November 11, 2010
By Kathy Etling
By Kathy Etling
When the rut is on, you'll want to have every tool possible to help you get your trophy on the ground. Here are some items to take along the next time you head out to the woods.
A day on stand gets underway with the perfect stand, like Summit Treestand's Dagger climber ($280; www.summitstands.com ). The aluminum stand features a bowhunting-friendly open front and spacious 20x28€‰¾-inch foot platform for those all-day sits. The Dagger weighs 21 pounds, has a padded seat with backrest, RapidClimb stirrups and packs flat for transport.
Visit the next page for more Rut Gear!
Advertisement
Code Blue's Smoke Detector ($4; www.codebluescents.com ) will help any bowhunter determine how the wind is blowing. Smoke Detector produces an odorless, ultra-sensitive cloud that reveals even air currents undetectable to bowhunters. The powder is so light and fluffy it works all the time, every time, with no pesky clogging of the container.
Visit the next page for more Rut Gear!
Sitka Gear's Stratus Jacket in Gore Optifade Forest camo ($249; www.sitkagear.com ) is made of a lightly brushed, mid-weight Windstopper fabric noted for being comfortable as well as quiet. The jacket is designed for minimal bulk and a full range of motion. Other features include a hood, stand-up collar and hand and chest pockets. Match it with Sitka's Stratus Bib ($229), which also features Gore Optifade Forest and the same soft, quiet Windstopper fabric as the jacket. The Stratus Bib is packed with features such as a fully-articulated knee and seat system, lower leg zippers and chest, hand and thigh pockets. Both jacket and bib come in sizes S-3XL. A good core layer is essential to comfort while on stand, and Sitka makes some of the best, such as the Core Zip T ($89) in Gore Optifade Forest. Sitka's Core base layer series pulls moisture away from the skin's surface to keep you dry and comfy from the inside out. Silver encapsulated fibers in the fabric inhibit odor-causing bacteria. Other Sitka Gear stand-hunting essentials include the fleece-lined Stratus Hat ($40) and the hand-hugging Traverse Glove ($24), with its four-way stretch, high-loft soft shell, wind-resistant exterior and silicone-patterned palm for added grip.
Visit the next page for more Rut Gear!
Advertisement
Hunter Safety System's new Ultra Lite Harness ($100; www.hssvest.com ) weighs less than 2.5 pounds and has padded chest, shoulder and back straps and strong, silent, rubber-coated leg-strap buckles. This sleek, fully adjustable harness is perfect for warm, early-season hunts or to put over the top of heavy, insulated clothing in the late season. It won't tangle and cause confusion when you're trying to put it on, and it comes with a lineman's climbing belt. HSS's 360 Extension Limb ($69.95) offers full 360-degree shooting from your stand, thanks to the unique sliding tether that won't interfere even when taking shots behind the tree. The 360 Extension Limb also has an integrated bow/gun holder for right- or left-handed shooters and tree umbrella holder. An included compact camo umbrella protects you from hot sun and/or driving rain.
Visit the next page for more Rut Gear!
Boot up with ScentBlocker's new Dream Season Wooly Mammoth 14-inch pac boot from Robinson Outdoors ($230; www.robinsonoutdoors.com ). There's a removable, 13mm wool liner for extreme weather and a removable cork-infused EVA comfort insole for extra insulation under your foot. The rubberized camo fabric upper partners with an S3 antimicrobial lining and carbon fabric filter to limit odors. Waterproof, with a camo rubber lug outsole and reinforced rubber toe and heel.
Visit the next page for more Rut Gear!
Don't let game get your scent as the day grows long. Wildlife Research Center's Super-Charged Scent Killer Quart Combo pack ($20; www.wildlife.com ) comes with a 32-ounce refill bottle and a 12-ounce camo field bottle with handy trigger for easy application while on stand. Super-Charged Scent Killer is even more effective than the original and keeps working for days after drying. The new trigger sprayer promises increased coverage.
Visit the next page for more Rut Gear!
Bring randy bucks in close with Flextone Game Call's versatile Buck Commander ($14.99; www.flextonegamecalls.com ). The Buck Commander produces estrus doe bleats as well as buck grunts and growls. To produce the latter, simply blow into the call; to make estrus doe bleats and bawls, blow into the call while squeezing the D button on the barrel. The call is made of soft rubber, which means it won't make noise when it makes contact with your bow or other gear.
Visit the next page for more Rut Gear!
Stock up now on can calls for every bowhunting situation with the Primos 3 Can Family Pack ($35; www.primos.com ). You'll get the Original Can for making estrus doe bleats, the Lil' Can for producing subtler, everyday communication bleats and the Great Big Can, which reproduces deeper, more prolonged estrus bleats for effective long-range calling.
Visit the next page for more Rut Gear!
No whitetail stand setup would be complete without a method of rattling to get a buck's attention, fast. Knight & Hale's new Pack Rack Magnum ($30; www.knightandhale.com ) was designed to reproduce the sounds of two, 160-inch bucks in battle. It also is easier to transport than any other rattling system and stays silent when not in use. Smash, clash and rub the two halves together to produce an endless variety of fighting scenarios.
Visit the next page for more Rut Gear!
Tink's #69 Doe-In-Rut Buck Bomb ($14.95; www.tinks69.com ) is a 1.5-ounce aerosol fogger that lets you dispense scent in short bursts or one giant cloud. Scent molecules will travel 1„8-mile with only a 3 mph wind and adhere to everything they contact. Get Tink's legendary attractant in a state-of-the-art dispenser!
Visit the next page for more Rut Gear!
Video your bowhunt with Pine Ridge Archery's Pro-Bow-Cam Camera Support ($55; www.pineridgearchery.com ). Use the nylon strap and ratchet buckle to attach the unit quickly and securely to the tree. The 360-degree pan-and-tilt head allows filming in every direction. It even permits the user to spin the camera around and talk directly into the lens for after-the-shot commentary. The base is detachable so you can set it up at the stand ahead of time.
