So I'm starting to get my gear together now for this upcoming hunting season.  Got new crossbow bolts, new broadheads, broadhead wrench, storage box, bolt storage box...  

 

A forum member has offered to take me out on my first time (Deer hunting)...  I guess I need to get a safety harness and safety line.  Anyone have any recommendations on those?  I have cold weather gear and camo, as well as an orange hunting vest (will order an orange hat too).

 

Any other gear recommendations?

Better hurry up I belive bow season starts next week doesn't it?

Also you don't have to wear orange while bow hunting

Better hurry up I belive bow season starts next week doesn't it?

Fall Bow (Early Zones Only, Regulation Sets #4-8), September 12 

Youth Deer Bow Hunt, September 26

Fall Bow, October 3 (Statewide)

Dick's has a harness on sale, as well as a safety line... not sure how good they are..

Range finder is a handy item to have , tracking tape, good flash light with extra battery's good skinning knife and couple pairs of latex gloves for gutting deer , bottle of water for cleaning hands and knife off of blood . tick spray , thermacell for mosquito's extra haul line for hoisting xbow or other things  .hunter safety system makes a good harness , which ever one you buy and use your being smatter then a lot of hunters , amazing on how many people refuse to use one .

also if your hunting unfamiliar woods a cheap hand held gps is good to have , I been hunting the same area of woods for the last 15 years and at night all you need to do is spin around and it all looks the same , many times I found myself saying where the hell is way back to the truck LOL dam swamps will screw you up.

It was 90 degrees out there today!  I can't get into hunting 'mode' like that!

 

And, with the chiggers, and ticks, and other creepie crawlies out there, I dont even wanna go into the woods until after first frost.

Krdshrk, when I bought my treestand from Dicks a few years back there was a simple harness and line in the box. Not as nice as the one pictured above though. Not sure if you're plannng to buy a stand or if you're using someone else's stand so I figured I'd toss it out.

Will be using someone else's stand IIRC.  I've heard about those harnesses and usually they're pretty crappy compared to the one I'm thinking about picking up... 

Just got my harness today.  Muddy Outdoors Magnum harness.  Trying it on as we speak - seems pretty comfy.  Came with a tree belt and a lineman's belt - not sure what the lineman's belt is for.

 

Gonna practice with the xbow with the new broadheads.

The harness came with a SRS (Suspension Relief Strap) that's kept in a bag around the waist.  It will be a fixed ladder stand from my conversations with the forum member who offered to take me...

 

I'll be practicing with the harness and etc.  It's really easy to put on - I tried it last night and adjusted it to where I think it should be.  Will need to do it again with camo/etc. and all my gear on to test.

 

I'll be sure to tell my wife where I'm going and where I'll be, etc.  

Don't rule out a ground blind --  They're a lot harder to fall out of and very effective -- can buy or make or use natural terrain 

 

Lots of blowdowns from sandy to use as cover

My property has 3 safe ladder stands, all have haul lines on them, bow holders, extra hooks in the trees, and most importantly drink holders lol... I also have a ground blind out if you want to sit in it. I never do, unless I have my nephew with me. Just need a good harness. There's no way you'll get lost in the woods there. I'm surrounded by McMansions walk out in any direction and you will hit one. I have about a 50 yard walk from the road to the stands. So it's a. Easy drag out. I have all the trees marked from the road back to the tree on a path with glow dots. So even in the dark there's no way your getting lost, just connect the dots and it will take you right out. When the people in the neighborhood see my truck parked on the side of the road, they purposely go out in their yards and scare the deer from their yards, into the woods across the street where I sit. They hate the deer, and love seeing me drag out dead ones. The stand I'm putting you in over looks a corn field, no lack of deer there at all. It also has a shooting rail for your Xbow makes taking an accurate shot a little easier. Last Saturday I had 6 deer come out within a 4 hour period. Unfortunately they were all bucks, and no doe. But I do have a bunch of doe on the camera, so good chance we'll see them at the times were going to hunt, I have their patterns and schedule down. I ware a hunter safety system myself, but any harness is fine as long as you have something. As someone else mentioned a range finder is a nice tool to have, but you can live without one. I have one built into my binoculars. It's too early for rattling antlers or doe in heat attractants. Just quiet, sitting still, limited slow movements for early bow. And some basic scent control. A thermacel is a great Idea, and I know you own one so bring it. I always have mine.

 

Oh that's awesome.  Yeah got a pull line for my Xbow.  Glad to hear there's a drink holder

 

Picked up a deer drag too - we'll see if I actually need it - was only a few bucks.

 

Washed my stuff in the scent killer laundry detergent last night - used scent killer dryer sheets too.  Hung it up in my balcony area and sprayed it with scent killer again...

 

I think I'm good to go - can't wait!  Practiced with the broadheads on Wednesday night...

 

Harness is good too..  Very comfy.

I can't hunt till the air is crisp. That's just me though. Have at it

Awesome, I can't wait!

 

It's been pretty chilly in the mornings up here lately, I've been wearing a sweat shirt as the sun goes down. It's not hot this year. Last year I sweat my balls off!

 

I have to get out now, in the colder months I'm slammed at work with no heat emergencies every day. I get out a couple hours here and there I'm lucky once everyone turns on their heat and it dosen't work.

 

Every time I think it's too hot I try and remember my last deer hunt of last year. I was out from dawn till dusk and didn't see 1 friggin deer till we all packed up and left. It was cold as hell and was frozen to the bone.

So... On a related note - who's got a good butcher in north/central jersey?

My friend owns hunterdon deer butcher in pittstown his name is jimmy he is super honest so the meat you get is from.the deer you bring in. Tell him I sent you.

So... On a related note - who's got a good butcher in north/central jersey?

I used Roche and son all year last year --  Packs meat in freezer paper -- grinds with suet or pork -- you decide

 

$85 with no specialty stuff --  that was last years price I believe

 

Roche is good for basics -- I don't really like his specialty items that I have ordered - sausage, kielbasa 

 

Located in white house station -- 1 street over from the train station

 

 

 

In this picture -- How many yards to the back tree line?  

In this picture -- How many yards to the back tree line?

About 100 or so.

Now that I have a 4 day weekend because of the pope I'll be in the woods friday

In my happy place!

 

DeerSlayer, I sent you a PM.

 

Krdshrk, good luck this season!!! Sounds like you're on the way.

 

C

First day of dear season last year, !!! A fk n dear ran into my car on the parkway @ 6:00 am  and fucked it up ,  hood dents, destroyed the fender and side view mirror, just about came through the windsheild....

First day of dear season last year, !!! A fk n dear ran into my car on the parkway @ 6:00 am and fucked it up , hood dents, destroyed the fender and rear view mirrored just about came through the windsheild....

Probably the south jersey orange army doing a Pineland deer drive. One got out lol.