By Jace Bauserman
If you haven't yet, you're likely on the cusp of spending some time on-stand for the season. With that, you probably aren't look to add to your whitetail kit. However, in the event you lose something or discover a last- minute hole in your deer gear that you need to fill, we’ve got you covered.
Many hunters roam public land in search of whitetails, and this crowd wants to be maneuverable, light and stealthy. Enter Mystery Ranch’s Treehouse 9. A minimalist hip pack coming in four different sizes, this 3.5-pound, 545-cubic-inch pack sports a magnetic rip-zip flap for quick and easy access. Two side pockets with elastic pull cords secure water bottles and other gear, and the Treehouse 9 comes with lashing straps on the bottom and shoulder strap attachment points on the top of the body panel, allowing for dual carry modes. (mysteryranch.com)
Black Gold’s Mountain Lite Dual Trac is an excellent sight option, a two-pin vertical sight designed to keep bow weight down while boosting maneuverability. The ML base is compact and uber-light. The .019-inch Pro Pins are fitted with a narrower pin throat that ends in a perfectly rounded pinhead, creating less target blackout. The Dial of Death feature allows archers to instantly dial to pre-determined yardages with a dual indicator system for short and long yardage reference. The Mountain Lite Dual Trac comes with 54 sight tapes, and the PhotoChromatic shell perfectly adapts pin brightness to any lighting condition. (blackgoldsights.com)
The onX Hunt app continues to evolve and help hunters boost their success. New for 2023, Trail Cam Integration is a feature that allows users to pinpoint trail cameras on their maps and directly import each camera’s imagery. With this feature, hunters can store trail cam images in one place. OnX has also made plans to partner with industry-leading trail camera manufacturers to allow certain cell cams to automatically send imagery to the onX Hunt App. New features like Leaf-Off Imagery and Terrain X also sweeten the deal. (onxmaps.com)
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Launched in 2022, Browning’s OVIX pattern continues to dominate the woods. Intentionally placed brown, gray and green hues do an exceptional job of breaking up the hunter’s outline at any distance. Browning offers an array of OVIX-covered garments, like the popular Packable Puffer Jacket. Thanks to color analysis, strategic shading and shape manipulation, these apparel items create a consistent pattern of concealment and optical movement. The color pallet utilizes high contrast to break-up figures during close encounters. At further distances, the shapes blend to create a natural mirage rather than a dark blob. (browning.com)
Deer hunters hear the Lacrosse name and instantly think of waterproof, over-the-calf rubber boots that promise warmth, durability and odor control. Yes, Lacrosse does make some great rubber boots. Still, the boot maker’s new URSA MS is making waves this season. Five years in development with 30,000 miles covered, these all-terrain hunting boots are lightweight, durable, fitted with a Vibram outsole and Gore-Tex lined. The Tech Tuff PU-Infused leather with a double-stitched, cemented rubber rands make these kicks bulletproof. The URSA MS is the perfect mid-season whitetail boot for all terrain. (lacrossefootwear.com)
If your smoke pole is your venison getter, consider Hodgdon White Hots 50/50. A .50 caliber 50-grain pellet, White Hots make for rapid reloading in charges that slip down the barrel and pack without the need for measurers or funnels. White Hots are super-clean burning, so cleaning between shots isn’t required. White Hots can exceed speeds of 2,600 fps and create incredible contact energy. (hodgdonreloading.com)
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For 2023, Bowtech broke the carbon mold by adding flowing lines and giving the all-new Carbon One a sleek, no-boxy appearance. The grip appears long and flat-backed, and Bowtech notes that the strategically engineered carbon riser combined with the Orbit Dampeners eliminate post-shot hand tingle. The DeadLock Cam System is nothing new, and why would it be? The DeadLock System has proven effective and gives the shooter a no-bow-press- needed tune. The Carbon One weighs 4.5 pounds, measures 30 inches between the axles, and hits a top speed of 335 fps. The brace height is 6.63 inches, and the bow is drawn-length adjustable in half-inch increments between 25.5 and 30.5 inches. (bowtecharchery.com)
When it comes to warmth, a top-end puffy is hard to beat, and KUIU’s Super Down LT Hooded Jacket is a win. This insulated mid-layer hooded jacket blends Quixdown insulation with a 100 percent windproof face fabric. All this comes in a jacket weighing 9.4 ounces. The fabric is a dull, matte finish, and the jacket is available in Verde, Valo, Vias, and Gunmetal color options. (kuiu.com)
Ramcat’s 100-grain Diamondback broadhead is a hard-hitting fixed-blade. Ramcat based the Diamondback on their patented Airfoil system found on the ferrule. The high-quality design means field point accuracy and penetration that leads the broadhead market. For an extremely fair price, you can get a three-pack of the Ramcat Diamondbacks. (ramcatbroadheads.com)
The LowDown Trail Cam Viewer is a touch-screen trail cam viewer that allows you to look over many images quickly and efficiently. Fitted with a 9-inch HD color screen, images pop, and LowDown’s SnapShot feature allows you to save freeze-frame videos and convert those frames into saved images. The LowDown Trail Cam Viewer will go anywhere — the woods, the truck, the recliner — and when you’re on the move, use the included auto adapter to keep your viewer charged and ready to go. This is a must-have tool if you live where cell cams aren’t legal or simply prefer a quality digital trail cam. (lowdownviewer.com)
October often calls for a tweener-type glove — something not too heavy or light. We like Hunt Monkey’s Ridge Runner Lightweight Glove. A four-way stretch material form-fitting glove, the Ridge Runner sports a brushed interior fifinish to create a superior warmth-to-strength ratio. An extended cuff boosts comfort, and the synthetic leather palm and non-slip fingers increase grip and function. (huntmonkeygloves.com)
The Shift Lock is an uber-adjustable quiver that maximizes arrow security and reduces noise, all while moving in its full-extend mode. However, when you climb in a less-than-roomy tree stand or spend the day grinding it out inside a ground blind, you’ll appreciate the ability to shorten the quiver into a super-compact model. The Shift Lock has 9 inches of overall length adjustment and showcases proven TightSpot innovations. (tightspotquiver.com)
Havalon’s replaceable blade knives are ideal for the deer hunter seeking a quick and convenient way to have sharper blades; and their Baracuta-Blaze knife delivers on that desire. This cutter measures 10 3/8 inches in overall length, providing you with the ability to dress, cape and debone game adequately with one knife. Weighing just 3 ounces, the Baracuta-Blaze is one of the lightest and sharpest options on the market. (havalon.com)
Browning’s Dark Ops HD MAX Plus is arguably one of the best standard trail cameras on the market. It features the Dark Ops series’ famed imperceptible IR flash, which prevents that wise, old buck you’re hunting from seeing your camera. The Dark Ops HD MAX Plus’ performance is impressive, too. With adjustable reaction speeds and the ability to capture 20MP photos and 1600x900p HD+ video, you’ll know exactly what game is frequenting your best spots. (browningtrailcameras.com)
This all-in-one licking branch, rubbing post and mock scrape system is a game- changer. This new system places the three main glands deer use to communicate in one location. The preorbital gland is utilized at the top of the leaf and vine assembly, the forehead gland solution is placed on the forehead strip, and the interdigital gland goes on the system’s base. Requiring no tools to set up, you’ll be inventorying deer in no time with BuckStik. (buckstik.com)
Perfect for your hunting rig, Ozonics’ Micro3 safely produces ozone molecules that attack odors and deodorize your vehicle’s interior. Plug the Micro3 into your 12V auxiliary power outlet or auto cigarette lighter, and the produced ozone will transform and destroy odor, bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. (ozonicshunting.com)
Offered in various colors, Butler Creek’s FeatherLight Slings are a must-add to your favorite deer gun. Made of durable, lightweight foam, the all-new FeatherLight’s are lighter than Butler Creek’s Quick Carry Padded Sling. Cutouts reduce trapped heat and provide a hold- to-the-shoulder grip, and the large thumb loop further secures the sling on the shoulder when navigating rough terrain. The FeatherLight is adjustable from 22 to 36 inches. (butlercreek.com)
Available in 10- and 14-foot versions, Wicked Tree Gear’s Ultra Light Pole Saw has a blade length of 11 inches and will make any trimming job stress-free. The Wicked Ultra-Lock connection means rapid saw removal when needed, and the curved, arborist’s-style, high carbon steel blade slices through limbs like butter. This saw is ready to handle any trimming chore you can dream up, from softwoods to dense hardwoods. (feradyne.com)
New-for-2023, Wildlife Research Center introduces their Active-Branch mock scrape kit. With quality licking branches not always being in the locations where you’d like to establish them, Active-Branch solves that problem. With Golden Scrape scent, the Magnum Scrape Dripper, a mounting strap and the branch holder all included, this kit will have your mock scrapes established in no time. (wildlife.com)
The best thing about being a deer hunter is fresh hamburgers and steaks are only a grilling session away. Make your venison even better with Drop Tine Rub. With savory notes of tomato and celery paired with bite-the-tongue Worcestershire, this rub is a win for any big-game meal. (theproviderlife.com)
What beats one great trail camera at an even better price? Two! Moultrie’s Micro-32i Kit comes as a two-pack with batteries included. These low-profile cameras take excellent high-resolution photos, and one set of batteries can handle up to 13,000 photos. The invisible flash adds to this compact camera kit’s appeal, and they become Moultrie Mobile compatible when connected to a modem. (moultriefeeders.com)
