The other thread got me thinking... But I would like to hear about what were the best hunting related purchases. I know what to avoid, now I want to know what to look for.

For me it was moving to a modern layering system. I bought quite a bit of First Lite gear last year for an elk hunt and I will never go back to my old way. We had a few mornings that started out in the low teens and ended up in the mid 50s, with periods of hiking and sitting yet I felt comfortable all day adjusting my layers.

Swarovski EL Binoculars, by far.

My Weatherby rifles and shotgun as far as firearms are concerned. My Leupold VX-6 as far as optics. Mathews halon and Gold Tip pierce arrows for archery.

terminal gear, I'm ambivalent about. I do have a nice cabelas jacket that I am fond of. But aside from the invention of binoculars and rangefinders, There is nothing brand specific that I couldn't live with out or interchange and be just as happy with their performance.

Browning A5, thermacell, getting into reloading.

+1, no contest.

Garmin GPS for my dogs

+2, I'm an idiot from not getting one sooner than I did.

Winchester model 1890. Bought it for $30.00 at an estate sale in the mid 1980s. Tracked the Serial # to 1907. Shoots shorts only but it is just so much fun to shoot. Taught countless numbers of kids to shoot with it.


Oh, and my Combo Lifetime License. Bought it in 1991 just before they went from $500.00 to $1000.00.

Me too. This, and a pre-64 Win. Model 70 Featherweight in .243 that I bought on Gunbroker. 'Not my main carry rifle, but the thing always amazes me.

An avocado green Stanley thermos and my Danner hunting boots. Have had both for right about 20 yrs now, warm dry feet and hot coffee are hard to beat.

As long as I'm talking warm feet and hot coffee, I think this setup is some of the best money I have ever spent.

Swaros

A deer stand with 0 maintenance

I forgot to mention YETI ice chests.


Def. love that purchase

Best money I spent recently was done in several areas. I bought a bunch of parts and had a semi-custom LR rifle built by a guy I had never met. The smith was recommended by a couple guys I didn't know well but trusted their opinions, to some degree. One of those guys I hired to develop ammo for the rifle. The other helped me to understand how to use the system properly. It all went smooth as butter. The rifle and ammo combo shoots lights out and by that I mean under an inch at 300 yards. I have quite limited experience in this LR sport and often times look like I know what I'm doing. Money well spent.

Sending my 10/22 trigger to Brimstone was money well spent too.

Rifle: Tikka CTR in .308. For the $ best buy I ever made on a rifle
Scope: Leupold VX5-HD. Creates light.
Gadget: T-handled Gerber pelvic bone saw, with a blunt end. When I gut one on the ground makes it easy, also cuts through sternum.
Boots: North Face (with Thermacell battery powered insole heaters) Single digit temps my feet are comfortable all day.
Heater: Leather covered stainless steel flask filled with Woodford Reserve Double Oak. If any of this stuff fails I don't care as long as I have this.

Should the post meal tooling be leaned against the kitchen like that? Don't ---- where you eat, right?

If I didn't have responsibilities, I'd live there, happy and peacefully. Beautiful setup.

Outhouse is back in the brush a bit, shovel is for the fire...

This has been my lifesaver during bow season

Honda ATV's- No way I could do half of what I do without them.

HCR Feeders and "The Timer"- After years of using sub quality feeders and having to replace them to dang often, I wised up and spend an extra $30each for better units and they have paid for themselves many times over! No more sitting there in the stand wondering "is it working or not?".

GoreTex rain gear- I hate hunting in the rain but this stuff works!

Nosler Bullets- From Paritions to Accubonds they never disappoint me.

Chippewa snake boots- Mine have many many hard miles on them and they look horrible but they have held up really well! They are even still waterproof.

Glock- You can buy more expensive side arms but you cant buy a better one.

iPhone- I keeps me occupied in the stand.

Divorce papers and attorney fee's....

Honda ATV
Swarovski EL binoculars and STS spotting scope
Outdoorsmans medium tripod and pistol grip adapter
Muck boots of various types
Kenetrek Hardscrabble boots
Thermacell
Arcteryx Beta AR jacket
Browning 650 down jacket
Kuiu Super Down jacket
KOM Bunlight pants
Marmot Scree pants
Nearly all my rifles
Ruger Red Label .28 gauge O/U shotgun
Eberlestock packs with rifle scabbard (packs nothing special but scabbard is invaluable to me)
Leki trekking poles
First Lite and Patagonia base layers (1/4 zip on tops - I have killed last 4 animals just wearing the top on my upper body)
Hilleberg tent
Western Mountaineering sleeping bag
NeoAir sleeping pad
Dry sacks
Waterproof duffels
Good wool and/or alpaca wool socks
Liner socks
Liner gloves paired with good outer gloves
DeLorme Explorer
OnX maps/app
Jetboil Flash stove
Rangefinder (I have a Sig)
Leupold scopes have never let me down although I’m sure there are better ones.

Lol there’s probably more.....
Most of that list has come after a bunch of trial and error with other gear and/or not having it at all.

Dad would be proud. Many, MANY fond memories were made with that setup. Wish I had a dollar for every mile that thing has traveled over the western US.

Glad to see it is still being put to good use...

Ramball built stand & fill feeder purchased last year. Buddy heaters.

nice setup cKat

Browning Citori over/under 1976