I'm 66 yrs. old and I learned to deer hunt in the timber company woods of northwest Louisiana leaned up against a tree with a Stevens bolt action 12 ga. and OO buck. Killed a lot of deer. Always believed in making myself a part of the woods. I didn't own camo for the first 10 yrs. I hunted. Closest thing to camo was my Air Force field jacket. I've been on "Big Time" high fence hunts with my son and the Texas Youth Hunting Program. This type of hunting is nice but I still prefer my old style. I don't have a lease. Now days if I get drawn for a public hunt that's how I hunt. Driving to the woods in my 1998 4-wheeler. Sitting real still in a lawn chair in a ground blind I made. Watching a trail or a scrape. I have some camo shirts, still wear jeans and now I shoot a 308 I bought from a divorced lady friend. I've never used any scents or a feeder. My clothes are washed in Tide. I still manage to get a deer now and then for my family to eat. I agree with the OP. Everybody is free to do their own thing but for me it's keep it simple and not complicated. Just as much fun and a whole lot cheaper.

Exactly! I window shop all of the time but, 9 out of 10 times I stick with what I've got and thank God every day for it.

Exactly. We all do it differently and that is fine. I have little interest in the latest calibers and newest camo. I know what works for me and I don't need anyone's opinion on that.

CMC, this has to be one of the greatest posts ever on THF.

I giggle when I'm at Academy, watching guys surveying all of the deer "attractants".

It's like watching a woman pick out the perfect pair of shoes.

http://www.academy.com/shop/browse/hunting/hog-hunting/attractants

There must be 50+ to choose from. People keep buying it and the manufacturers keep coming up with attractive products / promotions.

Saw a commercial on this one last night with Michael Waddell pimping it.


[img]http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/evolved-...ildCatid=859499[/img]

excellent write up! similar to my comment over in the 2015 CO elk discussion about making things too complicated or making a big production out of packing and what to take. I like to keep things simple but I will probably over pack just in case.

Scooter?

Love the write up. I have hunted both ways. Still use cameras cause I like the pics and feed to get those pics of all different animals. However, I also go to public lands all over the country to hunt and when I do its with minimal gear. A friend and I a few years ago had this same discussion while having some cold ones at camp. We decided to go "old school". Bought the red flannel shirt, Elmer fud hat and blue jeans. Went to SD antelope hunting with long bows/cedar arrows and old solid broad heads found on eBay. Spot and stalk hunt left us short on arrows and we flung enough arrows to make Ted nugent blush, did kill a damn thing but we had our chances. Most fun/memorable hunt I've ever been on!

Actually I like it all - I enjoy browsing through Cabelas and Bass Pro - I enjoy buying hunting related gear. I watch a lot of hunting shows and read a lot of hunting information. But I also have hunted all my life and spend much time in the field and working on and at our deer lease. Have slept on the ground in the mountains and crawled up and down some bad a** mountains in all kinds of weather and conditions.

So I agree with your rant that at the end of the day it is about getting out and going hunting - but I also think the whole hunting experience is fun

Getting new stuff and decked out in new camo for the season opener is very similar to going out and buying a new outfit to wear to church on Easter Sunday. One trumps the other, but it's a special occasion for a lot of people.

Those "people" you are talking about are women right?

Nope. I always grab a new camo outfit for season..may not wear it for 5 years, but I'll get it.

I only buy new camo outfit if my belly gets too big to fit in the old.

Isnt there a song with a line that goes something like...

"Don't call what you're wearing an OUTFIT"

Good post, CMC!

I like the "stuff" as much as anybody. I'm just not under the illusion it is all that important in getting game in the scheme of things.

It's all about the money!
I started out hunting in jeans and a flannel shirt, usually red/black plaid shirts to be seen so you didn't get shot. Wasn't much camo to be had but plenty of field jackets around.
No four wheelers, or fancy deer stands, just wooden steps nailed to the trunk of a tree, and some boards nailed into the tree to sit on.
It was simple and my rifle was a surplus .303 British picked up for around $13.00 at the local Fed Mart.
We killed a lot of deer back then!
BTW..I still have that .303 British and I could hunt with it today if I wanted to.

No Dave and CMC know my give a ... Switch is Broke

Great write up Chris!!

You will never share a more enjoyable time in the field than you do with CMC, love Hunting with him..and his Brother is a Dear friend of mine also..

The difference in CMC and and some.. He practices what he preaches trust me unlike SOME on here, he's earned a right to be critical and he's Respectful and Courteous and not condescending of people's choices of Hunting Methods

All Pops ever used was a old .303 Jimbo, camo is overrated

I just spent $266 on Amazon on gear for the CO elk hunt. Most was for safety, survival, cold weather gear and most I could do without. At the same time, 1k miles from home in cold and unfamiliar territory is not where I want to skimp too much. Probably would have when I was in my teens. I actually did trips similar to CMC's except not hunting (wasn't quite into that yet) and similarly equipped. As in I had nothing more than what I left the house with or that was left in my truck. Spent many a nights out in the Washington mts without even a sleeping bag. Good times, as are all the times I am out in the woods.

Excellent post! I started out buying all the "right stuff" fortunately there wasn't all that much "stuff" back then... Over time I learned what I was doing and didn't need the "stuff" anymore. It's funny look at all the animals Chuck Adams took back in the 70's and 80's. He wore a flannel shirt and his stocking cap...never wore camo anything. He does today but that's just sponsor money.

X2

Sometimes it's necessary. Some places it's just not worth going in with nothing, search and rescue won't know where to find you in time.

Well played Sir!

Awesome post, thanks for sharing.

Very true. I don't mind watching Tiffany hunt though.