Share your "Hunting Items I've overspent on with no advantage"

[Rock-o]

Everything but my weapon. The weapon is necessary cuz I've unsuccessfully tried to run down game and choke it out.

 

[theycallmemud]

One of the only things I’ve bought that really dissapointed me for the money was a heavy camo wool sweater from cabelas. I debated buying it for months due to the price. It was some wind proof, classy 1/4 zip that was around $150 when I had absolutely no money in college. I splurged and literally skipped meals because of it.

I’ve worn it twice in ten years. The first time I wore it I froze due to lack of a hood and back that pulled up, my neck was raw from the zipper, wind went straight through it. Second time, Velcro tabs and burrs caught everywhere and mangled it, pulling it over my head ripped an internal layer, it got muddy and the care instructions were absolutely tedious. It remains on a hanger front and center in my gear closet, taunting me, as I religiously grab my carhart hooded sweatshirt to go hunt.

Hmm. Randy newberg has a similar story lol

 

[Andrew12gauge]

Crispi Boots, I’ve never had a pair of boots that gives me blisters like Crispis, I’ve since gone back to Danner for 1/2 the price


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[NRA4LIFE]

All optics that begin with a V.

 

[fisherman983]

Mkc knives. They don't hold an edge. At least the carbon steel. Maybe the magnacut is different.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[theycallmemud]

I'm done spending money on gear I have everything and then some. I've gone down many a rabbit holes every year. Archery equipment, optics, clothing, back packing gear, rifles, everything you can possibly think of. I'm made the decision to invest my time and money into scouting and hunting more. The money I spend a year is nuts. More tags less gear..

 

[missjordan]

Not a fan of Iron Will Broadheads. Shot 3 animals with them and all of them no to very little blood. Recovered all 3 but it was tough tracking. Switched back to Montec’s and have no regrets


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[swavescatter]

High-falutin rifle builds with the latest cartridge, spirals and nitride. In the end it’s objectively much worse than the factory barrel spun off it.

More hunting, shooting and time outdoors and less chasing the popular builds on Rokslide.

 

[Mike D Texas]

Revic BLR10b RF binos.


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[Alpine4x4]

I'm a gear junky so it's hard not to buy the shiny stuff. That said I went all out this year and covered all my bases with intentions to not have to upgrade anytime soon and now invest more money in scouting and tags. We'll see if it pans out.

 

[nksmfamjp]

The stuff I’ve bought due to pressure/advice from web forums! Everything I’ve bought because what I have bothers me, usually results in an effective solution. Everything I’ve bought because the forum guys said it was the one and only usually resulted in spending too much for too little.

My dad seems to do fine with a sale priced Weatherby Meat Eater and a $200 Vortex on it?

 

[3325]

Crossbow. I don’t even like the thing. I used it this year because I wasn’t fully recovered from shoulder replacement surgery and couldn’t draw my longbow.

 

[3325]

High-falutin rifle builds with the latest cartridge, spirals and nitride. In the end it’s objectively much worse than the factory barrel spun off it.

Good post.

The late, great Jeff Cooper coined “preoccupation with inconsequential increments.” An example of PWII might be debating .270/130 vs .280/140, or the Ackley Improved versions vs the standard versions. Those things and things along that line.

Want to see something like, oh, say, 6.8 Western vs .270 WSM turn meaningless? Get off the bench. Shoot from a field position where you can’t employ bipod or sticks. Preferably while tired and trying to get your breath under control. Your chart showing that “A” has a clear ballistic advantage over “B” just turned into toilet paper.

 

[rickyw]

a custom model 70 build. It will be nice, but it was not needed.

 

[Thread Savage]

My 2024 Sherp N 1200 ARK that I bought for mushroom hunting. Easily could’ve gone with a used Sherp Pro and probably had the same results.

 

[Michael95]

I don’t regret any of my expensive gear I just wished I realized I didn’t need it to be successful

 

[WyoKid]

Agreed. All my different rain gear is so disappointing.

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Agree - nothing has beat my cheap Frog Toggs rain gear for durability and cost.

 

[Headwatermike]

This will make some mad but I hated my Benelli SBE II. The forend was floppy, the camo came off if you gave it a dirty look, the "benelli click" cost me animals, and the thing would freeze up until it was taken to a warm climate if you got a couple of drops of water in the wrong spot. I've never been so happy to buy a gun or to sell a gun.

Leica rangefinder: it ended up with lint inside the glass and Leica couldn't care less. Sold it.

Sako: hated the scope mount options, heavy, too nice to beat up. Nice shooting rifle once I worked out the mounts but it's a safe queen.

Mystery Ranch Crew Cab: it was better than the pack it replaced, but so much worse than what else is now available. No load lifters, and the weight just carried too far off the back causing me to hunch over for many miles of miserable elk packing. Between that and another inadequate pack, probably why I will end up needing a hip replacement.

Knives with D2 steel: mine were hard to get very sharp, hard to touch up in the field.

My latest bow upgrade: First upgrade in 10 years, made no marked difference other than being a little quieter.

I'm not afraid to spend money on hunting stuff and I like most of the rest of my gear, including lots of what others are complaining about owning. But I know that what works for some hunting does not for other hunting. Probably the most stand-out item is a spotting scope, I have spent hundreds of hours on mine and owe most of the elk we've taken to that scope, but I hunt in a way that is heavy on glassing. I've found/identified untold numbers of elk through that scope that were later taken by my family or friends. If it was lost tomorrow I would buy another tomorrow night. As well, stretch synthetics, merino wool base layers, and down insulation layer are Godsends and I wouldn't go without. That said, I don't buy anything for hunting most years as I already own it and I've found good values in some pretty pricy gear.

 

[Szwampdonkey]

All of it nowadays unless it’s your first of anything. Once you’ve got your first bow, knife, and rifle you’ll never need another. Anytime you buy the latest greatest bow or rifle well i hate to tell ya you’re blowing money. The new ones don’t kill em any better than your old ones.

Most people are just completely unable to resist marketing and consumerism.

 

[Loper]

Probably the most stand-out item is a spotting scope, I have spent hundreds of hours on mine and owe most of the elk we've taken to that scope, but I hunt in a way that is heavy on glassing. I've found/identified untold numbers of elk through that scope that were later taken by my family or friends. If it was lost tomorrow I would buy another tomorrow night.

It sounds like your spotter has been one of the best pieces of equipment you have. I’m curious what kind of spotter you use? Is it a “mini” spotter, 65mm, 85mm, etc.? Also, what price tier? Is it high end alpha glass, mid-tier, or low end?