Spears anyone? <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I'm with you Jim. I started hunting with an old hand-me-down Bear compound bow, aluminum arrows, and old Wasp broadheads. My hunting clothes consisted of an old pair of olive drab surplus duds that my uncle camoflaged by spraypainting the outline of backyard leaves on. Hunting was all from the ground and each trip felt like an adventure.

It wasn't long before I fell into the techno trap as was lugging a decked out bow, treestand, decoys, and backpack full of scents, rangefinder, calls, gizmos, and warmer clothes (I'd sweat to death if I wore them in while lugging that stuff around). It would take me forever just to get everything together and leave the car and an hour to get all set up. Hunting became as much of a chore as recreation.

Now I've reverted back to the slimplistic route, hunting from the ground with a handmade wooden selfbow and wooden arrows, and generally carrying only what can fit in my pockets. Hunting like that is rejuvinating and enjoyable. The irony is that I'm every bit as successful each season as when I hunted with all the &quot;must have its&quot;.

I have to admit that after several seasons of thinking about getting a climbing treestand, I broke down and bought a Summit Cobra. I thought it might be nice to sit high and have a decent view once in a while. But after taking it out for the first time recently on a scouting trip, I quickly remembered why I had decided to leave all that stuff behind in the first place. It's heavy, cumbersome, and noisy to carry, won't let me sneak through dense woods without getting snagged on everything, takes about 20 minutes to get set up, and makes no less noise than a demo crew ripping down a tin shed. ;^) The view is at least nice, but I've been kicking myself so far for buying it.

The more stuff you carry the more work it becomes. I carry my rifle and a small day pack with some light food, small flash light, binoculars, extra knife, water, and some cover scents. To much gear takes the fun out of hunting.

I wear camo because deer come to within 6 feet of me sometimes while I'm hunting on the ground. I think it has helped me get up close and personal with my favorite animal, the whitetail. I don't use any type of cover scent, just wash my hunting clothes in cold water. I also use an 50 yr. old open sight 30/30 rifle. I keep it simple and I don't think I would change anything. I have used tinks 69 a few times but I really can't say that it has helped me in any way. I think I'll do without it this year.

****I'd rather be a fence post in Texas than a corn boy in Ohio****

I often walk very long distances when I hunt, so I make sure I have enough stuff to allow me to quick set up shop overnight in the woods if I have to. Even so, I think about as high-tech as I ever get is in using my climber and cell phone. Often I don’t use the climber. I wear good boots and camo. But scent-lok stuff I’ve never tried.

Typically, I carry my bow or gun and my pack. In the pack I have stuff like bread, water/coffee, first-aid kit, flashlight, knives, steel, saw, tarp, string, rope, matches, whistle, etc. – stuff that will help me survive a day or two in the woods should I get hurt and can’t call anyone.

I have used scents (and I’ve used them correctly), but I don’t think they really work. Long ago I stopped using the store-bought variety. Sometimes I take urine from a downed doe or buck and use it during my next hunt. But I refuse to actually pay for pee.

I like gadgets, even if I don’t use them. Can’t help it. Gotta have myself some gadgets. Right now I am looking into buying one of those Heater Body Suits. I’m curious if they work well and if I can use it to literally camp a few days straight in my tree stand.

Great question. Several years ago, when I was much younger, I fell for those stupid smoking punk stick scents. What a crock of crap those were. They drove ME out of the area. Imagine what they did to the deer! After that I decided enough was enough and cut everything back to the simpler life. All I take into the woods with me now is my 870 (rifled barrel, open sights), my binos and my camo. No cover scents needed if you hunt the wind right and no attractants needed if you scout out the right spots. I've taken more deer and been more relaxed ever since!

i dont have a tree stand , i use an old plastic milk crate that i leave in &quot;my spot&quot; in the woods year after year, i do sometimes take a seat cushion for it and a fanny pack with scent and snacks and a book to read. i try and keep it simple. high tech equitment is high maintance and you cant properly enjoy your hunt if you are always tending to or looking after your equitment. i do not add all the useless extras to either my bow or gun. i do wear camo but no fancy scent suits or even rain gear, ect. i have long ago given up on not scratching my gun, i find this almost impossible when walking and crawling through brush. i used to concentrate on not scratching my gun instead of hunting. now i do whatever i can to keep it simple, plus the more equitment you have the more chances to scare away the game.

I don't buy into all that techno BS. I travel as light as possible. Weapon, knife, rope, camo, food/bev, binos and scent eliminator.

Jim, I am with you, and I have been wonderng if the real hunters, not the TV people, really think all the stink and no stink really works. Seems its a croc. I keep it pretty simple. A combo of home made comfy stands with safety bars. I have a useless Sumit Viper climber, as someone above said its like fightimg in a tin shed. I leave it in a good tree for the season with a ladder. I use a nice model 70 270 and have to have a scope, can't see without it. What a pain to go over 50!! Any way I hunt close to home and bring a gun/bow and a phone in case I fall out of the stand. When I wack one I go home and get the stuff I need. So without all the fancy stuff 2 bucks last year and 5 the year before and 4 the year before. One 130 point 8 point. &quot;Keep it simple keep it fun&quot; Phil

I got a theory 'bout all the gizmos an' doodads. I think they replace the proper huntin' upbringin' thet us ol' timers used to git. Fellers nowadays need a gizmo to sharpen their knives cause granpa or dad never taught 'em to use a stone. Plus, generation Xers cain't bear to fail. They want all the insurance agin failure technology can muster. Somewhar along the way hunters have lost their outdoors skills an' appreciation fer everthin' cept the kill. Jus' look at the non-shooting posts on this board. Very few, and fewer still thet deal with some huntin' skill thet used to be passed down. As a choice atwixt skills and doodads, I choose skills evertime. Maybeso I could be more &quot;successful&quot; with high tech gizmos. But whats the point?

BJ