[Grayrock]

Who uses what out there besides a firearm, binocs and a blade? Can you recommend the techno-gizmos that you do use? Do you think they enhance the hunting experience or make it too much like shooting fish in a barrel? Radios, GPS, game locators, laser rangers, electronic sights, heaters, etc. Tell me your tales.

[Mannlicher]

I keep my hunting pretty simple. I know others disagree, but that is my feeling. Optics, compass, map, and many years of woodscraft are all I feel I need to hunt.

[C.R.Sam]

I don't even carry binocs.
Carry monoc.
Travel light, travel further in more comfort.

Sam

[Art Eatman]

Just the basics; rifle, extra shells, binocs and knife.

Art

[MeekandMild]

I kind of like the little infra red game finder. Never needed it but I don't want to lose a deer.

[sm]

I travel light like Art and Sam. I do carry concealed, caliber dependent on the environs. Compass don't need batteries. Very small "what if" pouch, whistle, matches, tealight candle. Jerky always jumps in my pocket...for good luck of course.:)

[dakotasin]

besides the basic stuff, i also pack a spotting scope, and a laser range finder.

i don't use gps, compass, radios (illegal here, anyway) or anything else, really. for heaters, if the weather is too cold for my 800 gram thinsulate boots, wool socks, and appropriate outer layers, i throw a few of those grabber mycoal chemical heaters in a pocket. too cold for that (that would be colder than -10 or so), and game will be too hard to locate, and the weather is a serious risk to my life, so i'll just not go out (i've hunted that temp and colder enough to know).

[MarineTech]

I wear an H-Harness with a buttpack, knife and canteen on it when I hunt, but nothing in it is high tech except maybe the space blanket in my emergency kit and a couple of self contained signal flares.

Here's my 2 cents on some of the items you listed.

Radios: Unless you need to communicate with somebody else in your hunting party, they're handy to have but not necessary. There are so many other ways to communicate the fact that you're in trouble that don't need batteries and are much sturdier.

GPS: Falls into the "Gee-Whiz" category. A good map of the area and a compass are all you need. Once again, batteries.

Game locators: You're kidding right? Never heard of one that hold a candle up up against good hunting and fieldcraft skills.

Laser rangers: I find them handy for pinpointing range on a prarie dog town when varmint hunting for dialing in my dope from a fixed shooting position, but don't use them in the woods. Range estimation is something that anybody can learn in the field, it just takes practice.

Electronic sights: Good points and bad points. Big bad point in my opinion is the need for (say it with me once again) BATTERIES.

Heaters: This is why they make warm clothes and gloves. Remember to layer.

For me, I avoid anything that requires a battery when hunting. I learned in the Marines that batteries either run out when you most need them, or get left behind. I try to avoid anything battery operated while hunting.

[gun-fucious]

my dad carries a cellphone
I've gotten called from the top of the mountain after dad tags his buck

it makes my day stuck at the office a tad brighter

;)

[Art Eatman]

MarineTech, these so-called "game finders" are merely IR detectors. They're mostly used to find a wounded or freshly-dead animal in thick cover. They're easier to carry than a dog. :D

Art

[Bigjake]

Rifle and ammo, ruger mk2 with a handfull of .22s, a cell phone, jerky, hat, knife, monoc.

[dakotasin]

marinetech- i really disagree w/ your stance on the lasers... here, there are no woods. judging distance on the prairie can be tough, especially when you hunt whitetails, mulies, and antelopes (drastically different sized bodies)... and, on the prairie, if you wish to use a laser, there is lots of time to take readings and make sure of your range/shot...

i've hunted woods, too, and agree that a laser is worthless there...

[MarineTech]

i've hunted woods, too, and agree that a laser is worthless there...

That's why I wrote:

I find them handy for pinpointing range on a prarie dog town when varmint hunting for dialing in my dope from a fixed shooting position, but don't use them in the woods . Range estimation is something that anybody can learn in the field, it just takes practice.

Yes, I could see where they might be handy on the prairie, but I still maintain that developing range estimation skills is much more worthwhile. What happens when that $400 laser rangefinder dies on you and you're looking out over the prairie at a trophy animal? Do you pack it in for the day because you don't have the skill to determine how far away the animal is, or do you fall back on your own range estimation experience and take the shot?

I generally take 1 week off a year specifically for hunting with the occasional weekend hunt tossed in. I don't particularly like the thought of wasting that time because some gadget I've come to depend on has run out of juice or broken. Hunters have been going about their business for years without these things because of good fieldcraft. Most of these gadgets are of very limited utility when compared to good personal skills. They're marketed for people that don't have the time or the inclination to develop the skills themselves.

The thing is, gadgets wear out or break. Personal skills may get stale as situations change, but you've always got them and they don't run out of juice at the most inappropriate times.

[NRA4LIFE]

I mostly carry the basic stuff, gun, ammo, knife, etc. Where legal, I'll carry an FM radio, especially if I'm hunting with my dad. It's nice to know when I need to go help him out if he's got a critter or 2 down. Where I hunt in Montana, I'll also carry my GPS. It is invaluable as we are often times on or very close to the Wyoming border. It also helps identify where the public land we hunt ends and the private land begins.

[spectr17]

I kind of like the little infra red game finder. Never needed it but I don't want to lose a deer.

The commercial IR game finders you see are worthless. Unless you have access to a high dollar military version you best use something else.

If you don't believe me, try locating a dog in the snow. With that high of a contrast for a IR signature you should be able to but what a surprise.

Save you money.

[repsychler]

I usually have an FRS radio for safety reasons. Its illegal here to use a radio to take game, but you can carry them afield for emergencies. I'll also carry a GPS if I'm new to the area.

[Covey Rise]

The cell phone is for safety, don't work half the time where I hunt but, still it does sometime.

GPS, where I hunt it is easy to get lost, when I take my buddies, they have no clue where they are in less than 15 minutes. I can always find my way out, but I can't always remember where I hunted the past year and it helps with that.

[nygunguy]

(1) Weapon (bow or .44 mag or 12 gauge or muzzle loader)

(2) Peanuts for the chipmunks and me.

(3) Cell Phone when I'm alone

(4) Walkie-talkie when others are around. We check in every hour. If someone doesn't check in we go looking for them.

(5) Knife

(6) Binoculars if I remember them, but just for fun. I figure if a deer is far enough away that I need binoculars I can't shoot'em anyway.

(7) Parachute cord.

(8) Extra gloves and socks if its cold.

(9) Watch - So I get to camp fro lunch 1/2 hour earlier than everyone else

[MeekandMild]

The commercial IR game finders you see are worthless. Mine seems able to find my dogs in the bushes. Doesn't snow down here very often. Rapid sweep rate is needed.