What is your favorite gear that you use? Please share! Hopefully this is a good resource for new hunters or new western hunters.
This is by no means my comprehensive list, but it is the gear I like and use the most. As I change or upgrade, I’ll upgrade my personal list.
WEAPONS:
* Christiansen Arms 300 WSM, titanium Remington action, carbon fiber stock (lightweight, accurate and all Ive been using the past 10 years for all big game)
* Nightforce NXS 3.5-15X50 scope (Personally, I elected to go with this over the more popular 5.5x22 since it has lower magnification for close shots and has adequate magnification for any shot I would take in a hunting situation.)
* Muzzleloader: Knight DISC Extreme 50 caliber (This muzzleloader can be set-up for hunting any western state's regulations, with different ignition systems, with conical or saboted bullets. Very accurate Green Mountain barrels and one of the few barrels that shoots a pure lead conical extremely well)
* Muzzleloader Conical Bullets: No Excuses, 50 caliber, 460 grain (stabilizes well in todays fast twist muzzleloader barrels which are primarily designed for sabots)
* Crossbow: Excalibur Matrix 380 (recurve limbs for accuracy and reliabilty)
* Bow: About time to upgrade
OPTICS/ELECTRONICS:
* Swarovski EL 10X42 Ranging Binoculars
* FHF binocular pouch (keep licenses and tags in here)
* Swarovski 15x56 SLC binoculars (for tripod glassing)
* Vortex Razor HD 20-60X85 spotting scope (for most uses)
* Swarovski 20-60x65 spotting scope (when weight is an issue)
* GPS: Garmin 450 (not the “T” version which contains terrain data, save the money and buy an onXmaps chip)
* onXmaps chip in GPS for the state I am hunting (contains terrain data, land status, landowner information)
* Inreach Explorer (GPS tracking, communication and safety)
* Headlamp: Zebralight H52W (love these, uses a single AA battery)
* Eneloop rechargeable AA batteries (GPS, game cams, headlamp, etc. I try to build my electronics off of using AA batteries so I can swap batteries when in a jam.)
* Intellicharger I4 (For rechargeable batteries. You can monitor individual cells and charge several battery sizes. For use at camp, not in the field.)
* Energizer Lithium AA batteries (when weight savings is critical)
CLOTHING:
* Kuiu Chugach jacket (Love it. Wear it almost every day as a rain coat or wind breaker)
* Vest : Sitka with wind blocking shell. (Personally, my arms tend to stay warm if my core is warm. I like to avoid bulk on my arms if possible.)
* Arcteryx fleece pullover (open to alternatives)
* Shirts: Still experimenting
* Pants: Kuiu Attack Pants (One of my all time favorite hunting gear items. I rarely carry rain pants with these)
* Belt: Sitka Gear Bomber Belt (awesome belt)
* Boxers: Merino wool (quality brand with fine merino fibers)
* Kuiu ULTRA Merino 145 Zip-Off Bottom (can remove without taking off boots or pants)
* Glove Liners: Under Armour (Thin and typically all I need until the temperatures really drop)
* Boots (moderate terrain, early season): Merrell, mid height, Goretex (Merrells are light and extremely comfortable. I have good feet and tough ankles though. I do most of my hunting in these).
* Boots (tough terrain, late season): Lowa Tibet GTX
* Socks (not sold on a brand yet)
* Liner socks to prevent blisters
OTHER:
* Daypack: Kuiu Icon Pro 1850
* Backpack: Kuiu Icon Pro 7200 (swap frame with the Kuiu daypack)
* Trekking Poles: Black Diamond (flip locks, carbon fiber poles). My wife uses Leki twist locks.
* Knife: Havalon with extra blades
* Knife: Benchmade with Axis lock (favorite locking system) and S30V blade (favorite steel for edge retention).
* Platypus Big Zip hydration system (easy to clean with the wide mouth)
* Sawyer Mini Water Filter (effective, small lightweight)
* Game Bags: Pristine Ventures TAG 24” x 44” (love those things, size works well for elk). I also own their BOMB (Boned Out Meat Bag) bags but haven't used them yet.
* Smoke in a Bottle (wind direction checker, carry on my binocular pouch)
* Uncle Mike’s folding cartridge carrier on my belt or pack belt (I've had trouble loosing cartridges with stock mounted carriers)
EMERGENCY KIT:
* Spare Havalon with 4 blades
* Energizer Lithium AA batteries (2 to 4 of them)
* Spare Zebralight headlamp
* Sewing Needles
* Super Glue (fix stuff, and potentially to glue a wound closed)
* Water purification tables (weigh nothing, in case filter fails)
* Neosporin
* Pain killer (prescription strength leftovers)
* Tiny spool of fishing leader (6 pound test)
* A couple fishing hooks and Mepps spinners
* Ibuprofen
* Lighter
* Snake bite kit
* Wet Ones
* Hard candies
This is by no means my comprehensive list, but it is the gear I like and use the most. As I change or upgrade, I’ll upgrade my personal list.
WEAPONS:
* Christiansen Arms 300 WSM, titanium Remington action, carbon fiber stock (lightweight, accurate and all Ive been using the past 10 years for all big game)
* Nightforce NXS 3.5-15X50 scope (Personally, I elected to go with this over the more popular 5.5x22 since it has lower magnification for close shots and has adequate magnification for any shot I would take in a hunting situation.)
* Muzzleloader: Knight DISC Extreme 50 caliber (This muzzleloader can be set-up for hunting any western state's regulations, with different ignition systems, with conical or saboted bullets. Very accurate Green Mountain barrels and one of the few barrels that shoots a pure lead conical extremely well)
* Muzzleloader Conical Bullets: No Excuses, 50 caliber, 460 grain (stabilizes well in todays fast twist muzzleloader barrels which are primarily designed for sabots)
* Crossbow: Excalibur Matrix 380 (recurve limbs for accuracy and reliabilty)
* Bow: About time to upgrade
OPTICS/ELECTRONICS:
* Swarovski EL 10X42 Ranging Binoculars
* FHF binocular pouch (keep licenses and tags in here)
* Swarovski 15x56 SLC binoculars (for tripod glassing)
* Vortex Razor HD 20-60X85 spotting scope (for most uses)
* Swarovski 20-60x65 spotting scope (when weight is an issue)
* GPS: Garmin 450 (not the “T” version which contains terrain data, save the money and buy an onXmaps chip)
* onXmaps chip in GPS for the state I am hunting (contains terrain data, land status, landowner information)
* Inreach Explorer (GPS tracking, communication and safety)
* Headlamp: Zebralight H52W (love these, uses a single AA battery)
* Eneloop rechargeable AA batteries (GPS, game cams, headlamp, etc. I try to build my electronics off of using AA batteries so I can swap batteries when in a jam.)
* Intellicharger I4 (For rechargeable batteries. You can monitor individual cells and charge several battery sizes. For use at camp, not in the field.)
* Energizer Lithium AA batteries (when weight savings is critical)
CLOTHING:
* Kuiu Chugach jacket (Love it. Wear it almost every day as a rain coat or wind breaker)
* Vest : Sitka with wind blocking shell. (Personally, my arms tend to stay warm if my core is warm. I like to avoid bulk on my arms if possible.)
* Arcteryx fleece pullover (open to alternatives)
* Shirts: Still experimenting
* Pants: Kuiu Attack Pants (One of my all time favorite hunting gear items. I rarely carry rain pants with these)
* Belt: Sitka Gear Bomber Belt (awesome belt)
* Boxers: Merino wool (quality brand with fine merino fibers)
* Kuiu ULTRA Merino 145 Zip-Off Bottom (can remove without taking off boots or pants)
* Glove Liners: Under Armour (Thin and typically all I need until the temperatures really drop)
* Boots (moderate terrain, early season): Merrell, mid height, Goretex (Merrells are light and extremely comfortable. I have good feet and tough ankles though. I do most of my hunting in these).
* Boots (tough terrain, late season): Lowa Tibet GTX
* Socks (not sold on a brand yet)
* Liner socks to prevent blisters
OTHER:
* Daypack: Kuiu Icon Pro 1850
* Backpack: Kuiu Icon Pro 7200 (swap frame with the Kuiu daypack)
* Trekking Poles: Black Diamond (flip locks, carbon fiber poles). My wife uses Leki twist locks.
* Knife: Havalon with extra blades
* Knife: Benchmade with Axis lock (favorite locking system) and S30V blade (favorite steel for edge retention).
* Platypus Big Zip hydration system (easy to clean with the wide mouth)
* Sawyer Mini Water Filter (effective, small lightweight)
* Game Bags: Pristine Ventures TAG 24” x 44” (love those things, size works well for elk). I also own their BOMB (Boned Out Meat Bag) bags but haven't used them yet.
* Smoke in a Bottle (wind direction checker, carry on my binocular pouch)
* Uncle Mike’s folding cartridge carrier on my belt or pack belt (I've had trouble loosing cartridges with stock mounted carriers)
EMERGENCY KIT:
* Spare Havalon with 4 blades
* Energizer Lithium AA batteries (2 to 4 of them)
* Spare Zebralight headlamp
* Sewing Needles
* Super Glue (fix stuff, and potentially to glue a wound closed)
* Water purification tables (weigh nothing, in case filter fails)
* Neosporin
* Pain killer (prescription strength leftovers)
* Tiny spool of fishing leader (6 pound test)
* A couple fishing hooks and Mepps spinners
* Ibuprofen
* Lighter
* Snake bite kit
* Wet Ones
* Hard candies
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