Deer hunting is unsurprisingly the most popular of all hunting pastimes. Whether you want to chase whitetails, blacktails, or muleys, you need gear to get started. Read about a few items that could make for a successful hunt.
Mossy Oak Camouflage
Yes, you could hunt in jeans and an old shirt; I’ve certainly done so. However, you increase your chance of success when you dress appropriately. A deer’s vision is attuned to predators. While they might not see the array of colors we do, they spot movement instantly. More importantly, they don’t need details to decide something—or someone—is a threat. Blurring your human shape into something less threatening is done with good camouflage.
Mossy Oak is one of the best-known camo pattern companies on the market for good reason. They offer a variety of patterns for every region and season – after all, fall in Wisconsin doesn’t look like fall in Oklahoma. One of Mossy Oak’s popular patterns for hunting from tree stands is Bottomland, the pattern designed by Toxey Haas three decades ago. Today’s version is enhanced to more closely mimic the dirt and bark of nature and is favored by many hunters. The company’s newest pattern, Eclipse, is great for ground blinds. Eclipse is quite dark and overlays the Break-Up Country pattern. Want to stay hidden in a ground blind? Eclipse is the perfect choice.
If you are looking to bring home the venison, dress for the occasion.
Remington 700
If you’re a rifle-season hunter—and even if you aren’t—you’ve heard of the Remington 700. With more than fifty years in production, the bolt-action rifle enjoys well-deserved loyalty from shooters old and new. They’re accurate, reliable rifles, and since they’re bolts, there’s the added benefit of not needing to worry about semi-auto restrictions. Model variations are as numerous as available calibers; the Remington 700 comes chambered in everything from .308 Win, to 7mm Remington Magnum, to .35 Whelen, and everything in between (and beyond).
Undecided? Check out the 700 CDL SF here. It even comes in .30-06 Springfield. One shot, one kill.
River’s Edge Treestands
Hunting from a tree? Invest in a quality tree stand from a reputable company. Hunting accidents involving homemade, unsecured stands take place every year. Do your part to stay safe by paying attention to detail.
River’s Edge Treestands are designed by guys with backgrounds in hunting, design, engineering, and fabricating. They understand what hunters want and know how to do it safely. A well-made tree stand is a vital piece of equipment and not the place to cut corners.
The River’s Edge Tear Tuff XL Lounger is a favorite because it offers more than just a small platform; this tree stand boasts multiple features. From its ergonomically-designed, padded seat—complete with armrests—to its curved footrest, the Tear Tuff XL Lounger makes sitting for hours in a tree significantly more pleasant. It has a cam strap and lever-action attachment for quiet mounting and folds flat for easy transport.
Prefer a ground blind? Check out their Landmark 6×6 Permanent Blind.
Alps Outdoorz Traverse X
The old backpack you have stashed in a closet won’t get it done—well, assuming you intend to bring home meat. Properly constructed packs provide both comfort and performance. If you want a pack from a company with a solid reputation for those things and more, you want Alps Outdoorz.
While Alps Outdoorz offers quite a few fantastic packs, it’s their Traverse X that comes to mind for packing meat on a day hunt. The Traverse X is manufactured using 1680 Denier Nylon Ballistic Fabric for superior strength with Hypalon at stress points and spots that might experience strain from lashing. The waist belt has pockets for easy access and anti-sway straps for a secure load as well as space for clip-style holsters. Wing pockets are fleece-lined to protect spotting scopes and a rain cover is included. And when you do score a deer, the pack has a stowaway meat shelf so you can pack out your well-earned venison.
HunterShield Protection
If you aren’t familiar with the hunting regulations in Oklahoma, U.S. LawShield is here to help. Members of U.S. LawShield’s HunterShield program have access to attorneys for answers to their hunting and fishing questions. Join today and broaden your hunting education as a sportsman. Learn more about HunterShield protection here.
For example, we asked Robert R. Robles, independent program attorney, and avid hunter and fisherman, to make a few suggestions about the upcoming Oklahoma Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 Deer Season. He said, for starters, that we might look at the Deer Hunting Season Regulations Fall 2017-Spring 2018, found at page 13 of the Hunting Regulations Handbook and also found online here. Since we didn’t have time to read the hundreds of rules and regulations, he agreed to help us with some important tips.
Here are some important dates, according to Robles:
- Deer Archery: October 1, 2017 – January 15, 2018.
- Deer Primitive Arms (Muzzleloading): October 28 – November 5, 2017.
- Deer Gun: November 18 – December 3, 2017.
- Deer Holiday Antlerless: December 22-31, 2017.
- Youth Deer Gun: October 20-22, 2017.
Attorney Robles also said that:
- Antlerless Deer may only be harvested according to a Zone Map found at page 17 of the 2017-2018 Hunting Regulations. Please review the zone map because it applies to hunts statewide.
- Legal means of taking deer are limited to the following: Archery, Gun (includes Pistol and Shotgun/Slug) and Muzzleloader. Legal suppressors are okay both on private and public land.
Robles cautioned that a list of illegal devices for taking deer is found on page 13 and includes:
- Fully automatic firearms, black powder firearms loaded from the breech, laser sights (unless the hunter is certified 100% disabled or legally blind), thermal tracking devices, and all light enhancement devices (including nightscopes) from sunset to sunrise.
By Kat Ainsworth, Contributor, U.S. and Texas LawShield Blog
The post Deer Gear: Getting a Leg-Up on Deer Hunting in Oklahoma appeared first on U.S. & Texas LawShield.