Engraver99

Yep, my next scope will be a thermal one....one day. My gen 2+ marauder is/was about a $4000 scope, when i got it (took me 7 years before i finally decided to pull the trigger last year) but makes 250+ yards look like daylight with the sniper hog ir scope light.

Yes, that is the easiest way to start. If you like it and end up doing more of it you can aways upgrade your gear. When upgrading i would first upgrade to a thermal monocular as you will see a huge difference in success. My thermal xq23v can detect heat sources as far as 875 yards and lets me know something is out there other than just catching eyes by scanning. Next upgrade would be a digital night vision scope or real night vision or thermal scope if you like this type of hunting enough. There is no shortage of upgrade paths or $ you can invest in the sport...lol. any ?'s feel free to ask...like i said i been thru it all...almost.

I have been thru the entire gammit from gun lights and headlamps up through and including thermal scanners used with gen 2+ white phosphor scopes. The easiest, cheapest and most effective way to get in the game is to use a headlamp for scanning and a digital day/night scope i.e. sightmark wraith on a rifle. For night shot gunning i would mount a light on the shotgun and use a headlamp to scan. The sightmark wraith has about a 200 yard range at night Using the included ir scope light. It is a full color scope when using it during day hours. It also records video but no audio. I have 3 rifles set up for night hunting. 1 with a sightmark xt scope (their original digital night vision scope) 2nd one has the wraith on it, and last one has thew the 750 marauder gen 2+ white phosphor scope with a sniper hog ir gun light. I use the headlamp for finding shot critters and a thermal monocular for scanning. I only use my shotgun when calling in the woods or heavy cover during daylight hours. I slso use a foxpro fx3 electronic caller. A lucky duck revolt caller, and a wildlife tech caller along with hand calls. My rifles carry bipods, or i use shooting sticks or tripods depending on tbe type of terrain and hunting i may be doing. Hope this info helps some of what kind of gear to get/use.

OR..Another option.......you can just get a headlamp for scanning eyes and use digital night vision for shooting (rifle) ie. sightmark wraith scopes or atn scopes.

Nice captures

Lucky's blinds...have 3 of them. Easy to carry, easy to setup, put em up in september, take em down in December. Never had snow collapse them. Thick material, steel rods, reasonable prices. Been using them for at least 12 years with no problems or issues. https://www.luckyshuntingblinds.com

Dirtbags with no respect...hope the commission hits em hard

Been out since 9 looking for a tag-out doe, snowing and icing out in 4 f. Sat for about 4 hours in tree stand, going to still hunt my way back in. Ice and snow is blowing sideways, pretty raw out - no sightings. Warm and toasty in my sitka gear except for hands and toes. Good luck to all who are still out.

Base layers with an exterior suit that blocks the wind. Was surprised at how light the sitka bases were and kept me warm. Used to wear the duofold expedition weight and was always cold with them. Sitka...not so much.

I can't answer for the other two but I have the incinerator suit. I typically wear the light and heavy core base layers with it and am pretty comfy. If need be, i also have some sitka hoodies i can also add to the layering which i have not needed as of yet. All i can say is i wish sitka made socks and boots...lol. i typically am treestand sitting for 3 to 5 hours at a time and at 2000+ elevation in the catskills. I need to leave the bibs and jacket open when getting to my stands 150-400 yards away. Have sat in 16 to 25 degree weather with 15mph plus winds and was still warm. Thats my experience with the sitka incineraror. The gortex inside it is a little noisy to me, but the 8 pointer i shot didnt seem to mind a bit. Additionally, the suit is light, the cores are light and i didnt feel like an overstuffed snow clown wearing it like i did with my 30 year old browning stuff. Love my sitka gear!

Makes a kick-azz pot roast in 1/2 the time under pressure, can still use it as a slow cooker also

Good luck

Snowing and windy here in 4f...on the fence.

Was always cold until i got my sitka incinerator suit. Now am dry and toasty warm. Love the stuff. I match it with the sitka core base layers and hoodies if i have to. Wish they made socks and boots.

Always liked swamps myself. If there is a pinch point leading to the swamp i'd be there.

Got it dirty and bloody when i shot my little 8 pointer on Tuesday

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Picked up a 2007 kawasaki prairie 360 for $1725, needed a carb($40) from sitting, runs like a charm, was hardly used, darn near mint condition.

Anybody?

Was just given a HECS base layer package from one of my clients who uses one and swears that it gets him closer to the critters. I've read about them and the technology makes sense but still not totally convinced. Alot of videos show amazing footage of it in use. Any one use one?, Researched them, Thoughts on them? I'm not going to discount its abilities or use it as a crutch but am excited to test it myself. Any comments?

Interested in this also for my buck.was considering getting most flesh off then hanging it on fishing line and letting the birds pick off the meat and bleaching it when it eas clean. The beetle dude here wants $100+ to do one.

Good luck to Cynthia and Bill in the recovery...and good luck to all out there hunting

Finally saw me a little 8 pointer

Road rash....hit one a couple of years ago and watched it slide right next to me for about 20 feet or so...when she got up no hair on a section of the slide side.

Oooops, i was looking for the "I haven't even seen a good buck yet" thread!

Tires and rims are generally cheaper than just getting tires i found