Get rid of predators if possible. I know the balance thing….I had a 160 leased, I was told it’s the best in the county. I once had to call my neighbor to come bail me out of my blind an hr after sundown, if I’d climbed down, I would have educated over 100 whitetails (no exaggeration). I had that place trapped every spring, just before fawns drop…of course to protect the cattle per state regs. Turns out mommas will return to what they know is safe, free from predation. That’s why I had over a hundred regularly. Of course bucks leave but with so many does, I saw all of the bigger bucks- or they visited when I wasn’t around.
Good thermals are worth their weight in gold. Nothing worse than being miserable out there. Outerwear is the same.
General on equipment- save for what you want, it’s way more expensive to “get by” because you’re likely going to buy whatever “it” is eventually anyway. It’s more expensive to work your way up the ladder.
Glass: Buy GOOD used. There are forum marketplaces everywhere. I’ve saved thousands over the years and members here and elsewhere are generally good people. Have yet to have a bad experience: TX Hunting Forum, Long Range Hunting, Rockside (or Rockslide? Can’t remember.). Top notch gear. TX forum isn’t as expensive usually, but it’s not the Leica, Zero Compromise, Nightforce (higher end models) crowd…but there IS excellent more affordable glass- one brand always hits my OK list, Vortex. You’ll find that general price point there and used is as good as new in my experience.
Time: Spend it if you can, out there doing. That’s why we love it, so do all of it. Scout, cameras and feed if you can, build blinds….the run up to the season is almost as fun as the doing of it.
*I’ve learned the hard way that it’s SO important to share your hunting with someone you like, love or care about. I’ve hunted solo now for 8yrs since moving and it isn’t the same. Kids are grown, not interested. No close friends in my new town are interested in partnering or whatever. I desperately need a hunting partner, turned out my best friend/partner for 10yrs was a mooch, I just didn’t see it. Someone dependable, who will help, who loves it too…share in the work, the frustrations (often), the excitement….and occasionally, even the wins.
Your relationships is what matters most, not what you shoot or whatever. It’s just the joy of being out there and the people you share it with that matters. I dropped my friend, my hunting/fishing partner about 7yrs ago- because I was being used and it just became too much. No details required…he crossed a bridge too far. Probably should have warned him but instead let his stupid stuff go unchecked, tried to be thoughtful, considerate but those who will use you don’t speak the language and don’t respond to subtlety.
Hope this helps someone, it’s far from complete.
Oh…I’ve got a landowner in my sights, it’s a trust (I’m in oil/gas country, farmers long gone, kids got minerals and got rich, moved in many many cases)…and the place doesn’t look hunted. It would be hard to find for anyone, maybe their doors get knocked down, maybe nobody has asked…don’t know.
Working HARD to find her/them- but just getting started. Please is likely the home of giants and maybe where mine relocated to, assuming they’ll cross the river. Any tips on finding a trust, whoever makes decisions and how to most likely get a “yes” are appreciated. I don’t shoot under 5yrs old, will shoot does if they want it done, will kill predators by whatever most effective means are, do it right, I don’t screw up a place, I know it’s not mine, I treat it better than I would my own, I take kids hunting and/or fishing with me every chance I get and I need somewhere to go- I’ve got a TON of gear and it needs moving while it’s still cool outside…and time to map it out, figure it out, plan and set stuff in motion.
