Pennsylvania Game News - July 2011 - 55

WITH ALL his gear close at hand, this hunter is prepared for anything the day throws at him.

when walking to my stand. Getting overheated is the most common mistake made by many hunters. In cold weather it leads to perspiration and excessive moisture buildup, which results in rapid cooling, followed by a chill that greatly reduces the time the hunter can remain comfortable on stand. In warm weather it again leads to excessive perspiration and scent build-up. By “packing” in my clothes, I greatly reduce my scent while remaining comfortable for a longer time, giving me more “in the stand time.” I know for a fact that this extra time in the stand has put several trophies on the wall that would have otherwise walked past my empty treestand. Depending on the weather I can add rain gear or an extra layer of clothing if required. I pack all the items that I may need, but not right away, in an inside pack pocket. Items I need to access easily are carried in outside pack pockets, and all clothing items are packed in the main compartment. In other words, figure out what you put on first, second, third, etc., and pack the items in reverse accordingly, so you are not searching for items when at your stand. For example, I pack my release, arm
july 2011

guard, face mask and gloves in my hat and place them at the bottom of the pack, as they will be the last items I put on. They are all together and when I pull out my hat all items are right there. On top of that would be my jacket, and on top of that my vest and so on. It is important to be organized and know where everything is because when bowhunting it will likely be dark at least half the time when you’re getting ready and tearing down. When I am in my stand I always place a small hook slightly behind me and to my right where I can hang my pack. By knowing where everything is located in the pack’s external pockets, it’s easy to reach behind and get anything I may need at any time with a minimum of motion. This may sound silly to some, but my wife and I have been using this method for years, and I think it is a major factor in our continued hunting success. In every bowhunting seminar I give, most people see the logic behind using a pack, but I can bet the ranch that at least one person will say, “I guess that is all right, but I like to travel light.” They fail to understand the more important logic of “carrying it right.” The difference in carrying your gear in your pockets or in a pack is weight distribution and organization. Gear properly packed and distributed in a pack will actually seem lighter and carry better than when stuffed in your pockets, plus it will be organized and you can find what you need when you need it. A basic rule I have is that I carry only what I need, but I carry it all the time. If you overload yourself with extra gear and gadgets, you’ll soon find yourself trying to shed some weight by eliminating items. Chances are you will go too far and eliminate something that you will surly need. A pack solves all of those issues. I install both shoulder straps and clips on all of my treestands, so if I need to carry in a stand I can clip the backpack onto the stand and use it as a backpack frame that I can sling over my shoulders, leaving my
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Pennsylvania Game News - July 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - July 2011