I love using my tripod/bino combo but I leave the tripod at the truck when elk hunting. Unlike deer, it's generally not hard to find them at a distance (don't need to pick apart terrian with the same detail) and I can easily find a good enough rest to judge the animal.
In your kit, that's a...
OP, nothing wrong with that spotter for bears. I do 95% of my glassing for bears with my 10x on a tripod. Can judge bears a quite a distance with them. When I really want a close look I use my 48x spotter, but rarely use it at max maginfication
Costco merino blend LS T's. Bought 2 last year, wore then @#$% out of both since as next to skin for waterfowl, blacktail, black bear hunts and a full years worth of training hikes.
Tough, dry fast, and resist stink. I believe I paid $20 cdn each. My $100 First lite merino LS T's haven't seen...
Been shooting boring ole muzzy 3 blade 100's since 2004 (if I recall correctly).
They shoot very well, are tough and reliable. Never had a reason to change. Matter of fact, been using the same 6 pack for a decade, just put fresh blades in the ones that get run through an animal and use old...
There is one steel ladder stand I know of that's been cable locked to the same tree for going on 8 years. Its at least 75km from the nearest town/building in a plot of public bush a ways off a pretty well used forest service road. I check it out every year and it does not get used very often...
I just looked at thier website. Some beauty color phase bears taken there. Looks like a fun hunt!!!
I'm fortunate to live in a bear hunting mecca (wish I could say that for the rest of the species).
In any case, have 2 tags and will be trying to fill them both 2nd week of May in my usual...
Here are a few options:
- Simple "cheapest" suggestion for your current boots if a blister is the only issue (everything elses seems fine) is to leukotape the affected toes. I know a couple guys that this had turned unbearable boots their go to boot.
- try a different sock, sock/liner...
another smart wool user here, mostly the cusioned hikers. Used them for years now in hot/warm/cold/wet weather from daily wear, hikes, day hunts, backpack hunts.
Have had no reason to try anything else
Im also a short range shooter (400 yards) and shoot a 7mm-08/leupold cds for everything I hunt in BC. I've done both and have had hits while holding over that where not ideal. For me, I much prefer to set the crosshairs where I want the bullet to impact and in doing so I feel the margin for...
another wall tent fan here. From a family camp perspective they have the most useable space for any tent design, tons of headroom, durable, and can take any weather (including heavy snow) if its left unattended.
I like the floorless design, even in warmer months. Being able to walk in/out...
I used to hunt with an encore prohunter. Did a couple backpack goat hunts with it and a spring grizzly hunt where I packed in as well.
Powder was fine over a couple days on the spring griz hunt as the weather was dryer but no way I could keep it 100% dry on the wet goat hunts over multiple...
Im a Vancouver Island resident and bear hunter.
Typically don't see rut behavior until the very end of May into June.
My personal favourite time to hunt is 2nd to 3rd week of May , your third choice (11-17 may).
Usually not too hot yet.
Usually not buggy at all.
Bears will be out and about...
another vote for sizing rain gear to fit over puffy. Way more versatile then having to rely on a tarp that will probably get used less than your rain jacket, especially hunting an animal like elk where you wil most likely be on the move allot.
I also agree with ccoffee. I don't spend much on...
Not a Leupold/holding zero issue but a bunch of years back, We ended up us missing a big bull elk (bull of a lifetime for us) sort of thing with my buddies rifle. Luckily it was a clean miss. Initially blamed ourselves for shit shooting and hung our heads pretty low but the following day...
In recent years, my binos are on my tripod more and more and my spotter less. I find sitting to be by far the most comfortable/steady position to glass with both bino(handheld or tripod) or spotter on tripod.
Also prefer a straight spotter. 90% of my spotter useage is duing spring bear. I get...