My year and gear

[Steeliedrew]

Stid,

You really make a guy want to succeed in life. Especially having everything dialed in for a fun retirement! I'm 29 years old now so I got 30-35 years propably to get my ducks in a row. Really enjoyed this thread.

 

[charvey9]

Very nice. Great photos and congrats on all the success.

 

[Stid2677]

Would like to thanks all for the comments,,

I did forget to mention my new purchase from Kuiu. Nuyarn, Kuiu's Ultra Merino, I was very pleased with the Nuyarn top, very warm and dried much faster the traditional merino. I also tried a pair of the zip-off pants, these I did not care for. I could feel a draft in the zipper area and the zipper causes them not to have any stretch. I thought I would use the zippers to remove them, but found that I never used this feature and feel that the extra weight is not worth it for my use.

One other item I added was a Sumo cup for my jetboil. I picked up one after using Luke and Becca's and I'm sold on it when hunting with a partner. The extra capacity allows for 2 meals and a drink with one boil. I noticed a notable difference in fuel usage using much less than I have doing multiple boils with my standard cup. Is also nice to be able to get both meals going so both hunters can eat at the same time.

 

[Ryan R]

Thanks for all the info. You had a great year.

 

[Liljozie495]

thanks for compiling my Christmas list for me

 

[Stid2677]

WOW, very impressive. I need to take it all in.

If you don't mind, what do you do for a living, besides the good life.

May not be the best place for investment advice,, but when I was a young soldier, I worked for a Gentleman that was about to retire. He bestowed some sage advice to me,, he told me to always pay myself first. He said that he took half of all his pay increases over the years and saved and invested it. When he retired from the service he was able to do so and never work again.

That always stuck in my head and motivated me to do the same, was not that easy in the beginning but over the years it became easier and as I saw the fruits of my saving and investing grow, it became easier and over the years it added up. Nobody will safe guard your money like you will, I only ever bought one new truck. Instead I drove older vehicles and invested that money.

Today all that saving allows me to enjoy the life I now lead. So pay yourself first and save some for the days when you retire.

Back to hunting.

 

[Shrek]

Stid2677's advice is the best advice I didn't get when I was young but I have since adopted it and taught it to my son. He's in his second year of college and working part time but he has more than me saved already. It works !

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

It's been said before and I'll reiterate, Mr. Stidman needs his own section (like Aron's corner with less 60lb. sprints). Always a good read Steve. You have the dream gear closet.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I noticed a notable difference in fuel usage using much less than I have doing multiple boils with my standard cup.

Have you actually tested this? My results were the opposite. I did not use the sumo but if I remember correctly twice the water took 3 times the boil time so ended up costing me more fuel. Not trying to be argumentative just want to know if my results were flawed somehow.

 

[rodney482]

Great thread...

 

[mrbillbrown]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Stid2677]

Have you actually tested this? My results were the opposite. I did not use the sumo but if I remember correctly twice the water took 3 times the boil time so ended up costing me more fuel. Not trying to be argumentative just want to know if my results were flawed somehow.

I did test this on several hunts, thing to remember is that although you are heating more water, you only have to do ONE boil as opposed to 2 boils. YMMV, but I saw noticeably less fuel used.

 

[Muledeernv]

Thanks for the write up always great to see gear in use and you guys adventures.

 

[SHTF]

Hey Steve Running the Cutco Double D Edge knife also. How many cleanings do you have on that knife before you have had to resharpen it? Im hearing people tell tales of 20+ Deer cleaned and boned out before ever sending it in for a resharpen. Love to hear you talk more about this. As others have said great pics man and you are blessed. Hopefully some day I will be in the same situation to hunt and run a full season of outdoor work. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Stid2677]

Much depends on how I use my Cutco, for me after 3 bears or moose mine starts to loose the edge. Now if I let someone use it and they start bouncing it off bones, or if the bear has been in sand or silt it can get dull quicker. Deer, sheep and Goats have thinner hide and because of that you can get more out of each sharpening. I rarely use mine for mountain hunts, mostly moose and beat. They both have very thick fur and hide, cutting a bunch of hair is hard on an edge as well. I bought a second one so I have an extra to loan if needed and one to have on hand for use while I send the other back to be sharpened. For sheep and goat hunts I pack my Havlon and a Cutco folder that has half the blade straight and the back half serrated. I use this for times I need a strong blade, like for removing the head or cutting stuff around camp. The sticky handle is nice when breaking down fatty game.

 

[MattB]

May not be the best place for investment advice,, but when I was a young soldier, I worked for a Gentleman that was about to retire. He bestowed some sage advice to me,, he told me to always pay myself first. He said that he took half of all his pay increases over the years and saved and invested it. When he retired from the service he was able to do so and never work again.

That always stuck in my head and motivated me to do the same, was not that easy in the beginning but over the years it became easier and as I saw the fruits of my saving and investing grow, it became easier and over the years it added up. Nobody will safe guard your money like you will, I only ever bought one new truck. Instead I drove older vehicles and invested that money.

Today all that saving allows me to enjoy the life I now lead. So pay yourself first and save some for the days when you retire.

Back to hunting.

For what it is worth, I am a banker and do know a little (not a lot) about personal investment - and this is perhaps the very best piece of financial advice there is. For those of you who have modest incomes but want to be comfortable in retirement, start early and direct as much of your raises as you can to savings/investments.

 

[scrubs]

Thanks for sharing all of the great pic`s Stid.

 

[yardwork]

This is an awesome thread. I read the comments on the Swaro bino and RF combo and that line ending in "... and fire for effect." over an hour ago and I'm still giggling.

Great thread with great gear and investment advice. Cheers!

 

[stevenm2]

Good Choices allow us to really enjoy our time afield. You certainly make some good choices in gear selection. Awesome season, congratulations on your success.

 

[Stid2677]

Great thing about living in Alaska is the season never really ends, always something to hunt. Got my fantasy hunts submitted for next years draw, will firm up plans once the results come out. Already have a sheep hunt booked with my Son, will be his first sheep hunt as a shooter, if that is the only hunt I get to do I will still have an incredible year.

Planning and gear prep is as much fun to me as the hunt itself. I anticipate being in an over-watch position at 11:55pm on Aug 9th looking at a nice Ram waiting for the clock to tick down to midnight, no place in the world I would rather be.