Upgrades , what are you changing out in your pack for next year ?

[Shrek]

Marc , switching hands with a recurve bow sounds really hard ! I know learning to throw left handed was ridiculous for me. Seriously, I wish you the best luck learning to shoot from your weak side. Hope it come easily to you.

 

[Shrek]

Akshphntr , another thing to check out is changing the blades. They get dull pretty quick if you don't break one and you will need pliers to change them safely imo so if you aren't carrying some now you need to add forceps or pliers weight to it. You can change it without but with cold blood slik hands it becomes kind of dicey. That's my experience.

 

[Justin Crossley]

You don't need pliers to change the blade on a havalon.

As far as breaking them, you just can't press sideways with them. I only used four blades total to skin and bone out three elk.

 

[5MilesBack]

Shriek, I tried a disposable scalpel blade knife from Fred Meyer on a caribou and it was awesome.

I tried one of those about 30 years ago thinking it would be the best thing ever. Turned out to be the worst thing ever..........gosh those sharp thin blades dull quickly. So I was real skeptical when the Havalon came out, but I'm gonna give it a go anyway based on how many hunters and guides like the thing. I'll always still have my knife as well, but willing to try this route again. Maybe something has changed from the scalpels of 30 years ago.

 

[Stid2677]

Been using the Havalons for many years now and have been very happy with them. You do have to remember that you are using a scalpel and NOT a heavy bladed knife. You cannot side load or twist the blades. The XT blades are must tougher and not as prone to breaking and the 22XT blunt tips are awesome for caping and removing the head from the cape. The BLUNT tip keeps you from cutting through the hide as much.

To remove the blade without pliers use a stiff stick to push the blade at the base over the holding slot. Please pack out used blades by placing them in the new blade wrapper.

The blades are easy to sharpen with a small steel or ceramic rod, or any sharpener just like any other blade. No need to throw them away unless you want to, again easy to sharpen.

Becca and I only used Havalons to buck up this moose and I have used them on dozens of animals.

 

[Rucker61]

I've only been hunting since last fall, so I already have a lot of new stuff, most of which works. I'm trying to avoid the GIF and only upgrade gear that works. The two items at the top of the list are a Leica rangefinder to replace my Vortex and some lightweight boots for early season, likely the Lowa Renegades. Even with the Lowas I'm finding that I need the narrow width model or the women's model. Other wants include a 5, 6 or 7 pin sight for my bow and some VAP Victory arrows, now that PSE has decent nocks for them.

 

[fillthefreezer]

justin and stid beat me to it.
you dont need pliers to change the blades and if youre breaking them, youre doing something wrong.

shrek:
breaking down one critter with a havalon probably doesnt equate to authoritative advice on them, the tone i got from your post on them makes it seem like youre an expert and the knife is complete junk

 

[Shrek]

It was not meant in that way. Just meant that you really should try themba couple of times before you take your trusted knife out of your kit. They work but not for everybody. I've cleaned more than a couple deer in my life and it was definatly not .that great to me.

 

[fillthefreezer]

Just meant that you really should try themba couple of times before you take your trusted knife out of your kit. They work but not for everybody.

thats well put

 

[a3dhunter]

Shelter:
I used a Tarptent Notch most of the season for a shelter, but since my wife informed me she wants to hunt with me next year I sold it and bought a Mountainsmith LT.

Spotting Scope:
I was also not happy with the increased weight of my spotting scope this year. I was using the Celestron Regal 65mm ED and it was a very good scope for the money, but the increased weight was not appreciated in relation to what I gained over the Minox MD50. I sold my Minox earlier this spring, so I went ahead and bought another one. That will be what I use when packing in somewhere and the Celestron will stay in the truck or close to it. Weight difference 61 oz for the Celestron and 24 oz for the Minox.

Boots: I really liked the Zamberlan Vioz 1006 for my wide foot but the last hunt I had was third rifle season and I tore my left ankle up pretty bad. I may go ahead and pick up a taller boot for better ankle support, undecided as of yet.

Still trying to figure out what to do for backcountry food. Each year Mountain House has been worse for me, to the point this year that out of 5 meals that I ate I was only able to keep 3 down, and two of those made me feel sick all of the next day. I started taking cold meals for on the mountain and just getting by, but that will have to change.

 

[MattB]

I use the finger nail of the index finger on the knife hand to lift the very back of the Havalon blades and the "hide" hand to pull the blade forward to change blades. It is quick, easy and safe. It is a fair comment that the Havalon isn't for everyone, but I love mine.

 

[Mtnboy]

Call me paranoid, but I always carry a full size knife regardless, there are a TON of uses in a survival situation that a full tang knife is useful for that a Havalon simply isn't sturdy enough for...I know we all count ounces and don't like to think about worst case scenario but...shit happens.

As far as gear upgrades....I'll be getting a new sleeping bag or quilt, new binos and probably a few pieces of clothing. Depending on if my dad uses his 6 points for Wyo deer next year a new spotter might be on the way as well, it's always something!

 

[Shrek]

justin and stid beat me to it.
you dont need pliers to change the blades and if youre breaking them, youre doing something wrong.

shrek:
breaking down one critter with a havalon probably doesnt equate to authoritative advice on them, the tone i got from your post on them makes it seem like youre an expert and the knife is complete junk

I went back and reread my post and I stand by everthing I said. I included my personal experience and reasons for my opinion. Steve's reply was also well thought out and stated. Yours was not and mostly just a butt hurt fanboy's whine. I didn't state it was junk , that was your inference. I simply related my experience. The condescending "thats well stated " gets this equally mature GFY in reply. I see I drew out some solutions to the blade changing and conversations like this often end with better understanding and the dissemination of solutions. I will always including my reasoning so that my position can be well understood and if faulty those with the inclination can provide their reasons why I'm wrong. My veiw is constantly evolving and these conversations help me refine my thought. I will not be deterred by people like yourself who feel superior to others and the need to silence those who you feel superior to.

 

[Travis1984]

Shrek,

I'm not trying to start a pissing match, but if you broke five blades breaking down an animal you aren't even using the product correctly. Then to state that pliers are required further illustrates his point.

 

[todd kelly]

Shrek,

I'm not trying to start a pissing match, but if you broke five blades breaking down an animal you aren't even using the product correctly. Then to state that pliers are required further illustrates his point.

I agree, don't blame the knife because you don't know how to use the thing.

 

[fillthefreezer]

I went back and reread my post and I stand by everthing I said. I included my personal experience and reasons for my opinion. Steve's reply was also well thought out and stated. Yours was not and mostly just a butt hurt fanboy's whine. I didn't state it was junk , that was your inference. I simply related my experience. The condescending "thats well stated " gets this equally mature GFY in reply. I see I drew out some solutions to the blade changing and conversations like this often end with better understanding and the dissemination of solutions. I will always including my reasoning so that my position can be well understood and if faulty those with the inclination can provide their reasons why I'm wrong. My veiw is constantly evolving and these conversations help me refine my thought. I will not be deterred by people like yourself who feel superior to others and the need to silence those who you feel superior to.

oh boy, here we go with the fanboy stuff..
i was being genuine when i said it was well stated, because it doesnt work for you, doesnt mean its a bad product. havalons most definately are awesome products. and i agree with it being a good idea to try anything out before replacing a trusted item in your kit.
as for the rest of your response, ill just leave it be

 

[Shrek]

What is not talked about when people speak of the havalon is that if you have cleaned animals for years with a regular knife you will need to learn a new way to clean animals to take advantage of the havalons strengths and compensate for its shortcomings. I said to not ditch your regular knife before you have tried the havalon in the field and decided it's for you and are wanting to change your cleaning habits. I personally am not going to rely on a havalon. I've cleaned hundreds of deer , close to a hundred hogs and tens of thousands of pounds of fish and have some well developed habits that need a strong blade. I can see some great uses for the little blade and I'll probably keep the havalon in my kit as it weighs next to nothing. For a hunter to go afield with the havalon and only a couple of blades he better be very experienced with the havalon. Btw , the havalon I have is the one that came in the kill kit . I don't know the model or what type of blade it is. I ended up with only the havalon the day I cleaned the little mule deer by accident and I'm thankful I had the number of blades I did. P
Steve is the only guy who alluded to the truth that it can't be used like a traditional knife but more of a scalpel. You can certainly clean any animal you want with it but you will need to learn a new style of butchering to be successful. The problem I have with fillthefreezer's comment is he is accusing me of not knowing what I was talking about and I shouldn't speak on the subject. Far from it. I have plenty of butchering experience and my experience relating to the havalon are those that await anyone who is going to try a havalon , including the instructions from havalon that tell you to use forceps. I was trying to get around the forceps issue but in the moment I didn't think to use a stick. The suggestion alone is worth the thread. The heated responses attacking me are sad and the responses with suggestions to help make the havalon work are what is needed. The chest beating , only my way post are ugly and say more about the poster than anything. I may lack years of experience of camping under stars in remote mountains but I don't lack for experience hunting , killing , and cutting up animals.

 

[wapitibob]

Havalon blades are fragile. Gotta go a little slower and for sure, keep the fingers away. They go thru a finger kinda fast..... I always have a regular folding knife for joints and use it as described above for removing blades, using the folder blade in place of the fingernail. I used 2 blades working up my bull this year, breaking one. Same setup for Antelope this year too.

 

[Matt Cashell]

Check fire guys. Attitude is for the other sites.

 

[Nick Muche]

Lol