What’s the One Piece of Hunting Gear You Can’t Live Without?

[KuduKiller]

Good pair of boots! Danner elk hunters! I have literally had the same pair since 1995. Resoled twice! From Maine to Missippi, South Africa to South West Louisiana! They are tough but good on the old tootsies!

 

[ftrovato]

Good pair of boots! Danner elk hunters! I have literally had the same pair since 1995. Resoled twice! From Maine to Missippi, South Africa to South West Louisiana! They are tough but good on the old tootsies!

I love me Elk Hunters! I have 2 pair, one insulated and one not. Having flat feet these are one of few boots I can walk in all day and still not have sore feet.

 

[NDWoods]

Tripod

Virtually unheard of when I was growing up. I only saw bipods of varying lengths.

I use a tripod in the blind and out, sitting, kneeling, and standing. Light, portable, and steady enough.

The single biggest improvement in my hunting success has been cellular trail cameras. I have a 90%+ success rate on pigs now, and do a much better job managing the deer herd as well. Like them or not, but for my thick woods East Texas hunting they have been a huge success.

 

[Happy Myles]

My hearing aid batteries!

 

[Woodcarver]

Headlamps, plural. Saved more than 1 dangerous hike out carrying a load. And water. Don't leave camp without it. The Victorinox Tinker in my pocket is daily carry year round (there's a spare in every truck, just in case one disappears on me). So there's 3, not just 1, indispensable pieces of gear. Oops, 4, toilet paper, don't leave home without it.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Just one piece of gear?

That depends on the type of hunt…

Have to be my Bino pack. It carry’s all the other critical items I need. RF Bino’s, headlamp, Leatherman, asthma inhaler, spare batteries, scope tool, small flashlight, lighter…

 

[CoElkHunter]

A friend.

My wife doesn’t hunt, so I’m one step behind @BeeMaa with this one. I’ve learned that hunting and hunting trips are much more enjoyable with a friend or family member along. While I still hunt alone, I much prefer to hunt with a friend.

+1.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Backpack.

 

[Sideshow]

7x20 Swarovski pocket binos. Of course there would always be an Opinel No7 carbone in the opposite pocket, but that is taken for granted.

Thought you would have said pith helmet or landrover with 40 gallons of oil strapped to the back

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Thought you would have said pith helmet or landrover with 40 gallons of oil strapped to the back

All of the above...

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I prefer to travel light when hunting. There's the usual stuff: boots, coat, cap, scope, knife, ammo, flashlight. What I don't wear typically goes into a cheap daypack I bought at the university book store here. It has a belly strap which I presume was for bicycling. Very handy for keeping the pack situated when hiking in rough terrain or thick brush. Reminds me I need to replace the buckle. Slammed it in the car door and shattered.

I prefer hunting the late season. No bugs, less hunters afield, snow for tracking. I'm always on the move so keeping my feet warm is usually not a problem. Several years ago I went through the ice in -20F ... three times. Fortunately, only one leg at a time. I only had one rooster in the bag but immediately headed for the vehicle. Didn't go fifteen yards when my Lab Opal (RIP) pushed up a rooster close and I creamed him. What the hell, I only needed one more to fill my limit so I turned around. Took another hour but I did get that last rooster. Feet did get cold that day but only a tiny bit of frostbite on the outside edge of right foot. Hard part was walking in wool pants with legs stiff as stovepipes. What is really challenging hunting in those conditions is keeping face and hands warm. I have an old pair of fleece glomitts that I cut out the finger slots so I can pull a pair wool shooting mitts inside. These have isolated trigger finger. I can slip the trigger finger outside the flap when the dogs are birdy or deer/elk/moose is in sight. My glomitts are about thirty years old now. No ... thirty-five at least. I guess that proves they are "indispensable." For my head I have a fleece "parrot hood" my late wife bought for me a long time ago. It's sort of a balaclava with a bit more face opening that can be adjusted with drawstring. Too much neck though. I should cut some of it away. It only comes out in severe cold. I prefer to hunt with just the cap on. Cap is also indispensable for keeping the parrot hood out of my face.

I generally eschew technocrap. Just something to break down when needed. I did have a couple of camo ball caps with LED lights in the bill and loved then, especially putting out decoys in the dark. But they both broke because the wiring to battery is designed by/for tiny Chinamen. Not long enough to wrap around my size 7.5 head. Sigh.

 

[KuduKiller]

I love me Elk Hunters! I have 2 pair, one insulated and one not. Having flat feet these are one of few boots I can walk in all day and still not have sore feet.

My old elk hunters are the dark 8” but I bought some 6” about 6 or so years ago but I still wear the old ones! Deer season in Ky to Turkey in Ms! The old ones had a blood stain on the top for years from my bear in Maine. The only issue I have ever had it the sole splitting in the front but that’s from my dumba$$ kicking termite mounds in SA.

 

[Andrew NOLA]

Most indispensable piece of hunting gear is your wallet. Most used as well.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

My hearing aid batteries!

Happy, would these work for you? Rechargeable and the charging unit is rechargeable too. These hearing aids are good for all day and into the night on one charge. They can be adjusted with a phone app. Also comes with a blue tooth adapter for my TV so I can now understand what's going on without closed caption. Another nice feature is I can turn off outside noise while watching TV. Great for when the grandkids are over! The charging unit is good for about three hearing aid charges before it has to be recharged.

 

[Happy Myles]

Happy, would these work for you? Rechargeable and the charging unit is rechargeable too. These hearing aids are good for all day and into the night on one charge. They can be adjusted with a phone app. Also comes with a blue tooth adapter for my TV so I can now understand what's going on without closed caption. Another nice feature is I can turn off outside noise while watching TV. Great for when the grandkids are over! The charging unit is good for about three hearing aid charges before it has to be recharged.
View attachment 673997

Thank you Ontario, I need all the help I can get!

 

[Scott CWO]

Swarovski EL Range 10x42 binoculars and my inReach. Without the binoculars, I feel naked and will turn the horse, truck, ATV, boat or whatever around and go back for them.

 

[Happy Myles]

I seem to often hunt in bad tsetse fly country so keep a head net in a tiny pouch on my belt. Even if no tsetse it helps for a peaceful noon time nap under a shade tree.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Thank you Ontario, I need all the help I can get!

This is the second pair the US VA has sent me. App didn't work out with first set and replaced by company with upgraded aids and app. Working great although it takes quite a while for the app to warm up and find the hearing aids. They can be turned on manually, both generally and blue tooth to TV. They turn on automatically when removed from the charger. When I went down for first pair, the audiologist told me these cost $7K. However, evil Joe Biden fixed it so anyone can now buy them at Walmart for ... $700! Helluva markup for those audiologists!

 

[Killo]

Lowa Renegade Boots!!