For me it's a Thermacell. We can start Bow Hunting in NJ Sept 14th. For the first four weeks of the season I don't want to be constantly hounded by mosquitos. I want to be still, relaxed, quiet and I want to enjoy my time in the tree stand. A Thermacell is every bit a part of my Archery Equipment. And if that doesn't count, I go with Mechanical Broadheads especially for the safety factor on the blades being tucked away.
@gramps5157 have you ever had a problem with deer busting you using the thermacell? I tried using one with the earth scent pads, and had some does come in and busted me. I know it was not my scent because I have had deer around me before without the thermacell and they never noticed me. Just curious about your experience.
Yeah, but aside from a bow+ arrows, what else? Now, there are necessities-knife, rope; I NEVER used to hunt with a flashlite! Well, I wised up. Yes, I need a range finder, as I usually stalk. What else? I need good boots so i can cross streams. So, other than major gear, I would not hunt w/out my RF.
I did NOT know how much I had missed these videos Rich! I hope the new job is going great and that you're going to get the time you want to hunt hunt hunt! Thanks again for putting all the time into these posts. Truly appreciate everything.
Thirty two days and a wakeup for deer season here in Kentucky. I start with recurves and a longbow, but switch to crossbow, muzzleloader, rifle, and compound bow thru-out the season. Like all Americans, I like choices.
I would agree the lighted nock has become essential to crossbow hunting. Being able to "see" your shot and the exact shot placement on the animal helps so much when trailing an animal.
Binoculars… I may hunt many species and different seasons. But I find it hard to hunt without a pair of binoculars. Humans have weak senses, and improving any senses is a big plus for a hunter. Eyes are the easiest for us to make a big jump in capability with light gathering and magnification. Watching deer or other game is part of learning to hunt better. Understand behavior better and predict behavior. So A good set of binoculars that lets me see game with a “super power” is a priceless tool. Not to mention the entertainment of watching other game in the field. Some of the coolest moments for me have been witnessed through binoculars. And I can’t imagine hunting without a pair!
Welcome back, Rich! Well, I'm leaning toward my range finder because I'm still using old scopes without any built-in ranging! That said, this Fall we're shooting SEVR ROBUSTO 2.0 mechanical broadheads!
Damn, are years going by faster, or is it just me! Were you talking to me, when you looked into the camera, and talked about ranting!? Lol. I know I give you a hard time every blue moon, (never on the orange) and you often take it well, doesn't mean I don't appreciate you. I know how much effort goes in to the videos. And I can feel your love for the sport. Which we all appreciate, respect, and admire your dedication to the sport and input, even though occasionally, you might venture off course! Lol. You just knew I had to throw that in there. Anyways Rich, thanks for putting crossbow appreciation month on the map. Look forward to it as always. Thanks man!😊👍
When my wife and I got married she bought me a hunting knife with a gut hook hoping one day I would start hunting again. I eventually did start again and that knife makes opening a deer up so easy to field dress it. It's the one thing I don't want to be without while hunting.
Great start to xbow appreciation month! I thought long and hard and my best piece of gear is my backpack. I tried four different models over five seasons and finally found one that suits my needs and my style of hunting. It's the Badlands Diablo Dos, BTW.
We love crossbows! 🎉 love hunting with my micro axe 340!! My husband's ( aka donut dan) fault he got me hooked 😂...Goodluck to all this hunting season....we are counting down the days!!!!
Last year was the first year Minnesota allowed crossbows. Crossbows found a new place in my heart but I it wouldn’t replace my Hoyt. My first deer ever was with my Hoyt & I started as a gun hunter so that’s saying a lot. I can’t choose one thing because I want to hunt with both. I can’t live without my Hoyt rampage or my Excalibur 308 short. The only problem is choosing which one to bring out every time I go hunting.
You need to try the innerloc devastation 150 grains or trailblazer from excalibur(they are the same ones different name).expandables broadheads 3” wide cut😮.They have a design like a kriss 🗡️ dagger jagged design on the trocar chisel tip.when they cut in a zig zag the wound would not close😮.
I have one of those Killer Instinct SWAT X1s. You have modified/customized yours to fit 1911 .45 custom grips. That mod looks pretty cool and I wouldn't mind doing it to mine as well. *Hint* the 1911 .45 to go with it. 😉
No, I had a laugh. I had it down to two things and that was the Lumenok and my rangefinder. This could be interesting I love crossbow appreciation month.
Excellent short video. I will not hunt without a range finder. A clean ethical kill is very important to me. Even if I know the ranges out of my stand, I still feel the need to have it with me.
There are several for me and I rifle, muzzleloader, and crossbow hunt here in Ga. I always have a pair of ratchet pruners with me. Thank You for the content!
Thanks. I do not like searching for arrows. Perhaps it is a wonderful challenging task that makes all the effort worthwhile for some people. Personally in particular searching for an arrow that cannot be found, dismal at best.
I absolutely will not hunt without my Bushnell Broadhead rangefinder. If I get to the woods and realize that I left it at home, I turn around and go back and get it. Believe it or not, it's the only piece of gear that I've ever accidentally left at home.
Been waiting almost a year for CAM! Last year was my first year with a crossbow, and after my harvests last year, I cannot imagine hunting without a Lumenok! Looking forward to 30 more days!
Look forward to crossbow appreciation month every year because of you. I have learned so much from your videos and website. Thank you for all you do. Hopefully I will take my first Texas buck this year!
Range finger is the most important thing for me after my crossbow itself.... and then, My Kindle to sit and read quietly while waiting for the animals to come in. Here in Africa we bow-hunt from ground blinds. Most of them are permanent structures with a reasonable seat inside, overlooking a watering hole or feed, so it can be important to find something to keep you from sleeping while you wait😁
That rangefinding scope is nice when it functions correctly. I had bad luck with two different units after that I lost interest in it and went back to the speed scope. fingers crossed that you don’t have any issues like I did. I would hate to see you think you’re pulling the trigger on a perfect shot and the arrow hit elsewhere.
Wow, the OB is wearing one of my adjustable height cheek rests. Never thought I'd see the day that became reality. Looks pretty good with the piece of foam on top of it too. Looking forward to August...
Quite frankly I could upgrade everything from top to bottom if money was no issue. But I came up with one must have gear item. Adidas Terrex gtx shoes. The older i get, the more i see that bad footwear = pain. I'm also picky as I will easily put 6+ miles on in a hunt day. I go national forest, and usually still hunt covering ground. These are goretex waterproof, don't fall apart in a couple weeks, have Continental tire soles with great grip, and they wear like a sneaker.
Welcome back Rich, I need my crossbow and range finder. Knives I guess everything hahahahah. Any misplaced gear can cause a problem on a hunt. first aid kit are pretty essential too.
So excited for crossbow appreciation month. Can’t hunt without my backpack. Filled with all my hunting tools, ie my deer licenses , knife , gloves , etc.
Regardless of what weapon I hunt with on a given day, I will not go to the woods without a camera. I use two to four cameras. Tactacam 5.0 weapon mounted, Tactacam Fishi hat mounted, Sony handicam for zoom on long distance animals, and a tripod for cell camera Iphone. The magic of the newer Iphones with the larger camera lens is that they will actually film at last shooting light and can even capture video the eye can't see. 30 frames the best in last light. You can also set them on wide angle at 4k and 60 frames so you have less of a chance of an animal walking out of frame while you are trying to make a shot. 4k gives you the ability to zoom the shot back in with computer software and still be at a reasonable high definition video. 60 frames will allow some acceptable slow motion as well. In low light, turn your camera screen brightness down for obvious reasons.
I too hunt with an older, slower xbow. A range finder is perhaps the most important - second only to…. Something to sit on. I’m a wimp. A cushion, a chair, whatever- just not the cold hard ground. Not a spring turkey any more I guess
I won’t hunt in a treestand without my Hunter Safety System. The first deer I shot was with a double barrel shotgun/rifle of my Dad’s. Luckily I listened to him and wore my ‘seatbelt type’ safety belt ( before the days of vest type) when I got up in the ladder treestand. When I shot the doe, off to my left, both barrels went off (a malfunction they said) and blew me out of the tree. The seatbelt kept me from falling too far. It was so loud that Dad plus another guy came to see what had blown up. I guess that’s why my ears ring to this day. BTW I got the deer😂.
Illuminated nocks are a must. It makes those pre-sunset shots much easier to track down. I would not risk getting cheap ones or fakes. Buy from a authorized vendor.
Mine is a shooting stick I hunt on the ground and a blind sometimes, shooting stick essential to me hurray for crossbow appreciation month, hey Maryland opens the 6 of September this year
Your shirt matched you in the first part of the video. It would have been cool if the shirt in the print matched the shirt you were currently wearing. It would have been like those crazy mirrors that keep showing a smaller reflection of you.
@Deathbybunjie that's great I'm glad to hear. I'm not trying to change your opinion either way because a guy will like what he likes but i will say SwHacker was the only broadhead I would use for years then about two or three years ago I tried Sevr and haven't looked back. I made a horrible shot on a doe 2 years ago. Quartered hard to me, went in very high shoulder, through lower backstrap and out the opposite back leg hitting the femur bone. She took 2 steps back, raised up and fell over backwards 💀 as a doornail. Hit the blades with some fine sandpaper and put it back in my quiver.
