The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show just wrapped up last week and I’m convinced of something many folks won’t like to hear. You see…after two decades of attending this hunting and shooting industry trade show I frequently get asked the same old question when I return home.
“What’s new?”
Truth is…nearly every person who asks really wants to know what new, innovative product is the missing piece completing their hunting success puzzle. Well, it’s not so simple. The overall hunting success a person achieves has less to do with having new equipment than it does with a person’s attitude, their perseverance, as well as the strategic decisions made afield.
Now, please understand I’m not diminishing the fact new hunting gear can excite us, motivate us, hell…it can even inspire greater outdoors involvement. Yet, too many hunters I know rely on their gear purchasing as the definitive answer to hanging the next trophy mount on the wall. In reality, such thinking is plain silly.
Does the purchase of a new Canon EOS 5D MarkII camera automatically qualify a person to become a wedding photographer? Does the purchase of a new custom Viking professional oven enable a person to suddenly cook like a trained chef? Moreover, it takes more than a purchase of a new Gibson guitar to entertain like a rockstar.
This 2012 SHOT Show dealer pauses to reflect on elite shooting equipment well beyond the reach of the average pocketbook
The point being underscored is it takes much more than that new, Franchi Affinity shotgun introduced at SHOT to become the successful hunter you desire to become. In fact, chances are good that most of us already have the fundamental hunting equipment we need to succeed. I know, none of us like to hear that…but sometimes we convince ourselves how the equipment we currently use is somehow inferior or a limiting factor in our lack of past hunting success.
Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. The sad reality is many of us have not even discovered the full potential of the hunting equipment we already own. And in these days of tighter family budgets, less disposable income and other economic stress placed on our wallets…sometimes yearning for new gadgets/gear is not a wise option.
So, I encourage you to look beyond the hype that invariably comes out of hunting industry shows like the Archery Trade Association and SHOT. Indeed, there’s nothing wrong with getting excited about new possibilities for equipment. What I’m merely suggesting is that every hunter must keep a proper perspective on what they truly need for their personal outdoor adventures.
Purchasing the latest-greatest device to hit the hunting market is not a sin. I’ve been guilty of such indulgences myself on several occasions. Yet, the older I get the more I realize advances in equipment from year to year is not the critical component in my achieving greater hunting success afield.
For that reason, this year when people ask me what was “new” at SHOT, my response has been “nothing you absolutely need.” Indeed, such a response generally elicits a strange look of disbelief. Still, I’m a firm believer many of us put too much emphasis on always purchasing better gear as being the logical answer toward eliminating those past hunting frustrations in our life.
What do you think? How important is using NEW equipment to your hunting experience? Please leave your comments below.
Post by Jim Braaten of Sportsman’s Blog Follow Jim on Twitter at @jim7226
I have more fun shooting my old Bear Black/Mag that I bought for under $50 then a friends bow they bought for $900 both do the same thing both shoot the same group but I have $850 extra now to buy other things and go on a longer trip I have a rifle the cost around $300 (with a $45 scope) it shoots the same group as a rifle made by the same company that cost $750 plus a $295 scope at 200 yds and probley the same at 1000 yds a 2mp game came takes the same pix as a 11 mp game cam more $’s doesnt always make it better just showing off to friends!
Everyone has different recfrpenees and also location will influence what you carry in your pack.I live in Alaska here’s my survival bag;1 sheath knife with a 5 bd in blade full tang, small pocket knive, hobo knife and a sharpening stone.2 mylar “space blankets” for emergency shelter.1 metal cup to cook in or boil water.Snare with and some cordagesmall roll of TPSmall container with fishing line and hooksFlint, Bic lighter and magnesium fire starter rod.Small signal mirror and small “pocket rocket” aerial signal flare.Small LED head band light and a long burn candle.Compass, map or GPS and mapSmall multi-tool pliers.Blaze orange engineers survey tape for marking trails or a hit on an animal.Extra pair of thick wool socks in a zip lock bag, underarmor thermo bottoms, wool gloves and sock hat. These can be vacuumed sealed to take up little space.I can fit all the above and a small food ration for 3 days in a 1 gallon zip lock bag from 3 to 4 lbs weight.I usually trow in a box of shells of whatever gun I take for back up. And sometimes I carry a very tiny spice set with salt, pepper etc to make not so tasty survival meals tolerable.Some will pack a small tarp and that’s a good idea in the rainy season. I use the space blankets for a makeshift rain poncho, tent, lean-to rain collector for water, to signal aircraft or just to roll up in after falling into water while building a fire.A 6 foot square peice of thin clear plastic is great for a solar water still to get water from damp ground of vegetaionThat’s just a few ideas for you the others will have lots of good ideas.
That is a question only you can aeswnr.I have been elk hunting for 3 seasons and am comfortable taking a 200 yard shot. I shoot a close group at 200 yard (within 1.5 inches for 3 shots). I would like to have a better group before I try for a longer shot. I also have my gun zeroed at 200 yards. I have never had to shoot farther than that for the elk I have harvested.If you shoot a lot and are comfortable making a long shot then go for it. The biggest thing to consider is how confident you are in your shooting ability and what range your gun is zeroed at.Good luck getting an elk. I just got back from Wyoming and didn’t find a cow, which I had a tag for. But I did see some 6 point bulls, way cool. Have fun and don’t take the shot unless you are sure it will be a clean kill.May you be blessed.
Here in Australia prices on hunting and fishing goods are even higher than America ,plus the choice is very limited due to companies not seeing a market here .We in australia dont have a bill of rights like you lucky guys in america, but an old convict penal permission slip system,which requires you to get a permit to purchase from the police for any firearms purchase. So companies in the US and other countries think its too hard to do business here,Which leaves us to the internet purchases,which your goverment put us here in australia as terroist category, in short very very hard to do,we always fight with you guys around the world,to be regarded poorly by your polititions to make up such shit laws to make so hard to buy spares and equipment from the US should be told and changed for the better .
It largely eedpnds on that you’re hunting, where you’re hunting, how long you’ll be hunting, and what time of year you’ll be out. Gear for a spring turkey hunt is very different from a deer hunt tomorrow morning.I hunt on private land that has urban sprawl all around. From my one tree stand I can see the highway. And I’m never more than a mile from my car. So for me, survival gear holds less of an importance than water, a snack, weather-appropriate gloves and headgear, whatever calls/scents I need, and a drag rope.