As many of you know, last week I attended the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, which is the largest shooting/hunting/outdoors convention in the country. Needless to say, it was a wild and overwhelming experience. The week prior I attended the largest archery only convention, ATA, and I thought that was big! But SHOT truly dwarfs it. That all being said, regardless of the size, the SHOT show truly was an incredible experience. With the latest and greatest hunting products from across the hunting world represented, there truly was too much to see. I only had one day, so my time at SHOT consisted of me running back and forth across the mammoth convention center for 10 hours striaght, seeing everything I possibly could.

Along the way I saw some incredible new products, a lot of interesting folks and a good number of my friends in the hunting world as well! A few of the more interesting new products that I saw came from companies like Thompson/Center, Sitka Gear, Under Armour, Bushnell, StealthCam and ScentLok. But there’s truly too much to mention in a single post. So that being said, keep any eye out for new product videos from both the ATA and SHOT shows coming soon! Until then, here are a few images from my time down in Vegas!

Talk about a whirlwind. The 2012 ATA show, for me, was here and gone in a flash. I drove into Columbus last night and left for home this evening! But I sure packed in a lot during that 24 hour period.

Things got kicked off right away when I arrived in town and headed to the Hyatt Regency hotel bar. The mezzanine level floor was packed to the brim with essentially  everyone in the hunting industry and that ended up making for a very fun night. One thing I love about being involved in the hunting world is that there truly seems to be almost like family or fraternal feel to it. Everyone bonds so well (for the most part) and it just makes for a lot of great conversations and good times.

That being said, the good times certainly continue onto the tradeshow floor itself. When you walk through the doors into the ATA show it’s like walking into a Disneyworld made for adults, specifically adults addicted to bowhunting. Every major brand you can think of has a huge booth, there’s flashing lights, incredible displays and interesting people everywhere you turn. It’s pretty awesome, but at times can even  be a little overwhelming. That being said, the last two years when I first arrived,  I just took 20 minutes to just walk around and soak it in. But from there, it’s game on.

One of the first things anyone new would notice at the ATA show is that just about everyone you’ve ever seen on hunting TV is here and walking around! It makes for a neat experience for fans and a great opportunity to network and share experieinces. For example,this year I finally was able to personally meet Michael Waddell and Nick Mundt from Bone Collector, as well as Tiffany Lakosky, while also seeing plenty others too! A mainstay for the show is the “celebrity” signings and you often see lines snaking around various booths, as people wait to get pictures or products signed by their favorite TV hunters. While I don’t really have any interest in getting autographs, it is fun to chat with some of these folks and in fact a lot of these guys are friends now and it’s always great to catch up at these shows. That being said, ATA more than anything is about the products…

And new products are something that were certainly not in short supply at this years ATA show. Thousands of new archery accessories, bows and random gizmos were displayed and touted this week at ATA, and I was fortunate enough to get the scoop on many of them, so look for those product videos soon. But of all the new  items I saw, a few stood out above the rest. In particular the new items launching for Muddy Outdoors seemed to be one of the more exciting pieces of news, as they are branching into brand new product lines of scent elimination, bow accessories and arrows! Another product that stood out for me was a new quiver launching from Trophy Ridge that incorporates a number of new features, including internal and external LEDs to help with low light arrow organization and travel.

The new Bowtech Insanity CPX bow was another that seemed to grab a  lot of peoples attention and after getting the lowdown from the bow designer, I can see why! This latest offering from Bowtech is super fast and also has some really innovative new features to dramatically improve accuracy, I think we’ll see this bow pick up a lot of fans.

Now on top of these items, I saw tons of other really interesting items from companies like G5, Sitka Gear, Under Armour and many more. So keep an eye out for a lot of product videos and more details coming soon!

With the onslaught of new product launches about to begin along with the arrival of “show season”, I figured I’d share an early preview of a few items to come for whitetail hunters from my hunting gear company of choice, Sitka!  In particular I wanted to share two specific products I’m really excited about, these being the new Scrambler series of youth clothing and the Fanatic vest. I’m thrilled to see high quality gear specifically designed for young hunters finally, and if you’ve seen any of my thoughts on the Fanatic Jacket, you’ll understand why I’m excited for the vest. Below I’ve included a few details from the product press releases, but look for much more detailed information and first hand impressions in the coming days as I’ll be sure to get the full scoop at the ATA show this week!

“NAPA, CA. Sitka Gear, the industry leader in performance hunting gear, is proud to unveil the Scrambler series jacket and pant, a premium performance set designed specifically for your favorite young hunter.  The Scrambler series is a testament of Sitka’s overall passion and commitment for the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts.

 The Scrambler jacket’s light insulation will ward off the tykes chill in early mornings and late evenings, yet provide maximum breathability throughout the day. With articulated elbows, a micro-fleece lining, and a functional chest pocket, there’s nothing Sitka left to chance for youngsters.

 The Scrambler pant features micro-fleece to wick away moisture and keep nippy temperatures at bay. The articulated soft shell pants are made to be worn with or without layers underneath. Reinforced seat and knees along with a 2-way stretch seam make the Scrambler a very solid built clothing system that caters to the up and coming outdoorsmen.”

“A key design feature on the Fanatic Jacket is its diagonal zipper design, which allows for a kangaroo pocket for hunters to keep their hands warm and ready for that next shot.  This feature also places the zipper on the hunter’s shoulder and not in front of their chin.

 The NEW Fanatic Vest takes the versatility of the Fanatic series to the next level.  As the temperatures rise and the Fanatic Jacket layer is removed, the Vest allows for the hunter to still have all of the unique features that they are familiar with on the Fanatic Jacket.  By being able to remain comfortable in the conditions at hand, yet having the high end features the Fanatic series keeps the hunter in the tree longer, increasing their chances of success.”

For more information, visit the Sitka Gear website.

As many of you know, I am truly obsessed with reading about whitetails. I read at least 3-4 different hunting magazines every month, cover to cover. I peruse various whitetail related hunting articles every night, while also writing pieces of my own. And I’ve got an ever growing book shelf of hunting books in my office as well that get read time after time. I say this to make a point, that being that I read an awful lot of hunting related material and have seen everything from the ghastly to the great. So when I say that “Bowhunting Whitetails The Eberhart Way” is right up with the best of them, I really mean it.

Now if you’ve followed Wired To Hunt over the past few years you’ve probably seen an article or two about the Eberhart family of Michigan. John and Chris Eberhart are two of the most successful whitetail hunters in my home state and they’ve take their experiences and shared them with the rest of the whitetail world through several books, DVDs and magazine articles. In fact I’ve reviewed a number of these in the past including “Precision Bowhunting“, “Whitetail Access” and the “Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails” DVD series. Their latest offering definitely lives up to the standard they’ve set with these past projects and I would encourage you to check out my past reviews, as I provide some additional detail into why I’m such a fan of their work. But in today’s review I wanted to focus on two important points. Number one, why does this book stand above the pack? And second, how is this book different than the others published by the Eberhart’s in the past? So, without further adieu, let take a look at these two topics…

1. Why Does This Book Stand Above the Pack: Bowhunting Whitetails The Eberhart Way is a must read because it dives in to very specific strategies for hunting mature whitetails, in highly pressured areas. John and Chris don’t talk in generalities, in this book very specific tactics are outlined and they are tactics applicable to hunting in the most difficult areas of the country. Admittedly, many topics covered in popular hunting literature just don’t apply to the guy hunting public ground in Pennsylvania, it’s just a totally different ball game. This book is for that person. But at the same time it is also for the land owner in Iowa, because if you apply these tactics in Iowa or Illinois, where maybe the pressure isn’t as high, your success will be that much more consistent and convincing. This book and in fact all the other Eberhart publications as well, are truly some of the most educational and actionable pieces of hunting literature I’ve come across.

In addition to the strategies specifically formulated for tough hunting, we’re also given a step by step process of how the Eberhart’s go about preparing and then hunting throughout the year. For those of us who have made whitetail hunting a year round process, the ideas shared in this book are invaluable.

2. How Is This Book Different From Previous Eberhart Installments: This most recent book from the Eberhart’s stands out from their previous books for several reasons. First off, this book seems to dive more deeply into specific topics, while past books like Precision Bowhunting were more about a year round outline of things to do. Strategies and tactics are discussed in previous books, but “The Eberhart Way” takes this analysis to a deeper level. Devoting entire chapters to topics such as hunting around corn, speed scouting just before season, spring scouting,  hunting from the ground, specific tools used, public land hunting and hunting in in-climate weather.

Secondly, this book makes great use of full color pictures and lots of them. These illustrations make the book both more useful and interesting to read. Additionally, it seems that more personal hunting stories are told of John and Chris’ own experiences, and being more recent as well, they proved particularly interesting.

That all being said, if I did have one complaint it would be in regards to one of the last chapters in this book where the authors take some stabs at quality deer management and other philosophies along those lines. While I have no problem with someone choosing not to adhere to QDM principles or with someone disagreeing with the ideas all together, I don’t believe the author accurately portrayed hunters that practice QDM, or QDM principles as a whole in this book. While a few of the bones picked in this section are accurate in rare instances, I don’t think they apply to the greater population. Unfortunately, quite a negative spin was added and it was the one disappointment I had with this book.

Despite this blemish, in my opinion, “Bowhunting Whitetails The Eberhart Way” is an outstanding read and one of the single most educational pieces of whitetail literature you can pick up.

I have referred to the Eberhart’s “Precision Bowhunting”  in the past as the deer hunting bible for anyone trying to kill mature bucks in states like my home of Michigan, and if I were to continue the analogy, I think it’s fair to say that this “new testament” is just as important a read.

For more information about the Eberharts and their offerings, visit http://www.deerjohn.net/ .

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but let’s be honest, the visions dancing through our heads are still of monster bucks, not sugar plums. Whitetail Freaks like us never really can shake the fever and for that reason it makes sense that the gifts we would like the most are related to our favorite pastime! With that in mind, I thought I’d offer up a few christmas gift suggestions that would be just perfect for the avid whitetail hunter, but also won’t break the bank. Whether you want to forward this along to a family member with a “wink wink”, or get one of these gifts for a fellow hunter, hopefully it’s helpful and gives you a few good ideas!

1. Wicked Tough Hand Saw from Wicked Tree Gear: As you may have seen in my full review written this summer, the Wicked saw truly lives up to its name. No tool was more handy this summer as I prepared for the upcoming season. The saw is incredibly sturdy, sharper than hell and comfortable to use. For $40, this is an incrdibly handy tool that any whitetail hunter will surely be happy to have.

2. Heartland Bowhunter Season 4 Blu-Ray DVD OR Drury Outdoors’ 100% Wild Fair Chase Vol 11: Here are my top two DVD choices for the 2011 Christmas season. Heartland Bowhunter Season 4 was epic, and for the techie hunter with a Blu-ray player, this will be incredible to see in HD. On the other hand, if you’re looking more for pure jaw dropping bucks, go ahead and pick up 100% Wild Fair Chase. I’ve written about it before, but wow, you need to see the story of “Goliath”. This buck will haunt your dreams. That being said, you can’t go wrong with either of these DVDs for yourself or a friend!

3. Princeton Tec Head Lamp: I just started using a head lamp this fall and boy was I missing out. It’s amazing how many things become easier when you have a nice headlamp to illuminate the way. The Princeton Tec lamp I bought this year was only $40, and had a red lens cover that makes the light nearly impercetible to deer and keeps you from losing your night vision. I used my lamp to walk to and from my stand, set up camera gear in the tree in the dark, blood trail and many other things. All while still being able to use my hands. It’s a simple, but incredibly useful gift.

4. Bone Collector – The Brotherhood Album: There’s no better album of music for a hunter than the Bone Collector collection. Over the past two years I’ve jammed to this cd quite often and have yet to tire of songs like “Buck Fever”, “Opening Day” and “My Baby Looks Good in Camouflage”! It’s catchy and full of hunting related songs that are just plain fun to listen to, especially on the way to deer camp. Can’t go wrong with this one for around $10.

5. Bowhunting Whitetails The Eberhart Way: If you’re looking to learn about bowhunting whitetails, especially those who are in high pressure areas, this is the resource for you. I’ve long praised the works of John Eberhart and his son Chris, and they’ve once again produced a terrific book filled with lessons to be learned. I received a previous book of theirs for Christmas several years ago and it was one of my favorite gifts of the year. This newest installment will be a great gift this year for sure. Look for my full review of this book soon.

As the holidays quickly approach, I know many of you are working on adding those last minute items to your Christmas wish list. And one item I’ve found to be great for my list has been hunting DVDs! That being said, I figured now would be the perfect time to share with you my list of the best whitetail hunting DVDs of 2011. I’ve watched quite a few hunting DVDs this year and probably spent too much money on them too! So I’m going to try to justify my purchases (aka obsession w/hunting DVDs) by giving you all the low down on what I believe are the best DVDs for 2011. Be sure to add a few of these to your list or grab one of these for a friend or family member. If you love big bucks, great hunting stories and lots of antler, you won’t be disappointed!

Drury Outdoors 100% Wild Fair Chase 11: My pick for the best whitetail hunting DVD of the year has got to be the Drury’s 100% Wild Fair Chase Vol 11. As usual this DVD includes terrific hunts, plenty of big bucks and great info. But above and beyond, this years volume features what I believe is the best story arch I’ve ever seen in a hunting DVD. The story of David, Goliath and Baby G is truly incredible. And when you see “Goliath” and his 240ish inch rack step into the TV screen, I promise your jaw will drop. The DVD is worth buying just for this story, but the rest of the hunts won’t disappoint either. In addition to this DVD, the Drury’s other two main releases Whitetail Madness 14 and Dream Season 14 are great ones as well. Click here for my full review of these three DVDs.

Buy Here

The Dark Side – White Knuckle Productions: I’ve been a big fan of the White Knuckle Productions DVDs over the years and their latest video could very well be their best yet. But this may not be for the obvious reasons. Sure, some giant bucks are killed on film. But what really sets this DVD apart is the fact that it highlights the bad parts of bowhunting just as much as the good. We all know that this pasttime can get incredibly frustrating, and The Dark Side does a great job showing all aspects of this crazy thing we call hunting. Check out my full review for more details, but in short, this is a great DVD.

Buy Here

Heartland Bowhunter Season 3: In the Heartland Bowhunter Season 3 DVD you’ll find beautiful scenery, top notch production and authentic hunts and stories brought to life. The TV series was terrific last year and the DVD collection is just as good, if not better. As this DVD is available on Blu Ray, making it the first hunting DVD to my knowledge to be available in high def. Highlights of this season include the “Oh My Gosh” episode and “Sticker 8″.  This DVD was technically released end of 2010, so you’ll also want to take a look at the just released Season 4 DVD as well. I’ve yet to review the Season 4 officially, but believe me when I say it was a great one. Look for more on that soon.

Buy Here

Whitetail Freaks 6: When it comes to fast paced, big buck action it’s hard to beat the Whitetail Freaks DVDs and the 6th release doesn’t disappoint. Don & Kandi Kisky and Lee & Tiffany Lakosky share their exploits in the whitetail woods, along with the rest of the Freaks team and boy did they put some giants on the ground. Highlights for me were Jason Bosaw’s pair of absolute monster bucks, including his 205″ mega-giant.  With 4,000″ of antler to showcase, you can’t go wrong with this DVD.

Buy Here

Monster Bucks 19 Volumes 1 & 2: Another great option to help quench your big buck cravings, the latest Monster Buck’s DVDs provide a near endless stream of giant whitetails biting the dust. Iconic hunters such as Michael Waddel, Bill Jordan and David Blanton take us along for some terrific hunts, along with a myriad of other hunters across the country. A pair of 200″+ bucks killed by the Whitetail Properties team are highlights in my book, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a buck on this DVD that doesn’t get your blood boiling. Get ready for a non-stop ride through big buck paradise with this one.

Buy Here

Bowhunting.com Vol 3: The Bowhunting.com team really took their video to the next level this year and you can definitely see it in this latest DVD. In addition to being a group of hardcore bow hunters putting great deer on the ground, the Bowhunting.com DVD also features some great footage of the off-season too, which I really enjoyed. Great kills from my friends Todd Graff, Justin Zarr and Cody Altizer were highlights for me, and I’m sure folks will enjoy a lot of the hunts on this 24 kill DVD.

Buy Here

Deer & Deer Hunting Season 6: Deer & Deer Hunting TV always likes to say that the deer are the stars in their show, and Season 6 really lives up to this billing. For a whitetail info nut like me, the incredible amount of information shared in the Deer & Deer Hunting TV episodes is greatly appreciated, and getting 11 episodes all together in one place is terrific. This DVD is a great gift idea for anyone looking to learn a lot about whitetail hunting, and a fun watch for any deer hunting enthusiast. Topics covered vary from food plots to western whitetails, along with everything in between.

Buy Here

So there it is. My list of the best whitetail hunting DVDs of 2011. Now that being said, I know there are plenty more great DVDs out there, so if you have another video worthy of this list, please share it in the comments!

Additionally, if you are a part of a DVD production we’d love to hear about it! We love featuring the work of the Wired To Hunt Nation. And that being said, a couple readers of the blog are already working on some nice DVDs worth taking a look it, those being Michigan Whitetail Pursuit and Team Overkill. So be sure to give them a look too.

Now that being said, there’s plenty of season left to go and many cold sits to endure. So I’m planning on reserving my final review until after I’ve weathered those storms. But up to this point, I’ve been incredibly impressed with the Fanatic and I wanted to give you all a quick peak at what the Fanatic Jacket specifically has to offer, as it is very unique compared to other hunting coats available. So take a look at the video below from Sitka detailing the Fanatic and keep your eyes peeled for my full review later this year!

For more information on the Sitka Fanatic and other Sitka Gear, visit the Sitka Gear Website.

Today we’ve got a guest post from renowned hunter Tim Herald, as he shares with us his thoughts on crossbow hunting and some news on the latest bows from Carbon Express. I personally have not used a crossbow, love my compound too much, but I know they’ve been great for a lot of hunters. My dad has some serious eyesight issues, and if it weren’t for a crossbow, he would not be able to successfully bowhunt. For reasons like that, I’m definitely a supporter. If you’re looking to go this route, check out the article below for some great insights! – MK

“Crossbow hunting has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past few years, and I don’t think anyone can deny that the sport is here to stay. There are more opportunities than ever, and an increasing list of states are providing special seasons or allowing crossbows to be used during traditional archery seasons. Crossbow hunting is here to stay, and after participating in the sport for the last two years, I have to say that I think it is incredibly fun.

I also like the fact that crossbow hunting brings youth into “bowhunting” at an age before they can competently use a vertical bow to harvest animals. It also will extend the hunting lifetime of older hunters who may not be able to draw a vertical bow as they become elderly.  I have seen this with my two young sons as well as my father after he had heart surgery.

So enough about the virtues of crossbows in general! I own an original Carbon Express Covert 3.5 crossbow that the company came out with a few years ago. It is a great bow, my kids have racked up a ton of deer and turkeys with it, and my dad and I have also both killed turkeys with it. I couldn’t imagine it getting much better until I learned about the new CX I and 2 crossbows that are CX’s second generation.

How are these crossbows better and why should I pick them over anything else out there I asked, so I went straight to the source to find out, and I talked to Carbon Express COO John Biafore about it. He began with, “BioSync Technology is the biggest attribute of these new crossbows that set them apart. What that technology is all about is Body-Bow- Bolt. We want the bow to fit the body, and then the bolt to work at maximum efficiency with the bow for a perfect fit all the way around. That way when someone hunts with our crossbow, he doesn’t have to be thinking about the crossbow, bolt or our equipment; he can simply concentrate on the hunt, and that’s how it should be.”

Biafore explained, “Our original Coverts were great, but we wanted them more comfortable. So we took a lot of weight out and improved the balance of the crossbow. Most of this came out of the front end of the crossbow, but it made it much more comfortable. It no longer feels like you are dragging around a log with you to a treestand or blind.”

Carbon Express now has a premium line of crossbow bolts available in their now famous Maxima line. There is a Maxima Hunter and a Kevlar coated maxima Hunter KV. What sets these bolts apart are that they have Dual Spine Weight Forward Technology just like the Maxima line of arrows, and they are properly spined for the CX crossbows. The Dual Spine Weight Forward means that the dynamic and static spine of the bolt has been considered, so this means the front end of the bolt flexes more giving forgiveness, while the back end is stiffer and recovers quicker. This is what makes an arrow or bolt perform to its maximum, and these are the most technologically sound bolts that can be bought. In short, the bolts and the crossbows being matched up will simply perform better.

So we now see what BioSync is all about. The bow is comfortable, and it shoots great. What else is so good about the CX line I asked? Biafore answered, “We really feel that not only are these great crossbows from a technical and performance standpoint, they are also the best value on the market. The CX 1 crossbow package comes in at $499 and the CS 2 at $599. The difference is the CX 1 is a 330fps bow and the CX 2 is 360 fps. These packages both include the crossbow, a 4×32 illuminated scope, a quiver, rail lube as well as three Maxima Hunter bolts. It is a package that is ready to sight in and take to the field. Also, with these bolts, we haven’t tried to bump our speeds up, our bolts perform at our published fps speeds.”

When speaking on price, John expounded, “Carbon Express is entrenched as a high quality arrow company, but that doesn’t automatically transfer over to the new crossbow market. We know we make a great product, but we also know we have to earn the consumer’s crossbow business, so making a great valued package is what we decided was the best route to begin earning that business. We absolutely want to be best in class both in performance and price.”

My last question was besides being a great shooting crossbow that sells at an incredibly fair price, what other things might a potential buyer want to consider in the CX line? Biafore said, “The package obviously offers a lot, but also consider that we cut no corners to get to that price. The crossbows are made with anodized aluminum flight rail, proven carbon infused limbs and premium strings and cables. There is an anti-dryfire mechanism that is very important for safety.”

After the fun my family and I have had over the past two years crossbow hunting, even though our Covert 3.5 is still incredibly accurate, I am going to have to consider one of the new CX 2’s. I have two close friends who bought them recently, and they are fantastic all the way around. After talking with Biafore and understanding more about BioSync, I am really leaning toward the upgrade. If you are in the market for a crossbow, you owe it to yourself to check the newest CX’s from Carbon Express.” – Tim Herald

For more info on Carbon Express crossbows, visit their website here.

It started out as an idea in my head and a brushy patch of ground, then eventually with time, sweat and muscle it transformed. From a barren patch of earth sprung new life and great possibility. The possibility of a beautiful food plot is now coming to life to as my hard work this summer is finally paying off in the form of a lush green carpet sprawling across my property.

A month and a half ago, with the help of a few friends, I was able to put in my largest food plot to date on my new piece of property. This small hunting plot is comprised of Whitetail Institute No-Plow on the south side, and Whitetail Institute Tall Tine Turnips and Winter Greens on the north. And with that combination, I’ve got an attractive food source available from October straight through January.

As you can see from the pictures here, the deer are already starting to flock to my plot and I plan on finally taking advantage of that this weekend. I have yet to hunt my food plot, although I set a friend of mine there, and he saw deer every night. So now it’s my turn and I plan on taking my first doe of the year from my little hidey hole and I can’t wait. As you can see, the food plot has definitely grown into a beautiful sprawl of lush, green food. But I aim to add a little red to the picture this weekend.

In a day or two, this little piece of land will continue its evolution. From a food plot, to a killing plot.

For more information about the food plots I’ve planted, visit the Whitetail Institute of North America.

A guest post from D.F. Worth, as he takes a look at the lighter side of hunting and today, walks us through his key pieces of gear for the 2011 season!

My Gear For 2011

In the past couple weeks I have realized a few things. First, I am not a big enough d-bag to shop at the Buckle and second, I spend a lot of money on hunting gear every year!  In the following I will talk about some of the products I bring in the woods and some superstitions that I think make me a better deer hunter.

Lucky Hat – I will literally not go in the woods without this hat.  This hat along with my beard makes me look like Fidel Castro.  Funny thing, but it is one of those items that brings me some extra confidence in the timber.  What’s your lucky charm?   To see my lucky hat check out Whitetails Inc. Episode 8 – “9 Fingers; No Problem” 

Facial Hair –  If you want to be a hunting bada$$ you have to look the part, and nothing says “Hey Deer – I want to kill you” like a sweet trucker mustache or a grizzled beard.  The more out of control the better.  It only took me 26 years to grow a somewhat respectable beard; I am now 30 and on the brink of growing the best “Hammer” ever.  Ladies, you can always buy a fake stache or beard and wear it in the stand… the deer will appreciate the gesture.  Do me a favor and take part in No-Shave November (or if you’re me No-Shave August, September, October, and November), then take a picture of your best facial foliage and post in on the Wired To Hunt Facebook page.

Hammer – a trucker stache but with way more attitude. 

Ozonics – I’m sure by now you have at least heard of this scent elimination/control product.  Just like the rest of the people out there I was hesitant to use it, just one more thing to carry into the woods.  It took about 3 weeks of solid hunting for me to see the “perfect scenario” but when it happened… Holy crap!  I had a 4½ year old downwind of me for over 5 minutes, curious, but not on full alert. That just doesn’t happen.  This past season while in the tree I did not get blown at one time, believe it or not.  I showered less and washed my camo less, saving me time and money.  This is one of those products that you have to try for yourself and make your own opinion.  But I can tell you right now it works better than any so-called scent control clothing. It’s science.   Learn more about Ozonics at www.ozonicshunting.com

Lone Wolf Tree Stands – In the past I used a ladder stand, that was until I realized bow hunting whitetails was a mobile sport.  You have to be able to change your location depending on deer movement and active sign and trying to quietly move and set up a ladder stand on a run-n-gun set is damn near impossible.  Let’s not forget how easy the Lone Wolf and Muddy climbing sticks are to set up and take down too.  Also, I don’t own my own property so leaving a stand up all year around is not an option because of Timber Pirates.  I also use some Muddy stands as well, anything portable will do the trick.

Timber Pirate – someone who steals tree stands, trail cameras, and shed poaches. Total tools!

Elite Pure – Just like Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge, there are several bow brands out there and every person has their own opinion.  Whether it’s because of an opinion someone has formed for themselves or an opinion given to them by a large marketing budget.  I am able to attend the ATA show every year and several deer classics throughout the Midwest where I shoot every new bow model on the market, and I keep coming back to Elite.  Smooth draw, solid valley, all the power a guy could need.  Although Elite is a WKP sponsor I am not obligated to shoot an Elite, I do so because it fits all of my needs and if the day comes where something I like better comes along I will certainly give it a try.   Take a look at some of the bows from Elite at www.elitearchery.com

Arrows:  Easton Axis 300’s – this year I took a step up and went with a stiffer spine and my accuracy actually improved.

Rest:  RipChord

Sight:  Vital Bow Gear Single Pin – I have used this same sight set up for the last 3 years and will use it until it breaks.

Broadhead’s:  Spitfire Maxx

Binoculars:  Vortex – this is another item I will not go in the woods without. My goal is to see them before they see me.

We all use different products and have loyalty to certain brands.  Over the past couple years I have become more of an archery gear-head and am very interested in learning what products you won’t go in the woods without and why you use them.  Let us know what your setup is for 2011 in the comment section below!

Lastly and most important… Wear your safety harness!

Shameless Self Promotion:  If you get a chance please visit the White Knuckle – Whitetails Inc.  Facebook page and “Like” us.

Stay Wired!

D. F. Worth