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Who is using new gear/tactics for deer in '24

Posted on 7/25/24 at 12:50 pm
Posted by SkintBack
SoLo
Member since Nov 2015
1776 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 12:50 pm
Bow opener for a lot of us is ~65 days away. I usually start a topic like this because I like hearing what all people are doing and trying.

I'm 98% public land and most of that is archery. Have been a saddle guy for the last 2-3 seasons. Still liking the saddle, but a few things have caught my eye.

The Hunt Arsenal RZR 2.0 platform.


Latitude BITE bowhanger


Treestyx climbing sticks that all have their own aiders and are under 1lb each.


EGO mini bike. I already have a collection of EGO tools/batteries



I'm also wanting to just get more back to the basics. Climbing stand when I have plenty of pines in an area, ground hunting with a simple makeshift blind out of sapplings or in a treetop. Only hunted for 3 days last year and I think I needed the break. Fired up now.

Would love to see what y'all have in mind for the upcoming season. If it's a 40lb bag of corn hey that's cool too.
Posted by turkish
Member since Aug 2016
1967 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 1:09 pm to
New 200 acres in extreme SW MS. I’m tapped out for awhile.
Posted by LoneStarTiger
Lone Star State
Member since Aug 2004
16064 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 1:15 pm to
I have a big creek that splits my lease in half. My wife's favorite stand and my favorite stand for hunting the rut are both inaccessible now due to the flooding that occurred this spring and summer making the creek crossing impassable.

So it looks like I'll be using a back pack or game sled to drag deer out instead of being able to drive to them.
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
12819 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 1:19 pm to
I bought the RZR 1.0 last year and love it. Price had me salty until the first time I held/used it. Well worth it. I was kind of annoyed when they announced the 2.0 a month after I bought 1.0 but oh well. I'm happy with it.

Most of the things I bought this summer were to make camping while I hunt more comfortable. Bought a twin sized cot and foam filled air pad for it. Amazon link This thing is comfy as all hell.

I'm thinking of taking EF Hutton's advice and buying an ebike. I've been using a pedal bike for a long time but it gets tough on hills. The only thing that's kept me from buying one already is that I couldn't (legally) use them on a lot of the trails I pedal down now. The WMA that I hunt has a lot of gravel roads to well sites that are gated and marked as no motorized vehicles.

quote:

Latitude BITE bowhanger


I started using a Hero Clip to hang mine. I made a daisy chain from paracord and a cam jam to hold it. I'll hang my bag on one side and the bow on the other. It looks like my bow is clipped to my tether in this pic but it's clipped to that limb. Pretty easy to use.




I also bought a quickee shackle to use on my tether to make it easier when climbing around limbs. Not sure if it'll be quiet enough yet.


This post was edited on 7/25/24 at 1:29 pm
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
12819 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 1:21 pm to
quote:

So it looks like I'll be using a back pack


If the drag is more than 100 yards I'm using a backpack. Takes a little bit longer to clean on the ground but you don't have to wash the truck out, dump guts, clean skinning shed, etc. I can get a deer cleaned and packed up in about 20 minutes.
Posted by Salmon
On the trails
Member since Feb 2008
84506 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 1:22 pm to
I also mostly hunt public and archery only.

I'm running everything back though. No new gear, which is surprising.

I just keep seeing the new stuff and wonder what new stuff is going to come out next year

My buddy got the RZR 2.0 and that thing is sweet though. Currently have the EDP platform. It's rock solid, but kinda heavy compared to the new stuff.

I'll also upgrade my sticks (currently Shikars) eventually.

Posted by Salmon
On the trails
Member since Feb 2008
84506 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 1:24 pm to
I am thinking about tinkering with my arrow builds this year though. I've been shooting 615 gr.

Might drop down to some this year.

Posted by Salmon
On the trails
Member since Feb 2008
84506 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 1:29 pm to
quote:

If the drag is more than 100 yards I'm using a backpack. Takes a little bit longer to clean on the ground but you don't have to wash the truck out, dump guts, clean skinning shed, etc. I can get a deer cleaned and packed up in about 20 minutes.


I'll never drag another deer in my life. Can't believe it took me so long to learn how to field dress a deer and pack it out.

What used to take me half a day, now takes me about 1 hour.
Posted by SkintBack
SoLo
Member since Nov 2015
1776 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 1:50 pm to
Loup - so the Hunt Arsenal is worth it then? I have a Trophyline Mission that I really like, it's a bit on the heavier side.

I've looked at the Hero clip, and I've kind of made my own system using paracord and a Nite Ize figure 9 biner that I sawed off some of the hook in it. It works, but I like how on the Bite it is flat, doesn't move and you can hang your quiver underneath closer to the tree. I'll look at the Hero clip again though.
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
12819 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 1:56 pm to
quote:

Loup - so the Hunt Arsenal is worth it then?


Yeah I'm 100% happy with it. I had a Tethered Predator XL before. The best part about the Hunt Arsenal is how much flatter it packs than a lot of the others. No regrets, glad I spent the money on it.
Posted by Salmon
On the trails
Member since Feb 2008
84506 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 2:05 pm to
I hated the Hero clip FWIW

My bow kept getting hung up on it when trying to pull it off.
Posted by calcotron
Member since Nov 2007
8671 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 2:22 pm to
quote:


I'll never drag another deer in my life


I bought a cart last year after dragging one a mile over the worst terrain. The next weekend I was rolling 2 on the cart over the same distance, it's so much easier. And I use it to roll my stand out there.

I got some real binoculars, and my knife sharpened. Also got new boots I need to check my gutting gloves stash and check head light batteries.
Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
9363 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 2:24 pm to
Ima do what I have done for the last 30 years. Sit on my dad's (niece's now) back porch and shoot as many as wonder by. Deer hunting is, for me, the simplest thing in the world....drink coffee, fill the freezer.
Posted by A_bear
baton rouge
Member since Sep 2013
2093 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 2:37 pm to
I ran the hunt arsenal rzr 1.0 all last year and I love it. It bites hard into the tree so you don’t have to worry about it slipping, and the rope attachment is way better than messing with a cam buckle and strap.
For this season I added a few new setups. I decided I’m going to try 1 sticking and rappelling so I bought the whole rappelling setup, along with a 12” EWO 1 stick with a scout platform on top. That’ll be my lightest setup for when I want to scout and hunt the same day.
I already have 4 tethrd one sticks so I’ll also try 1 sticking with a tethrd stick and my platform. That’ll be around a 3lb setup.
I also bought the new LWCG hybrid. I plan on using that with either my 4 one sticks, or just 1 sticking up the tree and setting it up. It’s about a 6lb hybrid. It’ll be nice to be able to sit down and take the weight off for a little bit on those all day sits during the rut. I only plan on using that setup when I know exactly where I’m going and plan to be there all day.
Also added a TX5 minimalist saddle. Been using the method 2 the past 2 seasons and don’t plan on retiring it, but I wanted something new.
And I bought a TX5 EOP pack for my lightweight setups. Thing is tiny, but it has a lot of webbing to attach extra clothes to the outside, and carries my 1 stick well. I’m ready for October 1st. I plan on camping on the wma the night before so I don’t even have to drive the morning of.
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
12819 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 2:46 pm to
quote:

along with a 12” EWO 1 stick with a scout platform on top.


Is it easy to climb with the platform on top of the stick? I use a single Novix stick with aiders along with the rappelling setup and platform. I've been curious about the true one stick set up for a while.
Posted by SkintBack
SoLo
Member since Nov 2015
1776 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 3:03 pm to
I have a Shikar mini with a EWO Ultimaider and I use a Treehopper Tree-suit for the platform when one sticking. But two seasons ago I sort of gave up on it. Now I would just rather carry my 4 Beast sticks. I still rappel down everytime, I may never climb down sticks again. Maybe I'll try one sticking again now that I'm lighter and in much better shape.

I might have been too fat and out of shape then IDK, but this one wet, slick arse cypress tree about did me in. I will still take my Shikar mini with the aider and use it first on the tree, then when I start with my sticks I'm already 6-8 feet high.



This post was edited on 7/25/24 at 3:13 pm
Posted by High Life
Member since Dec 2014
2114 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 3:24 pm to
Check out Code of Silence

Very quiet and warm as sitka.


I'm currently searching for some budget friendly lock ons. Any recs?

Posted by SkintBack
SoLo
Member since Nov 2015
1776 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 3:59 pm to
quote:

I'm currently searching for some budget friendly lock ons. Any recs?
XOP Vanish or Millennium M7 for the mobile type
Posted by AFtigerFan
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2008
3420 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 5:47 pm to
I spent last season trying a few different climbing methods to see which one I liked best. I ended up loving the Sladder on public land. I have the 2TC system, and sticks with aiders, but the Sladder just works for me. I hunt 50/50 public and private now since I received permission to hunt the land behind my house.

For the land behind my house, I did a lot of scouting last season and Spring/Summer and have some good areas I set up in. I bought a couple ladder stands and a tripod stand that I just set up this past weekend, so I'll try those for the first time ever. I've always used a lock on, platform, or makeshift ground blind in the past. I'm looking forward to this season!

I also joined the free bowhunting league via Facebook for the first time, so that should make it even more fun throughout the season.
Posted by Jack Daniel
Gold member
Member since Feb 2013
26488 posts
Posted on 7/25/24 at 7:03 pm to
I was pretty happy with my setup after last year until I just saw your sticks
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