killer to bring on the stand.....

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

I've sweated my arse off plenty in the past while wearing my shannon bug tamer outfit. My hunting buddy just uses the earth scented mosquitoe repellant and actually saw more deer per hunt than I did (same lease). I'm gonna give it a whirl this year because even with the bug tamer on the skeeters still buzz your head, bite your hands and harrass you the whole time.
I also use a thermecall on the less windy days, but I swear I can smell it.

RE: What do I need for early season bowhunting
 

Yeah I guess I never took into consideration where other ppl live according to how hot and dehydrated they get. I live in Michigan and I have never been in my stand wanting water or getting to hot/dehydrated. I would imagine south it would be much different and you would need a lot more hydration.