Just some observations

[skeet]

Getting ready for elk hunting again. and collecting the gear. The thread about range finders got me thinkin.

As I posted a good pair of binocs is necessary. Not the 1000 dollar and up ones. Usually the ones we can afford are not quite as good but with tight money a 400 dollar pair will be enough for us every day hunters. Spotting scopes..wow. Every body says get a very expensive one. Well unless you are hunting Alaska the Yukon or upper reaches of BC and Alberta..I don't really think they are necessary. If ya hunt with a reputable guide..he'll have a set..and KNOWS what to look for. again a 3-500 dollar one is more than adequate.. I will explain in a minute or 2. Adequate clothing is a necessity in the mountains. When you are hunting at 10,000 ft it gets colder than you think.and of course the wind does blow.... a decent fitting day pack is a GOOD thing to have..stressing the decent fitting. You can carry all this "necessary" gear in it. A good scope on the rifle is also a necessary. In my opinion a Bushnell Elite or better is what you should have. My hunting partner uses Trashco and Simmons scopes or used is a better word. He has had 2 go belly up in the mountains. We hunt at 10-11000 ft. He's had 2 fog so bad they couldn't be used. Air pressure must have something to do with it as well as extreme temp changes. 15 below at night to as much as 70 above on the same day is tough on people and scopes. He did go to an Elite 6500 for this season. A Good knife is an essential. You see all those guys out there with the big knives on their hips..Must be playin Rambo or sumpin. I carry a Buck folding hunter. Keep it sharp and it'll do most anything ya need out of a knife. A small hatchet is nice to have if you are after big critters. Not needed for deer. Oh and I do carry one of those screw together sharpening steels/hones. Really nice to have halfway through the job of workin over an elk.
Now we come to rifles etc. To be honest I am a Wood and Blue Steel guy. That said I think it is probably better to have a (gag) plastic stock and almost as bad..stainless rifle. Guns take a LOT of abuse climbing around them thar hills. If you don't worry about a nice stock getting dinged up no big deal. But I'm a bit particular about my guns so use ones that have little value to me mentally. I won't use the rifle that my mom gave me a little before she died..at least not in them thar hills. I do use it for deer and antelope. LOL.

Now if you can afford all that other very expensive stuff..then go for 'em You'll probably never need to buy any thing else. But toting big heavy expensive gear by mare's shank is hard on the ol aging body. You do know you ain't gettin any younger, don'tcha?? If you hunt by horseback it may be different but still an awful lot to be a carrying. You don't see a lot of game sitting on a horse.

Now as to my reasons for these recommendations.. In most of the lower 48 you aren't gonna be traveling 8 miles to try to sneak up on a big ol bull. It's hunting season..there are a lot of people in them thar hills. Considering. By the time ya get to where you saw that big ol bull of the woods..he's moved been scared outta the country shot by another hunter or eaten by a wolf. And not only that..the getting to em at a long distance may take all day or more. It's tough terrain.

There are a lot more items that are needful. These are just a start..Post what you think is necessary and your reasons why. We might all get a lot outta this...and it is "That time of year"..Yippee