Bowhunting Gadgets: The good, bad and ugly

[Scooter]

What gadgets do you really like and what ones do you think are a joke?

One I like is called “cats eyes” I believe. Its three small LED lights in a small housing that clips on the brim of a baseball hat. I bought it this winter so I haven’t used it yet, but it looks like it will be the “bee’s knees” for tracking at night.

I’d also throw arrow holders; the type that swings away as you start to draw in the good gadget category. Most of my hunting is from a tree stand and those things are nice.

A gadget that immediately comes to mind as worthless is those “deer view” mirrors. I would also have to include game tracker strings in there. I used them once and had a very bad experience.

[elkdreamer]

scooter.........here's one from the hardware store........the good old x-acto knife [matt knife] with the large hooked shingle blade..........the best hide unzipper i have ever seen.........working on crop damage permits this hot summer has forced my buddy and i to rethink deer processing.......we now cart the animal to our rig.....unzip the hide from the back and undersides with the x-acto shingle blade knife and simply pull it off ......bone the meat and into the cooler in ten minutes or less......the boning done with a fillet knife i have had for a least thirty five years.......elkdreamer

[Peter Darby]

ON a whim I bought a retractible line to haul stuff up the tree. I am glad I did. as you pull it retracts so you are never fighting with it, the same thing on the way down and the way it hooks to your bow or whatever is about as easy as it gets.

[tuffshot]

Peter,

I have wondered about the retractable line, and if they were worth carrying. Is the line very heavy duty or replaceable. And do you think the recoil mech will last very long?

[DAS]

Burt Coyote luminocks. Sure you could do without them, but I don't think I will again. A red LED lights in the nock when the arrow is released and creates a fireball all the way to the target. Even in good light you can easily misjudge your shot placement, but this gadget really helps. If your arrow is a pass through you can find it easily. If the animal runs with it, it can be a help in recovery. They come in standard unibushing size, and Axis.

If you use it, you will have to weight match your other arrows. For standard carbons, it weighs 12.5gr more than a G-nock and unibushing. A 1/4-20 X 1/4" setscrew is a perfect match. Just glue it in ahead of the unibushing and all your arrows will fly the same. If you use one piece nocks, you may need a 3/8" long setscrew to match the weight.

Some states (like mine) do not allow any "electronic devices". I deal with that the same way I deal with all stupid laws, I ignore them :goodvevil

[Cato]

I second the arrow holder that pulls off when you draw. I've used them for years, and love them.

I don't know if you classify binoculars as a gadget, but I hate to be out without mine, for many many reasons. Numerous times I have watched a buck in low light conditions, and been able to get a real good idea about his rack, only because of the binos.

I always carry a pair of pruning clippers in my bag. Indispensable for cutting small branches out of the way. Once you start to carry them, you'll never go back.

The jury is still out for me on the cough surpressor.

I keep cough drops handy, and usually keep one in my mouth. It minimizes any likelihood of scratchy throat syndrome when animals are around you. I use them whether I have a cold or not.

For tree stand hunters, there is this thing that screws into a tree, is jointed, and has a hook on the end for hanging your bow. It enables you to have your bow over your bow shoulder and slightly in front of you while you wait during the slow periods. Keeps you from being dependent on a limb.

I also velcro a cheap Japanese watch to my bow quiver. It has a lighted dial. That way I can easily check the time without digging in my pocket or fighting my shirt sleve.

I gotta think on this some more. My tendency is to carry too much to the woods.

Cato

[thisbucks4u]

My favorite all time gadget is the piezo torch.
My least favorite is the mechanical broadhead.

[Cato]

I give up Mike, what is a piezo torch?

Cato

[Peter Darby]

Tuffshot- I am not sure how long it will last but it was only $15 or so at a trade show. The line itself seems to be standard para cord. I really like the way it sits on my belt ready for me but out of the way. and when you pull it up it is put away no tangling, coiling knotting or anything else.

[tuffshot]

Sounds like it might be a good investment.. :highfive:
Like you I am always trying to untangle the rope I use to pull up the bow and accessories while in the stand. And it gets wrapped around everything on the ground while trying to go up the tree, from briers to small limbs.

[thisbucks4u]

Cato,
Thoise little butane torches that you can fit easily in your bow tackle box, they are bout like a propane torch, just smaller. You use for anything that needs heat. Lots more convenient than a bic lighter.

[Cato]

Thanks Mike. That's just what I need, another gadget!!! But, gotta have one.

Cato

[Cueball]

After last friday's hog hunt I will never be in the woods were mosquitos live without a thermacell again. I sat in a river bottom with water very near by for two hours with a short sleeve shirt and no face mask and never got one bite. I can't tell you how awesome this thing is. Hogs have great noses and I saw 10 different hogs all coming from three different directions the only direction they didn't come was down wind and I am sure all the sweating i did took care of that.

.................................................. ..Roby............................................ ........

[thisbucks4u]

Cato- they have really good ones in cooking stores, and sometimes they are cheaper than in a hardware store. they use them to carmelize things and such (means darn near burn it).
Roby,
No skeeters- please tell us more

[Cueball]

Go to the link and read up.

http://www.mosquitorepellent.com/


I can tell you its not a gimmick it flat works.


...........................................Roby... .................................................. ......

[Bill Carlsen]

Seconds on the Thermacell.
I think a good face mask or face and hand camo is very important for hunting big game.
I'm going to try Dave's luminocks this year (he forgot to tell you he is a dealer for them and can get them for Axis shafts). If they work it will allow me to use really camoed arrows.
A small hand saw and pruners.
A small hand garden rake for clearing the ground when I am not in a tree.
A small Russell neck knife (called the "woodswalker") that I use for cleaning anything I kill from skwerls to big game.
A head lamp type of light. Makes cleaning game in the dark a one man job. Spare batteries for light.
A spare bowstring.
I sew a little pocket on the left leg of my hunting pants so that I can insert the bow tip and keep my bow "at ready" when game is approaching.
I always have a dried milk weed pod in my shirt pocket that I use for detecting the wind current and thermals. Can't beat the price.
When using binos one of those harness type things that holds them close to your chest and out of the way of your bowstring. Also reduces movement and the binos "banging around".
Toilet paper...has many uses and is great for marking blood trails (biodegradeable). I keep mine is a plastic bag to keep it dry.
Reading glasses in case I need to use the neck knife.
Compass.
Cell phone (I keep it turned off). I use it to check in with buddies after dark or to let Laura know I'll be late which usually means I am on a blood trail.
If I am not far from the car or the house I leave the cell phone in the car.
A watch with lighted dial like Cato. Only now I need one with BIG numbers.
That's about it, I think. :sbrug:

[jhinaz]

a few favorite things:

Saunders plastic limb-tip covers (they don't wear through like the rubber ones do.)

Judo points.

Bhonning feather water proofing powder.

Baby bottle liners (to slip over the nock-end and feathers in extremely heavy rain).

Knee pads (for use when elk hunting on rocky ground in the West).

Niff-T-seat.

Wrist compass.

[BOWDOG]

I agree with CATO- It seems we have too many gadgets but I why not take advantage of things that make hunts safer and more enjoyable.I used the OLE MAN retractable hoist for my bow & gear, ratchet pruners, bow arm for keeping bow in "ready" position and allow me to keep my hands in pocket on cold days,hand muff for very cold, light that attaches to bill of cap to safely enter and exit stand in dark and to be identified as a person when going in and of woods after dark. Toothbrush to clean broadheads after "misses" so my friends think I "never miss"-hehe. I will probably add THERMA-CELL for mosquitos if I have room in my fanny-duffle !!!!!

[OHdeerguts]

I have never tried one but has anyone seen the new bowbug :sbrug: It is a little kind of like a homing device that attaches to your arrow and after you shot a deer it detaches itself from the arrow and attaches to the deer :sbrug: I think it takes some of the fun out of tracking but every one has an opinon. check it out at www.bowbug.com. oh yea its only 199

[Cato]

Bowdog,

Man I almost forgot about the toothbrush. Too funny.

Cato

[Esquire]

I like a little eyedropper bottle - cleaned and dried and filled with baking powder. Cut the tip off a little to allow for better flow and you can squeeze out little puffs of scentless wind checker that will drift of the faintest of thermals.

I also strap a grunt tube, sometimes, to my left upper arm near the shoulder so I can grunt with a slight turn of the head, without letting go of the bow. Toilet paper to mark the trail and well . . . just in case. I still hunt into the woods in full dark. I would rather proceed at a snail's pace with no light. But I pack a minimag, just in case.

And of course I never carry a pistol in the woods, either for critters or for bad guys. That would be illegal. :)

[elkdreamer]

because there is a scent/deodorant thread running on the "wall" .....thought i would pass this on here.........one of the best things i have ever come up with both in the back country of idaho and here in the east......is the deodorant crystals one finds in health food stores etc..........made up of mineral salts.... just wet it down and rub it on..........doesn't block your pores and leaves you scent free for at least most of a 24 hr period if your shower clean to start with.........it's the only form of deodorant i've used for 40 yrs and has never let me down socially or hunting wise......yes ......your pitts will sweat [thats healthy] but you won't stink..............

also.......as i have mentioned on a thread way back..........cutting off the barrel end of a spandoflage gun sock...........makes a great arm guard for holding clothing/gillie suit/etc on the bow arm out of the way........one can usually get two arm guards out of one sock............elkdreamer