1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundations podcast, your guide 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: to the fundamentals of better dear hunting, and now your 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: host Tony Peterson. Hey everyone, welcome to the Wire to 4 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: Hunt Foundations podcast, which has brought to you by First Light. 5 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: I am your host, Tony Peterson, and today's topic is 6 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:23,479 Speaker 1: all about being organized as white to hunter, which will 7 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: help you kill more dear. This one is going to 8 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: be narrowing to the point it's going to help you 9 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: be a better white tail hunter and have less frustration 10 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: in the field all fall. It's basically the culmination of 11 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: three decades of being a dedicated deer hunter and having 12 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: gone through every mistake and stupid decision you can make 13 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: while hunting. It's all about having a system for your 14 00:00:55,120 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: gear and really following through with it. Yeah, back about May, 15 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: right at the beginning of the summer. At some point 16 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: in late spring sometime, one of my twin daughters she 17 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: said to my wife and I that she was just 18 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 1: about done having a roommate, and her sister not surprisingly agreed. 19 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: Now that set in motion what is I don't know, 20 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: basically my nightmare because it meant not only did I 21 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: have to give up my office, which is the third 22 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: bedroom of our house, but that my wife then decided 23 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: it was time to upgrade the whole damn basement. Here's 24 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: the thing. I have buddies who are really good at 25 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: building stuff, fixing things, and just you know, generally doing 26 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: manly type stuff. Somehow those skills evaded me almost entirely, 27 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: probably because I've spent so much time sitting about seventeen 28 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: feet up in trees or looking into all kinds of 29 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: water for fish that might bite something I might throw 30 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: their way. Or maybe I just don't have those skills. 31 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: It wasn't born with them, And it has come to 32 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: my attention recently that I may have adult a d 33 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 1: h D. And that's actually not a joke. Maybe that's 34 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 1: why I can't put up trim correctly or build a 35 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: simple shelving unit from target that probably most twelve year 36 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: olds could assemble without swearing and bleeding. But in the 37 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 1: immortal words of Bob Dylan, it ain't me, babe. I 38 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: suck at most manly stuff and it doesn't look like 39 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: that's about to change anytime soon. So not only did 40 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: this basement redo job test my skills and show all 41 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: of us what we already knew, about me, but it 42 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: tested my marriage, our collective sanity, and allowed my bride 43 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: to decide where to put most of my hunting gear. 44 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: That is so so so bad. You see, I'm somewhat 45 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: messy but also somewhat organized. If you need a limb saw, 46 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: I know where it is, even if it wouldn't be 47 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: apparent to the casual observer. You want a head lamp, 48 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: I got you on head safety harness traps, you name it, 49 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: I know where it is. Well scratch that I knew 50 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: where it was until the Tasmanian devil who will get 51 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,519 Speaker 1: half of my land and a divorce, decided it was 52 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,639 Speaker 1: time to move everything to new spots. This is frustrating 53 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: on a level that I can barely describe, and I'm 54 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: a word smith sort of. When you have a full 55 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: fall lined up with a first trip being like a 56 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: ten day backcountry hunt for meal, dear Elkin bear, you 57 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: don't want to spend August deconstructing random piles of r 58 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: hunting gear to find out where your stuff is, where 59 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: the things you need are. It was a good reminder 60 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: of how important my white tail system is and how 61 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: you should have one too. This, honestly was something I 62 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: thought everyone did until Dave Hurto, who was one of 63 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 1: the editors over at Field and Stream, hit me up 64 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: like six years ago to collaborate on a feature about 65 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: public land white tail hunting. Now, we not only hunted 66 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: public land in South Dakota of that year for the 67 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: main narrative of the peace, but we also broke down 68 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: my public land bow hunting strategy. And what I didn't 69 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: realize until I had to lay it all out for 70 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: someone else was how much I relied on systems. It's 71 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: ingrained in me from years and years of making mistakes. 72 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: Now let me give you example of this while trying 73 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 1: not to make myself sound um too obsessive compulsive. On 74 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 1: any given day that I'll be going white tail hunting, 75 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:26,919 Speaker 1: whether I'm saddling up on public land or going to 76 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 1: sit somewhere in a sweet box blind on private food plots, 77 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 1: I know what is in my right pocket. My release 78 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: will be in there, along with a thin glove that 79 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: I may or may not wear. In the side pocket 80 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: of my pants will be a tow rope for my bow. 81 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,479 Speaker 1: In my left pocket, you'll find a lightweight glove that 82 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: features nothing grippy on it. That glove will get worn 83 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 1: while I'm hunting, but won't interfere with my grip if 84 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: I have to draw and shoot in any way. You'll 85 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 1: also find a folding pocket knife, likely something from Bench 86 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: Made because I love their stuff so much. This one 87 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: is important for two reasons. You just always need a 88 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: good sharp knife for something. It's also necessary if you 89 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: have a weird tree stand situation happen you need to 90 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 1: cut yourself out of your harness. I know this is 91 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 1: a long long shot, and I hope it never happens 92 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: to any of us, but if you are in a 93 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 1: weird situation like that, having an accessible knife it's going 94 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,479 Speaker 1: to be real important. On the left side pocket of 95 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: my pants you'll find anywhere from nothing to three items, 96 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 1: depending on the hunt. Those three items are a limb, saw, 97 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: a pruner, and a headlamp. That's also where I carry 98 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 1: my beanie on the way into hunt. My backpack, and 99 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: this is important, my friends, is bigger than most white 100 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: tail hunters would carry. This is due to a couple 101 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 1: of reasons. I tend to have a lug around camera gear, 102 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: which takes up a lot of space and can get heavy. 103 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 1: But I also like having backups of certain things. Along 104 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: with the gear necessary to break down a deer and 105 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: pack it out. I know not everyone has those concerns, 106 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 1: so you gotta bear with me here. Things that are 107 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: always with me and accessible in a top or front 108 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: pocket are face paint. First. I use carbon mass face 109 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: paint all season long because it's not oily, and it 110 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 1: dries kind of light, so it's not shiny. I also 111 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: have at least one tube of black with me at 112 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: all times in that pocket, and a backup somewhere in 113 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: my backpack that serves me on stand and in blinds. 114 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: I use it on my hands and my face religiously. 115 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: I also have at least one screwing step for hanging 116 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: my backpack now, even if I'm on public land that 117 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: I can't use it on, It's in my pack all 118 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,119 Speaker 1: season long. I always have a grunt tube as well, 119 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: even though I rarely use one depending on the length 120 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: of my sit. Those pockets will also contain my food 121 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: and drinks for the day, and I often carry at 122 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: least one or two extra water bottles in the bottom 123 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: of my pack, two just in case. I've had times 124 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: where I killed an unexpected deer or sat all day 125 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: when I didn't intend to where some extra hydration went 126 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 1: a long way. I tend to keep a stash of 127 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: granola bars and candy in my interior pocket of my 128 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,919 Speaker 1: pack two for the same reason. You don't need a 129 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: ton of calories through the day, but if you end 130 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: up staying out there a lot longer than you think, 131 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: you're gonna those granola bars or a couple of Snickers 132 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: bars or something really appreciated. Now, the outside pocket will 133 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 1: also contain a roll of biodegradable flagging tape. This is 134 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: always with me all season long. This is for obvious 135 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: things like marking trails in and out of the woods, 136 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: but also comes in mighty handy for blood trailing at 137 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: different times. Now, because I put your a fair amount 138 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: of critters in the field, I also keep some wet wipes, 139 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: a good knife, and a dozen or so gallon ziploc 140 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: bags in my pack. I know this sounds like a 141 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: lot of stuff already, but most of it's small and 142 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: really light weight. Inside my pack in its own little 143 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: pouch that can be moved from pack to pack are 144 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: my various licenses, a pen, spare, batteries for headlamps and 145 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: my range finder, and a little fire starter kit. Now 146 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: I've never needed the fire starter kit. But I suppose 147 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: there is a situation where a rogue forky spears me 148 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: and the guts and I have to spend the night 149 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: out there where the comfort of the flames would be 150 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: most welcome. I also keep some band aids, gauze, and 151 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: medical tape in there as well. I'm prone to cutting 152 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: myself because I'm impatient, so having a few necessities to 153 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: remedy a slip up with the blade is a good idea. 154 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: You might even want to turniquet in there. Now. These 155 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: are just a few of the things that are pretty 156 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: much with me no matter what. Not only do I 157 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: make sure I have them, I make sure they are 158 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: always in the same spots. This is an important part 159 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: of the system that is worth acknowledging. The more time 160 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: you spend looking for stuff or make do without the 161 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: things you really need, the more likely you are to 162 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: not to kill deer, or you know, you get set 163 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 1: up later than expected, or you have to move around 164 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:51,439 Speaker 1: more and move men equals noise. All this stuff costs you. Now, 165 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: that might sound like overkill, and maybe it is just 166 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: for an afternoon. Is sitting in a tree stand waiting 167 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: on an October buck to walk by. But in my world, 168 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: it's not hate needing something in the field that is 169 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 1: back at my truck, or in the mud room in 170 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: my house, or god knows where my freaking wife put it. 171 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 1: Most of us have probably had to strap our bows 172 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: to our pack to climb up into our stand, or 173 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: got a deer with a tiny pocket knife, or just 174 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 1: use some kind of tool that isn't meant for the job, 175 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: and that stuff sucks, just like it sucks to slip 176 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: into a staging area and find banging sign, set up 177 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: a portable lightweight stand, and then sneak out, thinking it'll 178 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: be easy to find in a pre dawn darkness, only 179 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: to realize when you're in the pre dawn darkness that 180 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: nothing that isn't glowing in the night sky is easy 181 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: to find in the dark, let alone a specific tree 182 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,079 Speaker 1: and a patch of timber that looks nothing like it 183 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: did when you were so confident in your route in 184 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: the day before. That roll of flagging tape could have 185 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: helped you out immensely there, huh, And there are other 186 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: things you might want to carry. Two. I almost always 187 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 1: have an extra midlayer tucked into the bottom of my pack. 188 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: I've fallen in love with puffy vests and jackets, mostly 189 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,719 Speaker 1: from my days in the mountains chasing elk. I don't 190 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: know if there's a better wait to warmth garment out 191 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: there than some of these puffies, and they fold down 192 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: to almost nothing. No, not every hunt is going to 193 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: demand that type of warmth, but when you need it, 194 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 1: sure it's nice to have. If you plan to hunt 195 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: a long day and you'll need your phone to function 196 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,559 Speaker 1: all day, a spare battery charger might be the ticket too. 197 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 1: This is a life saver on spring turkey hunts, well 198 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: spring turkey bow hunts. I should say where he's spen. 199 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: Dark to dark in a blind can also be a 200 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 1: life saver on a deer stand. If you spend a 201 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: lot of time killing the boardom by surfing the web, 202 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: or for some reason like you've got little kids at home, 203 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: you just always need to be connected. It doesn't matter. 204 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: This might be something you require and you should have. 205 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 1: If that's the case. Impacts that are compatible with hydration bladders, 206 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: which is an awful lot of packs these days. You'll 207 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:47,959 Speaker 1: have a pouch in the back where the bladder is 208 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: supposed to go. I put about a dozen handwarmers in there. 209 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: At the start of the season. I probably won't need 210 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: them in September, probably, but they are there for me 211 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 1: or for when I take my girls hunting, because even 212 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: some of those early seas and mornings can get awful cold. 213 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: I'm telling you this to give you an idea what 214 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: I think about my hunts and what I anticipate I 215 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: might need. Even though this might seem like too much stuff, 216 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: it's not. Carrying in the right white tail gear is 217 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:16,959 Speaker 1: a million times easier than carrying in the necessary elk 218 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: hunting stuff while climbing a couple of thousand vertical feet. 219 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: There are nearly the same physical limitations as white tails, 220 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: and you know where they lives. Pretty easy to walk 221 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: most of the time, even if you hunt mountain white tails. 222 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: I mean, it's not as hard as elk, I should say, 223 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: So it's not a bad idea to plan for what 224 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: you might need and just resign yourself to having carry it, 225 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: and just resign yourself to having to carry it, so 226 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,719 Speaker 1: you think through your hunts. Maybe you're like Mark and 227 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: you need to write everything down on a nice list, 228 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: maybe have a memory like a steel trap, And that's 229 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: not necessary. It doesn't really matter. What does matter is 230 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: that you start to break down your gear choices and 231 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,199 Speaker 1: decide what you have to have with you. Then it's 232 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: a matter of gathering that gear up and putting it 233 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: in its appropriate spots. This last port is way more 234 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,199 Speaker 1: crucial than it sounds, and I know I alluded it 235 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:10,839 Speaker 1: to it earlier, but let me really break it down 236 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: for you and give you an example. A couple of 237 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: years ago I found some bucks on public land in Nebraska. 238 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: I've talked about this hunt a lot, but not about 239 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: how I set up a stand to kill a buck 240 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: and how my buddy went in there and killed a 241 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 1: buck out of that same stand too. The tricky part 242 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: of the whole hunt was that the deer were betting 243 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: in some soybeans on a patch of walking ground, the 244 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: limited trees along the edgement that the options for stands 245 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: were pretty rough. But what was worse was that it 246 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: was really really hot and I'd be setting up within 247 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: earshot of several bucks. That was a guarantee, but there 248 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: was no way around it. And while I had a 249 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: decent south wind to help cover my noise, I knew 250 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:49,719 Speaker 1: it was going to be a test to get set 251 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:53,079 Speaker 1: up without getting busted. So after swinging down wind of 252 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,839 Speaker 1: the field and slowly walking along until I found a 253 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 1: suitable tree. I started the process of setting my climbing 254 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,959 Speaker 1: sticks on the tree. At first, due to the way 255 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: the woods fell away from the field, this wasn't too bad. 256 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 1: I knew I wasn't going to get spotted by a 257 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: buck bedded slightly above me and three foot tall beans. 258 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 1: But by the time I was on my third stick, 259 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: I was really exposed. Even climbing up the back side 260 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 1: of the tree felt like I could get busted at 261 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:18,839 Speaker 1: any moment. Any little click of metal or a creak 262 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: of the strap, and I knew I'd be in trouble. 263 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: In other words, there wasn't much room for a mistake. 264 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: When I got to stand height, I looked into the 265 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: field and there was a velvet ten pointer feeding like 266 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: fifty yards away. That buck was slowly browsing in my direction, 267 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: and I had a loose stand in my hands and 268 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: a bow on the ground. It was an ideal. I 269 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 1: managed to get that stand set while he was feeding, 270 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: and then watched as he answered my prayers and bedded 271 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: down at thirty seven yards. This let me finish the setup, 272 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: toll my bow up and settle in to stare at 273 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: his antler tips in the sunlight that pounded down on 274 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: the bean field. I killed that buck the next time 275 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 1: he stood up to feed, which was vindicating and a 276 00:13:56,679 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 1: testament at least in small part to having a system. Now, 277 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,319 Speaker 1: another example from the hunt I mentioned earlier that I 278 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: did for Field and Stream involved hanging an opening night 279 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: stand over a pond. As I climbed onto the platform, 280 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: I heard something behind me, and I looked as a 281 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,679 Speaker 1: decent buck trotted over the hill. Again, I looked at 282 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: my tow rope tied to the bottom of my stand platform, 283 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 1: which was tethered to my bowl in the ground. That 284 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: buck had to shake flies off his ears, which meant 285 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: he'd give me like a few seconds of time to 286 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: move every you know, thirty seconds or so. I managed 287 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: to get my bowl lifted up without him knowing, and 288 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 1: I killed him in that pond. And I have to 289 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: imagine if, for example, I would have had a dig 290 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: into my pack to find my release instead of just 291 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: reaching into my pocket where it always is, that buck 292 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: would have caught me. Now, these examples might not mean 293 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: much to you. You might think that ship never happens 294 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 1: to me, So why do I have to be so 295 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: ready because it might. My friends, you might have a 296 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: November cruiser run in thirty seconds after you get set 297 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 1: up in your stand, or you just might have a 298 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: late October buck goes through at the are end of 299 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: a staging area, in a buck you did not expect 300 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: to see and would love to shoot, But your grunt 301 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: tube is in your pack. When you try to pull 302 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: it out, the flexible end part falls off and you 303 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: make a bunch of noise in that buck you could 304 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: have grunted in is now on red alert, and you 305 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 1: have an unfilled tag and a whole bunch of sadness 306 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: in your heart. Take stock of your gear, what you need, 307 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: what you might need. Think about your various hunting styles 308 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: and how they demand different gear. What you always need 309 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: to have with you, regardless of when you'll be hunting 310 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: or what style you'll be hunting. Where does that stuff 311 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: go on your person? Think about how you need to 312 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: cater your gear selection to the task. What you need 313 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: in December that you didn't need in October. What do 314 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: you need when you saddle up for a sit versus 315 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: when you carve on a natural ground blind? How does 316 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: that change your system? And are you ready to do 317 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 1: just that so you never have a stupid scramble moment 318 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: out there when you could have been a little more prepared. 319 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: I know this is kind of boring stuff, but it's important. 320 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: This attention to little d tales while anticipating what can 321 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: go wrong can have a big impact on your enjoyment level. 322 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: And when the stars aligned, can help you kill a 323 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: buck that a less organized person simply would not kill. 324 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 1: That should be motivation enough to develop a system, So 325 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: I think you should try. That's it for this week, 326 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: my friends, be sure to tune in next week for 327 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 1: more white tail goodness. I'm your host, Tony Peterson, and 328 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: this has been the Wire to Hunt Foundations podcast, which 329 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: has brought to you by First Light. As I always 330 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: thank you so much for your support, every one of 331 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: us here at Meat Eaters sincerely appreciates it. If you 332 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: want more white tail content, head on over to our 333 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: wire dhunt YouTube channel, check out the how to videos 334 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: at Mark and I produce every week, and visit the 335 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: meat eater dot com slash Wired to read articles by myself, 336 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: Mark and a host of other absolute white tail killers.