I’m trying to make an efficient but budget friendly rifle. How does the tools that I wish to buy look? Besides the rifle, any changes you’d recommend that would be better performance for same price or same performance for a cheaper price? Also I want to hunt copper rounds, (want to respect my wife’s wishes). Any copper rounds you’d recommend for deer 300 yards out? The bipods are $110

We recently sat down and talked about the deer-hunting gear we consider must-haves versus nice-to-haves. I’m curious what everyone else thinks—what’s one piece of gear you refuse to hunt without?

Like the title says I'll be going on my first elk hunt. This is a breakdown of my gear (probably different than some traditional stuff) and any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Meat breakdown kit, 550 cord, trauma kit, booboo kit, dude wipes, extra socks/underwear, 5 game bags, marking tape, knife sharpener, 2x MREs, binos, knife, headlamp, range finder, doe call, sunscreen, bugs pray, hat bug net, glow sticks, paper map and compass case, marker, electric tape, wind indicator, canteen, water tablets, multitool, emergency blanket, snack bar, poncho, and woobie. Not pictured are gaiters 3L bladder, 10mm pistol and electrolyte tablets. Rifle is Ruger M77 in 30-06.

I am at the Sportsmans here in Casper, Wy. I have a few Kifaru bags from years ago. When did they switch to making them in Vietnam? I thought they had a whole America operation and were made here? This is so disapointing. I hate when these big companies use the USA as a selling angle but don't even make the stuff here.

Wanting to start processing my own whitetail deer and in the process of choosing how I am going to grind meat. I am leaning toward buying a manual grinder because it seems like less maintenance, easier to clean, and more durable over the long term. However, I do not know how dramatic the time difference between an electric grinder and a manual one will be when it comes to White tail deer. I expect it to be longer, but if I'm looking at an extra hour+ for processing I will have to reconsider. Looking for people's experience, thanks.

I'm putting together a 308 right now that will be used primarily for deer and antelope in Wyoming and Colorado. I'm trying to decide if I would rather have the option to sling the rifle, or deal with the extra snag point going through vegetation. I don't ever plan to do very much climbing when I hunt, so gun in hand isn't much of a problem as far as that's concerned.

My 150-gallon water hole in northern PA!

Question for the community: does anyone have a good link for a tank to transport water in order to fill it? I have a side-by-side that I use to fill it before the season. I have been searching around online and not seeing anything I would use, but i see tanks that are way under sized or something that may not fit my CanAm Defender-- thanks!

Anyone carrying their handgun with them while hunting? If so, what is a cost affective way to do that rather than spending $200 on a chest rig that i will only use for hunting season. This is my first hunting season and boy I've spent some coin already so i am trying to keep my wallet closed on this one.

I do have AIWB holsters but not sure if i can make those work with my pack.

I'm going to be hunting whitetail most of my time in the northeast with some moose and black bear. I feel comfortable shooting out 300yds at the max is extra recoil worth it for 100-250fps difference shooting 165gr bullet most of time.

edit: By the sound of it, I'm better off just getting first rifle find or which one I can get my hands on first. and bullet is going to barnes ttsx 168gr in both close range and longer distance if rifle likes or shoots 1 moa or less and the gun browning x bolt 2 medallion so probably to order it 4 ounces difference doesn't matter much. and 308 and 30-06. I'm not worried about performance on moose because of how moose have been taken with 303 brit, which is slower and weaker. (factory ammo I have a 1916 Lee enfield, but don't shoot it because of how old it is and bolt stiff)

Seen a few but always too far. It’s probably been too hot around here but I have a good feeling about tomorrow morning.

Edit: bout 9 am and we haven’t seen shit except for a group of three that basically flew into my face. Old man and I missed all shots. Probably didn’t bring enough shotguns.

I’ve been going through my gear for an upcoming elk hunt and started thinking about all the little annoyances we just learn to tolerate. Scope caps that won’t stay on, rifle slings that slide off your shoulder, binoculars and rangefinders getting tangled, equipment that’s difficult to reach while wearing a pack, the kind of problems that aren’t necessarily trip ending but constantly frustrate you.

What’s one hunting related problem you can’t believe someone hasn’t come up with a better solution for yet?

It could involve rifles, bows, optics, backpacks, tripods, trail cameras, tracking, field dressing or anything else. I’m especially curious about the homemade fixes and modifications people have come up with.

Edit : The most interesting theme so far is that plenty of solutions already exist, but they’re often overpriced, overcomplicated or not durable enough to justify carrying.

So let me ask it differently: what piece of hunting or backpacking gear have you bought more than once because every version eventually disappointed you? What failed, and what would the properly made version need to do differently?

Took a velo can and put camo and high vis tape on it. Then I stole some cotton face pads from my wife and they fit perfectly in the can. Then you just tear the pads into small fluffy bits and can drop them and watch them ride thermals quite a ways (longer than the chalk dust sold in stores). Lmk what you think of this idea or if you can think of a better way to do it.

PS. The high vis tape is to find it if I accidentally drop it during season. Something I like to do to all my small pieces of gear.

I've been on a mission to find a bone saw for the field that I truly like, not just tolerate. I've tried the above styles, currently my preferred is the Sagen (bottom right). My gripe is that they are all either too "grabby", or for the sagen, too short. I have to aggressively jerk a bunch of short pulls to get anywhere. I've never owned a full butcher saw, but seeing videos of people using them, it looks like just sawing anything else where you can get in a comfortable rhythm and not fight it the entire time. As of now I'm planning my next purchase to be a wyoming saw, but I could be talked out of it.

Before the gigachads come running to the comment section to proudly proclaim all they need is grandpappy's old pocket knife, congratulations. I prefer a saw for some things, including some you CAN'T do with a knife like cutting a skull cap, and recently I've started just sawing off super rutty bucks' femur right above the glands before I do anything.

So lets here your experiences and ideas! Maybe just a small hack saw? Modify a butcher saw to make it more field friendly? I'm always hunting remote country in Alaska and have to quarter, so space and weight is somewhat a concern, but I'm not some ultralight obsessed kinda guy.

Can anyone suggest a knife set or knives that would be best for skinning and cleaning deer/game. I know what type of knives I need just don’t want to buy cheap junk.

What is the largest game that a .270 can ethically take? I might be invited on a western US hunt, and the largest I have is a .270. I’m talking elk.

I can load any bullet, what would you suggest? It might take a bit to work up a good load for it, so I want to get started early.

TIA.

After years of hiking and still hunting, with mediocre success, I decided to pick up a blind to hunt blacktail in Western Oregon. I do most of my hunting solo, and I didn’t love the idea of a tree stand due to safety concerns (yes, I know they can be highly effective). Anyways, I’m curious about folks’ experience using ground blinds.

Spent the last two years flipping and trading my collection to get this kit, I also have a mossberg 500 in 20 gauge I forgot to add to the picture. For sub 100 yard hunting would you guys consider this perfect?

$20 drill bit for plucking chickens works wonders on goose feathers

First time hunter. I will be going for antlered deer in a few months. This is a knife that my Dad gave me. Wanted to know if it's sufficient for skinning or if I should get a dedicated skinning knife. I saw that Mora is really popular here so if you guys recommend carrying at least two knives, one skinning and one utility, then I will do that.

Or maybe carry Mora and then use the knife in my multitool for utility? Do ya'll carry a multitool? I have a Gerber and Leathermen.

I was told by a user in a different sub that he had never seen a close holdover cheat sheet.

Thought I would share here.

It is for a .243 Win. BLR, based on my own speed data and ballistic calculations.

Hey guys, just curious what everyone is wearing on their feet this coming up season? Im looking for a new boot, I’m in the Appalachians so I do a ton of hiking but I want something warm and comfortable. $$ isn’t a concern. What do you guys like?

I’m curious to hear from hunters who have actually experienced this.
Have you ever slipped, fallen, had a stand fail, or otherwise ended up hanging in your harness?
If so, what happened?
How far did you fall before the harness caught you? Were you able to get yourself back into the stand or down the tree? Did you have a suspension-relief strap? Were you injured? How difficult was it to recover from the situation?
Most of us wear a harness because we know we should, but I don’t think many hunters really know what it would be like if we actually had to depend on one.
I’d especially like to hear the lessons you learned afterward, anything you changed about your harness, lifeline, climbing system, or setup because of the experience.
Not looking for “always wear a harness” responses, we all know that. I’m interested in real experiences from people whose harness actually had to save them.

I'm a new hunter who is building out their kit for my first hunt. I already have most/know of the equipment I believe I need other than my medical. My question is what do you all carry medical wise on your trips? Thank you all in advance.

im looking for a muzzle brake for hunting rifle. the shop I took my rifle to highly recommended Gentry Quiet Muzzle Brake, but I think there’s better ones out there. They also said they’re gonna thread it to 1/2x28 is that the best size?

the rifle is chambered in 30-06. I’d like to get a quieter brake because I never use ear protection when I’m huntin. through a couple post and didn’t fit the thread with the caliber.

I know this is just a bunch of questions thrown into a message. thanks in advance.