westernhunter98;2368482 and also I am wondering is it worth it to buy gear like Sitka in my first year even though It is my first year and I am still growing?[/QUOTE said:.
Its a scientific fact that just wearing Sitka clothing makes you a better hunter. Animals feel honored to be shot by such a high quality hunter that they will walk out in the open just to be taken by a well dressed nimrod
No kidding, I saw the commercial on the Outdoor Channel
new to western hunting elk and mule deer
- Thread starter westernhunter98
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noharleyyet
Well-known member
Its a scientific fact that just wearing Sitka clothing makes you a better hunter. Animals feel honored to be shot by such a high quality hunter that they will walk out in the open just to be taken by a well dressed nimrod
No kidding, I saw the commercial on the Outdoor Channel
Disclaimer*....MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A CAMERA CREW
...sorry Fin, softball.
sheff
Member
Ouch!!!!!
ShootsManyBullets
Well-known member
Buy the best optics you can afford then thank us later. As your bankroll increases down the road you can always upgrade.
Most importantly - Get out and Hunt! You can find toys and gadgets later.
Welcome to HT
Most importantly - Get out and Hunt! You can find toys and gadgets later.
Welcome to HT
roadhunter
Banned
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- Jul 28, 2013
- Messages
- 719
From my experience I prefer the phone over the GPS. The phone just seem like it is higher quality. the touch screen seems to work better and the screen is much easier to see. But I have an older Dakota 20 GPS so the newer ones might be better as well.
My guess is that GPS sales will continue to drop off as more smartphones cut into he GPS market. Not to mention the phone has a built in camera along with all the other functions of a smart phone that most GPS units do not have. It's getting harder and harder to justify spending $500 on a GPS unit when the phone you already have will probably do the same thing plus a whole lot more.
dihardhunter
Active member
2 words - merino wool. Thank me later.
Seriously though, buy merino wool stuff and save your $ on hunting company clothing. Backpacking brands in drab solids are way more functional, cheaper, and lightweight. I have NEVER owned a piece of clothing made by a hunting company and found that it out-performed or could be bought cheaper than its backpacking/hiking counterpart.
I thought about that last sentence pretty darn hard before I hit 'Submit' and cannot think of an exception.
Seriously though, buy merino wool stuff and save your $ on hunting company clothing. Backpacking brands in drab solids are way more functional, cheaper, and lightweight. I have NEVER owned a piece of clothing made by a hunting company and found that it out-performed or could be bought cheaper than its backpacking/hiking counterpart.
I thought about that last sentence pretty darn hard before I hit 'Submit' and cannot think of an exception.
RobG
Well-known member
Regarding the cell phone... anyone know how well do those portable/wearable cell phone chargers work?
I would never trust my life to my cell phone without battery backup because it will run out of batteries when you need it most. However, I see there are external batteries you can connect (e.g. http://www.amazon.com/Boostpac-Auxi...s/B003R7KNLE/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1). Does anyone have experience with something like this? My garmin screen completely sucks and I'd love to have the gps maps data on my phone.
I would never trust my life to my cell phone without battery backup because it will run out of batteries when you need it most. However, I see there are external batteries you can connect (e.g. http://www.amazon.com/Boostpac-Auxi...s/B003R7KNLE/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1). Does anyone have experience with something like this? My garmin screen completely sucks and I'd love to have the gps maps data on my phone.
npaden
Well-known member
http://www.amazon.com/PowerGen®-520...02347974&sr=1-18&keywords=5200+mah+power+bank
This is what I use. It can completely charge my iphone 5 twice.
i.e. - phone is going dead, charge it back up to full, phone goes dead, charge it back up to full, then my power bank is out of juice.
It's not going to be enough power to sit and play video games all day long in a weak cell coverage spot where it is searching around, but if you are just using the GPS and not keeping the screen lit the entire day it lasts pretty easy.
I use it in my hunting blind and it keeps me in business all day long with a decent amount of time spent playing on the phone, checking email, surfing the internet etc.
This is what I use. It can completely charge my iphone 5 twice.
i.e. - phone is going dead, charge it back up to full, phone goes dead, charge it back up to full, then my power bank is out of juice.
It's not going to be enough power to sit and play video games all day long in a weak cell coverage spot where it is searching around, but if you are just using the GPS and not keeping the screen lit the entire day it lasts pretty easy.
I use it in my hunting blind and it keeps me in business all day long with a decent amount of time spent playing on the phone, checking email, surfing the internet etc.
npaden
Well-known member
http://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Bar-Premium-Fast-charging-Capacity/dp/B00AANMVNQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t
This one gets pretty good reviews too.
This one gets pretty good reviews too.
LibertyJim
New member
I'd also chime in favor of the phone as GPS. I think I was able to get every USGS map for something like 7 or 8 bucks. The app also lets you put maps together so there are never any seams or edges to your map. I've used a variety of chargers, but I keep the phone off unless/until I need a GPS fix.
RobG
Well-known member
Those look ideal npaden. I hope they take it to the next step and enable texting and talking like a walkie-talkie when you don't have cell phone coverage and also polling of locations of your partner like my Rino.
HSi-ESi
Well-known member
It's a wonder I ever killed anything with just a rifle, knife and small fanny-pack that had an apple and a candy bar in it.
Seriously, just go out and hunt. The gear can come later (and it will come later, just ask my wife).
The above is good advice - but don't let not having gear stop you from going hunting.
Seriously, just go out and hunt. The gear can come later (and it will come later, just ask my wife).
The above is good advice - but don't let not having gear stop you from going hunting.
Gerald Martin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2009
- Messages
- 8,417
westernhunter- I'd reccomend getting in touch with Schmalts on here and check out what he carries through his website Predator Optics. I think a lot of his Theron optics will meet that budget and are a great value.
JohnCushman
Well-known member
LCH
Well-known member
I guess my priorities are a little different, I have a $600 GPS and a $10 Trac-Fone (that is 5 years old and about half the buttons work
).That said, my wife has a fancy phone, and I know that my GPS is much more dependable and user friendly than that phone is.
Gellar
Well-known member
I just upgraded to an iphone, although it is arguable if my new smartphone is making me smarter, but what Apps are you guys using for navigation in the mountains? Thanks!
LibertyJim
New member
joelweb
Well-known member
Nevada is nearly all public land. You shouldn't have to worry much about property boundaries. I wouldn't bother with the GPS at this point. Buy a map.
In terms of clothing, you may already have what you need in your closet. I suggest picking up some surplus wool pants, or some inexpensive synthetic pants. Avoid cotton and stick with synthetics and wool. Do you already have a long underwear top, sweater and jacket? If so, they will work. You can upgrade those items down the line.
Nevada is wide open country. You'll need to be able to glass, hike and pack.
I suggest that you focus on the following. Not necessarily in this order:
-Midrange priced binoculars in the 42-45mm objective range.
-Good boots
-Good Pack (a regular backpacking pack will work)
In terms of clothing, you may already have what you need in your closet. I suggest picking up some surplus wool pants, or some inexpensive synthetic pants. Avoid cotton and stick with synthetics and wool. Do you already have a long underwear top, sweater and jacket? If so, they will work. You can upgrade those items down the line.
Nevada is wide open country. You'll need to be able to glass, hike and pack.
I suggest that you focus on the following. Not necessarily in this order:
-Midrange priced binoculars in the 42-45mm objective range.
-Good boots
-Good Pack (a regular backpacking pack will work)
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Ben Long
Well-known member
Ya know, here's an interesting fact. Back in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, hunters across the American West killed thousands and thousands of elk and deer every year. And they did it without GPS, Gore Tex, carbon-fiber, laser rangefinders, two-way radios, Google Maps, trail cameras, ATVs, short-mags and the typical elk call was a PVC pipe with a cork in one end. How in the heck did they do that?
