Hunting Gear

When is the best time to hunt whitetails? Of course the best answer is: “Any time you can get out in the woods.” And that means even if it’s below zero. Actually, deer are at their most patternable when temps drop to the single digits and below and the snow is piled up. Daylight or dark, they have to eat to keep the internal furnace fueled! So, if you can find a reliable food source, like an unpicked cornfield or a strategic food plot, you’ll see the deer using it frequently.

When selecting the proper rifle cartridge and bullet design for hunting small game, big game, and dangerous game, understanding “ammo speak” is critically important. If you don’t ask the right questions using the right words, the answers you’ll get won’t be reliable or accurate.

Being a die-hard predator hunter for the last few years, I have discovered one piece of equipment that I very rarely go to the field without, a rangefinder. I have spent a lot of time at the gun range discovering what my firearm will do at certain distances. I want the knowledge at what distance my bullet will begin to fall, so that when the opportunity strikes to harvest a coyote, I know exactly what my firearm is capable of. This is why I begin 90 percent of my setups with ranging several different objects before I began my calling sequence.

The laser rangefinder may be the most underrated of all the optical tools for hunters.  Yet there are many hunting situations in which a rangefinder will make you a better shot with a bow, rifle, or shotgun. It’s an important scouting tool, too.

If you have a hunter or three on your Christmas list, count yourself blessed.  At least you’ll never find yourself shopping for someone who “has everything.”  No hunter ever has enough of the gear, equipment, tools and — yes — toys with which to get the most from every minute in the field.  Here’s a rundown of the hottest items of the season your hunters are hankering for.

Any hunter worth their camouflage knows that rattling whitetail bucks is an effective deer hunting tactic. When the rut is in full swing, it will often lure those dominant bucks to close range — eager to check out what all the fuss is about. Up until now, carrying a cumbersome set of antlers to the treestand was your only choice.

Whether you’re choosing your first or your fifteenth deer hunting rifle, there are lots of decisions to be made.

RedHead Pro Hunting Team captain Jerry Martin shares his personal experience and tests the RedHead 1856 Collection Fire-Resistant Gun Safe

Boots are a very personal gear item. Well, I guess not as personal as underwear. But with boot selection, hunters know immediately when they find the perfect boot for their foot conformation and their hunting style. And when you do find just that right boot, it's an extremely gratifying feeling.